[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ummer is officially here. It’s time for those early mornings on the water before the sunrise, a cup of coffee, and a topwater getting exploded on. It just sets the tone for the day. Early, on calm wind days, we have been throwing the spook jr. in bone and mullet pattern with good results. If we have a little wind, we are using the she pup to make a little more noise on the surface. I like working my topwaters slow, but change it up a bit walking it back at different speeds to see what the fish will react to.
As the sun rises, switch over to suspending baits and soft plastics. Suspending baits, like the mirrodine, I like to work at different speeds back to the kayak while letting it stop and pause for a few seconds. This gives that following fish time to react to the paused bait and strike. I am catching more quality fish on the soft plastics this year. Slowly rolled across the bottom, flutter bounced, or just speed ripped back to you with pauses has been producing strikes. I use Saltwater Assassin for the soft body, and great action rigged on a pro elite jig head. The colors, as with all baits I use, depends on the clarity of water I am fishing. With clear water, I want a more natural presentation; whereas in dirty water with low visibility, I use the louder colors or one with chartreuse tails.
Not to miss in July: the 81st Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is July 17th – 20th. So grab your kayak, and join in on the action! Also, that weekend is the Casting for Kids tournament in Leeville, LA. at Boudreaux’s Motel. This is a fun charity tournament with lots of prizes and places to fish in LA. July 26th brings the LA 1 Slamboree to Bobby Lynn’s in Leeville, LA. This is an inshore slam tournament and is always a lot of fun! August 3rd is the IFA Kayak Tour event in Lafitte, LA. This is a catch, photo, and release tournament based on the length of one red fish and one speckled trout. We keep a running tab on what’s happening in the kayak community on our Facebook page: Kayak Fishing U.
With these longer days out in the sun, be sure to take care of yourself. Wear protective clothing, a buff, and sunscreen when out fishing. I use Beyond Coastal sunscreen SPF 30, and I put it on before I leave for the day and reapply with a face stick throughout. It makes a huge difference in how I feel at the end of a day, and how long I can stay out and fish.
Remember, while fishing from a kayak, always think safety. We are low to the water and not always easily seen. Keep a 360 degree light on at dark and low light conditions, wear a PFD, keep hydrated, and let someone know your float plan.
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