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Freshwater Kayak Fishing – Exploring Florida’s Sweetwater Angling
Words: Steve Gibson
Photos: Al White, Steve Gibson, Tim Brown, Jerry Sparks
Kayak fishing has been taking both the kayaking and fishing worlds by storm in the last five years. If in the beginning it was mostly on the coastline that kayak fishing was spreading, the movement is now slowly reaching the lakesides and riverbanks. Steve Gibson, a fishing guide in Florida, takes us on a tour of some of his favorite spots and shares with us his passion: freshwater kayak fishing.
The sun had yet to peep above the beautiful tall, stately oak trees as I launched my Heritage Redfish 12 at Lake Manatee, a 2,500-acre body of water located east of Bradenton, Florida. Not surprisingly, I was the only craft on the lake as I set out for my favorite spot. That’s not always the case on weekends, but pretty much standard during the week. As I paddled, I was greeted by one of the most gorgeous sunrises I’d seen in a quite a while. The eastern sky was a brilliant orange and was only broken up by a few clouds. It was captivating. Surely, I’d catch fish – I always do on the lake – but even if I didn’t, the day was already to my liking.
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Kayak fishing is very popular in Florida and throughout the country. The legion of paddling anglers is growing daily as evidenced by peaking kayak and tackle sales. Kayaks and fishing go hand-in-hand as kayaks are the perfect vessel for stealthy fishing on the shallow flats. In most cases, intrepid anglers can literally slip up on game fish unnoticed. However, a majority of those launching their sit-on-top, tricked-out fishing kayaks choose to fish in salt water, and freshwater kayakers often find themselves in relative obscurity. It's seems as if the kayak phenomena has yet to make the transition from salt to sweet, at least in Florida.
Maybe it's the lure of salt water, or it could be that anglers are attracted to marine fish that are most often larger, speedier and more powerful than their freshwater counterparts. That might be true. But those who match their tackle to the species they're seeking will find that bass, bluegill, crappie and other species aren't the slouches they may have envisioned. The beauty of freshwater kayak fishing is that the only limit you'll have is your imagination. Florida has thousands of lakes, rivers, creeks and ponds from which to choose. And most contain a decent population of fish. If you can find a place to launch, then you're in business.
For me, it’s a chance to get away. Fishing allows me to forget finances, bills and whatever else I might have on my mind. It’s an instant catharsis. I get lost in the sport and that’s quite OK with me. I often find myself mesmerized while out on the water. Sunrises are beautiful; sunsets breathtaking. And there’s always a myriad of waterfowl, birds and other creatures at which to marvel. I carry a digital camera on every trip and have found myself taking more pictures than catching fish on more than one occasion. Lake Manatee not only produces hefty largemouth bass, hand-sized bluegill, shellcracker, speckled perch and giant channel catfish, but it is also a beautiful, ever-present photo opportunity.
Of course, if you paddle on Florida’s fresh waters, you’ll encounter the ever-present alligator. They’ve been around forever and are plentiful. In the wild, gators are little problem. Most often they’ll simply swim away, not wanting a human encounter of the close kind. They don’t feel comfortable around humans and will do their best to avoid contact. There are always exceptions and it’s wise to be able to understand when they occur. If you meet a gator that’s hell-bent on standing its ground, it’s wise to give way. If you encounter baby alligators that are a foot long, it’s time to get the heck out of Dodge. Newly hatched gators mean momma, who is very protective, is lurking nearby. It’s good to avoid this situation. I’ve never had a scary meeting with a gator, but I respect them and keep my distance. For the most part, wildlife encounters are frequent and fun. Moor hens, purple gallinules, rails, a variety of ducks and the ever-present anhinga inhabit virtually every Florida lake. And there are always great blue heron, osprey, great white egret and others. Every once in a while you might encounter a bald eagle, hawk or woodpecker.
