Florida Kayak Newbie

[Saltwatergal]

Hey Everybody,

I'm a kayak newbie but have been a saltwater angler all my life. I'm originally a Gulf Coast girl but recently moved to the Coconut Grove area of Miami.

I just bought a Native Magic 12' and am rigging it for fishing. I'm looking for advice om where to fish in my area.

I've spent a fair amount of time fishing some areas of the Keys and did some paddling on the bayside of Islamorada. Any suggestions of places to go closer to home?

I love flats and backcountry fishing so this seems to be the best of all worlds. Looking forward to meeting some of you; sounds like a fun bunch of folks!

Saltwatergal

[Saltwatergal]

Hey Everybody,

I'm a kayak newbie but have been a saltwater angler all my life. I'm originally a Gulf Coast girl but recently moved to the Coconut Grove area of Miami.

I just bought a Native Magic 12' and am rigging it for fishing. I'm looking for advice om where to fish in my area.

I've spent a fair amount of time fishing some areas of the Keys and did some paddling on the bayside of Islamorada. Any suggestions of places to go closer to home?

I love flats and backcountry fishing so this seems to be the best of all worlds. Looking forward to meeting some of you; sounds like a fun bunch of folks!

Saltwatergal

[E2]

The Derelicts will steer you in the <STRIKE>right</STRIKE> direction. Hope you like imported beer http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/rofl.gif and http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif

[NIN]

hi saltwatergal and http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif

[CPP]

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif

[LunaSea]

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/the_wave.gif

Most anywhere you can launch a kayak in Biscayne Bay will put you in the vicinity of barracuda, permit, bonefish, snapper, tarpon, and snook. For better fishing, join some of us Derelicts at Flamingo in Everglades National Park. http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/thumbsup.gif

Places to launch in Biscayne Bay:

Crandon Park
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (beachside, north parking lot A)
Rickenbacker Causeway
Matheson Hammock
Black Point
Deering Estate at Cutler
Homestead Bayfront Park
Convoy Point
Alabama Jack's

http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[JonS]

You've got a lot of choices and http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif

[HankG]

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif lotta good folks and places to fish in your area. Good luck and good fishing. http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/thumbsup.gif

[Redfishman]

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif

Welcome to the boards! In this section you will find advice on fishing locations and techniques, advice on which high-end rum is the best, why a Dorito is the best yak in the world, and how all three go together!

Lots of great info and people. Glad to have you.

[vivian]

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif

I also live in Miami and for this summer will be fishing mostly out of Biscayne Bay from Matheson to Convoy Point. I normally fish Chokoloskee Island but I am intent on learning as much as I can about those darn bonefish and permit that torment me to no end http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/banghead.gif

lconn fishes for these critters out of Crandon Park on Key Biscayne and they aren't as spooky there as they are along the western shoreline of the bay. There aren't jetski's allowed and the flats are so shallow few motorboats fish the area especially from Deering south. The shallow and clear water make it difficult fishing. You having a Native to stand and sight the fish is a plus http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/thumbsup.gif

If you want to get together send me a PM, I fish most weekends but will launch at different areas depending on tides and what the word is on where the bonefish were last seen. They travel north and south you never know where they will show up http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/crying.gif

[Sailor]

Crap, another woman that will outfish me http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/banghead.gif In all seriousness, welcome http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif

[HankG]

Look out sailor, your getting that itch again. Remember your down to two yaks now. http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/hammer.gif http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/scratch_chin.gif http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/rofl.gif

Just kidding http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Sailor]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HankG:
Look out sailor, your getting that itch again. Remember your down to two yaks now. http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/hammer.gif http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/scratch_chin.gif http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/rofl.gif

Just kidding http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Good Point, better start looking for a spare http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/hammer.gif

[HankG]

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/thumbsup.gif
Your a braver man than I Gungadin!!! http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/the_wave.gif

[Terri]

Welcome, Saltwatergal. It's great to have more women kayakers.

Beware - don't take these guys too seriously. This is a rather wild and crazy forum as you'll soon find out. But it's also full of terrific anglers who will no doubt ask you to go yakfishing with them. Just do it!

[Lt.]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">But it's also full of terrific anglers who will no doubt ask you to go yakfishing with them. Just do it! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

My kind of woman right there.. http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/thumbsup.gif

[DiddlyElmo]

Welcome. http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/the_wave.gif

[Saltwatergal]

Thanks for the warm welcome and great advice from all of you! I'm looking forward to fishing with some of you when I get a little better acclimated with my "yak". I've been enjoying reading all of your posts for a few weeks now and ya'll sound like a fun group of people to know. Catch you out there real soon http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Saltwatergal

[rcktman813]

Welcome http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif
Just remember newbies buy all the Ale & Rum for the first 30 days.

