Kayaking offshore

[Prof. Salt]

Hi all,

I recently found this site while looking for advice on rebuilding an Avet. It seems kayaking through the surf is pretty rough on all reels, and Alan's tutorial was a big help in getting it all apart and back together. Just wanted to share the fishing we do in my neighborhood, offshore in kayaks. We catch a lot of king mackerel, and have a lot of sharks to keep things interesting. Often we end up paying tax to the "men in gray suits", and sometimes I switch gears and catch the sharks for a good workout. Nothing over 400 lbs so far, but several over the 300 mark have come alongside the plastic yacht over the last few summers.

A deep water upwelling brought clear water close to shore so I headed out with the cameras rolling


A nice king for our neighborhood


Taxes paid


Acrobatic shark ready to be cut loose

[ChileRelleno]

Prof. Salt, welcome to the Site.
Great first post, love the pics 

Where are you on the Gulf, I'm in Mobile & always looking for people to fish with.

[floating doc]

Thanks for posting, and welcome aboard!

[alantani]

Welcome!!!!!!

[Steve-O]

Welcome Aboard, Prof. Salt!

Great post! Now to go back and watch the video.

from another yak angler whose primary quarry have much less sharp teeth.

Steve

[Prof. Salt]

Thanks for the welcome! Chile, I'm fishing out of Corpus Christi. It would be a serious commute to get to your neighborhood, but I would love to fish the waters off Mobile if I'm ever in the area. Do you guys have any deep water within kayaking distance of the beach?

[ChileRelleno]

Define 'Deep'.

Yes'sir, 20'+ on average 400 yards off the beach, 50+ not much farther, some gas rigs within 3 miles of the beach.
Over in FL it isn't uncommon to catch Sails & Mahi fishing BtB, and once in awhile BFTs.
Of course they catch the Sails/Mahi off the friggin piers too.  

[Ron Jones]

Funny that, I had orders to the USS Corpus Christi!
Welcome to the playground.
Ron

[Prof. Salt]

I once toured the Corpus Christi when it was in port, Ron, but I doubt they let the public do those walk-throughs anymore. Thanks for the welcome.

In my area we reach 50 feet at around 3.5-4 miles off. It's mid 60s at 7.5 miles out, but that's a long paddle! I routinely make trips that total 10-20 miles, but they usually include a lot of meandering and trolling around oil platforms. I prefer to stay within cell range, especially when I'm paddling solo. Sails and Mahi are a rare treat for kayaks here, but I managed to hook one of each this summer. The mahi was around 30-35 inches and it made good on their reputation of removing a heavy lure by some fancy head shaking. The sail was a real beast who refused to slow down. As he was about to spool my Avet SX, I applied a little too much pressure in hopes of slowing him down... and broke the fish off. My buddy 1/2 a mile away started yelling as the fish was jumping, trying to get the hooks out. It was a cool experience that doesn't happen very often in this area.

[ChileRelleno]

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11376.shtml

[erikpowell]

Bula Prof and welcome!

[Shark Hunter]

Welcome Professor! Thanks for the clip. Good Stuff!

[Dominick]

Yes welcome and thanks for the video and pics.  Dominick

[Bryan Young]

Welcome.  Love the pics and video.  Thank you for sharing.

[foakes]

Welcome -- glad to have you on board...

Best,

Fred