It’s 6:30 A.M. and you’re up before your alarm clock.  You take a quick shower and then you’re drinking a cup of coffee on the back patio staring at the sky.  It’s going to be a warm day.  The sun’s coming up and you already know you’re going to enjoy every minute of daylight.  You throw a kayak on the roof of your car and head to Gadsenville Landing.  You cruise out the creek and start working the spartina grass.  You notice a pocket where the grass indents into the marsh a bit and you stick your paddle in the mud, tying it to your boat to keep the breeze from blowing you off your spot.  Toss out a light Carolina rig and relax.  A redfish smells the bait and cruises over to check it out or maybe he sees the clouser minnow you just twitched past him.  He has no idea that you’re even there because your kayak glided silently out of the creek.  Something catches your eye.  You look and the rod tip twitches two more times and then doubles over, zzziiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnggggggggg!  After a couple runs you bring the fish in, snap a picture and release it.  You just caught your first red in the flats.  You’re hands are shaking, you can feel your heart beating.  You are alive.  You are kayak fishing the lowcountry.

Kayak fishing is one of the best ways to pursue inshore game fish such as redfish, trout, flounder and other species such as sharks, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and bluefish in the Southeastern United States.  Throughout South Carolina the peace, quiet and stunning beauty of the marshes provide the perfect place to fish from a kayak.  Here are a few pointers to help get you started:

Get some wading shoes or neoprene booties.  You may have to get out and drag your boat through some shallows or wade after some tailing redfish and the oysters will destroy your feet without some protection.  Get some that cover up past your ankles for better protection and make sure they fit snug so they don’t get stuck in the mud.

A rod holder makes fishing so much easier, it may be good to bungee your rod down also if you’re pushing through marsh grass.

Bring an anchor or stick your paddle in the mud to hold your position, you can tie it off to your boat and go hands-free for fishing.

A waterproof bag is a great thing to have on board.  Maps, sunscreen, water and a cell phone are good to bring along.  Check tides and weather before you head out, open water can be a dangerous place, but the back marshes are relatively secure.

For more information about kayaks and accessories, head to The Outdoor Shoppe and talk to their great staff before your next trip on the water!

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