Offshore Kayak Fishing Gear

[tntitans21399]

I am headed to Destin Florida (vacation for a week) in a couple of days.  I am thinking about taking my catfishing pole (heavy duty).  I am going out in my kayak so not traveling to far.  I am thinking about rying some ocean fishing but nothing extreme.  What is a good lbs test I should put on the reel?  Any certain good lures or bait to look at getting?  I'm not looking for huge fish the size of my kayak.  Just maybe redfish and type like that.  What gear should I use?  I'm guessing my plastic fish grabbers will be to light weight for a ocean fish.  I know if I get shark on accident I am cutting the line, don't want to try and unhook him.  I'm looking to catch the fish about the size of a bass or a little bigger.  Any help is great.

[Deleted account]

20 lb braid on a spinning reel, or 30 lb on a baitcaster will cover most bases. You'll need some heavy(ish) mono  for leaders and rigs, along with some terminal tackle and a few lures. Bring a lighter outfit, casting weightless shrimp can be the ticket on calm days. Redfish, jacks, ladyfish, sheepshead, snappers, snook, cobia and a bunch of other things will be around depending on the conditions. Grab a couple of your least favorite larger jerk baits, and drag them behind the yak. There are bays and shallows around the panhandle worth exploring. Haven't been down there in a long time. Let us know how you do.

[RPreeb]

5 hours ago, tntitans21399 said:

I am headed to Destin Florida (vacation for a week) in a couple of days.  I am thinking about taking my catfishing pole (heavy duty).  I am going out in my kayak so not traveling to far.  I am thinking about rying some ocean fishing but nothing extreme.  What is a good lbs test I should put on the reel?  Any certain good lures or bait to look at getting?  I'm not looking for huge fish the size of my kayak.  Just maybe redfish and type like that.  What gear should I use?  I'm guessing my plastic fish grabbers will be to light weight for a ocean fish.  I know if I get shark on accident I am cutting the line, don't want to try and unhook him.  I'm looking to catch the fish about the size of a bass or a little bigger.  Any help is great.

When I lived in the Bahamas, I used 30 lb Power Pro braid on a Shimano Spheros 5000 spinning reel, and a MH BPS Ocean Master 3 piece travel rod.  I landed up to about 12-15 pound snapper and barracuda with that outfit. My sister was using my wife's rig (same as mine) when she visited, and landed a 10 pound bonefish... that was an exciting battle.

[Master Bait'r]

20lb mono or 30-40lb braid.  You'd be well served to buy a pack of #6-8 octopus hooks and some 2-3oz weights.  Think "massive drop shot" and use some clams as bait. (the clams stay on the best). 

 

From the kayak that'll be about the best you'll get.  Maybe pick up a Daiwa SP type bait and twitch around rocks- but watch yourself, you can get smashed over those rocks in a hurry too.  

 

Another way could be to do live eels but that can be a headache & learning curve is involved.  May not be worth it from a kayak.  

 

Dont buy buy too much tho- hooks, weights and meat will get you there. Maybe a jerkbait and a topwater like a super spook but that's all I'd recommend until you figure out the next step after you get your feet wet.  

 

 

[mrmacwvu1]

some 1/4 ounce jig heads and some 4 inch white mirror lures soft jerbaits

 

i have caught 30  snook and a dozen redfish in the last week with that setup

[BassinFLNY]

Zman paddlers and jig headz. Also Spro buck tail for snook.

[Chris at Tech]

15-20 lb mono, 20-30 lb braid.  I'd say line capacity and drag management are key especially when you don't know what you're gonna catch.  Bubble rigs, gotcha plugs, spoons, 5-6" pre-rigged swimbaits should all get bit.

 

With that said, don't be afraid to bring a bass rod or two to wade for redfish, trout, etc.  A 2500 size Shimano spinning reel w/ 10-20 lb braid and ML/M freshwater rod will more than do the job.  Keep it simple here -- a handful of jigheads 1/8 - 1/4 oz and a few packs of DOA shad tails will work just fine.  If fishing really shallow flats, rig an Owner screwlock 3/0 1/16 oz keel weighted hook with some DOA 4" jerkbaits.

 

Best advice I can give is to go into a local tackle shop and get local knowledge.  And don't forget to factor the tide into your planning.