CAPTAIN DEE KAMINSKI TAKES TIME OFF FROM
FISHING FOR A LIVING TO FISH FOR FUN. PHOTOS: DEE KAMINSKI
EASY ACCESS Dee Kaminski
Sebastian Inlet is less than 13 miles from my house. I can be on the water and fishing in less than an hour. As a professional guide, I fish all over southeast Florida. Some days I have to stay home to catch up on office and domestic duties. But if the weather is nice, I blow it off and go fishing.
TARGET SPECIES
Year-round action on snook, redfish, trout, black drum, flounder, snapper, pompano, Spanish mackerel and even grouper. Most of the fish are on drop-offs, grass to sand transitions, cuts or bends in the river. I pole the kayak while searching for fish. When I spot a fish, I don’t cast until I am in the perfect position. Many times, I only get one shot.
TACKLE BOX
Medium- to medium-heavy spinning rod and 2500 series
reel spooled with 10-pound braided
Owner of Reel Kayak Fishing Charters, Native Kayaks Pro Home Base: Melbourne Beach, Florida Local Hole: Sebastian Inlet flats, Indian River Lagoon
line and a two-foot section of 20- to 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. I’ve landed bull reds and big
snook to 45 pounds on this outfit. Poppers and walk-the- dog-style lures for the morning topwater bite and soft plastics rigged weightless or with a jighead for sight casting. I carry a cast net so I can catch live mullet or pigfish that I rig on a popping cork or weightless.
GEAR BAG
Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5 for sight fishing rigged with a Scotty rod holder on the right and a Native Watercraft Cam-Lock pushpole holder on the left. Each accessory is attached to a GearTrac so I can adjust it for standing or seated. I even added a Captain’s Perch seat riser to give me a few extra inches of height. I believe in sun protection from head to toe. I wear a long-sleeve shirt and long pants along with a brimmed hat, fishing gloves and face protector.
TIME SAVERS
Since I fish for a living, I have to schedule time off the water. Luckily, my husband supports my passion for fishing. My tip: find a perfect partner who understands and supports your fishing addiction.
The worst day of fishing became my best day of fishing. I got to the launch and realized I left my polarized sunglasses at home. Can’t fish without them, so I hit the local tackle shop and bought a cheap pair of shades to get me through. Once on the water, I headed to my favorite honey hole where I met a school of big red drum pushing water across the flat. I made my cast and hooked into a beast. The fish dragged me for a 45-minute sleigh ride that covered over a half-mile of water. Just as the fish was tiring, I saw a massive shark fin following my catch. Then the fish went limp on the end of the line and I dragged what was left of a 50-pound red into my kayak. With the bloody stump in my lap, and the bull shark nearby, I paddled deep into the mangroves and returned what was left of the red to nature.
From inshore to offshore and all over South Florida, Dee Kaminski keeps it reel at
www.reelkayakfishing.com.
www.kayakanglermag.com…57
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