I love to drive a couple of hours south to fish Florida’s Everglades. In addition to bass, bluegill and shellcracker, you’ll get a chance to fish for and catch the exotics: oscar and Mayan cichlids. State fisheries biologists probably don’t like non-native fish being in the waterways, but it’s likely way too late to do anything about it. They’ve been around since the 1950s, probably gaining a foothold when they were dumped into a pond or canals by a home aquarium enthusiast who was moving and didn’t want the trouble of transporting tropical fish. Since the exotics are here to stay, I don’t mind fishing for them. They don’t get much larger than a couple of pounds, but they’re much stronger and faster than most other freshwater species. I used to think that bluegill, a member of the sunfish family, was about as strong as it gets. That was until I met the exotics.
It’s often hard to know what to expect when it comes to the fishing you’ll find on any given day, but one thing that’s constant is the beauty and wildlife of the Everglades. I live about two hours north and try to get down that way a couple of times a month late fall through spring. June through October is off-limits for me in the ‘Glades because of the rainy season, heat and mosquitoes. Mosquitoes rule in the ‘Glades. and even the most intrepid kayaker lathered up in potent bug dope and clothing is no match for South Florida’s skeeters.
The Everglades are full of gators, so be prepared. In addition to gators, the area has a variety of wildlife, including swallow-tailed kites, kingfishers, great blue herons, egrets and others. Although I’ve never had a snake encounter, I know that water moccasins are present. These reptiles can be aggressive and should be avoided. That’s why I always make sure of where I put my feet and hands. Even though I like to fish with a fly rod, spinning and spincast enthusiasts will also succeed.
Bass are probably the biggest attraction in the Everglades and it’s no wonder. Trophy fish of 8 pounds or more are fairly plentiful. I’ve taken bass to nearly 6 pounds on my tiny fly rods.
My Heritage Redfish is made for fishing. It comes with two flush-mounted rod holders behind the seat and has another rod holder on the console. I added a rudder and it comes in handy when I’m drifting the shallows and casting. In addition, I added an anchor trolley on the left side, which allows me to anchor at any point along the kayak. That makes it possible to always face the direction I want to cast. Most of the time, however, I fish while drifting and only anchor when there’s a strong wind. I carry all my tackle in a milk crate that sits directly behind me in the Redfish’s tankwell. I attached rod holders to the crate and can carry three extra rods if I choose.
I used to fish from powerboats all around the state. But since I discovered kayaks, I haven’t had to worry about powerheads and wheel bearings on the trailer, fouled sparkplugs, or buying gas. Now all I have to think about is catching fish. And I've found that's pretty simple in fresh water.
Steve Gibson owns and operates Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing in Sarasota, Florida. For more information go to www.kayakfishingsarasota.com
Words: Steve Gibson
Photos: Al White, Steve Gibson, Tim Brown, Jerry Sparks
Kayak fishing has been taking both the kayaking and fishing worlds by storm in the last five years. If in the beginning it was mostly on the coastline that kayak fishing was spreading, the movement is now slowly reaching the lakesides and riverbanks. Steve Gibson, a fishing guide in Florida, takes us on a tour of some of his favorite spots and shares with us his passion: freshwater kayak fishing.
The sun had yet to peep above the beautiful tall, stately oak trees as I launched my Heritage Redfish 12 at Lake Manatee, a 2,500-acre body of water located east of Bradenton, Florida. Not surprisingly, I was the only craft on the lake as I set out for my favorite spot. That’s not always the case on weekends, but pretty much standard during the week. As I paddled, I was greeted by one of the most gorgeous sunrises I’d seen in a quite a while. The eastern sky was a brilliant orange and was only broken up by a few clouds. It was captivating. Surely, I’d catch fish – I always do on the lake – but even if I didn’t, the day was already to my liking.
">Maybe it's the lure of salt water, or it could be that anglers are attracted to marine fish that are most often larger, speedier and more powerful than their freshwater counterparts. That might be true. But those who match their tackle to the species they're seeking will find that bass, bluegill, crappie and other species aren't the slouches they may have envisioned. The beauty of freshwater kayak fishing is that the only limit you'll have is your imagination. Florida has thousands of lakes, rivers, creeks and ponds from which to choose. And most contain a decent population of fish. If you can find a place to launch, then you're in business.
