The Last 48

Well I made the long drive to south FL. Was supposed to have been here two weeks ago but the corn-H virus delayed my scientifically laid out plans. Will update tonight when I return from hopefully making it back from Flamingo, Everglades National Park.


Welcome committee entering America’s Playground. Don’t tell them you spent a night in Louisiana, Alabama, or Mississippi. I don’t know what a yes answer would get you, but a Hell Naw will get you a friendly smile and waved on through.


Made it 16 hours and almost 900 miles before stopping and getting a couple of hours rest.


Through Miami and on last 20 miles south to Florida City.


Made arrangements to pick up my new to me, kayak, and shot the chit with my old fishing bud, then back to motel for needed sleep.
This place is deserted, only 6 guests out of around 30 rooms. City is on lockdown, 10 pm curfew. If you don’t wear mask, you don’t get service at any store that’s open. These folks are serious. Worried about getting into park this morning. Not sure what to expect.. either first or second day it’s been reopened.
Keeping it simple this trip. Out the door, 50 mile drive to Flamingo.

Later

Wow, heckuva trip, good luck

Let us know how it goes!

Good luck!

And we saw you jamming out to Shakira on your car radio...

Them hips don't lie bruh

Hoping for a nice, safe trip

Hope you have a great trip. Be safe.

Those Lake Fork Tackle swim baits are legit!

Hope you have a Good Trip!

When you stop for gas, look in the bucket with the long stick in it. You can use them to clean your windshield.

Have a safe trip.

Have you tried the Camel crush yet? You can go half regular cig then crush the filter and smoke the rest as menthol. Not bad.

I Hope ya catch a big ‘Poon or Snook buddy! Looks like fun

Long day. Had alarm set for 4:30 a.m. as it’s a 50 mile drive from where I’m staying. Wasn’t sure if park was opening at a certain time or if it was opening 24/7 as it usually is. Decided to wait for daylight as I didn’t want to be waiting . Got gas, food, and was on my way.
Had a convoy behind me as I entered the park. I was doing speed limit..50 and was watching rear view to see which d head would make a pass. It was like NASCAR.. everyone on each other’s bumpers, the folks behind me pulling out wide to see how many cars were ahead of me. A guy three cars back pulling boat tries the three car pass on short straightaway in no passing zone. I make sure he doesn’t make it past me as I tromp it. Yes, I’m one of those guys. He passed me later but not until I was ready.

There were more than 20 boats already on the water when I arrived. I’m greeted by 1000 no see’ums.
Had a great day. Lots of small fish but so many things to see and fish bit all day. Caught small snook, reds, jacks, a juvenile Goliath grouper and hooked three tarpon, all small, and landed one.













Much better pics on other camera but I didn’t bring laptop on this trip. Back at it tomorrow.

Good job lconn, I would take that snook any day.

Looks like a blast! Thanks for sharing

very nicely done sir! Love the pictures!

Dang man! Awesome

Any updates?

Very cool

my leader is so awesome

I don’t see a snook.


The grouper is so cool. I caught a baby that was about 30 lbs, amazing the size potential on those fish.

I would love to get on some small tarpon , I think I have caught more over 100 than less than 50. Never caught one under 30.

Have a great trip , be safe.

Mo

That looks like the same Gerber pocket knife I have.

How does the new kayak paddle? Is it as fast and light as you remembered it?

I’ve been staying busy. This trip has been awesome. Fished only a few hours the second day as I hit the wall and needed rest. Didn’t get out on the water until about 3:00 on second day here. Make the long drive to Flamingo, park my car and start to unload. Notice parking lot is almost empty as folks are normally off the water at 3:00 leaving the whole place for me. See one guy in parking lot, a kayaker. He is wearing a mask, a weird one. One that you don’t forget. One that I’ve seen before. He tells me he has just come back from two nights out at east cape, . I note a strange accent. I ask, “is that you Flex?” It was. I hadn’t seen him in probably 7 or 8 years. He was sales rep for one of the local paddling shops in Dania Beach, 15 minutes from where I lived in Hollywood, Fl. He still is in the business as a rep but for a different company. He is the most serious paddler I know... he is not a fisherman. We talked for half an hour catching up with common friends and conditions of the Everglades.




If you ever see someone with a paddle like this, they know what they’re doing.

Glad you're alive...what's the deal with that paddle? Looks heavy.

Anyways I caught grouper, sailcats, snook, and redfish. Was fishing a couple of miles in opposite direction from where I fished the first day. Was on wind protected side of island, it was end of high tide and I’m at my favorite spot for snook. I’d just gotten lure hung up in mangroves and as I paddled over to get it unstuck, I said to myself, those snook are way back up in the roots and Ive got to keep tossing lure as far back in as I can. Took the pic below and then on next cast I get hammered by a good one. It shoots straight out of the mangroves to open water pulling drag for thirty yards, just short of as far down as I can tighten on Calcutta 250. I’ve got 20 lb test and 50 lb leader. Fish turns on a dime and heads right back at me from 30 yards out. I’m reeling as fast as I can trying to catch up as I’m watching slack line and knowing what’s coming next. I thumb spool praying I can turn it. Not even close. That sucker plows on into mangroves like they weren’t even there, comes to surface and keeps going as it pops me. Nothing I could do. It wasn’t a monster but looked to be in the 30 to 32 inch range... the size where it gets exciting.





Check out my line on reel handle where line snapped above. Had to strip off 20 yards of nicked and shredded main line. Catch redfish on the next cast, then a small snook.



I’ve been in Hollywood the last two nights visiting friends. Headed back home in the morning. Blue Angels did a salute to first responders the other day. I didn’t see it but a friend sent a picture someone had posted.

It is better than I remembered. Might be because I didn’t have a padded back rest last time or seat pad. I didn’t have gps to see about speed but I did notice I get a lot more glide than my other kayaks and the rudder is very responsive. I’ll get it on scales to see about weight but think it’s lighter than 55 lbs. First day I was in it for 10hours.. no problem comfort wise.

It’s heavier than a carbon paddle but is so short it doesn’t weigh what you would think. What is weird is how and what it was designed for.. bad weather, the worst conditions in storms. If you notice the black tips on the paddle.. your top hand is on top of it and your bottom hand is down shaft. When you stroke on the other side you let the paddle slide through your hands until you catch the top of the paddle on the other side. That’s how the ancient Greenland kayakers did it. It’s also easier to recover from tipping over while remaining in sit inside kayak, with it, from what I’ve read.

First thought when I saw the mask...Buckethead. LOL

Mo,the smaller tarpon are the only way to go! The big ones are too much work from a kayak. I took a lot of flak for fighting one I estimated at 150 lbs for over 3 hours that towed me 6 miles at night on bass gear. I want a 15 minute battle max these days. If you’re using a guide, tell him you want small ones.only or just fish the backcountry in the winter.

Goodbye Florida City




Hello Hollywood

Camel butt

Really cool trip. Have you replaced the stock drag washers on your Calcutta 250?

I have on the 250 but not on 200. My thumb fingerprint has been replaced several times over the years.

Left Hollywood at 8:00 this morning and made 700 miles to Destin...600 more to go tomorrow. A few pics from paddling yesterday morning in Hollywood.



Not much happening... small cuda and lost a trout. Fishing here for snook was better after dark. Have no desire to fight mosquitoes these days.

Great post! Thanks for sharing.