Was down in North Palm Beach visiting Mom and went to Joh McArthur State Park for some fishing. I rented an OK from the nature center and paddled on the west side of the park - it was about 9:30 am and the wind was honking out of the east. I picked up some Berkley Power baits in menhaden color from Lott's Fishing Tackle along with my 3 day license and was throwing along the mangroves. The water was cool but the sun was warm - so no waders. I was using my 3-piece St Croix trout rod and the usual Shimano with 10 lb test. The St. Croix is a nice rod - it casts good but could put the hurt on the jacks.
This stupid cormorant was hanging around the launch spot so I obliged him and took a picture of him. It added to my enjoyment that I was right on top of him.
Plenty of water - outgoing tide and lots of bait around. The jacks came in and starting crashing bait like crazy and like a crazed gambler I had to throw at them. I probably could have thrown rocks on a hook and hooked one but they obliged me and hung onto the bait for me. 10 minutes later after I gave the folks on the walkway a cheap thrill I pulled in a nice jack. See picture below. This went on until the jacks got tired of it and went some where else to get molested.
The 'cuda came next -they started cutting off the tails on the powerbaits so I put a stinger on the bait and hauled one in for the fun ...and the stink. No picture - it was a baby.
About that time I stung something big and it hauled off into the mangroves like it lived there. I think it was a modest sized snook that caught me napping cause I just couldn't turn it. I worked the mangroves pretty good trying to pull out another hit but Mr. Snook was boycotting me.
I paddled out under the bridge toward Munyon Island and saw something hitting bait right at the color change on an outgoing tide. It looked familiar so I threw into the mix and pulled out a speck - nice sized and good color. I couldn't raise any more so he went back for another day.
By then the tide was going out pretty good and the fish turned off so I called it good and put the kayak back and went looking for a brew.
I was a nice deal to rent the yak - it was $25 for a little under 3 hours.
Florida jacks and trout
Florida jacks and trout
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- Assault the Salt
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