Two Trophy Sheepshead, Spades, Togs, and a Keeper Cobia

A dim glow was slowly creeping across the eastern sky when my kayak set free from the beach.  The water was black and glassy and the glide was silky smooth.  I looked up at the stars, smiled, and whispered gratitude.  When I looked back down, my bow was cutting through thick bioluminescence creating Tron-like streaks on the water.  Each stroke of my Werner Kalliste sent clouds of electric blue swirling by and like the other times I've sat on an expansive touch-sensitive light-up body of water, I was reminded of what it feels like to be a child... giddy... full of wonder and amazement. 

The surreal Life-Of-Pi-esque scene, minus the gazillion jellyfish and jumping whale, faded as color spread and reflected on the mirror finish. 

I dropped my sheepshead rig in four or five spots before the sun was clear of the horizon.  Not too long afterwards, I got my first bite.  The strange yet familiar grinding with a sudden weight triggered that instinctual swing and urgent need to gain line.  Plunges of my rod tip preluded the high friction exiting of said line.  We exchanged possession of that length a few times while I kicked and pushed to get away from the big CBBT pilings.  When its rage wore off, I realized the hook was only holding on to a tiny sliver at the tip of it's lip.  I turned the fish so I could tuck my foot under it's pelvic fin, pinned it against the side of my kayak and pushed up as I pulled on the leader.  It measured right at 24".  

24" Release Citation Sheepshead

About 20 minutes later, I replayed the previous sequence much to my delight.  The 25"er had better hook placement on it though. 

25" Release Citation Sheepshead

It was 7:18 and I doubled up on my goal of getting a release citation sheepshead.  Since the bite was hot, I stuck around the area hoping for a third.  However, my patience ran out quickly thinking about the other goals I had for the day.  I had been wanting to make a print of a spadefish for a while, but haven't had a chance to bring one home.  After a quick paddle to different spot, the first drop down with clam brought on the rod-vibrating fight of a 10" spadefish.  Second drop down produced similar. Then, after 15 minutes of no action, I decided it was time to move on.  I checked off goal number two, as one of the spades went on ice destined to be inked.

The final goal of the day was to give it a good shot for cobia.  The sun was getting high enough to possibly see them.  Keeping a keen eye on the surface, I tried to cover as much water as possible in my Ultra 4.7.  However, when I got to one of my favorite spots, I had to drop a fiddler crab down just to see if anyone was home.

Anyone else remember Beetlejuice from Howard Stern?

After four togs up to about 15" I pulled myself away to resume the cobia hunt.  After a good long paddle, I saw what I was hoping for; silly brown clown circling a piling.  It wasn't very big, but I was definitely still going to take a shot.  It was swimming counter clockwise and I tossed a RonZ past the piling to the right side just as fish came around on the left.  I swam it near the surface and he charged as soon as he saw it.  He hit it but didn't eat.  I bounced it and he started chasing.  It was getting fairly close to the kayak and I was running out of line.  I dipped the rod down, thinking I was going to have to open the bail to let the lure drop, but then he grabbed it hard and I slammed it home.  Up until this point, I had only hooked up to cobia on friends' boats and charters.  I've seen plenty from a kayak, including some monsters, but for various reasons (sometimes beyond my control and sometimes my fault) I just never got a hook up.  So, I took my time and enjoyed this fight.  He immediately took some line, came up to the surface and thrashed, circled around and made a run back toward the pilings.  I was able to turn him and then he sounded.  For a smallish cobia, it definitely had some attitude; which I wanted all gone from him when it came time to bring it on the kayak.  I let him take as many runs as he wanted.  Eventually, he stayed relatively calm and I noticed the hook placement was good.  I grabbed the leader and slowly pulled him up.  

I quickly measured him at 38" and decided to keep it.  Knowing how strong they are and their destructive nature if it were to thrash in my lap, I took the hammer to the dome.  

I could have ended the trip at 7 in the morning and the 2hr drive home would have still been all smiles.  But with two release citation sheepies, spades, togs, and a keeper cobia under the hatch... you could say I was cheezin pretty hard. 
 
I made it back to shore by 2pm to get back home by 5pm as promised.  Cherry on top of it all was taking the kids to their first baseball game.  

That celebratory beer though...

Cheers.

Hopefully I'll be back out soon to upgrade that kayak cobia.

In the meantime, fish prints it is...

Video of the sheepies and cobia coming soon.

