Thanksgiving Weekend Kayak Trip to Biscayne National Park

I just returned from a long weekend trip to South Florida, to spend the Thanksgiving (U.S.) holiday with family and friends. Aside from the turkey and football, I made some time for a day trip kayak excursion in Biscayne National Park. The weather was perfect, and the shallow waters of Biscayne Bay were smooth, allowing for a nice day of paddling along the shorelines of small mangrove islands and back into several creeks that connect with the bay. The clear, shallow water allowed us to see many fish, some crabs, and even a small American Crocodile among the roots of the mangroves.

Yes, you read that last sentence correctly...crocodile. Many people are unaware that there is a small population of American Crocodiles that inhabit South Florida. They are much more scarce than the alligators so commonly associated with the Florida Everglades, but can be found in the coastal areas of both Biscayne and Everglades National Parks.

I was unable to bring my own boats for this trip, so I had to rely on the rental concession that contracts with the NPS. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, and the rental prices were reasonable, however most of their kayaks are not suitable for serious paddling, and none of them are available with real back support. If you are going to splash around for an hour or two, you should be fine, but if you plan to cover any serious distance, fish or dive, I would suggest bringing your own boat or renting from a more capable outfitter.

Before heading back north, I made the obligatory stop at the "Robert is Here" fruit stand, in Florida City. They make the best fresh fruit milkshakes around. I highly recommend the key lime...my personal favorite!

Kayak Fishing Makes it to the New York Times

The same kayak angler that made the pages of this blog a couple of weeks ago has now been profiled in the New York Times. As most of you know, kayak fishing is a very popular and fast growing sport. In fact, some claim that it is the fastest growing segment of recreational angling. So now thanks to the "Old Gray Lady" the rest of the world has a chance to learn about this fun and exciting hobby.

Photo Credit: Julia Cumes for The New York Times

10 (+1) Great Waterfront Campsites

Here is a link to a nice article at treehugger.com that lists some of the best waterfront campsites in the U.S. Obviously these are perfect for kayak camping, with opportunities for extended touring and fishing available at most of them. The article has nice descriptions and pictures of each spot, with plenty of links too.

Photo Credit: Al via Picasa

I want to add one spot that is not mentioned in the list, and that is Cape Sable in Everglades National Park. If any of you have other spots that you think are worthy, but not mentioned, feel free to comment to this thread, message me on Twitter (KayakSportsman), or send me an email (kayaksportsman@gmail.com) and I will be happy to post it.

2009 Mayhem Kayak Fishing

Check out this video! This group of anglers has had some very productive kayak fishing in Destin, FL. There are some great shots of some very nice fish, including a few absolute monsters!

Big Sailfish Caught (twice) by Kayaker in Hawaii

A kayak angler landed a 7 foot 3 inch sailfish, that weighed in at 61 pounds, three miles off the coast of Oahu. As reported by Kayak Angler Online, the sailfish snapped the line but then was re-hooked immediately by a second rig the fisherman had in the water.

The entire fight took only about 30 minutes. It's rare to get a second chance at the fish that got away, but this lucky angler got it.

Photo Credit: Steve Harris

Kayaking Helps Disabled Veterans on the Painful Road to Recovery

This is an inspiring story, as reported by ESPN, about diabled US veterans learning to kayak as part of their rehabilitation process.

The Dangers of Kayaking Alone

Even the most experienced kayakers can get into trouble. Just like SCUBA diving, it is usually best to kayak with a buddy. The body of a missing kayaker was found on Lake Superior on Thursday, and identified by the medical examiner on Friday. This is another sad reminder that safety on the water is always the first priority.

As reported by the Duluth News Tribune, Authorities had been searching for Douglas R. Winter, a 48-year-old former Milwaukee Public Schools teacher, since his kayak washed ashore Oct. 20. The medical examiner has not yet indicated the cause of death. According to the local sheriff’s department, Winter was last heard from about 8:40 p.m. Oct. 19 when he called a friend to tell her that he was kayaking on Lake Superior two to three miles from shore, could not see land, and expressed concern that the waves were getting large. His family and friends said that Winter was an experienced kayaker.

Photo Credit: Duluth News Tribune

More Shark vs. Kayak

While doing a little research into last week's shark attack of a kayaker in Australia, I came across several video clips of kayak fishermen (and women) tangling with sharks. After viewing a small sample of representative videos, it became quite apparent that this is not too uncommon an occurrence down under. I knew that the population density of sharks in the waters off of Australia was pretty high, what surprised me was the number of Australian paddlers with video cameras!

All joking aside, kayak fishing in the open ocean is both an exhilarating and a dangerous sport. There are so many ways to get injured or worse while out on the water, most of which have nothing to do with sharks. Safety and preparedness should be the guiding principles of any kayak sportsman. You can start preparing by watching this video:

Shark Attacks Kayak

Kayak Fishing: 157 Pound Bluefin Tuna!

Dave Lamoureux landed a 157 pound bluefin tuna from his kayak yesterday, off of Race Point Beach in Provincetown. The story is reported in today's Cape Cod Times. The fight to land the fish lasted about three hours, and then he spent another hour paddling back to shore.

Lamoreux, a trader from Chicago, and a self-described "adrenaline seeker" has been trying since August to beat the world record for unassisted paddle-out kayak fishing for any species. In the article, he describes the "sleigh ride" experienced when hooking a large fish in a kayak: "You go for a sleigh ride," Lamoureux said. "At high speed first, and then you slow down. It becomes a vertical fight after that, and then periodically it runs, you know, and you go with it."

Photo Credit: Cape Cod Times/Eric Williams

The Everglades Wilderness Waterway

Have you ever dreamed of paddling the Everglades Wilderness Waterway? Everglades National Park is a kayak sportsman's paradise, with opportunities for fishing, camping, bird watching, snorkeling, and long, multi-day excursions. The Wilderness Waterway is a 99 mile trail that runs from the Flamingo Ranger Station in the south, to Everglades City in the north, and is dotted with scores of primitive campsites along the way.

There are also many other paddling trails, trips and campsites throughout the park and adjacent Florida Bay (much of which lies within the park boundaries). Everglades National Park is probably my favorite place to paddle, but don't take my word for it. Here are a few links to whet your appetite:

Everglades Diary

Everglades Exploration Network

Everglades National Park

Kayaker Attacked by Great White Shark

An Australian man kayaking off of Victoria’s south-west coast, was attacked by a 12-foot-long great white shark last Friday. As reported by "The Age" newspaper, Rhys Gadsden is lucky to be alive after wrestling with the man-eater during his morning paddle. He says the great white shark appeared from the deep and clamped onto his sea kayak, leaving giant puncture marks in the boat.

The 27 year old man was thrown off of his kayak, and spent 15 minutes in the water, until being rescued by a passing boat. He was able to hit the shark several times on the head with his paddle, and avoided any serious injury.

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Good paddling,
The Kayak Sportsman