Well, 2015 is here and the sight-fishing is on fire! On behalf of LocalLinesCharters.com I would like to wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.
Some great dates are still open for the coming year, so be sure to book your Kayak or Skiff fishing charter with Local Lines. Stay up-to-date on all the fish catching, free seminars, charter deals, and ways to help the health of our lagoons by keeping up with (me) Alex Gorichky/Local Lines Guide Service on FaceBook. A wet last few months of ’14 gave us a bunch of rain, elevated lagoon water levels, and a bit of stained water in some areas. Persistent north winds of January should continue to drop those water levels and sight-fishing will continue to secure exciting catches.
Several things in fishing elicit heart stopping adrenaline rushes! Effects of these interactions on your senses will be scorched into your memory for a life time. The sound of wheeling birds on fish, or hearing the smash of a solid topwater strike in the early morning calm! The smell of mangrove roots on a muggy Florida day as a massive snook takes your offering. For many in the angling community; the sight of a beautiful gamefish pouncing on an artificial lure or well-placed fly in clean shallow water is the pinnacle of fishy experiences. Let me revise that! Seeing a fish eat your bait in any situation shallow or deep water is awesome, and certainly unforgettable. Just ask anyone that’s fed live bait to a cobia, sailfish, or big Bull Mahi.
Sight-fishing: the act of visually seeing your target and placing a “good” cast to that fish. A sighted fish can come in many forms! From a full laid up fish just chilling out, to the more subtle tailing, finning, pushing wakes and many other different intricacies of each targeted fish. Sight-fishing is much more like hunting than any other form of fishing. Trade the comfortable seat for a platform and (necessary) polarized sunglasses. Hours of concentrating on a rod tip or the feel of your line are replaced with hours projecting your vision below the water’s surface in search of a fish. Seeing a fish track your bait/lure/fly and the flare of its gill plates as it eats. Amazing!
This “type” of fishing has driven the kayak industry in many ways as it has evolved. Droves of cash-in-hand anglers have demanded the ability to stand from manufacturer’s, and are getting it. Include “high” position chair seats for those that are not able to get to their feet, and you have a plastic sight-fishing machine that can rival many skiffs. Many clients ask (if they are unable to stand) “how in the world can I see a fish”. I teach them to become the master of what they can see and just “blind” cast the rest. What this means to you is; identify quickly and target any fish that comes into your view.
In some of the best conditions this is a close game. While sitting the average person can see 15-20 yards (44-60ft.) with and number of elements greatly reducing that at times. Move slowly and be ready to cast a light soft plastic, fly, or free-lined shrimp at the redfish and seatrout inhabiting our Space Coast flats. North winds bring the Space Coast cool, clear, and shallow water. The timeisnowtogetinonthefun.Booka trip if you want to experience Space Coast sight-fishing!
Forecasts by Capt. Alex Gorichky, full-fime Space Coast fishing guide. And Kayaks by Bo (KBB) team paddler. Contact Capt. Alex at 321-480-3255