Report submitted by 'Oz'

Mustang Island Kayaking Report Mustang Island, TX May 20-22nd, 2005 Tweet

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After 'Sharken' and I fished in the early afternoon on Friday, Todd 'RaiderRed' and I decided to head out and kayak fish on Mustang Island. It was already getting late but figured we could fish for an hour or two before it got dark. We ended up hitting it just perfect for the frenzy was starting up several hundred yards out. At first I thought perhaps it were Spanish Mackerel going nuts on the surface but after hooking up and something larger, I get it to the yak to find it were 'Little Tunnies' Bonita causing the rampage.

We soon getinto the chaos. After the first Bonita, I hook a Jack that I fight for 20+ minutes. I get it close to the yak and takes off on one last run. I get a little bit of line back and its fate lands him in the mouth of a good sized shark, and I get cut off on the leader. I re-rig and chase thebirds down with Todd. After a couple cast in to some frenzied water, I hook up and get a med size Jack to yak. RaiderRed has several misses on a Gotcha Plug but finally hooks up and lands a nice Bonita.

Chaos reigns until dark as we continue to pick up Bonita and Jacks in the feeding. We kept chasing the birds and eventually ended up close to 2 miles out to where Jack Crevalle seemed to dominate. It was starting to get dark and we headed back in. After boxing 7 Bonita and ready to get Todd to go back in, I throw one last cast which rewards me with my 3rd Jack.

We finally get back to shore right as it was getting dark and ask a fellow surfer to snap a picture of our bounty. We ended up with 8 Bonita, and 5 Jacks. A very satisfying bait haul that was never expected in the first place. The overall experience of being out there and seeing Bonita go nuts on the surface hunting in packs like miniature Yellow Tuna is an incredible sight.

Thanks again to the anonymous surfer dude for the pics.

The next day Curmit and I head out and Repo and Val also fish the vicinity. Curtis and I immediately take off after the birds and head up current. The conditions were very calm when we hit the water and made for great yakking. Scattered weed patches were fairly abundant. Repo and Val took advantage of the floating structure and nailed a variety of spanish, jack, and small shark. Meanwhile a quarter mile away Curmit and I were once again in the frenzy. Although were much more sensitive and selective to the lures thrown, Curmit does end up a nice Bonita. He rigs up the Bonita on his shark yak and begins to drift in the birds. Not long and he is hooked up on a nice Blacktip. We tire the fish and get it in close for the pic and are able to carefully release the 6'+ shark.

The day continues to be sporadic and not much for concentrated activity. I begin trolling around with a Bonito and only to have it devoured by a pack of Atlantic Sharpnose. I land one that jumps in the yak while spitting the hook but I quickly throw him back over for protection of my jewels. After another short drift I land a smaller Sharpnose and get him in.

We pretty much called it an early day although expending a lot of energy.

On Sunday we went back out for the final day of the kayakathon. Repo, Val, Moose, Allison, RaiderRed, Mr. Champ, Curmit, and myself went out for the voyage. Todd and I took off to head out while the rest of the guys were getting their gear ready. Shortly after we get under the birds, Todd hooks into a nice Bonita on light tackle.

After a few minute fight, he gets it the Bonita to the yak.

We rig up shark baits and drift around the area. As Todd is in the process, he has a close encounter of the toothy kind and a shark bumps his yak. It has him shaken up for the rest of the day. He continues to fish with us for a while but goes in early. Meanwhile Repo and the floatilla make their way out. Moose, Curmit and girls head South, while Champ and Repo follow me as I am hooked up on a Blacktip. After a very strong and enduring fight for its size, I get the fat 5 1/2' shark up to the yak and we get a couple pics before the release.

Shortly after, Repo joins the chicks and Champ and I head offshore chasing birds. Moose and the Floatilla group use cut mullet and end up slamming small Sharpnose sharks. The girls start to get into the action also. Repo helps Val with her first shark.

Allison the surf chick warrior also lands her first sharpnose of the day.

The day was the slowest of the weekend thus far. With the exception of the rampaging Sharpnose packs, the Bonito and Spanish were widely scattered but still in the area. Champ and I were a ways offshore chasing the bird but not much landed. We stayed out for a while and finally made our way back towards the others. After meeting up for a while, the others decided to go back in while Champ and I saw something which could have been promising.

As the end of the day was coming, massive flocks of seagulls and pelicans were nailing the surface about 400 yards out. Champ and I decided to go for it and head to the chaos. Just like a flip of switch, the frenzy mode was in full swing. We get out there and start landing Spanish. Champ is the first to land a Bonita out of the mess. Shortly after I fight a nice size Bonita on light tackle and get him to the yak.

I then consider to put a shark bait out and continue fishing the birds. I hook up and land some more Spanish during the madness. Champ's rod has a catastrophe and isn't able to continue in the madness. Just as the chaotic activity explodes, my shark rod starts going off. I get situated and start the sleigh ride fight. Champ soon follows and tags along video'n the fight. After a good 20-30 minute fight, Iam finally able to subdue the shark into submission. We get a couple pics and release this massive 6'+ Blacktip to the open water.

After the release, we decide since the birds moved on far down current, we'd just go in. At the beach Champ pulls out some of his catch and we snap a quick pic.

Overall it was a fun weekend and we took full advantage of the calming weather. The weed still plagues the beach but as soon as it clears, we will have some fresh bait to get back into the action. Nice seeing the guys (and girls)out there.

Good fun. Remember, always wear your PFD and use the buddy system.!
-Oz

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