After all the South FL shark reports that have been in the news lately, I decided to work the shorelines today with light tackle, instead of my usual 1-2 miles offshore paddle. I went to my trout-hole...a 3 foot to 15 foot drop off right off the beach. Haven't been there in about 4 months, but the Trout were right where I left them. Right away I had a nice 15'' Speck on a Zoom Fluke. 10-15 of them came unbuttoned. It's one of these crazy spots where a fish comes unhooked, you twitch the lure, and another one is on like that. Landed another 15'''er. I switched to a Zoom tube bait and a front weighted 4/0 worm hook. Zing - what would have been my PB Trout broke water....I'm guessing 21''. Next thing I know - BOOM - a shark explodes halfway out of the water....drag screams for about 2 minutes, and my leader breaks.

Yikes. Back to my spot. Immediately hook into another Trout - feels even bigger. I get this one to the yak when he takes off....sharked again. Only this time, the line doesn't break. That big 4/0 Gamakatsu worm hook comes exposed and cleanly hooks the Shark. Game on.

45 minutes later on 10# mono and a little bit of 30# flouro leader my little Penn Slammer 360 and I landed a 5 ft shark (Bull?, Lemon?....no idea...it was brown and it didn't jump). Awesome...and really scary when he would go under the yak. I got to the the leader (twice actually), and he broke off boatside. It was the first time I was actually relieved to have my line snap.

It was not only my first legit sleigh-ride, but the first time I caught a landed a fish with such mismatched tackle. Awesome awesome awesome. Can't say enough good things about Penn Slammer reels....and my cheap little 1/8oz - 5/8oz rated $30 rod did just fine.

Of course my darn rechargeable camera battery died and I have no video or photographs

All in all a great day. I paddled for about 11 hours. Other notable catches were 2 nice 20'' barracuda on a Super Spook. One thing I noticed with the Spook...not a scratch on that lure, and those 'Cuda were really chewing on it. Much higher quality finish than a Mirrolure Top Dog, which really get scratched to hell.

I also got to try out my new softbait case, with the little plastic ziplock pouches...very cool and useful. I was switching colors, and bait types very efficiently. I really dig those Zoom tube baits too.

I'll sleep good tonight.

Nice job! Definately a thrill of a life time.

My avatar photo is the end result of a 5' sandshark on 10# braid on a cheap Walmart setup. First sleigh ride for me too.

Keep catchin' 'em!

I am sure that was a wild ride and there was alot of adrenaline flowing, difinitely sound like it was fun

Great report and sounds like GREAT FUN. How far is St. Augustine to Key Biscayne?? I am tired of cold water and wind. I bet that was one hell of a ride!. Nice Job.
I have been towed briefly by Redfish but nothing like that.
Do you ever have problems with the surf launch or landing? The surf here can be quite intimidating to a rookie like myself. I have not tried a surf launch yet because of it. I have watched a few clips on youtube of guys biting it in the surf and loosing alot of their gear. I need to practice with my Yak empty a few times I guess before I load up and try to get out past the break.
It would be easy to throw the yak in the pickup and head to more warmer climates for a change. We had 15 to 20 steady today with gusts to 30 I believe. It makes 55 degrees seem alot colder.

Vinny: Another great report from So. Florida, and you really got a Sleighride today!! Awesome!! You seem to "improvise" as well as anyone I know in here....and that is a compliment since it works so well for you!!!

You posted: "Of course my darn rechargeable camera battery died and I have no video or photographs"......SORRY, BUT NO PIX MEANS NO CATCH!!!

LOL....I am just kidding!! After all that work and TWO Leader Touches, who would doubt you...NOT me my friend!!!
Good report.....what a LONG day on the water too!!
JohnYaksJax

PS: Afishy1: You pegged out recent weather perfectly!! Ya outta head down there while Vinny is around to take you out and show you the ropes!!

Only problem I have is getting stuck in the sand....



For whatever reason, we just don't get waves here - makes launching very easy.

C'mon down!

Hey Vinny...Thanks for posting that since I had no proof of what I was going to say...that your area "really" has no surf to speak of!!!

That picture looks like "Lake Atlantic".......altho I know that it can become wild and dangerous in a heartbeat...but at least your launches and takes out are normally pretty smooth!!

I have heard that attributed to the reefs that run right offshore in your area....they "break down" the ocean's waves and inside them it is pretty calm....

That video you posted recently where the waves were breaking on the sandbar and almost "got you" while you were fighting the ladyfish is really good proof of that!!
JohnYaksJax

[b]It is a good idea to practice paddeling before you tackel the surf but remember an empty kayak will paddel and handel differently than a triped out yak will handel.
You add weight with rods and tackel and anything else you may carry. Also the balance my be slightly different.
What I would suggest is that after you practice empty is that you add the additional weight without using your rods or tackel. You can simulate the additional weight with boxes or a milk crate loaded with what ever you don't mind losing.
Once you get the confidence and balance of the paddel through the surf you should be ready to go with the real stuff.
One thing for sure, if you do it enough you will get dumped. Always have your tackel and rods secure so when the yak flips you won't lose your fishing tackel./b]

Sounds like fun Vini, glad you got into something big enough to pull you around!!!

Hey Vinny nice job, but know when to cut the line if necessary.