South East Fishing Meets

I agree with some of what you said, and I wouldn’t recommend a Cuda for open water either. Thin and long is what wins in the wind and chop. For standing and calm water, the opposite is true. You don’t have to spend a lot to get a kayak with a fast hull. My old Dagger is only 12’, but’s it’s narrow with poor primary stability. However, secondary stability it’s actually better than my wider Outback. If you’re not getting into the peddle or electric game, (paddling), I’d go 14-16’ and very narrow for any open water fishing.

 

Yeah I mean I'm not worried about getting somewhere super fast. I just enjoy being out on the water and paddling around even if I'm just going in circles. Not looking to break the bank with something top of the line. I have $200 basic pelican that I love for just paddling around and getting on the water, but it's just not built for fishing. Just no storage of any kind and not stable with the added weight of a crate and other things. I just want to make it easier to get on some fish and take up to my local lake and every now and then on the coast. For what I need it seems like a decent option to get me where I need to be.

 

Yeah fish "seasons" are kind of rare around here. They mainly just stick to the lengths and call it quits.

However they are currently asking everyone to practice C&R with the sea trout after we had unusually cold water temps this winter.

 

Should be plenty of those around the Knowles Island pier. I would assume at least. Usually freshwater is my thing and have only been saltwater fishing a handful of times so this trip will be a learning experience for me since I've never done it in a kayak.

Bream, crappie and bass are my thing.

 

Nothing wrong with trying something out, thats how you figure out what you like. I’m on my 5th kayak since maybe 1999, and I still want something different than what I’ve got.

 

Wouldn't mind getting on some reds. Should be a good time for them!

 

Didn’t know that sheepshead was your main focus...now that I know that, we’ll concentrate on structure instead of flats. I’ve always wanted to hit the Port Royal Boardwalk from a kayak but I’ll give it some thought on where the most structure is.

 

Agreed!

 

SC DNR Saltwater Fishing Trends

 

@Blackout14 and his sheepshead

 

Shit I open water my JK Cuda all day long that's what it's made for. Hull design is key you can have a wider yak with well designed hull that just glides in the open water. Wind you really need a really low yak. My old preception whitewater yak trumps most when it comes to bucking the wind because I am not that high off the water acting like a sail.

If SC is anything like NC the sheeps head gather around vertical structure like bridge pillings etc. We usually take a shovel and knock the barnacles off the pillings and that gets them all riled up into a feeding frenzy. Vertical jig some shrimp and bam fish on.

Oh we need to get you on a big Blue or flat head in a yak. I sometimes can't even reel them in because I am laughing so hard at the fun. It's the same with hooking up with some big kings and cobia offshore in a yak. You end up being along for the ride!

 

I want to get more into saltwater because I love the coast and everything it brings. Just enjoy being around water in general.

 

Slow at work so I came back out to Knowles Island. Outgoing tide right now...

 

The wind bad down there too?

 

Today is very windy.

There are stairs (8-12) on the side of the pier that lead down to the shoreline. Once on the shoreline, launching will be easy.

There’s a couple boats out here but they’re nowhere near the pier.

 

Shit ride the stairs down!!!

I wish I had some video of the rock sliding, bouncing white water I use to do down the Green. Some sections were like riding down a staircase.

 

Lots of space!

I’ll hold your beer and get the video rolling...

 

Can tape mine on the bow as he rides the stairs down then get some aerial footage with a few drones...

 

Less than 30 min.