So i put m kayak in seaside creek on James Island today and was planning to paddle out into Clark sound and fish for a while while the tide was up…WELL>>>>>>>>…I was paddling against the tide on the way out(i should have realized that I guess) and was trying to troll some bait but I kept getting hung in the grass when the creek turned! Then when I finally got out I lost around 5 rigs and artificial baits from getting hung in oyster beds (i guess) and kept getting my lines tangled together because I could not figure out how to use my anchor at first. Finally I got to a decent spot and caught a freakin sting ray!!! I fished a few minutes longer and had 3 minnows eaten by craps and decided to head back in, but…the tide was headed out by then and I paddled for a LOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGGGGG time to get back in against the current.
SO can anybody offer up advice to me about how to avoid the problems that I encountered this morning? Ive heard that oyster beds are a good place to fish but getting hung in them sucks!!!
Also how do you troll baits correctly? what do you troll?
Sorry so long…I am really excited about learning to kayak fish, but I have a lot to learn!! Obviously
There are several things that can help in this situation. First when ever you are fishing an area it is crucial to be aware of the tidal situation so that you can be prepared for the current flow. Second anytime that I am fishing a new area I like to make sure that I fish that area at low tide first. This will give me the chance to make a mental map of the areas that will be covered by water at a higher tide. It will help you learn where the fish may be holding as well as where not to put out your baits.
Check out the KayakFishSC website and look at our 101 kayak fishing course. This is something that you be able to benifit from. Also look into getting a stake out pole. It something I do not leave home without. The ability to just stick that in the bottom versus wondering if my anchor will stick can be a big plus. I will be giving a kayak fishing class at Haddrell’s on the 18th of August that may be provide you with some good tools as well. I will post more about it soon.
“The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad.” </font id=“size2”> “Go Big or Go Home!” </font id=“size2”>
Most of those problems will go with practice. Been there. My first time I thought I was wasting time with nothing in marsh so I pattled in it and saw several reds scatter. Won’t do that again. Let alone the millions of bugs and marsh grass in everything.
I usually use a grub on a colored jighead when I troll … You can adjust your depth depending on what size jighead you use, and the speed you are floating at…Also if your using braided line, make sure u use a shock leader …I generally use a peice of mono or flourcarbon …That will help reduce the number of break offs…If your using a spinning reel, There is a trick you can do to help get stuff out from being hung up …If you will hold a good bit of tension on the line ( kinda like fighting a fish), open up your bail and let the line go loose then reel back up on it …Do that a few times and you will get your stuff back most of the time…
Oyster beds are a great place to fish…If I see one I wanna fish, I will find a away to hold myself in that area and cast all around it…Most of the time im using jigs or gulp shimp in these areas…
In my opinion, the best thing u can do to learn the ropes is the find a few friends to go with …Also the more you go out and get expereince, you will learn from your mistakes…
I mainly post over on sckayakfishing.com. I have learned so much from the guys on there and have become a decent kayak fisherman in the process. Any questions I have had the guys over there hook me up with great help. Plus I have met some really good fishing buddies from there too. I was right were you are a 1.5 years ago, and I was ready to give up a few times. But with the help of those folks over there, I am hooked.
