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Florida Gator Trout and a mini Bull Red 1/27/14

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  • Florida Gator Trout and a mini Bull Red 1/27/14

    I had a 1 day trip to Tampa yesterday for work and had to take the opportunity to do some fishing. I arrived in Tampa around lunch time, got the work stuff out of the way and headed off to Longboat key around 4:30 to meet Capt. Jason Stock of JMSnooky Kayak Charters.

    I arrived at Longboat key just as the sun was setting and by the time we got on the water it was fully dark. The plan of the night would be to stalk a mangrove island for gator trout with Sebile Stick Shadd and then try a spot or two for redfish. Jason started off catching trout pretty quickly, but it took me a little time to finally get the SLOOOOWWW twitch, twitch, pause retrieve down. I had a few taps and even blow-ups before one came tight and then another and before I knew it I had two of the biggest gator trout I've ever caught in my hands.
    DSCN5992.jpg

    We circled the entire island, I had many more missed strikes and more big trout landed as well. At one point, I sat my rod down to paddle a few strokes back off the island and when I picked the rod back up there was a fish on! Unfortunately, it was a sail catfish, not a trout! Oh well, check another new species off the list! After circling the island, I had caught 8-10 Speckled trout with only one being "small" and the rest "gator" status. My biggest was a new personal best at 26" and Jason caught one that was about 28".
    DSCN5995.jpgDSCN5997.jpgDSCN5988.jpg

    Next, we headed off to a cove known to hold Redfish. I made about 5-6 casts and had one solid bump that didn't feel like a trout. A few casts later, the fish had not returned to bite again and Jason said, "Go ahead and give one more cast and we'll start making our way back." Twitch, twitch, pause, twitch, twitch, WAM, ZIIIIING! I knew right away I had a nice sized Red drum on. He made a few runs and I got him close to the kayak, but he wasn't quite ready to give up. One big splash and a woosh of his tail and he was off on another run. Finally, I tired him out enough and landed him. At 32", this was my new personal best Redfish!
    DSCN6005.jpgDSCN6003.jpg

    If your looking to do some kayak fishing in the Tampa area, look up Capt. Jason Stock, he'll put you on fish!
    Ryan
    Blue 2016 Hobie Outback
    Chesapeake Bay Kayak Anglers, Inc

  • #2
    Nice!!! Those Sebiles are great lures. Great job on the Trout and Reds.

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    • #3
      Nice !!!
      Young Apprentice

      2015 Outback Papaya
      WS Ride 115 Mango
      WS Tarpon 100

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      • #4
        Congrats on a nice trip and super large trout.

        You're right about the slow presentation.

        It took me a while to adjust to that during my recent trip there.
        Mark
        Pasadena, MD


        Slate Hobie Revolution 13
        Hidden Oak Native Ultimate 12
        Lizard Lick Native Ultimate FX Pro

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        • #5
          Sweet! Will have to get with him next time I'm in Tampa
          -Mustafa
          ابو مسقوف AbuMasgouf (Aboo-Mas-goof ): Fish Roast Papa
          2016 Hobie Outback
          2012 Hobie Revolution 13
          "Be humble to whomever you learn from and whomever you teach."-- Imam al-Sadiq (as)

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          • #6
            Great catching Ryan. You had good success on larger fish.
            John Veil
            Annapolis
            Native Watercraft Manta Ray 11, Falcon 11

            Author - "Fishing in the Comfort Zone" , "Fishing Road Trip - 2019", "My Fishing Life: Two Years to Remember", and "The Way I Like to Fish -- A Kayak Angler's Guide to Shallow Water, Light Tackle Fishing"

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            • #7
              Nice! I chatted with that Captain a while back when I was planning on going to Tampa. He was fishing offshore in a tournament when I was in the area though. Nice fish!
              <insert witty comment here>

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              • #8
                Nice fish!
                Hobie Revolution 13
                Hobie Fishing Team

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                • #9
                  Two new personal best in the same evening, congrats!
                  Brian

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                  • #10
                    Very nice.

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                    • #11
                      sweet, congrats!
                      sigpic

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                      • #12
                        Nice job Ryan! Trout and redfish are my two only goals for 2014
                        2015 OLIVE HOBIE OUTBACK
                        2013 OLIVE HOBIE OUTBACK
                        2013 OCEAN KAYAK TRIDENT 13


                        JEREMY D

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                        • #13
                          Nice day trip
                          Mike and son Jeffrey Yellow Hobie Pro Angler
                          Olive Hobie Outback

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                          • #14
                            Nice fish man!

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                            • #15
                              Very nice! Sure beats the ice fishing around here....
                              Mike S.
                              Hobie Outback
                              Chesapeake Bay Kayak Anglers
                              3D Printed Hobie Hatch Bucket

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