- Sun Jun 16, 2019 8:51 pm
#2287705
Guys, this is my 1st post. (Im very active on Rokslide under FlyGuy if anyone here ventures onto that site any).
Short intro - 45, resident of The Woodlands. Coon ass, born and raised in Gonzales, LA. Did a lot of fishing out of Grand Isle, LA as a kid and then a lot more after college. I actually thought I knew what I was doing back then as we seemed to catch plenty of fish, but a big evinrude engine paired with a small fortune in live shrimp under corks will do that to you. Quit fishing after Katrina, moved to Dallas then Lubbock and now North Houston. Bought a used hobie a few years back while living inland and found out I really suck at Bass fishing too. Been down here for 3 years now and today I FINALLY got my kayak down into some salt water.
It was great to get back out there, but I clearly need some help. Big ole goose-egg for me this morning, so I’m hoping you experienced guys can do a little post mortem analysis on where I went wrong?
I put in this morning at the end of Sportsman’s Rd in West Bay, which is where I “think” I went wrong (?). One thing I’m learning about kayak fishing is that you really need to nail down the right location to fish before you leave the house, based on conditions, b/c you sure ain’t going to just get up on plane and run around to another side of the island if things are slow.
After waking up at 4am, I was finally on the water just after 8 (I know, I’m a little rusty, 1st trip in a while). It was Very windy. South Wind. Forecast said 15-25 but it felt like a constant 30-35. Water looked pretty murky but I have no real baseline for what normal is.
I covered water until 2pm and never got a single hit. Did everything I know to do (which isn’t much), and threw just about everything in my tackle box. Mostly grassline edges, hitting wind blown points hoping for a lurking redfish. Got into several spots that were “alive” with activity and fish swirling, but nothing biting? Idk what was moving around, seemed to be reacting to my casts (moving away). Figured it was mullet? Some baitfish? Birds were never heavily working an area. I watched hard for any tailing reds but never caught anything. Would have been difficult to see in most of the water as the surface was capping in except for protected waters. Tried to use the wind to my advantage, drifting along grass lines and setting up on little channel cuts that had a hard current blowing through them.
I started with a big top water as a locator, walking the dog and making noise. Alternated in a corky (original) and a badonk-a-donk. Nothin.
Traded out the top water for a doa under a big popping cork after the sun got up higher. Even tried topping it with some dead shrimp. Nope.
Then a white plastic magic spinner with gold blade. Then a 1/4oz jig with white and pink paddle tail, and a medium spoon (silver).
I covered ~ 4 miles making a loop south. The water was shallow, about 1.5 - 2’ deep for almost the entire day. (I wanted to try out front, but the surf looked to rough to even think about it). Water temp was 83-86. I was hoping to find some holes or channels but never really came across anything like that out there. I’m guessing the fish were just not in that area, maybe in cooler temp waters in deeper areas? I tried making it out to a couple areas that might have deeper water but with that strong south wind it was just a beat-down.
At 2pm I called it a day. I was completely out of ideas.
Not a total bust though. I now know 1 spot NOT to fish in mid-June with a strong South Wind. HaHa! It was nice to finally get over the hump and get out there. I can’t get out there nearly as much as I’d like (special needs son at home), but once every 6 weeks is my target.
Appreciate any knowledge you would be willing to share!
Happy Father’s Day to everyone out there.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Short intro - 45, resident of The Woodlands. Coon ass, born and raised in Gonzales, LA. Did a lot of fishing out of Grand Isle, LA as a kid and then a lot more after college. I actually thought I knew what I was doing back then as we seemed to catch plenty of fish, but a big evinrude engine paired with a small fortune in live shrimp under corks will do that to you. Quit fishing after Katrina, moved to Dallas then Lubbock and now North Houston. Bought a used hobie a few years back while living inland and found out I really suck at Bass fishing too. Been down here for 3 years now and today I FINALLY got my kayak down into some salt water.
It was great to get back out there, but I clearly need some help. Big ole goose-egg for me this morning, so I’m hoping you experienced guys can do a little post mortem analysis on where I went wrong?
I put in this morning at the end of Sportsman’s Rd in West Bay, which is where I “think” I went wrong (?). One thing I’m learning about kayak fishing is that you really need to nail down the right location to fish before you leave the house, based on conditions, b/c you sure ain’t going to just get up on plane and run around to another side of the island if things are slow.
After waking up at 4am, I was finally on the water just after 8 (I know, I’m a little rusty, 1st trip in a while). It was Very windy. South Wind. Forecast said 15-25 but it felt like a constant 30-35. Water looked pretty murky but I have no real baseline for what normal is.
I covered water until 2pm and never got a single hit. Did everything I know to do (which isn’t much), and threw just about everything in my tackle box. Mostly grassline edges, hitting wind blown points hoping for a lurking redfish. Got into several spots that were “alive” with activity and fish swirling, but nothing biting? Idk what was moving around, seemed to be reacting to my casts (moving away). Figured it was mullet? Some baitfish? Birds were never heavily working an area. I watched hard for any tailing reds but never caught anything. Would have been difficult to see in most of the water as the surface was capping in except for protected waters. Tried to use the wind to my advantage, drifting along grass lines and setting up on little channel cuts that had a hard current blowing through them.
I started with a big top water as a locator, walking the dog and making noise. Alternated in a corky (original) and a badonk-a-donk. Nothin.
Traded out the top water for a doa under a big popping cork after the sun got up higher. Even tried topping it with some dead shrimp. Nope.
Then a white plastic magic spinner with gold blade. Then a 1/4oz jig with white and pink paddle tail, and a medium spoon (silver).
I covered ~ 4 miles making a loop south. The water was shallow, about 1.5 - 2’ deep for almost the entire day. (I wanted to try out front, but the surf looked to rough to even think about it). Water temp was 83-86. I was hoping to find some holes or channels but never really came across anything like that out there. I’m guessing the fish were just not in that area, maybe in cooler temp waters in deeper areas? I tried making it out to a couple areas that might have deeper water but with that strong south wind it was just a beat-down.
At 2pm I called it a day. I was completely out of ideas.
Not a total bust though. I now know 1 spot NOT to fish in mid-June with a strong South Wind. HaHa! It was nice to finally get over the hump and get out there. I can’t get out there nearly as much as I’d like (special needs son at home), but once every 6 weeks is my target.
Appreciate any knowledge you would be willing to share!
Happy Father’s Day to everyone out there.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro