| Mustang Island Offshore Kayak Report
Mustang Island,
TX
May 20th-22nd, 2005
Report by Oz |
After 'Sharken' and I fished in the early afternoon on Friday,
Todd 'RaiderRed' and I decided to head out and kayak fish on Mustang Island.
It was already getting late but figured we could fish for an hour or two
before it got dark. We ended up hitting it just perfect for the frenzy was
starting up several hundred yards out. At first I thought perhaps it were
Spanish Mackerel going nuts on the surface but after hooking up and something
larger, I get it to the yak to find it were 'Little Tunnies' Bonita causing
the rampage.
We soon get into the chaos. After the first Bonita, I hook
a Jack that I fight for 20+ minutes. I get it close to the yak and takes
off on one last run. I get a little bit of line back and its fate lands him
in the mouth of a good sized shark, and I get cut off on the leader. I re-rig
and chase the birds down with Todd. After a couple cast in to some frenzied
water, I hook up and get a med size Jack to yak. RaiderRed has several misses
on a Gotcha Plug but finally hooks up and lands a nice Bonita.
Chaos reigns until dark as we continue to pick up Bonita and
Jacks in the feeding. We kept chasing the birds and eventually ended up close
to 2 miles out to where Jack Crevalle seemed to dominate. It was starting
to get dark and we headed back in. After boxing 7 Bonita and ready to get
Todd to go back in, I throw one last cast which rewards me with my 3rd Jack.
We finally get back to shore right as it was getting dark and
ask a fellow surfer to snap a picture of our bounty. We ended up with 8 Bonita,
and 5 Jacks. A very satisfying bait haul that was never expected in the first
place. The overall experience of being out there and seeing Bonita go nuts
on the surface hunting in packs like miniature Yellow Tuna is an incredible
sight.
Thanks again to the anonymous surfer dude for the pics.
The next day Curmit and I head out and Repo and Val also fish
the vicinity. Curtis and I immediately take off after the birds and head
up current. The conditions were very calm when we hit the water and made
for great yakking. Scattered weed patches were fairly abundant. Repo and
Val took advantage of the floating structure and nailed a variety of spanish,
jack, and small shark. Meanwhile a quarter mile away Curmit and I were once
again in the frenzy. Although were much more sensitive and selective to the
lures thrown, Curmit does end up a nice Bonita. He rigs up the Bonita on
his shark yak and begins to drift in the birds. Not long and he is hooked
up on a nice Blacktip. We tire the fish and get it in close for the pic and
are able to carefully release the 6'+ shark.
The day continues to be sporadic and not much for concentrated
activity. I begin trolling around with a Bonito and only to have it devoured
by a pack of Atlantic Sharpnose. I land one that jumps in the yak while spitting
the hook but I quickly throw him back over for protection of my jewels. After
another short drift I land a smaller Sharpnose and get him in.
We pretty much called it an early day although expending a lot of energy.
On Sunday we went back out for the final day of the kayakathon.
Repo, Val, Moose, Allison, RaiderRed, Mr. Champ, Curmit, and myself went
out for the voyage. Todd and I took off to head out while the rest of the
guys were getting their gear ready. Shortly after we get under the birds,
Todd hooks into a nice Bonita on light tackle.
After a few minute fight, he gets it the Bonita to the yak.
We rig up shark baits and drift around the area. As Todd is
in the process, he has a close encounter of the toothy kind and a shark bumps
his yak. It has him shaken up for the rest of the day. He continues to fish
with us for a while but goes in early. Meanwhile Repo and the floatilla make
their way out. Moose, Curmit and girls head South, while Champ and Repo follow
me as I am hooked up on a Blacktip. After a very strong and enduring fight
for its size, I get the fat 5 1/2' shark up to the yak and we get a couple
pics before the release.
Shortly after, Repo joins the chicks and Champ and I head offshore
chasing birds. Moose and the Floatilla group use cut mullet and end up slamming
small Sharpnose sharks. The girls start to get into the action also. Repo
helps Val with her first shark.
Allison the surf chick warrior also lands her first sharpnose of the day.
The day was the slowest of the weekend thus far. With the exception
of the rampaging Sharpnose packs, the Bonito and Spanish were widely scattered
but still in the area. Champ and I were a ways offshore chasing the bird
but not much landed. We stayed out for a while and finally made our way back
towards the others. After meeting up for a while, the others decided to go
back in while Champ and I saw something which could have been promising.
As the end of the day was coming, massive flocks of seagulls
and pelicans were nailing the surface about 400 yards out. Champ and I decided
to go for it and head to the chaos. Just like a flip of switch, the frenzy
mode was in full swing. We get out there and start landing Spanish. Champ
is the first to land a Bonita out of the mess. Shortly after I fight a nice
size Bonita on light tackle and get him to the yak.
I then consider to put a shark bait out and continue fishing
the birds. I hook up and land some more Spanish during the madness. Champ's
rod has a catastrophe and isn't able to continue in the madness. Just as
the chaotic activity explodes, my shark rod starts going off. I get situated
and start the sleigh ride fight. Champ soon follows and tags along video'n
the fight. After a good 20-30 minute fight, I am finally able to subdue
the shark into submission. We get a couple pics and release this massive
6'+ Blacktip to the open water.
After the release, we decide since the birds moved on far down
current, we'd just go in. At the beach Champ pulls out some of his catch
and we snap a quick pic.
Overall it was a fun weekend and we took full advantage of
the calming weather. The weed still plagues the beach but as soon as it clears,
we will have some fresh bait to get back into the action. Nice seeing the
guys (and girls) out there.
Good fun. Remember, always wear your PFD and use the buddy system.!
-Oz
NEW Mustang Island Kayakathon Video
- May 2005
Size - 17.4mb Length - 3min 25sec
Format - (wmv) Windows Media Video
Size Lg- 35.2mb Length - 3min 25sec
Format - (wmv) Windows Media Video
Synopsis- Oz, Curtis, and crew head out to
calm seas in search of Bonita, Jacks, and Sharks. Deployed and fished on
the 4th weekend of May, on Mustang Island, TX. Join in on the adventure in
this 3 1/2 min video as they come across toothy critters both big and small.
Disclaimer : Don't try this at home... or on
the open water.
(wmv format, 17.4Mb, 3min 25sec optimized for dsl, cable, broadband
connection)
Standard Resolution
428x240
DOWNLOAD
VIDEO Official Site Link
High Resolution 720x480
(wmv Hi Res, 35.2Mb, 3min 25sec optimized for dsl, cable, broadband
connection)
DOWNLOAD
VIDEO Official Site Link
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