No bueno.
I’ve lost track of time, but to make a long story short.. no more offshore kayak fishing for me.
I tried but it was no longer fun and a lot more like work. Had a hard time finding out where and when you could legally launch a kayak in Dania Beach. The rules had changed from when I used to launch there, 20 years ago.
No signage anywhere on beach signifying kayak launch.. asked security guard that drove around the parking area.. he couldn’t tell me anything.. I decided I didn’t want to have to deal with any lifeguards so I changed to plan B, launch from what used to be John Lloyd state park.. until the woke crowd changed the name to something else.
Did a practice run one morning.. enter park, find out from lady at gate that I can launch from park boat ramp an hour before beach goers allowed into park… but have to use boat ramp (which is on Intracoastal Waterway) and about a mile paddle out inlet. That’s fine with me, at least I won’t be dealing with life guards.
Had seen there was a submarine off the third reef in 100 feet of water … back and forth along the best fishing grounds for kingfish, navy and other smaller craft patrolling the restricted area. Been there done that years ago and they are almost as bad as lifeguards.
Boat traffic was diverted and it was truly a cluster f for me.
Picture taken from the beach the previous day.
Headed out port Everglades inlet
Paddle out to whistle buoy in 120 ft is water… not a lot of current but still enough to drift north at almost 2 miles an hour.
No future in paddling against the current all day, at least not for me… and I never troll… always rod in hand when fishing. Didn’t fish much as the boat traffic was unreal.. take some pictures, look around the weed lines and make my way back in.
It was flat seas except for boat wake.
Decide early on that I’m not fishing here.
The next day I drive north to Palm Beach, about an hour north, to where launching kayaks from beach is a lot more acceptable. Beautiful area, weird lifestyle with everyone carrying a dog with them..At small gas station I stop at the lady behind counter is offering free treats for everyone carrying their dog in store..wtf? Everyone has a dog with them.
I swear at gas station three people in a row come in carrying their dogs in their arms. Along beach there is a free toys for dogs to play with on the beach..
Guy with fishing rods.
I was too tired to fish and ended up going to pier and watching others fish..
Drove back to Hollywood and decided I wouldn’t be driving all the way to Palm Beach to fish… back to plan A.
Almost drove on up to Trump’s place but turned around. More later