[leeroy87]

Hello all, I am becoming addicted to my kayak and am thinking about launching off of 17th ave tonight next to 3 mile bridge. Anyone else going out? or have any tips for over there? I've never fished the 3 mile bridge area.

 

[oxbeast1210]

the times I went I launched in the gulf breeze side. make sure u have ur safety gear and lights . also check the estimTed winds before u go it can get rough..

 

[Flatspro]

I am with Ox launch on the south side. Don't go alone it can get bad in a hurry and watch the weather. Just be safe and wear a pfd!

 

[oxbeast1210]

wish I could go its been a while

 

[leeroy87]

hmm ok. any reason to launch on the southside? better surf and less wind or just easier to launch? yea, i have all my safety gear and some lighting. I've seen people launching on the pensacola side alot so thats why i was considering it.

 

[JD7.62]

With the wind out of the south, launching from the south, you are more sheltered from the wind.

We were just on the bridge for about twenty minutes sitting in traffic and I saw a big tarpon jump. It was a tarpon 100% we were stopped due to a wreck.

 

[leeroy87]

nice. i would like to hit a nice red or some trout tonight. I've been seeing people in the yaks pulling up reds for weeks around 3 mile.

 

[FLSalomon]

Make sure you have a light on your PFD. You can search here for a recent story about a lone yakker who capsized near 3mb at night - no light, no radio and too tired to get back on the yak. He was dang lucky another yakker (BFine) found him. Don't be that guy.

 

[leeroy87]

yea, i went last night. caught a huge sailcat, 2 trout and one undersized red. cant win em all...

**edit. i was also using a smaller than normal Gulp shrimp. i believe it was the 5cm. im used to using the 7 or 8cm or w/e the size is. so that could explain why the trout and red were on the small side.

 

[oxbeast1210]

lets go again next time the wind aint to bad...

 

[Caddy Yakker]

Another reason to launch on the south side is I know several people that have had their vehicle broken into and vandalized at night.

 

[leeroy87]

Another reason to launch on the south side is I know several people that have had their vehicle broken into and vandalized at night.

Ahh, not cool.

Quick question off topic too, but the south side boat ramp is $10 right? Well they didn't have any envelopes in the drop box thing so I couldn't really pay due to not having the window decal pulloff on the drop envelope. Is this normal?

 

[Caddy Yakker]

Ahh, not cool.

Quick question off topic too, but the south side boat ramp is $10 right? Well they didn't have any envelopes in the drop box thing so I couldn't really pay due to not having the window decal pulloff on the drop envelope. Is this normal?

I'm pretty sure you only have to pay if you have a trailer or use the ramp. I use niether.

 

[Yaksquatch]

The preferred launching area is pretty dependent on which direction the wind's coming from. If it's coming out of the South, you want to launch at Wayside in Gulf Breeze. Use the little sandy area behind the rocks next to the ramp not the ramp itself so you don't have to pay.

If the wind's coming out of the North you'll want to launch from Greenshores on the right just before the bridge. DO NOT launch from 17th Ave unless you leave a doberman or a pit bull behind to guard your car!

Good luck!
Alex

 

[leeroy87]

The preferred launching area is pretty dependent on which direction the wind's coming from. If it's coming out of the South, you want to launch at Wayside in Gulf Breeze. Use the little sandy area behind the rocks next to the ramp not the ramp itself so you don't have to pay.

If the wind's coming out of the North you'll want to launch from Greenshores on the right just before the bridge. DO NOT launch from 17th Ave unless you leave a doberman or a pit bull behind to guard your car!

Good luck!
Alex

lol. im glad i took the aforementioned advise and launched at wayside cause i was going to launch at 17th. I may be going again tonight. Anyone know a good way to catch some bait on the kayak? sabiki? i have a hard time throwing a cast net from the kayak.

 

[Caddy Yakker]

lol. im glad i took the aforementioned advise and launched at wayside cause i was going to launch at 17th. I may be going again tonight. Anyone know a good way to catch some bait on the kayak? sabiki? i have a hard time throwing a cast net from the kayak.

If you want to get some big reds just jig up some white trout and drop them down live!

 

[leeroy87]

funny thing is i can't seem to catch any white trout. all i get are the specks.

 

[rfh21]

I've launched at the Texar Area on 17th. I don't use the ramp here either just the sandy bank but have only gone in daylight hours so never had any troubles with theft or vandals. Definitely gets to rocking out there around the pilings, pfd is a must. I've done the cast net from the kayak before and caught some bait but at night you'd probably be pushing your luck because if your rope were to catch could give you a tip. Better off catching your bait on a rod, pinfish or white trout can land you some fat reds.

 

[leeroy87]

i think i remember catching the pinfish on shrimp and bream hooks. that sound right?

 

[rfh21]

If you have some torn up gulp, it's a good use for it instead of just tossing it in the drink. Little tougher than shrimp. But they'll eat about anything