Uploaded August 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I remember a time when the fish were plentiful. Schools of Jacks would meander about, destroying bait in impressive displays, and bringing home a meal was not that hard to do after a short time on a kayak. Dang! If I'm not sounding like an old man, but even the younger crowd of anglers in Tampa seem to be experiencing the same thing. Perhaps it's a just cycle like so many things in life go through. Or perhaps I've been relying on artificial baits too much? I went out for a few days with the old standby live bait to test the waters. Shrimp could always get me a tug back in the day. And after drowning a bunch, for a bunch of hours, I got a big fat skunk for my efforts. The next day, my little wriggly baits had turned pink and stinky and still failed to slay the competition. One small redfish did play along early on, which only led to me sittin there, floating and hoping in vain for a bunch more hours. Just when my expectations were spent, I remembered my buddy Steve's many successes trolling a paddletail on a jighead. Many folk actually have told me that they seldom paddle along without dragging a lure behind them. 'Just in case'. So, before I gave up the good fight, I worked the artificials that have done me right for so long. Even back in my earliest days of kayak fishing, I'd marvel at how, especially trout, would bite a lure, even when it was doubtful that they were hungry. It was like a territorial thing. They couldn't stand to see such an arrogant little thing waltzing past their spot like it owned the place. And WHAM! Just as it was back then, my little paddle-tailed piece of plastic did the trick. It would seem that fish might learn after years of getting fooled by shrimp, that they ought not eat them! But they haven't yet developed the restraint of willpower to resist the quick little fake lure that presents itself just right. Some things never change. I'm glad I have moved up in the world enough to have access to such nice and comfortable kayaks. And I wonder about where the Jacks are. And why the bite doesn't seem to be as good as it once was. I doubt myself during those times. But when I AM lucky enough to bring home a fish for dinner, I know for sure a technique that always works for cookin em up!
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You can find Marty on Facebook here- facebook.com/lovekayak.fishing
To seek out the Pelican Catch Mode, click here:
amzn.to/4bFIElz
Amazon sales earn me commissions. Thank you!
Don't forget my friend's who coined 'Stinkie Pinkies'
youtube.com/@UCZ8iDmKIc7IP1EDnmXthwfA
Last, but not least, are my favorite soft plastic lure people;
fishstrong.com
I remember a time when the fish were plentiful. Schools of Jacks would meander about, destroying bait in impressive displays, and bringing home a meal was not that hard to do after a short time on a kayak. Dang! If I'm not sounding like an old man, but even the younger crowd of anglers in Tampa seem to be experiencing the same thing. Perhaps it's a just cycle like so many things in life go through. Or perhaps I've been relying on artificial baits too much? I went out for a few days with the old standby live bait to test the waters. Shrimp could always get me a tug back in the day. And after drowning a bunch, for a bunch of hours, I got a big fat skunk for my efforts. The next day, my little wriggly baits had turned pink and stinky and still failed to slay the competition. One small redfish did play along early on, which only led to me sittin there, floating and hoping in vain for a bunch more hours. Just when my expectations were spent, I remembered my buddy Steve's many successes trolling a paddletail on a jighead. Many folk actually have told me that they seldom paddle along without dragging a lure behind them. 'Just in case'. So, before I gave up the good fight, I worked the artificials that have done me right for so long. Even back in my earliest days of kayak fishing, I'd marvel at how, especially trout, would bite a lure, even when it was doubtful that they were hungry. It was like a territorial thing. They couldn't stand to see such an arrogant little thing waltzing past their spot like it owned the place. And WHAM! Just as it was back then, my little paddle-tailed piece of plastic did the trick. It would seem that fish might learn after years of getting fooled by shrimp, that they ought not eat them! But they haven't yet developed the restraint of willpower to resist the quick little fake lure that presents itself just right. Some things never change. I'm glad I have moved up in the world enough to have access to such nice and comfortable kayaks. And I wonder about where the Jacks are. And why the bite doesn't seem to be as good as it once was. I doubt myself during those times. But when I AM lucky enough to bring home a fish for dinner, I know for sure a technique that always works for cookin em up!
--
You can find Marty on Facebook here- facebook.com/lovekayak.fishing
To seek out the Pelican Catch Mode, click here:
amzn.to/4bFIElz
Amazon sales earn me commissions. Thank you!
Don't forget my friend's who coined 'Stinkie Pinkies'
youtube.com/@UCZ8iDmKIc7IP1EDnmXthwfA
Last, but not least, are my favorite soft plastic lure people;
fishstrong.com
