Report submitted by 'Oz'

Kayakathon '09 Ozolins Bros Report Padre Island National Seashore, TX May 20th-23rd, 2009 Tweet

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My brother and I rocked down the beach hoping the awesome weather window would hold true. Forecast had finally looked good for the first time in over a month. Loaded with several Jacks and big baits, we packed up the gear hoping for a big shark trip, but brought the kayaks in case things were not looking optimal for the surf. After picking up some 6am taco's at Stripes, we hit the beach. The tide was coming in and driving was not fun. It was 2wd, but slow and rough. We get to the high banks and water looks not that great. But we get out and throw some topwaters in hopes of some Trout or Jacks.

No dice on the lures so we rolled south and came across a fatigued immature Northern Gannet.

This one was in better shape then previous ones I've come across before but typically their chances of survival when found like this aren't very good. We left him on his way and hoped for the best.

We continued to head south and the water was really looking better the further south you went. However, the northeastern swells coming in made it near impossible if you wanted to get a bait out. We said screw it and went all the way to the jetties. We arrived down there and were greeted by fantastic looking water at high tide. With the surf getting pounded, we knew this would probably end up being a yakking trip. Anyhow, we waste no time and get geared up hoping there were fish around.

We get out in the channel and I bring out some live Mullet at first, and Tibs throws shrimp and then Gulp. He immediately gets a Red just undersized and after a few minutes lands a Comb Grouper. This would be the first of many Grouper.

Tibs bangs out a couple more Grouper and while free-lining a mullet it gets picked up. Immediately I kinda knew what it was and gave me a short ride. Sure enough, it was a large Jack.

Not long and Tibs gets the first slot Red of the trip from the yak...

I finally switch over and begin getting into the grouper as well...

With both of us losing some Snook at the yak, Tibs finally lands his first...

...but then gets back into the Grouper

I switched over to Gulp and began getting fish... but found out that Green Sea Turtles also love Gulp

A quick picture and he gets released to swim off with his buddies

It is later in the afternoon and we finally find the Trout. Not huge but keepers...

We come back in and take a break for a couple hours and then go back out. After a while I get my first Slot Red of the trip from the yak

Tibs stays in closer and hammers the Trout and I release a few more Grouper. At dark we cook up and get a couple shark baits out and eventually land an average Bull.

The next morning we get back out. The seas are slightly calmer but the swells are still coming in. Right off the bat Tibs nails a Jack

We land some more Grouper but notice the action with the birds just offshore. We begin chasing the birds down which were mostly Spanish, Bonita, and Jacks. I had a school of fish chasing something right in front of me which I could have sworn were small Jacks, however when I casted out I had a surprise...

I continue to chase the birds around and finally get a small Bonita (Little Tunny)

The birds would go offshore aways and I didn't feel like venturing out after them. I come back in close and get back into the Grouper, this time with a small Gag..

Tibs gets hooked up on a decent fish and begins draging him around in the channel...

He eventually lands a nice oversized Red...

Just a few minutes later and I land another Red..

After a break I get back out in the kayak to try to get some Snook of my own. However, I could only land more Grouper and one moderately decent Trout.

I stayed out til about dark and then came in and casted more Mullet. Almost instantly we'd hook up. I got two nice oversized Reds back-to-back fairly quickly.

Another Beauty...

Friday night the bugs came out in full force as the winds died. Come Saturday morning the water in the gulf was even more calm, but swells were still hitting the beach. Tibs and I decided to head further offshore to an EC Classified spot in hopes of some different variety. We get out and chum and not long and we find the fish. Tibs hooks up back to back Snapper fairly quickly...

I too also begin to get into them...

Every now and then we'd hook a pesky Trigger..

We originally went out in hopes of getting into the Kings. I brought some grander Ribbons and had an arsenal of Top-Waters. The surface action only resulted into the interest of some Jacks. I drifted Ribbons and nada. Very strange. The water is an off color but they should still be here. Somehow Tibs finally lands a King, while fishing for Snapper on the bottom. Kinda wild.

We bang out a limit of Snapper and begin releasing the rest. I hook up on a bigger fish and after a minute knew exactly what it was so just hung on for a sleigh ride...

It took me about 20 minutes to get the fish up the yak and is just what I expected...

A couple quick pics and we release the grander Blacktip

With lightning not too far off from a nearby storm, and with wind and seas building, we land and release a few more snapper.

We finally headed back in. My intention was to stay the night and run some Jacks out but the wind and swells were making it not very optimal. With low tide we decided to make lunch and pack up and head off. While we didn't shark fish the beach, I know they are there and could've caught them on casted baits if we really wanted too. But we wanted to finally get out in the kayaks and rack up some points while we can.

Overall it was a fun trip with a great variety of a multitude of fish. Thanks to my brother for the company and wanting to go down. He ended up smoking me in KW points by almost 200 points but combined we had over 1200... not too shabby. 8) But for him it was even more worth it and moved into first in the Western Division.

Still can't wait til the weather window opens back up. While there was a bit of fresh weed on the beach from the NE winds, hopefully we can get the SE to come back and push it up north. Regardless, wherever you fish there battles to be had.

Til next time, see ya on the water somewhere...

-Oz

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