Every man has his “unicorn.” The one seemingly unattainable dream, accomplishment or endeavor that has, does, and will continue to elude his grasp. When most people think about unicorns, they think of beautiful white horses running across vibrant green fields. For me, they always have some variation of silver, green or brown colors and need gills to breath underwater. You see my unicorn has many faces, but it is always a fish. This brings me to my most recent fishing adventure.
Florida is one heck of state if you’re a fisherman. With dozens of unique species and habitats, it is one of the most storied fishing destinations worldwide for good reason. When I was approached to join the ‘Bass on the Road’ crew for a second kayak fishing film, I immediately agreed. I then asked “Where we goin?” In order to return the favor from the first film, Bob Bramblet and Jim Van Pelt offered to host the follow up project on their home turf… South Florida.
My first thought was of a unicorn began swimming around in my mind. The first species that came to mind was the fabled peacock bass. With only a handful of places to catch them, these fish would certainly take center stage. If the peacock bass isn’t on your bucket list, it’s time to make a new list. I had been lucky enough to land the snook of a lifetime in 2006 while on a trip with my good friend Jon Austin. But I had yet to land one from a kayak. Furthermore I had never had a shot a tarpon, Mayan cichlid or an oscar. All of these species in one place made for an incredible opportunity.
In Florida, fellow River Stalker teammate Eric Hughes and I met up with Bob, Jim and the film crew. We were now in the Everglades. The fishing began immediately, and in earnest. With the first day slotted for a lot of planning and filming, we hit the water just after daylight. I found myself surrounded by fish that, before that moment, I had only dreamed of. I expected that I would be ready, practiced and be able to fall into my standard kayak fishing routine. Truth be told, I was awe struck. While I began casting, searching and hunting on autopilot, I slowly realized I had no target. The tables had turned. These fish weren’t in my element; I was in theirs.
Over the next three days, I began to piece the puzzle together. With the help of local knowledge, time on the water and lots of lost fish, I had gathered enough information to take advantage of what the fish offered. While in a small lake, I spotted what I had come to recognize as a telltale swirl of a feeding tarpon. I placed a jerkbait right on the tip of his nose. It seemed like an eternity while I waited and prepared myself for what I expected to be a dirty fight. In a flash the tarpon obliged. The fish immediately shot toward the sky with a power I had never felt in any other fish. I weathered the first jump, the second and nearly the third. Once the chrome-plated tank had sent the bait back at the boat, I have no doubt he wore the smirk of victory. Contrary to what you might expect, my smile was even larger.
Another remote canal would see a small peacock bass come to hand, along with a curious oscar. One of our final duties was to shoot an “into/closing” scene at a nearby park. Upon our arrival, we found a field of tarpon and snook waiting for us in a small back bay. Eric and I wasted no time launching out kayaks into the dark brackish water. Within minutes I was hooked into a large snook. The linesider fought harder than I remembered. Was I going to be able to actually cross all of the species I had hoped for off the list? After a prolonged game of give and take, the fish finally rewarded me with a visit to the net. After lots of victorious yells and cheers, I was able to savor the unlikely victory.
This film will chronicle the search for incredible fish by a group of kayak-fishing friends. More importantly, for me, it will bring to life the images and experiences that helped me live out a lifelong dream. ‘Bass on the Road’ is much more than a kayak fishing film in the Florida Everglades. It’s a model for an adventure that anyone can recreate. Florida is a field of dreams if you’re into pursuing exotic species of trophy fish. It’s also a great place to catch a unicorn.
For more info on the Bass on The Road series, check out this video trailer of our Everglades adventure: http://vimeo.com/99592370.
Stewart Venable is a member of the Jackson Kayak Fishing Team and on the pro staff of these companies: Dobyns, YakAttack, Bending Branches, Georgia Kayak Adventures and Ram Mounts. He is also a chapter coordinator for Heroes on the Water. Contact him at (704) 307-9427.
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