Cape San Blas, Florida Trip Report

Saltwater Kayak Fishing
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Another Beaufort Area Redfish Flotilla (BARF) and fellow Local Hobie Team fisherman (ST1Pilot) and I, travelled over 9 hours from Beaufort, SC to Saint Joseph Peninsula, Cape San Blas, Florida.

Why you ask? Well, we were invited by the Georgia Kayak Fishing Club to join them for 4 days of bay and surf fishing for Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder and numerous other species… As well as socializing, drinking and telling fish lies, plus a dinner Saturday Night of Frogmore Stew (AKA Lowcountry Boil).

Several members of a Montgomery Alabama Kayak Fishing Club and the Forgotten Coast Kayak Fishing Club joined us in the festivities and fishing.

They either failed to mention, or wrote in very small print, about the Sand Gnats and Mosquito’s in that place! :face_with_head_bandage: You needed friggen 20MM anti-aircraft for them dang things… :gun: You wouldn’t have been able to miss if you tried due to the sheer numbers of them… Worst of all, they seemed to like the taste of any and all bug juice almost as much as un-bug juiced skin! :roll_eyes::

We arrived on Thursday, around 3:30 P.M., and proceeded to set up camp. By 5:30 P.M., about eight of the early arrivals were out in the flats by the main boat launch, and heading out to fish the sunset. Winds were light (5 knots), the temperature was around 75 degrees. I was the last to set out from shore, having taken the time to rig my flyrod with a Olive Green and Brass Flashabou Clouser with Red dumbell eye, and my spinning rod with a inline gold spinner and white swimbait combination lure I purchased earlier in the day on the way down… All the others were only using spinning rods. (At least that’s my reason for being the last out. It had NOTHING to do with me being slow to set up.

On the way out to the grass flats, I am picking up speed in my Revolution, when suddenly, it violently pitches to one side, and I am almost a awarded a oak leaf cluster (To those of you unfamiliar with the significance of a Gold Leaf Cluster, it is a way to denote multi

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Glad you had fun. Because of the bugs, I’ve always stayed in a state cabin (which are nice). You can pull your boat right up to the bayside beach, get up in the AM and stagger to the water and be fishing in a few minutes. The wind can be treacherous and can come without warning. Fortunately it seems most fish are caught near the drop off on the bayside, so you can get shallow quickly. Unlike the low country, the species to target is very variable depending on time of year and conditions. I’ve been there at different times of the year and it takes a couple of days to get the feel. My boys and I have caught several 24"+ trout as well as Reds and buckets of Spanish. Huge Whiting and some nice flounder and Pompano. Not all at the same time however. Early in the AM on the flats in front of the cabins raiding trout and redfish can be taken when wading. Deerflies suck sometimes, and beware of late summer red tide which can build up in the bay depending on persistent wind direction, but one of the nost beautiful beaches in the US.

team hillbilly

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Dang son… you write better/ faster than I read. Sounds like ya’ll had a hell of a time. Should have made it, hopefully the job and economy will be better next year.
See ya in a few weeks for the cobia thing

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quote:
Originally posted by cutmullet

Dang son… you write better/ faster than I read. Sounds like ya’ll had a hell of a time. Should have made it, hopefully the job and economy will be better next year.
See ya in a few weeks for the cobia thing

I am pretty sure it will… Next year, I plan on spending 9 days on this trip… Drive down Saturday… Fish sun-Sat, drive home Sunday.

YotF

Those who can’t fish, spend too much on seafood!

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Was a pretty good time in FL. If I can get the time off will try and fish Cape San again in the future. Would like to head offshore and do a bit of fishing for grouper and snapper.

Next time will consider a cabin just to get away from the bugs.

Cut when will you be heading down here for the Cobia?

Eagles may soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet air intakes

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Yak,

Did you have the tools with you to repair the drive? They modified them now so that rod is a threaded in instead of held with the set-screw, makes it much nicer.

Hope you didnt have to “gasp” paddle all weekend, ewwww.

I don’t fear the Ocean, but it sure as hell has earned my respect!

2007 Regal 2120 Destiny (270hp Volvo I/O)
http://www.regalboats.com/2007/SportBoats/Destiny/2120/Features
2007 and 2008 Hobie Revolution Kayaks
http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models_revolution.html

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quote:
Originally posted by archaegeo

Yak,

Did you have the tools with you to repair the drive? They modified them now so that rod is a threaded in instead of held with the set-screw, makes it much nicer.

Hope you didnt have to “gasp” paddle all weekend, ewwww.

I don’t fear the Ocean, but it sure as hell has earned my respect!

2007 Regal 2120 Destiny (270hp Volvo I/O)
http://www.regalboats.com/2007/SportBoats/Destiny/2120/Features
2007 and 2008 Hobie Revolution Kayaks
http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models_revolution.html

Yes, I was able to repair it… Thanks to another Hobie owner having a Allen Wrench, and S1TPilot having an extra split ring when the one I had flew off while trying to repair the drive and disappeared in the sand and shells on the beach.

Lesson learned… I am making an emergency repair kit for the future… I only have to paddle that first afternoon, and a fet times when I went through REALLY Skinny water.

YotF

Those who can’t fish, spend too much on seafood!

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Sounds like yall caught some good fish and had a good time. Wish I could have made it.

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James, will be down there Friday and Sat. night (15/16th). I’m gonna try and remember, but call me prior and will put the plastic welder in the truck.

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Looking forward to fishing with you again Cut, Have a plan on were to put in for the Cobia. Several have already been caught at the spot.

What date are you thinking about heading South to fish later this month. Was not sure if it was just a trip for you and your brother to get away or if anybody else could join. I know Yakonthefly mentioned he could not make it during the week but would try to head down for the weekend. I will still be off work but did not won’t to show up if this was just a trip for the 2 of you.

Eagles may soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet air intakes

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Brother says he prob. can’t make it. I got Mon-Fri night starting May 25th. I’ll know more in a few weeks.