SO excited about my new kayak!! I felt so liberated today on the water alone. I found a lot of tailing black drum but I couldn't get them to take anything.. I stood up poling around like this for quite some time, saw some redfish, but was not yet coordinated enough to switch over to my rod and make a good cast without spooking them. I mainly just had fun exploring today. Where are your favorite places to launch and fish at in the Corpus-Port Aransas area??

Oh, and PSA, remember suncreen!

Good stuff!

I've got a Jackson Big Rig in that same color scheme. Is that a Coosa?

Don't forget sunscreen is right! Also don't forget your life jacket I wear mine all the time when I'm on the kayak.

I'm in North Texas so I couldn't give you any spots... Unless you're ever up this way; in that case I know a few.

Congrats on the yak!

Thanks so much! it's actually a RipTide brand 13' waterhog!

I was reluctant to wear my life jacket full time today as I was in <2.0ft of water but I think in general it is good practice to leave it on all the time.

Congrats on your new yak. I'm still on the learning curve with mine also.

There is a lot to learn but i think that is the most fun part

That looks like fun.

My best days have been in a kayak alone. Some days I even caught fish. thanks for sharing.

Great pictures! Awesome that you got out and broke her in. Nice looking yak for sure!You have some of the best areas to fish out of down there as well. I envy you!

I'm with you on kayaks being liberating. Nothing like being the captain of your own craft. They really slow you down and immerse you into the setting. Looks like you found a good spot with the fish you were seeing. I like to stand up in my kayak and scout for fish and do that 95% of the time. It's a lot easier to spot fish standing up. That setting down of the paddle can be tough and maybe there is something like shock cord (bungee cord material) you can rig up to slip the paddle blade under. Some folks ease out of the kayak and wade when they start spotting fish. That's not always possible though. Sometimes, I'll stake out in a spot with fish and let them come to me instead of running over them. Those redfish will circle around in a area and sometimes you can use a stake out stick with one hand to push ever closer and then take your shot. Sight casting in a kayak can be a creative enterprise. I've learned to paddle with one hand and paddle with the rod and paddle in the same hand. Getting imaginative in your shot making is part of the fun.

Black drum can be kind of tough on artificial lures, but they will take shrimp and crab flies. Drum mouths are pretty small.

There are some knowledgeable kayak guides in that area, and going along with them you'll learn a lot rather than trial and error.
There are a lot of kayak launch points also where other kayakers congregate, and most kayakers I've run across don't have a problem showing someone new at the game the ropes.

A Riptide Waterhog huh? Never heard of them. Looks like a sweet rig doe. The Jacksons have that same color pattern as an option.

Ahhh two feet of water. Yeah I might not wear it there either. But as a habit I wear it all the time. I fell out the yak once, and boy I was glad I had it on. And it happened so fast, one second your chilling and its all good, next thing I knew I was in the water. The cold cold water lol. I am a good swimmer but I still dont mess around with not wearing it.

Props again! Yakking is the best.

I suggest proper attire (longsleeve shirt, mask, hat, gloves, etc) -- sunscreen isn't really an option if you fish all day, plus (while it prevents sunburn) -- it doesn't negate all the damage, your skin still gets cooked.

Nice rig!

Id hire a guide but i'm a broke grad student- trial and error is fun too and i learn more that way probably