Advertisement

Kayak Fishing Florida’s Captiva Island

Inshore kayak fishing in southwest Florida with Hobie.
01 img_5134.jpg

Tough Assignment

Hobie Kayaks recently invited members of the sport-fishing media to join them fishing the Captiva Island area on lovely Sanibel Island for three days (sadly I could make only two of them). The assignment required journalists to grab a yak and go fishing. Also in the evenings we had to sample local cuisine, like that of Key Lime Bistro. It was torture, I tell you, sheer torture. But we got through it — and here are some photos to show you how terrible it was. Here, Keeton Eoff, with Hobie, sizes up his first redfish of the trip, fooled with an Egret jig and plastic bait. Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
02 img_5806.jpg

Kayak Ferry

The 45-foot catamaran Playtime has been loaded up with nine or 10 various Hobie kayaks and has ferried all kayakers over to Cayo Costa just north of Captiva for a morning of fishing. Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
03 g0130244.jpg

Prep Time

Yak anglers get things set up to fish the eastern side of lower Cayo Costa. Doug Olander
04 g0140257 copy.jpg

Hungry Redfish

It doesn’t take long for Jerry McBride of Jensen Beach, Florida, to score, using a VuDu Shrimp. McBride, who has to be one of the best inshore kayak fishermen in this state, often uses his kayak to access spots where he can hop out and wade fish. Doug Olander
05 img_5704.jpg
I’ve learned the hard way to give manatees a wide berth when kayaking in shallow, murky waters. More than one kayaker has been flipped by the power in the tail of a startled manatee. There are tons of the sea cow things around Sanibel/Captiva. Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
06 g0060160.jpg

Tricked-Out Sailing Yak

Several participants brought their own rigs. Butch Newell is not only a skilled angler, but an accomplished kayak-sailing racer who recently completed the Everglades Challenge, Tampa Bay-to-Key Largo adventure race in this Hobie Mirage Tandem Island. Doug Olander
07 g0040102.jpg

Walking the Walk

When not working on PR for Hobie or playing den-mother to a bunch of wild and/or crazy kayak-fishing enthusiasts on events like this, Ingrid Niehaus of California enjoys some quiet time on the water, here in a Hobie Revolution. While smaller than the Outback or Pro Anglers most used, the Revolution still utilizes the Mirage Drive pedal system for hands-free fishing. Doug Olander
08 img_6444.jpg

Pole Down to Anchor Up

Taking advantage of some early morning light, freelance journalist Todd Kuhn of Gulfport, Mississippi, clicks some pics. The long upright pole at the stern is the Power Pole Micro — a version of Power-Pole’s Micro Anchor made to fit on Hobie yaks. For those who had ’em, these proved an invaluable tool to help anglers instantly lock themselves in position while casing the mangroves along windward shores. Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
09 4img_6195.jpg

Dockwork

Working docks proved a good bet for small snook, in particular. Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
10 img_6774.jpg

Mangrove Wilderness

Long stretches of pristine mangroves characterize this area. Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
11 g0050107.jpg

Spooky Red

Kayak enthusiast/author John J.D. Donahue, fishing a Zara Spook from a ProAngler 16, offers a quick look at a red before its release. Doug Olander
12 g0020057.jpg

Prep Time, Part II

On this morning, we headed not to Caya Costa but to Captiva’s J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Once again, kayaks are unloaded and anglers work on organizing whatever they need for a morning of fishing. Doug Olander
13 g0030084.jpg

Early Trout

Right off, I found a hungry seatrout, which hit a Savage Manic Shrimp. Courtesy John Donohue
14 img_6635.jpg

Mangrove Alleys

As long channels through the mangroves offered 18 inches or so of water, our yak anglers could pedal through ‘em (though if things shallowed up much more, they could always grab a paddle and keep going). Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
15 img_6878.jpg

Fly Gal

Tucked into a corner of a bay in the refuge, Polly Dean, representing Fishing Tackle Retailer magazine, works the long rod from a ProAngler 16. Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
16 img_7430.jpg

Snook King

McBride strikes again, one of many snook he released in the quiet waters of the refuge. Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
17 img_7227.jpg

Can’t I Just Have a Hot Dog?

Dinner at the end of day three: scallops, shrimp, grouper and redfish with a secret seasoning — to die for! Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
18 img_7249.jpg

Happy Birthday!

There were an amazing number of birthdays during this event. The post-dinner celebration for Ingrid takes place at a lovely three-story house that served as our HQ for this event. Courtesy Jeffrey Fortuna / Hobie
Advertisement
Advertisement