| My first kayak trip turned into a disaster. I spent more time with the hull facing the sky and my head nearly scraping bottom than in the traditional position. Practice refines anything, and, sure enough, my techniques improved, and so did my ability to remain dry. At least most of the time.
While fishing isn’t my usual topic, it’s only natural that kayakers soon discovered that bringing along a fishing rod paid big dividends. A quiet, low-profile craft could sneak up on a school of fish quite nicely. Anglers soon got the word and learned the magic of kayaking. It comes as no surprise, then, that a kayak-fishing tournament is proving to be hugely successful.
The Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic boasts over 300 anglers already registered for the May 2-3 charity event. Organized by JaxKayakFishing.com, prizes and gifts exceeding $60,000 await the rod-toting paddlers. It’s a fully catch-and-release format. Participants can also join the kickoff raffle with $15,000 in kayaks and equipment, with the proceeds benefiting children’s programs for abused and neglected kids.
Sounds like a lot of fun, especially for those eager to try catching redfish, trout and the like to spice up their typical kayak outing while helping a worthy cause. For more info, visit www.JacksonvilleKayakFishingClassic.com.
Switching from the water to the field, those who appreciate the healthy status of our state’s deer population might wish to know that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently approved a 10-year plan for continued management objectives.
Hey, don’t fall asleep. That means good things for those of us who like visiting our parks and enjoying the ability to put does, bucks and fawns in our camera viewers. The plan includes a new series of deer management units so the animals can be managed more effectively in each region of the state. To view a copy of the “Strategic Plan for Deer Management in Florida 2008-2018,” go to MyFWC.com/hunting and look under “Additional Hunting Seasons, Regulations, Permits and More.” |
