NCKA in Key West - What's up Sac Crew

Hello again NCKA.  I made a trip back to good old California a little while ago and it reminded me of where I got my kayaking roots.  I moved to Florida (The Keys) 3+ years ago.  One of the main reasons was to try my new kayaking skills in an old stomping ground renowned for it's world class fishing.  I had done time there before but fished either from boat or shore.  As soon as I had gotten a kayak, I always thought about what I could do with it in the Keys.

Over the years I fished up and down the Keys from Key Largo down to Key West.  Learning new techniques and using ones I had acquired in Cali.

One of the drawbacks was that there is virtually no real kayak fishing info for the Keys.  It turned out that there really is not a very big kayak fishing contingent as most locals have boats and kayaks are not as beneficial as the Keys are so vast and distances required to get to fishy grounds can be long.  Also, there are no kayak fishing forums or clubs and the only somewhat functional Forum (Florida Sportsman - No Motor Zone Forum) is very small compared to a site like NCKA and really is kind of focused on the Miami and mainland scene. 

Although I was fairly active on NCKA, I never really got involved with posting to the Florida Sportsman until about six months ago.  Even then I was posting to the Keys Fishing Reports section which is primarily boaters.  I had no camera so I was strictly using my Iphone.  I was really hesitant about that as accidents happen and saltwater kills everything so eventually I broke down and got a second hand Gopro off of Ebay.  I generally posted photos only, but after the Gopro I started with the videos.  Because of that I started a Youtube page last Nov/Dec.

My passion has always been chasing the bigger fish and figuring out the techniques to catch them.  I am also not the secretive type and enjoyed the sharing of info about the sport.  Lots of my posts on NCKA were geared towards the How-to's.  This I have carried over to the Youtube page which I figured would be a useful source for the many people coming to visit the Keys.  It was also a sort of way of dispelling the myths about how easy the fishing is down here as the majority of people who come have visions of catching all the fish the TV shows portray in the 30 minute shows which in actuality take about a week of fishing, a professional guide, and often many miles of travel away from the Keys, in order to produce.  Most end up leaving somewhat discouraged with a couple of Grunts or Juvenile Snappers and a baby Barracuda or two to sum up their trip.  Some even having a hard time just finding access as just like everywhere else there is a proliferation of private property and the rest of land access blocked off by unpassable Mangroves.

So, if anybody is coming to the Keys, or just want to see what a NCKA guy can do in the Keys (I still orient myself to NCKA even to the people I fish with down here), you can check out my channel at "Key West Kayak Fishing".  Or if you are down, let me know and we can hook up.  I do a lot of hook ups and teaching for both kayakers and boaters now. 

Hope all goes well with everybody on the West coast and hope to be back fishing good old Cali soon.

Here are a couple of some of the helpful videos if you are coming down for a visit.

Hey Steve! Good to see you are still chasing Mogans!


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Steve!!!
We miss you!!!
Glad to see you're still doing awesome!!!
I wanna go Keys!


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seems like a great place to be steve.  my wife was just talking about a trip down to key west.  maybe if i actually get one scheduled i'll get in touch with you.

Great report. The keys are one of the greatest places on earth. I did a keys/kayak vacation for a week in 2013 on Grassy Key near Marathon. No tarpon for me despite a committed effort, but I did catch lots of barracuda and bonnet head sharks. I so want to go back...

awesome! 

Very cool! Thanks for posting.

Steve!!

We miss you, buddy!

I'm glad to see you killing it in Florida.

-Archie
(formerly ATD)

Badass!  You're living the dream! 

Thanks for the fish porn...please keep them coming! 

thanks for sharing.  the last vid reminds me of fishing cape canaveral area (indian river).  as soon as i launched a big mullet jumps out and hits the side of my yak!  scared the crap out of me.  thought it was a gator 

Hey guys, good to hear a lot of people are still around.  Been reading a bit and a lot of the same names. 

Mr. Matt whats going on man.  Long time.  Are you still taking care of the Sac town newbies?  Still spanking those Shad.
Naoaki, come on down. Lots of fish to catch.
ATD- You would love it down here.  Lots of different challenges to master.  Gotta beat out the boats.

Where did you get that outrigger ?


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That a rigger off a Hobie Adventure Island

Hey Steve, Good to see you are still chasing and catching fish!