Pompano to Delray (5-9-09)

[Cookinman]

Good work ! Kings have been really intense lately I hear !

A little further north, members of the tupperware armada landed quite a few kings trolling Manns stretch 25's in 40'. They trolled out to 200' and then back - all the mayhem was under 100'
Limited quick and released a few.

AJ's have been thick on the wrecks using speed jigs last weekend. Many too big to stop in a yak, but a couple in the 30# class came up ...

My anniversary plus mothers day was on the 10th, so too much prep to do for me to join...
Lotsa folks hit the DOA so the offshore reports yak wise were slow for such a nice weekend of calm seas and good N current.

The sprintime yak scene is always challenged by either wind and rough seas - or intense summer storms, but when you can find the window, and the current is there - the fishing can be superb pre June !


Great report as always !

[Cookinman]

Cool stuff thanks for the update. We are hoping to get out soon and catch a few blackfins. I hear that they have been getting them in under 200' on freelined pilchards, and as always light fluro leaders are important.

How many doz can you keep alove with your baitwell setup? You guys use a 12 V water changing setup right?

I have so far only used 5 gal pail W aereator - hard to keep em going past 2 hrs or so in the heat like that...

[screamendrag]

a guy i no from alittle south of me uses a boogie board with a hole cut in it and a tuppaware container slid down in with a bunch of holes cut in it........keeps his baits alive all day with no worries about batteries or wires....its the haulen it around thats the b*tch.....ull get jacked arms though lol

[Cookinman]

I could not even imaging trying to paddle back to the launch against 3 knotts with that thing dragging behind me...

[screamendrag]

lol he told me bout it and i said the same thing ..........it would be nice on those dead calm days though wen having to paddling back isnt really an issue....

havent talked to him in awhile, but he had some deal with hobe cause he was on a kayak fishing team.....he told me his new rig was going to be a hobe with the foot paddles and a sail setup, he said he hoped to be pushing 7-9knots and trolling for wahoo lmao an you thought his baitpen was crazy

[bolo]

Do you use a lid on that? If not doesn't your bait jump out?

[permitchaser]

amazing

[Cookinman]

Nice setup ! Plenty of room to carry baits from sun-up to noon with the water transfer going.

Q- does it change the ride / stability dramatically to have all that weight on the deck?
(Water weighs a pound per pint)

I imagine that being between 2 people in a kayak designed to be a tandem, and carry load - it is not too bad.

That is my only real consideration in filling a 5 G bucket in the TW of my Scupper pro - but my yak is only 24 inches across and perfect weigh distribution ( in mine ) is necessary to maintain the high level of stability in such a narrow ride. I do it and feel OK with it when seated, but whan I to leave the cockpit to go fore or aft for gear, I always feel a little unsure in 3-5' or better. BUT - since I dig the narrowness fighting the current and winds to get back to launch, I'll likely keep the yak for quite a while.

I have been looking at these, and so far the only real downside is riguring out how to clean it out.....and of course the balls necessary to drill the hull.
http://www.anglersyakshack.com/About.htm

[Cookinman]

In the begining you notice the extra 60 pounds from the bait tank but once you get used to it it is not that bad. Also when I move around to put a fish in the cooler or something like that I will typically put one leg over each side; it seems to help with stability. In fact if we are drifting in sloppy seas I will keep my legs in the water most of the time (not when paddling of course). By having a leg out on either side I seem to be able to make small adjustments more easily to counteract the waves.

I would agree, usually the extra weight is totally worth it to me too. Staying " In the saddle" makes my yak the most stable, even with one on each side - something about the mass of weight being lower in the seat....funny, though, without my bait tank in the rear I feel just fine fighting my fish with both feet off to one side. With it, I stay planted in the seat....Different designs are funny like that.

Can't wait to get out and fish the yak this summer - I was waylaid ALOT last summer on the weekends, Should find some more holes in the schedule this year...

[Cookinman]

Cool yea we are going to the keys this weekend so I am excited for some fishing down there.

Knock em dead !