Hey Evabody

[Catch-All]

I've been fishing a long time but I've never fished from a kayak before. I moved from SE Florida to the Sportsman's Paradise almost 2 years ago and have always been a hardcore offshore fisherman. Mostly fished my boat in the canyons, or deepdropping in the Gulfstream in current up to 6 knots, that kind of stuff.

The oilspill nipped my offshore addiction in the bud so I got the idea to take up kayak fishing in the marshes for other stuff. I was doing some scouting during Saturday's beautiful weather and talked to the nice lady at Rigolets Bait & Tackle near the Rte 90 bridge. She gave me the card for your club and said the guy she spoke to was good people.

Here's my question: before I go and blow a bunch of money on a kayak and gear only to find that kayak fishing isnt a good fit for me, I was hoping to find a kayak rental place somewhere on the Northshore or near Slidell that I could rent a sit-on kayak, load it into my pickup, take it fishing and bring it back the same day or the next day on a weekend. Are there any kayak rental places where I can do this?

The next step would be to buy a used kayak. Anyone here looking to unload a spare kayak please feel free to email me the details.

thanks,

Mark
Catch-All
p.s. what bait & tackle stores on the Northshore sell live minnows?

[Joker]

Welcome!!! :)

[who-yak]

We are having a club meeting in Slidell at Sweet Peppers Rest., 1300 Gause Blvd., Thursday (9-2) at 6:30 pm. Open to non-members. This would be the best place to ask all your questions, meet some members from the area, and get a lot of information all in one spot. Come and join us....

[Branch_Office]

Ditto on what who-yak said ....hope to see you there!

[pedalmedic]

welcome and shoot me an e-mail. pedalmedic at gmail dot com

[Racechaser]

Dockside usually has cocahoes and pogies on top of the shrimp they normally carry.

[papawd]

Welcome--- Best advice I can give You is DEMOas many yaks as possible...I have 2 You are free to come and demo for a paddle if like there is a launch about a mile from my house....Do not buy a cheap brand "to see if Ya like it" chances are You won't,,,for a few hundred dollars more Ya can get a nice one...Also if YA borrow one or fish from one think where YOU would want things mounted this will avoid having to redo things...If YA buy one fishin it for at least 3 trips before Ya start mounting things....And lastely try and go to a tournament or club function almost everyone will let Ya give there Yak a try......GOOD LUCK.

[Catch-All]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I'll try to make the meeting but it depends if there's lobsters in the Lobsterzone game at Times Grill in Mandeville. If the tank has been picked clean I'll go to the meeting.

When is the next meeting?

BTW - i used to fish as far as 17 nm offshore on a damn Waverunner. I had a VHF, GPS and compass mounted on it. I reckon I can use that experience to minimize the crap I'd bring along and fish with on a kayak. Two poles, small tackle bag, softside canvas cooler for beer and fish, minnow bucket. Plus bungees to secure all the crap.

Catch

[papawd]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I'll try to make the meeting but it depends if there's lobsters in the Lobsterzone game at Times Grill in Mandeville. If the tank has been picked clean I'll go to the meeting.

When is the next meeting?

BTW - i used to fish as far as 17 nm offshore on a damn Waverunner. I had a VHF, GPS and compass mounted on it. I reckon I can use that experience to minimize the crap I'd bring along and fish with on a kayak. Two poles, small tackle bag, softside canvas cooler for beer and fish, minnow bucket. Plus bungees to secure all the crap.

Catch

now Ya getting the idea yee ha

[Yellow Submarine]

Wish I can make the meeting, I have a water aerobic excerise classes Mon-Thur at SLU. I really need the excerise, and its too much fun to miss. Welcome Catch-All. Your offshore experence will be a great addition to the anglers in here.
Marty
Blue Ocean Prowler
White Cobra Marauder in a container ship from New Zealand

[valvguy1]

BTW - i used to fish as far as 17 nm offshore on a damn Waverunner. I had a VHF, GPS and compass mounted on it. I reckon I can use that experience to minimize the crap I'd bring along and fish with on a kayak. Two poles, small tackle bag, softside canvas cooler for beer and fish, minnow bucket. Plus bungees to secure all the crap.

Catch

LOL..... I knew a guy that used to do that in Grand Isle......... he swore he'd never own a boat again. Tore UP the trout on the beaches with that thing.

[Catch-All]

Folks, sorry I didn't make it to the meeting tonight. But I went stopped back by to the Times Grill and snagged two lobsters of the four remaining in the Lobsterzone Game. By the time I finished eating them it was too late to drive to Slidell.

I hope there was a good turnout tonite. Please keep me posted on the next one.

Catch