My 3rd shakedown cruise on the 2019 Hobie Outback. It turned out to be an extremely windy day. I was lucky enough to grab a couple of nice trout and several small reds. Fighting the wind and current back to the launch was tough but the Outback performed well. I am trying to figure this new yak out, but every trip gives me new ideas to think about before I get it rigged the way I want.
A shout out to PAC Kayak Rentals for hosting Redfish Roundup this past weekend! I was able to pull in 5 fish: 1 undersize, 2 oversize, 1 keeper, and 1 non-species. Many nice stringers were weighed in but the usual heavy hitters stole the show. It was a great time and many thanks to Eddie and Lisa for putting on a great tournament! Here's a few of my highlights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIm7fPqfQIc
A nice, quiet, and peaceful morning in 'da' marsh. First cast and foul hooked a new PB for my smallest speckled trout!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCxvv3XmPW4
Went looking for trout but couldn't catch a single one. I was still lucky to land him even though he and the surf beached my yak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqlD7aDrWkk
A few hook ups from a lazy Tuesday morning in 'da' marsh before the storms brewed up.
What is that in the beginning? Otters?
There was about 6 of them just popping up and saying high and then go under to only pop up again.
Anyway- post tropical storm Gordon trip. Literally fished for 17 minutes.
The trailing bands from the storm ran me off. But I was lucky to hook up early on and go for a ride!
A few highlights from a quick trip the other morning before the afternoon storms rolled in. Even though the water was dirty, I was still able to sight quite a few fish. Hooked several and spooked a lot more.
I started out my day looking for Jacks in Lake Pontchartrain. I had my big reel spooled with 60# braid and a live target popper. Not that I was expecting any trout, I also brought along my little trout rig spooled with 20# braid, a 12# mono leader and a mambo mullet.
After about 2 hours of seeing plenty of mullet and bait, I didnât see any signs of the Jacks. I decided to call it a trip and started making my way back. While heading in, I tossed out the trout rig then all hell broke loose!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEtr6LVl8Sk
Practiced a little bit with a top water this morning. Had several 'suck downs' but no real blow ups. Missed more than I caught- but a single top water strike is more exciting than catching several fish with a subsurface lure.
I just canât stay away from PAC! Made another trip the other day and was able to get a few nice slot reds, a few rats, and even a couple of specks before the lighting and rain chased us off.
I finally broke my jinx of catching nothing but rat reds lately. Still caught one rat (and lost a few) but then I realized the bigger ones were towards the middle of the pond. Sight casted 9 and was able to land 6 ranging from 22' to 26' with the largest one right at 27'. Here's 3 of them.
Very low and dirty water but I was able to get on a few rats and a pretty nice slot on a short trip before it got to hot.
Got on a few rats in PAC yesterday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tAa3mcu86E
Got on a little rat red bite the other day with a fellow angler. We fished for about 4 hours and called it quits due to the normal afternoon lighting and rain squalls getting to close. We stopped twice due to the lighting and luckily we found shelter to stay away from it. We got a few hair standing strikes and a couple of wet a$$âs. Yaâll be careful out there!
I made another quick trip back to PAC and hooked up several times but was only able to pull in 3. I had a few real good hits on a fluke but didnât set the hook in time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldgmnTa-HLM
Drizzly overcast day but I had to go fishing.
I didn't make it past my first stop. The bite was sporadic but it was there. Then I got bit.
1 rat, several misses, and a flesh wound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcJRpMyuf1I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x3_EmEcJZI
Got on a few rats and even a couple trout early on. Went into the ponds and saw a lot of bait. Sight casted a few but missed more than I caught. A few highlights and then some lowlights at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qiE2Z8ofGg
A few more from the other day. After that 33' skinny bull almost broke off my smaller reel, I swapped over to a larger reel and caught 5 more. None of them were as long as the previous fish but they were fatter. Maybe I could have kept using the 2500 RD Sienna? Here's a couple more that I caught on film.
It's the right lure. Is it the wrong reel?
An ode to my little Shimano RD Sienna and a Red.
Fought the wind today to pull out a few rats and a nice slot right at 27'. Here's a few I caught on video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXGEUdsrEh8
Mandevillian is correct. You can launch there- just make sure to not trash the area. A lot of people use that spot and tend to leave lots of trash. I fear if it doesn't stop that spot will become off limits.
Or you turn right onto Lakeview Dr. (like you are heading to The Dock) and go to the very end of the road where Vera's used to be. Good spot to launch there also.
Definitely otters.
It's not a secret!
'Seabrook public boat launch'
Stay away when there is a north wind.
It's all about money. If you fish- you should have a license.
People who bank fish are low hanging fruit. LADWF can check a lot of people in a short amount of time without even launching a boat. Does quota ring a bell? It's easy to ticket and gain money if bank fishermen don't have a license. I am good with it- as long as the money is being used for enforcement, search and rescue, resource preservation, research etc...
On the other hand- I wish they would just sit around and write tickets for people littering. They could probably get more money that way.
Nice!
I landed a gafftop last week on a topwater while searching for Jacks out there. That was definitely a first for me.
No.
Years ago it was a boat launch named Tites.
Not sure who owns it now. This past year or two whoever owns it rebuilt a camp there. However, I have never seen them run anyone off or even try to prevent anyone from using it. It really upsets me when I launch there and see trash all over the place. I always try to make it a little cleaner than I found it when I go there. If people keep trashing the place I am pretty sure it will eventually become off limits.
Oh... Danno- congrats on getting back on the water. We need to hook up. I believe I still have your email. I'll shoot ya something next time I go. Actually went looking for Jacks in the Lake this morning. It was to rough and I never even launched.
Thanks! He was 35'. Yeah trying to keep him away from the pilings was tough. I kept telling myself the whole time that if he didn't snap that 12# mono leader he was gonna wrap a pile and that would be it. Luck also helps!
Agree!
Sent ya an email.
Nice!
The road used to be bad. After they finished all the work on the beach last year the road was ok. It's been about 4 months since I have been there but it was ok for a RV then.
Guys- it's a commercial. He's advertising for his products.
Nonetheless- it's great!
I was targeting bass with that set up. After I realized what kind of day it might be, I swapped over to a larger setup.
Nothing but work for me the past 3 months.
Hoping to get out there Thursday.
No. Just looked again and you are correct. Kinda strange.
Caught one a few months ago in the same area and I would swear it was a red but afterwards I thought it was a black drum. Wonder if there is some cross pollination going on out there between blacks n reds? Thanks for pointing that out!
The northshore is really hit and miss when it comes to salt/brackish water fishing. The various interstate ponds usually hold some pretty nice bass. Keep at it... since kayak fishing is a whole different game. Once you get the hang of it you will be hooked. Then for more action head over to Shell Beach, Delacroix, PAC or down Hwy 1.
D@t's a monster! Nice job!
Here's a link to an older post. Scroll thru it and you will find some info about what is private- basically most of the marsh south of Hwy1 from the new toll bridge just about up to the first small bridge and south to the gulf.
https://www.louisianasportsman.com/lpca/index.php?section=reports&event=view&action=full_report&id=182604
The state has a website but I can't find the link. It doesn't work very well but if you play around with it you should be able to find some good info. It might be inside that post.
Nice haul Danno!
I didn't do as you the other day- I only caught 117!
I'm with bluediamonddent on that one- watch those fins!
Neither.
I would head down hwy 23... just saying!