Of course, if you paddle on Florida’s fresh waters, you’ll encounter the ever-present alligator. They’ve been around forever and are plentiful. In the wild, gators are little problem. Most often they’ll simply swim away, not wanting a human encounter of the close kind. They don’t feel comfortable around humans and will do their best to avoid contact. There are always exceptions and it’s wise to be able to understand when they occur. If you meet a gator that’s hell-bent on standing its ground, it’s wise to give way. If you encounter baby alligators that are a foot long, it’s time to get the heck out of Dodge. Newly hatched gators mean momma, who is very protective, is lurking nearby. It’s good to avoid this situation. I’ve never had a scary meeting with a gator, but I respect them and keep my distance. For the most part, wildlife encounters are frequent and fun. Moor hens, purple gallinules, rails, a variety of ducks and the ever-present anhinga inhabit virtually every Florida lake. And there are always great blue heron, osprey, great white egret and others. Every once in a while you might encounter a bald eagle, hawk or woodpecker.
I love to drive a couple of hours south to fish Florida’s Everglades. In addition to bass, bluegill and shellcracker, you’ll get a chance to fish for and catch the exotics: oscar and Mayan cichlids. State fisheries biologists probably don’t like non-native fish being in the waterways, but it’s likely way too late to do anything about it. They’ve been around since the 1950s, probably gaining a foothold when they were dumped into a pond or canals by a home aquarium enthusiast who was moving and didn’t want the trouble of transporting tropical fish. Since the exotics are here to stay, I don’t mind fishing for them. They don’t get much larger than a couple of pounds, but they’re much stronger and faster than most other freshwater species. I used to think that bluegill, a member of the sunfish family, was about as strong as it gets. That was until I met the exotics.
It’s often hard to know what to expect when it comes to the fishing you’ll find on any given day, but one thing that’s constant is the beauty and wildlife of the Everglades. I live about two hours north and try to get down that way a couple of times a month late fall through spring. June through October is off-limits for me in the ‘Glades because of the rainy season, heat and mosquitoes. Mosquitoes rule in the ‘Glades. and even the most intrepid kayaker lathered up in potent bug dope and clothing is no match for South Florida’s skeeters.
The Everglades are full of gators, so be prepared. In addition to gators, the area has a variety of wildlife, including swallow-tailed kites, kingfishers, great blue herons, egrets and others. Although I’ve never had a snake encounter, I know that water moccasins are present. These reptiles can be aggressive and should be avoided. That’s why I always make sure of where I put my feet and hands. Even though I like to fish with a fly rod, spinning and spincast enthusiasts will also succeed.
Bass are probably the biggest attraction in the Everglades and it’s no wonder. Trophy fish of 8 pounds or more are fairly plentiful. I’ve taken bass to nearly 6 pounds on my tiny fly rods.
My Heritage Redfish is made for fishing. It comes with two flush-mounted rod holders behind the seat and has another rod holder on the console. I added a rudder and it comes in handy when I’m drifting the shallows and casting. In addition, I added an anchor trolley on the left side, which allows me to anchor at any point along the kayak. That makes it possible to always face the direction I want to cast. Most of the time, however, I fish while drifting and only anchor when there’s a strong wind. I carry all my tackle in a milk crate that sits directly behind me in the Redfish’s tankwell. I attached rod holders to the crate and can carry three extra rods if I choose.
I used to fish from powerboats all around the state. But since I discovered kayaks, I haven’t had to worry about powerheads and wheel bearings on the trailer, fouled sparkplugs, or buying gas. Now all I have to think about is catching fish. And I've found that's pretty simple in fresh water.
Steve Gibson owns and operates Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing in Sarasota, Florida. For more information go to www.kayakfishingsarasota.com
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