Surf Launching Tips Video

Hooked Surf: Launching and Landing Your FIshing Kayak Safely from Werner Paddles on Vimeo.

Werner TV (Forward Stroke and Sweep Stroke)

Forward Stroke.

Sweep Stroke.

Werner TV (Selecting Your Paddle)

It's always a little weird watching and hearing myself, but here's the latest episode of Werner TV about selecting the paddle that's right for you.

Werner TV (Kayak Fish Magazine Promo)

Buy any Hooked Series Werner Paddle and receive a free subscription to Kayak Fish Magazine.

Werner TV (Hooked on Kayak Fishing)

This is the first of 6 weekly videos that Werner Paddles is coming out with specifically for kayak anglers.  For more info on what I believe are the best paddles out there, check out their newly designed website and other Werner TV videos.

Werner. Paddle of Choice.

For a while, I didn't realize how much I loved my paddle.  I knew it was a big step up from my previous one, and I really liked it, but never felt like I needed to write about it.  Until one day, an opportunity came along, which sparked a long chain of events that really got me thinking.  I was fickle at first, perhaps a little wishy-washy, but I can honestly say now, that I know I made the right choice... Werner.

I quickly learned the importance of a quality paddle when I started putting in extensive hours and numerous miles on the water.  My starter paddle got the job done for me at first, but an upgrade became unavoidable as time went on.  After doing some homework, I purchased a Werner Camano and promptly became enamored with it.  Not only because I thought it was very pretty, but it made my time on the water more enjoyable.  My paddle strokes seemed smoother, easier, and more efficient.  I have a low angle paddling style for the most part so the Camano blade shape was just right.

My search for the right paddle was over and I went on to spend the next two years thoroughly enjoying my Werner.  With catching fish being of higher priority than taking the best care of my paddle, I admit that in the heat of doing battle with some gnarly fish, the paddle was banged around occasionally.  I used it to push off various structures including some barnacle encrusted pilings, but it has still held up strong and sexy as ever.  Yeah, that's right, I called my paddle sexy.

My decision stood unquestioned, until I got a message from a very highly respected kayak angler.  He wanted to know if I had a paddle sponsor and if not, I was welcome to join the company he was sponsored by.  Until that moment, I had not thought about paddle sponsors.  I didn't really care at first, but that message was a catalyst.  The thought of sharing a sponsorship with some of the people I really look up to in the sport became exciting.  Extensive research, testing of potential new paddles, phone calls looking for advice, all had me torn.

I sent Werner a message, but they could not reciprocate the same deal that the other company was willing to give me.  Even with a good word put in by Cory Routh, they could only offer a partial regional team member status with a chance to become full team member later on.  The other company was willing to give me full sponsorship immediately with two brand new paddles of my choice for free every year.  For most, that is an easy choice.  And to make it even easier, my research yielded a few paddles by the other company that had very similar attributes as my Camano.  And the cherry on top was the that a few good friends of mine owned those exact paddles and were willing to let me borrow and test them for a while. They were all in the same price range, weighed about the same, and felt very similar to the Camano.  And to tell you the truth, after testing them, there was really nothing wrong with those paddles.  So this really should be a no brainer.

But the thing is, every time I picked up a different paddle, I wanted it to be my Werner.  Whether it was small details that I couldn't pick out or some big design thing that I'm totally missing, I don't know.  I just knew that if I went with the other company, I'd always be wishing that I was still paddling that Werner.  And even though free would be great, it really comes down to my enjoyment on the water.  That's what it's all about.

I'm sure those friends of mine who offered me the sponsorship and also let me borrow their paddles know that I mean no disrespect by turning it down.  But I also thank those of you who gave me great advice, like "stay true to yourself" and "go with the one you believe in". 

My recap of 2011, as well as the rest of my blog will attest to how much time I've spent on the water with this paddle. From ponds, rivers, inlets and the Chesapeake Bay to mother-shipping 40 miles out in the Gulf stream, I have no doubt that it made each trip a little sweeter.  I am proud to say that I'm a paddler just as much as I am a fisherman and I love my Werner.  Those who I helped sway over the years towards getting one will attest their undying affection for their paddle and have no regrets.


I'm sure we would all agree... we can point out all the bells and whistles and rant about quality materials, workmanship, surface area, swing weights and paddle weights, various specifications, blah, blah blah...  but in the end, we love it because it just feels right.  It feels good.