Just kidding! http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif

[Reel Rush]

Saltwatergal--http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif to the club!! Here are some quick observations on some of the characters that you will encounter on this forum and that, hopefully, you'll get to meet in person and fish with them.

If you want to hear "fish stories" (i.e., "let me tell you about the one that got away," and other fishing fantasies and all sort of excuses for not being able to go fishing), then check out LunaSea's posts--the pet snook pic will be in all of them! He has very low credibility on this forum due to his lack of qualifications (i.e., has written three books on the Everglades, works for the park service and conducts all sorts of ecological/nature tours, and has been paddling longer than Mathuselah was alive!). If you want to see Luna's fishing stories come to life (in other words, want to see a real fishing man), then see LConn's posts--even when he does not post pics, the stories will simply amuse you. If you want to know how to get "skunked" or catch "tree monkeys," look no further than me. If you need a good "rock thrower", then Sailor is the man. If you need advice on how to cook fish or are ever looking for a recipe, then Fishon is the one. If you need rigging advice/assistance, then we have KneeDeep. In need of a lawyer--no problem--we have at least one, DiddlyElmo--he just graduated, so his mind is fresh with all that esoteric knowledge and other legal mumbo jumbo. If you want to know how to have "good looking nails" while fishing, then look no further than Terri. If you want to know about Biscayne Bay and Chokoloskee, we have our Vivian! If you want to know who put the capital "D" in Derelicts, that's a guy that goes by the name of Fuzzy Bruce. If you want to meet a "morning person," we have the one and only Tad. If you want to hear some "strange" form of the English language, we have Nicepix (who joins us all the way from Jolly Old England). If you want to know about fishing in the land "down under" and, from time to time, get a good deal on a hardly used new kayak, we have HankG. And if you want to know about alcoholic beverages, then contact anyone on this forum, except me--I am a minor and do not drink! http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/rofl.gif http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/rofl.gif http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/rofl.gif As you can see, I am the only serious <STRIKE>person</STRIKE> Derelict on this forum!

By the way, you are joining the most terrific group of fishing ladies in FL (Terri, Viv, Connie--she's actually a superb photographer--the "French Honey, etc., etc.).

[Saltwatergal]

Wow! Thanks for the lowdown Reel Rush, that's quite a group you all have here. Again,it sounds like you all like to have fun and if fishin' ain't fun, why go?

[RDS]

As you can tell, the Derelicts are partial to south Dade and Flamingo, but there is some pretty good trout fishing in many of the flats north of the Grove, such as around Mercy hospital and the grass flats between the Julia Tuttle and 79th St causeways. My website has maps to most of the spots mentioned in the preceding posts.

South Florida kayaking spots (http://home.mindspring.com/%7Erspitzer/index.html)

RDS/bugdoc

[vivian]

RDS that's a wonderful website for South FL info! I am putting it into my favorites http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/thumbsup.gif

[Saltwatergal]

Thanks, RDS, you've done all the scouting and left some great directions. I can't wait for my next day off! Wish I could just retire and fish. So many places, so little time.

Saltwatergal

[vivian]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Wish I could just retire and fish. So many places, so little time. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

And with that thought, I am now going out to slay some dragons. I'll keep dreaming of that day when retirement comes true http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/thumbsup.gif

[krash]

Saltwatergal, as said b4 http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/welcome_sign.gif http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/the_wave.gif to the jungle, you will be in good company with any of the Derelicts, and thank the holy grail RR did not include myname in his list, as I may be the only normal person here, just and old fugger who likes to fish, and I'll have an un-sweetened ice tea.

RDS has pointed you to some good Trout spots, mark his launch sites, its the best public list around. As Vivian said, due to gas prices, I too plan to stay a little more local this summer and will fish mostly B-Bay on the South end.

Don't be afraid to ask, although some answers may amuse or offend you, the only bad question is the one that you don't ask.

Pleas take a few minutes, or days, and read this post The Reel Rush (http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6786086413/m/8491083583) and you'll understand us all.

[JonS]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by vivian:
[QUOTE]Wish I could just retire and fish. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I resemble that remark http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[TK AKA Seaweed]

Welcome to the board!! As you already know there is a good group of people here. Not very helpful, but very entertaining. You will notice most of the threads here get side tracked with funny stories etc. One or two informative posts and then all hell breaks loose.

Krash - I thought I was the only normal one here.

[Reel Rush]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by vivian:
RDS that's a wonderful website for South FL info! I am putting it into my favorites http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/images/maps/thumbsup.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Ditto for me! Thanks, RDS!