Best Catches of 2021

[JohnMckroidJr]

2021 logged 51 trips which are the most/yr since I started kayak fishing in 2014. Lacking any new species, personal bests, African Pompano, Cobia, Grouper, and generally less big fish of all species, 2021 was less satisfying. Florida is blessed with a huge variety of species, below is a sample of some taken on the kayak last year.


2021 was the first year that I took a Jumbo(12-32lb) Blackfin Tuna on a Yozuri minnow. Prior years harvest was 6-10 months of the year, 2021 had Blackfin every month, though most were small footballs.


2021 was the first full year investing significant time with slow pitch jigs. They are deadly – easier to hook fish and incapacitating when multiple hooks sink in creating a tractor beam effect. They produced my first double on Blackfin tuna.


Many SE kayak anglers have not taken an Atlantic Bonita, they are taken during the colder months, usually down deep with a vertical jig.


Little Tunny AKA False Albacore is one of the most abundant species in SE Florida. Most Floridians call them Bonito as the Atlantic Bonito are less common. They are considered excellent bait and poor table fare. Sometimes during the summer, they get so thick that one can get hit every other drop for hours on end using a vertical jig. Thanks to Fisherman’s Belly, I tried Little Tunny Poke. Since then I started harvesting them periodically for Poke – Delicious!


In 2021 I missed the April spawn but landed a few big Amberjacks throughout the year. Having swallowed the hook, one was harvested, a half dozen released.


Unlike the monster Almaco Jacks mistakenly called Amberjacks off Panama, The Almacos taken off SE Florida are mostly 3-8lbs with a big one being 15+lbs. Almacos are distinguished from Amberjacks by the larger hooked second dorsal fin.


Yellow Jacks are the most colorful of the Jacks taken off Florida. They are typically 1-6lbs with a big one being over 15lbs. They are good eating.


Bar Jacks can be good eating if they are harvested away from sewage outfalls where they are known to feed on the particulate. They rarely get over a pound and are my go-to backup bait when Goggle Eyes, Speedos, Small Little Tunnies, and Blue Runners are scarce.


Rainbow Runners are one of the most colorful fish taken off Florida. Most are only a few pounds and a big one is over 10lbs.


Barracudas are a sure-fire catch on a deep trolled bait off anywhere that has wrecks in 100ft. They are frequently a spoiler catch and a means of preventing a skunk trip.


Barracudas mauled more catches than sharks did in 2021.


2021 was another slow year for Dolphin fish, so much so that FWC is planning to drop the limit from 10 fish per person to 5 fish per person and from 60 fish per vessel to 30 fish limit per vessel. The Gulf steam where 60 fish limits are sometimes taken is out of kayak range. Any day a kayaker gets one is a nice day, and Last year was only a few.


Typically catch four sails over the course of the year on stinger rigs while targeting other species. In 2021, I had half that but took my first sail on a fresh squid.


Spanish Macks are a nuisance fish while targeting bait before sunrise. They will destroy a sabiki in minutes and re-rigging in the dark consumes precious bait fishing time.


In 2021 I started making my own wire leader assist hooks for vertical jigs and it paid off. The top right bit off spectra assist is what can happen when only one of the two assists is made with wire.


In 2021 I invest more time using tuna tubes – fishing Little Tunny to target trophy fish. I did not connect with any big monsters like in 2020 but did find some nicer-grade King Mackerel.


Wahoo is the Holy Grail for most SE Florida offshore Kayak anglers. Although 2021Â’s hoo was my smallest to date, I was still stoked to land one.

[BenCantrell]

Originally Posted by Salty

2) Black Sea Bass in Dana Point. Catch these fairly frequently further south in LJ and off the boat around San Mateo Point, but this one was a surprise because of where I caught it- at the edge of the canyon NW of Dana Point. happened to hook a few energetic greenbacks on a jig and pinned them to my flyline and Carolina rig. This guy bit off the bottom after a pod of dolphins cruised by. Also released after the pic

That is a REALLY cool catch!

Originally Posted by JohnMckroidJr

2021 logged 51 trips which are the most/yr since I started kayak fishing in 2014.

Very impressive getting out that many times! That Atlantic bonita is an interesting catch. Didn't really know they were down here. And of course the rainbow runner, mahi, sailfish, and wahoo all have me drooling.

[JohnMckroidJr]

Originally Posted by BenCantrell

That is a REALLY cool catch!



Very impressive getting out that many times! That Atlantic bonita is an interesting catch. Didn't really know they were down here. And of course the rainbow runner, mahi, sailfish, and wahoo all have me drooling.

I fished hardcore last year. Due to the warmth of the water, I did not think Atlantic Bonito would be down this south either. I had never seen them reported on any sport boats, and it was several years before I stumbled upon taking one. Since then, I have noted the Pacific version is sometimes taken off Hawaii. During cooler water periods or if the species stays deep, it can inhabit warmer latitudes. Same goes for the greenback mackerel. Identical looking to the Pacific Mackerel, I will sometimes catch an Atlantic Mackerl down deep. Locally they are called Tinker Mackerels.

[KamWalsh14]

That's some incredible fishing! Makes me jealous that great fish like Barracuda and False Albacore are considered consolation fishes over there! The cudas there definitely beat the ones we have here. I have to do some kayak fishing down there one of these days.

[BenCantrell]

Originally Posted by KamWalsh14

That's some incredible fishing! Makes me jealous that great fish like Barracuda and False Albacore are considered consolation fishes over there! The cudas there definitely beat the ones we have here. I have to do some kayak fishing down there one of these days.

Anything John catches could eat anything I catch.

[JohnMckroidJr]

Originally Posted by BenCantrell

Anything John catches could eat anything I catch.

LOL... Sometimes true, but probably because Ben is frequently using a Sabiki.
Sabiki's are an awesome tool for expanding one's fish catch life-list.
Speaking of which last time out, I hit the wrecks looking for bait and took both a Yellowjack and a Rainbow Runner on the Sabiki. The Yellowjack was too big for bait, but the Rainbow Runner caught a Barracuda later that day. If those are still on your list? Take a trip South Ben.

[JohnMckroidJr]

Originally Posted by KamWalsh14

That's some incredible fishing! Makes me jealous that great fish like Barracuda and False Albacore are considered consolation fishes over there! The cudas there definitely beat the ones we have here. I have to do some kayak fishing down there one of these days.

Thanks, Kam, Cudas, and False Albacore are definitely two of the most undervalued fish off SE Florida. The Cuda's big teeth and generally bigger stockier size does make them more impressive than their Pacific cousins. Due to the fact that they often eat coral-dwelling fish, They do carry a risk of ciguatera. One test is to put a piece out for the ants, and if they eat it, it's safe to eat. I generally don't harvest them as there are many better-eating fishes to take instead. Barracuda ciguatera incidents are rare in Florida. If you ever make it down to SE Florida, Pm me.

[KamWalsh14]

I sure will, John! As for the cudas, I've caught and eaten great barracuda before in Belize and Bonaire and while they were delicious and the locals never said they had issues with them, the thought of potentially vomiting and even being paralyzed hours after my meal kind of ruined my appetite. I guess any kind of reef fish can have it, from what I've heard. I have heard of the bug trick; it would be interesting to study how consistently it works.