kayak fishing ft morgan

Question for the Ft. Morgan/Gulf Shores kayak guys/girls. How hard is it get the hang of kayak fishing, specifically off the beach in Fort Morgan? I was planning on renting a fishing kayak for a few days this summer so I started watching youtube videos to get an idea of the set up/gear necessary. in general it looks like a lot of coordination and having the right set up is key (which could be difficult to achieve on a rented kayak). I've read a lot of the kayak posts on the forum using the search feature, though generally they are about different types of kayaks and how to set them up. Am i on a suicide mission trying to fish off the beach in that area in a kayak?

Assuming this isn't a terrible idea, besides a life vest, can anyone recommend some gear i absolutely need to bring with me to properly pull this off. The only things i've come up with on my own so far are bungee cords, milk crate, net.

Also, based on the forum searches i've done, it appears people have strong opinions on which kayaks are better than others for fishing (SOT seems to be preferred). Can anyone recommend a rental outfit in the area that rents what would be considered the better kayaks for fishing?

We use a 9.5 tribe to run baits. Does pretty well in the surf. Think the other guy that fishes with me is going to paddle out to the first rig and fish out there. I think he is nuts!

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Originally Posted by Psychobilly

We use a 9.5 tribe to run baits. Does pretty well in the surf. Think the other guy that fishes with me is going to paddle out to the first rig and fish out there. I think he is nuts!

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I can assure you that in no way shape or form will I be paddling out to any of the rigs. My idea of kayak fishing is trying to catch specs and maybe reds as close to shore as I can be while still fishing in an area that I can't actually reach from shore. I have no interest in hauling up a shark. I've read plenty of posts about people paddling out to the rigs and having pretty good luck pulling in some great fish. That ain't gonna be me. Too fat to paddle that far and unless i up my life insurance amount, the boss isn't going to greenlight that plan.

As long as you stay outside the breakers you should be fine. Make sure you practice going out and coming back in without your gear you wouldn't want to turtle in the surf and break anything.

You might try the bay side of Ft Morgan I have done pretty well at the flats dropoffs. good luck

If you try the surf make sure you pick a calm day. Little Lagoon might be a better choice if you have not been in a kayak before. Either way wear a life vest and be carful.

Little Lagoon Pass is currently undergoing a bridge replacement and egress to and from the Gulf may be restricted as is direct beach access.

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Originally Posted by daniel9829

You might try the bay side of Ft Morgan I have done pretty well at the flats dropoffs. good luck

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thanks. Stupid question. If i am renting the kayaks for a few days and we stay on the beach side, how does one get the kayak to the bay side? I am not at all trying to be a smart ass here. I'm really asking if there is a way that i'm not thinking about. I drive a 4runner with a roof rack, but my guess is the kayak would be too heavy for the roof? I could see renting the kayaks and having the provider meet me on the bay side, but i won't be able to get away for that long and probably need the flexibility of being able to go out when the opportunity presents itself (e.g. kids are napping or i've perfected my invisibility potion)

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Originally Posted by Pier#r

Little Lagoon Pass is currently undergoing a bridge replacement and egress to and from the Gulf may be restricted as is direct beach access.

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Thanks for the heads up. Definitely would not have known that. I know you are one of the most respected guides in the area and I'm curious about your thoughts on fishing past the breakers (which is generally where i envisioned being). I really just want to catch specs, some for C&R and some for the table. Redfish are good too, though i like specs better. as i said in my reply to one of the others, getting the kayaks to any other spots on the island is going to be a real challenge for me, unless renting kayaks comes with a trailer, but i didn't get that impression.

There is a temporary parking area with a walkway to the water upstream of the bridge at Little Lagoon (it's not as close to the bridge as before, but within about 50 yards). You could drag the kayak into the Lagoon and and ride the kayak "through the chute" into the surf. I saw a couple guys ride through with Seadoos Sunday morning.

The pass no longer has the low concrete walls on the sides, as sheet pilings have been driven down their length for all of the construction zone. This has narrowed the pass to about 12 feet or so, which has increased the speed of the water flow somewhat. Paddling through that pass against a tidal current would be tricky, so if you did that, I would launch reasonably close to the tide change so that you didn't have to fight your way back. Otherwise, you'll have to drag the 'yak from the beach to the road.