What You Need To Reel In The Catch Of A Lifetime From Kayak or Boat
- By: Matthew Lanier
- on
On a trip not too long ago, a buddy of mine was able to reel in the catch of a LIFETIME from his kayak!
We targeted deep water just off the beach and found an insane bite.
This was an amazing trip, and I don’t want to ruin the surprise so check out the video for the miraculous catch!!
Reel In The Catch Of A Lifetime [VIDEO]
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Equipment Used:
Sabiki Rig Setup
- Rods Used: Bull Bay Bolt Medium-Heavy
- Reels Used: Daiwa Saltist MQ 3000
- Mainline: 10lb Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand Braid
- Leader: 20 lb Ande Monofilament
- Lure: Sabiki Rig with 1 oz. sinker
X-Rap Setup
- Rod Used: Bull Bay Brute Force
- Reel Used: Daiwa BG 4500
- Lure: Rapala X-Rap® Suspending Saltwater Lures
- Scent: Dr. Juice® Saltwater Slam Exclusive Scent
Live Bait Setup
- Rods Used: Shimano Tallus PX
- Reels Used: Daiwa BG MQ 6000
- Bait: Live Threadfin w/ Sea Striker Kingfish Rig
Panhandle Big Bend Inshore Tackle Bundle
Once we made it out a bit off the beach, the first thing we looked for was any bait in the area.
We dropped down a few sabiki rigs to try and catch a few cigar minnows.
There was a TON of bait below us but most of it was pinfish.
A short time after, we started our troll in about 45-50 feet of water.
I let the live bait out about 50 yards behind us to start.
We didn’t get any cigar minnows but we did catch plenty of whitebait so we figured we’d give those a try.
After that rig was out, I got another line in the water behind me with the Rapala X-Rap tied on.
It is a good idea to get your furthest rig out first before setting another line in the water closer to your vessel.
Our main target was to hopefully hook into some kingfish.
Usually, when the bait is in large pods like this, there are likely kingfish chasing after them.
Later on, the X-Rap got snatched up and the drag started screaming!
It turned out to be a really solid bonito that I got on ice real quick.
My plan for this fish was to use it for bait to target red snapper on future trips.
Bonito strips make excellent bait for bottom fishing.
Not too long after landing that bonito, I look over at my buddy’s kayak and one of his rods is down!
A sailfish took his bait and jumped out of the water!!!
I took my lines out of the water to give him as much room as he needed to land this fish.
Once we snapped a few pics and calmed down a bit, we gave this fish an excellent release.
We walked it along the shoreline letting water run through its gills until it told us it was ready to take off.
After that, I was eager to get a line back out in the water after seeing that sailfish.
I got the line with my live bait out behind me and before I could even reach for the X-Rap setup, fish on!
I tied up a new rig hoping another big fish would take my bait.
The X-Rap went off again!
It ended up being another bonito.
It was time to pack it in and head back to the beach after that.
How We Were Able To Find This Spot
None of this would be possible without our Smart Fishing Spots platform.
It is the all-in-one fishing software that helps you locate the best spots and features every resource you need.
The Shaded Relief (3D) map layer helped us find little ledges and drop-offs barely a mile from shore.
Marine charts help you determine the depth in an area but the bottom contours and structure won’t be there.
That’s where Shaded Relief comes into play.
Moreover, you can track routes and plan trips and save that data and transfer it over to your electronics on your boat or kayak.
You can even plan a trip on your computer and pull it up on your phone seamlessly.
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Finding The Fish Help
In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.
1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)
These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.
2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)
This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.
3. Community Reports (live feed)
The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
A nice day.
Brother…. when I saw you go through the struggle of the white fluffy sand, I felt that in my soul lol…. what kind of cart do you have? I was using the ctugz sandtrakz and only loaded about 140lbs on it and got murdered in the fluffy NW Florida sand. Looking into going the balloon tire route IE wilderness systems cart. Any suggestions?
I was very disappointed in what you were doing when you lost the fish. I have been light tackle tournament fishing for years and the first thing I was taught was never adjust the drag while fighting a fish. But before you start fishing your drag should be set to not more than 1/3 of your line weight using a scale attached to your line. Next, I would recommend a far stronger knot than what you were using to attach your leader to your line. I would recommend a Bimini twist on my fishing line. That will double up the line at the knot giving you 40 lb. line at the point where you attach your leader to your fishing line if you are spooled with 20lb. test line. I would then attach my line to the leader using an Albright special. This may sound old school, but it works. That is what we did when fishing the metropolitan fishing tournament in Maimi. I have many winning fish as a result. Finally, when fighting a big fish, you should run after the fish in your boat. As the fish pulls line off you spool, the drag will add pressure on its own. But when into the fight, learn to apply pressure to the fish by palming the spool. Never touch the drag once it is set properly.
Hey Fred, I had the drag set to a father while telling so it wouldn’t Snatch the rod from the holder. I had to tighten to be able to land the fish. Thanks for watching!
Boats again how bout something without boats meaning fish from shore
We have lots of land based fishing info! Be sure to search in the fishing tips section!