Benton Parrott
Spring is finally here this month. Warmer days and warmer water should make the bite great!
Early morning and late evenings a top water bait is hard to beat for trout and reds. My favorite 2 are the Rapalla Skitterwalk and Heddon Spook Jr. I prefer the natural color but will swap it up depending on the water clarity. Change the speeds of your retrieval until you find what is producing a strike. I use a slow and methodical retrieval stopping along the way just letting it sit. Always work your bait all the way back to the kayak. Flounder, reds, and specks are still being fooled by Saltwater Assassin sea shads fished slowly along the bottom and drop offs.
Not to miss in March. The IFA starts off the Louisiana Division on the 3rd in Lafitte, LA. and then on to Port Aransas, TX. on the 31, for a CPR (Catch Photo and Release) tournament based off length of a speckled trout and red fish. The IFA Tour has tournaments running all year long from South Carolina to Texas. The Championship will be determined later in the year and you have to fish 2 IFA events to be qualified for the Championship. Hobie is having their Hobie Bass Open Series at Lake Shasta, CA. the 9th-10th. The winner of each series wins a spot for Team USA for the 2020 Worlds Tournament! The Mobile Bay Kayak Fishing Association is having a Fish Out on Sat. 9th starting at 5 a.m. at Delta Port Marina in Coden, Al. The heaviest inshore slam wins. On March 23rd the GCKFA is having their inshore Shoot-out starting at 6 a.m.
As always we have a running tab on what’s going on in the kayak community at our Facebook page: Kayak Fishing U.
Remember while fishing from a kayak to 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.
Benton Parrott
Hobie Regional Team / Pro Staff Fishing Guide
dbparrott@bellsouth.net