25 A L A B A M A
14 > MOBILE Kayak anglers in the Deep South
need not stray far from home to catch a diversity of inshore gamefish. The waters of Mobile Bay serve up a bounty of redfish, speckled trout and flounder. Launching from the Causeway Ramps at the north end of the bay gives kayak anglers access to both the open waters of the bay and the braided estuary of the Mobile River. Fishing is good year round.
www.mbkfa.com
F L O R I D A
16 > ST. PETERSBURG Spring is the best time to fish
the shallow flats of Miguel Bay, near St. Petersburg. Launch near
U P W A R D LY MOB I L E : KAYAK FISHING’S BOOMTOWN ALABAMA 28 … KAYAK ANGLER spring 2008
Matt Seese, an officer with the Mobile Bay Kayak Fishing Association (MBKFA) says the recent spike in kayak angling in Mobile has all to do with the area’s natural endowments. “The delta and inshore waters of Mobile Bay allow kayak anglers to catch redfish, speckled trout, largemouth bass and catfish all in the same area using the same lures,” says Seese. “Just a bit further south, there’s mackerel, cobia, redfish sheepshead and flounder. You can go from the
cypress swamp to inshore areas to saltier surf within an hour.” Last year, the club hosted its first spring and fall kayak fishing tournaments, organizing the events from the ground up and “going door-to-door” to collect prizes. Now, Seese says the MBKFA is hoping to initiate a new crop of kayak anglers with instructional workshops and to give back to environment with river clean-up events.
BEST AFTER-WORK KAYAK FISHING SPOTS
15
SOUTHEAST Jacksonville
The braided saltwater estuary of the Intra-Coastal Waterway was appropri- ately called the “place where waters meet” by Native Americans. Today, Jacksonville’s Timucuan National Preserve is a kayak angler’s dreamscape. There are 30-plus launches within city limits making it easy to hook into 5:01 redfish, trout and flounder. Spring and fall are best, and locals cast shrimp on a jig head or flies (clousers, toads or gurglers).
www.saltrunoutfitters.com
the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on the west side of I-275. This is kayak fishing at its best—the snook, redfish and speckled trout you stir up in the shallows may have never seen a lure be- fore. Use floating plugs, Rapalas and weedless crankbaits.
www.adventurekayakfishing.com
G E O R G I A
17 > ATLANTA Fishing is hot on the Chatta-
hoochee River near Atlanta. You’ll be sure to hook into rainbow and brown trout while drifting the section between Buford and Morgan Falls dams. Cast small spinners into woody structure for browns and toss flies for rain- bows in moving water. Fishing is good late spring through late fall.
www.georgiakayakfishing.com
14—19 K E N T U C K Y
18 > LOUISVILLE Solid striped, white and hybrid
bass fishing can be had at the base of the McAlpine Dam on the Ohio River in Louisville. Louisville is called “The Gateway to the South” and it shows—the fishing is good year round, even in the winter when bass lurk in the warm water discharges of the dam outflow. Cast shad raps and rattle traps from the pools. Just beware of swirling currents and moving water.
www.fishin.com
V I R G I N I A
19 > NORFOLK Local guide Cory Routh calls
fishing at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) a “striper slam.” The lights of the HRBT at- tract a striped bass buffet of bait- fish, and Routh says the action is so hot that 100-fish evenings are possible. Fishing is best in the winter, though it’s possible to catch stripers year-round. Launch from Willoughby Bay, sight cast between the bridge pil- ings with light line and get ready to land lots of fish.
www.ruthlessfishing.com
PHOTO: CORY ROUTH
PHOTO: NEIL TAYLOR
PHOTO: JIM HOLLAND/
WWWW.SALTRUNOUTFITTERS.COM
PHOTO:
WWW.MBKFA.COM
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