Greetings from a kayak brother to the North! I'm heading down with the family to camp at Anastasia from April 3 to the 9 and look forward to fishing your waters. I'm 2 1/2 hours from my usual salt water fishing grounds up here and will enjoy being that close to the water for a bit.

Can anyone clue me in a bit on surf launching in that area? I've been reading here for a bit and it looks like a lot of you like to fish the back waters. While I plan to do that, I'd like to go for a few loooooooong frontside trips in the pre-dawn hours and see what I can scare up. Any appreciable structure in that area to head towards? Any issues with surf launching there?

I'd be happy to reciprocate with info for anyone who decides to head towards NJ. I don't want spots, just an idea of the lay of the land. I'd welcome local company on a trip or two.

Thank you in advance.

Passiton,
Welcome to JKF!!!
Theres a few guys in this area that fish the big water outta kayaks, unfortunately Im NOT one of them...........
Maybe KM, the HITMAN, Punisher or one of the other guys will see your thread and chime in..

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U14.5

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The surf can be anywhere from non-existant to 2-5'. However in early April there's really nothing worth going into the surf to catch IMO. You would be better off hitting some inshore locations around St. Aug and Vilano - see the FIshing Spots page for more launch details.

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"This is my signature not my facebook page."

If he's the same guy, Punisher turned me on to this board.



This helps. I've been looking here and reading and will have alist of launch locations and possible trips before we leave. Is a fishfinder useful in those areas? I'd think so, as it sounds like the marking the channels can really be help.

I live on the island, like Mike said, not much in the surf this time of year, possibly a shark here and there. Too early and cold for most of the good near shore stuff yet. Whiting have been hitting some, but I'm sure that''s not what you are after. I'd stick with in shore. Look around at the maps on this sit for the area. You'd probably have some fun in the Pelicer Creek areas, and it's only about 7 miles south. Salt Run where you'll be camping can be good but it's spotty, do however try the dock lights while you are there, that will get you dinner.

Yep, I'm sure it's the same Punisher. Fishing from a yak in the ocean down this way really depends on the water temps. As long as it stays cold like it has, the fish you are interested in going after won't be heading up this way till it warms.

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I have been banned from this site because I acted like a jerk too often and show a total lack of respect to others and the management of this site.

Inshore could be real hot by the time you arrive. My regular launch spot is Genung's Fish Camp just south of the 206 bridge and the paddle to the fish is easy. The shop has bait and tackle the is spot on for the area. PM me, I could meet up with you there and show you a few spots. The Pellicer area mentioned is also a great spot plus very scenic, the park at Princess Place is wonderful for hiking and kayaking launching.

http://www.jeffstacklebox.com
http://www.wavewalk.com

Yup, it's me!
Don't bother offshore at this time, nothing going on. Gonna have to wait for the water temps to get into the 70's before anything gets going.

Cobia will be first on the list, hopefully in the next month or so. Then the next thing in line to come through will be the Kings and Tarpon.

There will also be some HUGE Jack Crevalle in the 50# range coming through. Lots of Blacktip and Spinner Sharks during King season, if you want the ultimate sleigh ride.

If you come down during the Summer months, the offshore bite can be off the hook. The fishing will require no structure, and most of the action will be from 6 feet deep, to 30 feet in depth.

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I was banned from JaxKayakFishing for being a jerk and saying ugly things about people I've never met. I'm an uncivil fool who is a know-it-all and like hanging around people like myself. So I am thrilled to have finally been shown the door as I worked hard to find it.

Hi Punisher!

Thanks for the help here fokks. It sounds like inshore and backwaters are my ticket for this trip. I'll bring light and moderate gear and have some fun playing with some smaller fish.

We enjoyed our week in the St. Augustine area. My yak fishing turned out to be limited, but I did get out.

Salt run, from the park launch to the lighthouse and a bit beyond, gave us some fun with dolphins, but that obviously limited fishing action.

Guana, below the dam, was filled with jumping fish the afternoon we went (mullet I think). I must have seen 250 fish jump in 2 hours. I assume they were being harrassed by reds. Does that sound right? Either way, I pulled the skunk there and left a bit frustrated. I tried a poping cork with Gulp, fresh shrimp, topwater swimmers, and jigs. Not a bump.

The lighthouse and north in Salt run was a fun paddle at dawn and there were a few mullet jumping, but I only had two bumps on a jighead tipped with a Gulp shrimp. I assume they were flunder, becuase I pulled it away from tem both times when I went to set the hook.

Thursday afternoonI deceide not to battle the wind and cleaned the gear for the 2 day ride home.


You folks have an absolutely beautiful fishery down there. I was not able to get free long enough to make any of the connections that were offered by PM's here, but thank you for the offers. Anastasia was a dynamite place to crash and we did get a ton of whiting and small blues from the beach there and at Vilano inlet. We will definitely be back!

It's hard to tell if mullet are jumping to escape predators or are jumping just to jump, which I think is most of the time. Usually when something is after them you'll see a whole school going crazy with something busting them.

I'm glad you enjoyed our subtropical scenery and got to get hooked up on the beach though!

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ilk-a-licious