I started fishing the gulf from my kayak and paddle board. Had some success this summer. Anyone else fish the gulf?

Looks like a fun time. I bet that reef donkey drug you around pretty good. I sank a 12ft ascend Kayak in the middle of the Destin pass last memorial day. Since then I stick to fresh water!!! Flowing creeks mostly. Im allergic to paddling. Congrats bub

Those are some nice ones!

I remember you posting about that. That sucks.

That sucks but glad you are OK. Yes, He pulled me around a good bit. Probably my most fun catch. I caught about 5 foot hammerhead that took longer to get to the kayak but he was more of a heavy dead weight.

FYI: That's a Jack Crevelle - not an Amberjack (aka: Reef Donkey)... However they BOTH pull mighty hard!!

10 4. I guess the aj' s don't have any yellow and have more of a belly don't they ? I've never seen a jack crevelle in person.

Yeah that was pretty embarrassing but i learned not to even get in that thing with out something better than a solo cup to bale water with. I've seen people 9+ miles out fishing out of kayaks. Gives me anxiety seeing them.

I never heard the term "Reef Donkey". I'm a rookie.

Yep. I'd be willing to bet that a jack is hardest pulling fish pound per pound in the Gulf.


Congrats on the catches OP!

I'll second that notion. Hardest pulling fish I've ever fought was a 27lb jack crevelle that I landed from the Perdido pass sea wall. It took the better part of an hour and was like tugging on a dang boulder.

To answer the original post - yes, I've done some 'yak fishing in the gulf. Not a ton, and not nearly as good success as you!

Dang cool.
I may hit you up in a pm for tips.
I'm wanting to get equipped to kayak fish lagoons and bays for trout and reds.
Tell Geno and the rest of us what you did with the shark when you got him in.

Tried to get some pics but they did not turn out so good and then cut the line. I fish the bay on my paddle board. I like to stand up and cast. I have not caught any reds yet just trout and flounder.

Bays mostly. Launch off St. Marks NWR at the lighthouse more often than not just out of convenience. Reds in abundance at times, a few trout here and there, 6514654 pinfish and 345649816151322516456 sharks. Occasional flatfish - flounder. Sometimes find some scallops.

Appalachee Bay, Goose Creek from Wakulla on the refuge, Alligator Harbor from just past the bend on 98.

I've lobstered out of a yak in the ocean but never fished out of the bay/intercoastal/lagoon shallow waters.

5' shark would be perfect. Not Hammerhead, that species is protected in FL waters. The larger allowable species require 54" at the fork. That's 12" short of being as big as me.

hardest chewing per pound to eat also aren't they?

I love kayak fishing in the gulf. Lots of work but nothing like getting drug around by a fish.





And of course my buddy hooks up with my dream fish out of a yak twice but didn't land either one.

Nice fish Breeze1. Cool Tarpon pic!