Flamingo 10-15

[Fuzzy(as in not clear)]

This was posted here and there.

I actually left early for ride down. Met Cookinman at the Sawgrass and Atlantic. By the time we got to the gate, we had a convoy.Variable and Rikaard fell into line some where on the turnpike. Here's the proof we got there early.

What I'd call a hippy shot, that's Cookinman at sun-up with Joe Kemp key in the background.

The tide was incoming and the water was as dirty as I have ever seen. There was a noticable lack of poling boats for a Sunday. A few jacks and small cuda's were assaulted, a few Corona and Becks were asaulted, too! There was even a bottle of fancy French? stuff!

Lots of sharks, some quite large were seen. The wind was kickin at about 20 and wouldn't you know, I forgot my sail. I got to see a fish rigged scupper pro in action. It seemed fast compared to the prowler and the hobie suv. By the time we left on the outgoing tide, the bay area was covered in white caps large enough to wake surf.

A great day on the water, met and indoctrinated 3 new Derelicts. They all were great and will fit into the yak croud very well!

All said they'd visit this site, and maybe even post true/alternate versions of my report

[Variable]

Rijkaard:



Cookinman Exploring:


My only catch for the day. A ladyfish. Taken quite hastily, as there was a large gator about 35 feet behind me:

[BoatlessFisherman]

Sounds like a real good time, I have to get a yak.

[Da Luii]

I have to get a yak.

Just happen to have one for sale: http://fortlauderdale.craigslist.org/spo/220563837.html

Dam boys wish I would have found this site a few days earlier, I would of loved to have gone, seems like u guys plan it well. hit me up & keep me in the loop.

Lou

[Cookinman]

Sounds like a real good time, I have to get a yak.

Yes, by all means, T. You will LOVE it bro!!!

I am just checking in to see what the post looklike, I haVE A FEW SHOTS TO PUT IN AS WELL.....AFTER i GET THE GIRL TO BED !!!

[Fuzzy(as in not clear)]

Now that I have recovered from my after fishing activities of 10-15, a few memories have come back to me. Hopefully, more to come, but, I don't know

No excuses for the great day on the water with new friends. The wind did kick butt. The lack of poling boats, even an almost deserted trailer parking area, and the weather reports couldn't keep me from launching!

The lack of kayak experience of this group couldn't be seen. From the slowest to the fastest yak in the group, all conditions were met headwind on and not a complaint was uttered. Looks like west lake in ENP will be an option on future windy week-ends since it's somewhat sheltered.

Wasn't a great day of catching but, it's really called fishing and all of the group fished hard!

I was last to return to the launch site and it was fun. winds in the twenty range with gust a bit higher. the bay was amazing, wind chop to almost two feet in tight intervals almost allowed for a wake surfing type return

I never saw Variable put the rudder on his prowler in the water

I should have tasted the fancy French stuff, probably best I didn't .

The Last Chance Saloon is still one of my favorite dive/dump bars in the southern areas of the swamp The more I drank , the better the women looked

If my three new yak fishing buddies are an indication of the folks that frequent this forum, I'd be proud to fish with more members

I will be posting info on more of my semi-planned yakfishing excursions here, starting with a week-end trip, Friday thru Sunday starting 11-10 in Titusville. If you show up at any time that week-end you can be a 'goonie, too By the way, any and all advise on fishing the 'goon and the Indian river in that area will be appreciated

[Cookinman]

First, I wanna throw a big "Hats - Off" to Fuzzy or taking 3 of us ( That he had never really met outside this board ) To a place that was obviously special to him. Not many folks would do that !

Also was great to meet and fish with Rijkaard and Variable, after speaking so much on this and other boards.

OK, OK, enough of that - here are my impressions -

Hooked up with Fuzzy right outside another famous CS Tarpon and Snook spot from by-gone years , the end of the C-14....From there we headed out Southbound a runnin....

Somewhere along the way, I saw another Yak-topped Truck fall in behind us. When I stopped in Fl City ( Mandatory pit stop ) I was glad to then meet Variable ( After washing hands of course.... )

Then somewhere along the trip to the launch site 3 yak-tops turned into 4 and I finally got a chance to meet Rijkaard.
Jammin ! Everyone that planned to made it, did ...things were already feeling right as we rigged up in the predawn light and got to know each other a bit.
Fuzzy could not have been a more gracious host, patiently answering questions re : terrain, water depth, colors to throw etc .in between his offerings about the best way to attack the area in terms of area and choice of Atri's that would most closely match the hatch. It was obvious there was quite a bit of Flamingo know-how being passed on.....

Sunrise was awesome, I almost forgot to take a pic....lol, but here it is....Closest thing to a Hippy Shot I got....


I spent sometime "feeling" what baits would prolly be most productive ...then tying up, with the last notes of an Andres Cepeda song ringing out in my head...
The gang got a good jump on the ol' Cookinman, but that's OK, I was "There" and it was all good from here on out.....I think this was Variable way out there in the distance, getting a feel for the water.




Man, IF I id not mention it, that is a Sweeeet Prowler you were sportin bro!!! Anchor Trolley, Ram mounts, rudder.....SET UP !





Here's a sillouette of our gracious Host, doin a little re-rigging on the fly.......I finally got a shot at seeing 2 Different Hobie models with Peddle-Drive action in play. Believe the hype - they are AWESOME !
Nice being able to peddle, move and cast all at the same time - One big step better than trolling IMHO.....



Rijkaard had all the creature comforts in this SUV on the water---Man I was looking for the barcolounger mount on that thing

Actually it was VERY cool to be able to take a full size cooler aboard for days that you get into the table fare.....And that yak kept up quite well despite it's width. Imressive.



Here's a little Barracuda that donated a little blood to the yak hull.



Lastly, a shot of Fuzzy in the distance trying to entice a snook from outta the mangrove roots. This area of sheltered area behind Kemp Island was the clearest water of the day. I had ALL my hits here, though did spot tailing Reds, a few blacktips and some tarpon as well all over the bay....

Porpoises occaionally blew air, but not a problem with harassing the fishing.....

Oh yea, almost forgot that big Bull Shark, I almost ran over...Still not sure who was more spooked, she or I....lol



It was a great day, an under the conditions it could have been far far worse....We all left with the impression that we would be back soon.

Hey, you know it is a tad winy when there are whitcaps being blown up on less than 2 foot of water....

I myself am already thinking about the next time I can get back. Have quite a few ideas on where / How to fish it next time after getting a taste of it on a less than optimal condition day. I am chompin at the bit for a good fday, as amount of the life around that place was just AMAZING......this time I will pay a bit more heed to 20 knot winds forcasted.

Though I must say ....I am very happy with the performance of the Scupper Pro. No rudder at all and it tracked and went where I wanted it to.....Speed was never an issue even padling into the worst of the wind headed out into the Bight.
I have had it out in better than 3' Chop in the open ocean and never felt disadvantaged at all, and now, in a brisk wind....still happy.
Might have could have used a rudder for the Blowback drift along Kemp from the mouth of Snake Bight. Had to fish "Paddle at the ready" just to keep drifting perpandicular to the mangrove line but no real worries......


Rijkaard, I was actually looking forward to that Armanac once you broke it out as it has been quite a while since any had passed my lips, however Once I got the Yak loaded up and a Corona or 2 in me, I did dread the ride back a bit. Next time for sure !!!