DPS Kayak Fishing Blog

                                                                                 Spots That's Hot!

      Seems everyone is starting to find good numbers of Flounder in the Lewes, Delaware area. Mike Gallo and I decided to go to the canal on this day depicted in the pics below. We started out from the boat ramp off of Pilotown road that put us in the Broadkill canal. We drifted the canal during the very beginning of the outgoing tide with no hits at all. Mike decided to head to Roosevelt where he was getting some hits off of a big school of shad. Mike was using an assortment of gulps on a Spro head. We were positioned on a grass bed throwing out into the inlet when bam, I hooked up on a shad with a white shad dart. The fish headed out to open water and said, "bye bye" but that was all I needed to get into the game. Mike had to head out so I decided to start another few drifts with minnows from the mouth of the Broadkill canal going past the Coast Guard station when bam, a 15 inch flatty was pulled in! At this time it was about two hours into the outgoing tide. I quickly headed back for another drift and set my assault of minnows when wham, a nice 19 1/4 was brought in! If you’re going out, here is a bit of information that may help. These fish were loaded up with grass shrimp. A storm set in and quickly shut the bite down. It was a good day to be on the Jackson SUPerFISHal and I can't wait to get back out there again.

      The Delaware Paddlesports Kayak Bass Fishing Series has been a great time. These guys are at the top of their game when it comes to enticing the sweet water Largemouth Bass into the yak for a capture, picture, release points system structure. So far the guys have tackled two locations in the series. The kickoff in March was at Ingrams pond and many connected using lipless crankbaits and plastics. It was one that took charge early in the game and was able to put together a good bag and his name Dubi Mejia. The bite was tough as temps were cooler for this tournament but Dubi had a plan and had done some scouting earlier in the weeks prior to the opener to find fish. Dubi targeted an area just around the first bend that has many submerged stumps and was able to get three fish in a five fish tournament to capture the win. Dan Keeler off the Honke Outlaws Bass Fishing Club also struck up some points as well as John Oldaker of HOOKSET FISHING. Video from Ingrams.

Click Here for Ingrams Video

Tournament two Trap pond was a real challenge that took everyone by surprise. Eight guys through an arsenal of baits at the bass and only one guy was able to stick two for the win in what everyone thought would be a barn burner. Kelvin Mejia, Dubi's brother found that pattern. When I arrived after the tournament you could just see the expression on everyones face as if they were saying, "is there fish in here?" Trap has always been a great place to fish. It was thought that high water and just a plain old cold winter had something to do with the lock jaw in this one. Now the brothers are in the race for the points game. Video from Trap

Click Here for Trap Pond Video

The guys are heading to McGinnis pond next and with warmer temps they feel that this will produce good numbers to even up the points race for Angler of the Year. Good luck guys and see you May 24th!

Points standings for Angler of the Year!

Dubi Mejia 44 1/2

Kelvin Mejia 28

Dan Keeler 17

John Oldaker 15 1/2

The Delaware Paddlesports Saltwater Kayak Fishing Series just held its first tournament of the season. There was an expected 23 participants for the first event but storms predicted threatened the tournament from happening. The day prior forecasts showed a break in the clouds and it was game on for the nine that showed. The guys got all their gear ready and took off in all kinds of directions from the Cape Henlopen beach area near the pier. Five of us headed out to an adjacent pier towards the ferry, two headed for the inner wall and two others stuck at the Cape Henlopen pier. Gulps, squid, bloodworms, minnows, mullet and bunker was on the menu for the awaiting flattys. The tournament was a five Flounder capture, picture, release tournament with three bonus species that would be five points each for a Taug, Trout and Bluefish. There were some caught but due to conditions the fish just didn't cooperate for some. One kayak angler Americo Rivera was fishing his first Flounder tournament and it proved to be a good one for him as he nailed a 16 1/2 inch Taug at the inner wall to give him five bonus points and the second place finish. Great job Americo! Joe Hosler and Jeff Poling played the drift game at the Cape Henlopen pier. Each of these guys were on the flattys but getting one over the 17 inch minimum was tough. It was a battle between the two as there drifts were working to outplay the rest of the competition and one would capture first place. Jeff Poling, a Native Watercraft pro staffer was that guy. He was able to entice a 17 1/2 Flounder to capture the win. Congrats Jeff on your win! Jeff did a little research the night prior and saw anglers from the pier using cut pieces of bunker. Jeff had a game plan on the bait and the drift from the pier planned out. All of the of the guys headed off to Delaware Paddlesports for awards and giveaways at the end of the event. We would like to thank all that participated in the event and we are looking into possibly increasing the number of saltwater events. Would this be of interest to you folks out there? Also, we would like to thank Adam Hynson from Meals "N" Reels for all of your hard work in preparing the food. Till next time.

 Product Review

We think one of the best kayak's out there that utilizes pedal drive is the Native Watercraft Slayer Propel series. This kayak is a very fast craft and we at Delaware Paddlesports are happy to be a dealer for this craft. The above image attached shows all of the features the kayak has but we wanted to give you a few quick Q&A's to consider if you’re going to make a purchase on a foot controlled yak.

Are you a drifter? Many in the kayak family of fisherman know that drift is very much part of the game. Sure there are places you will want to use anchoring devices such as trolley systems, park n poles and power poles but many have come to realize and know that by following the drift it triggers a strike on awaiting fish that are in an ambush stage. The Slayer will take charge in keeping you engaged in the spot that holds these fish. The propel drive system will go in reverse which is huge when spot drifting. Imagine yourself drifting, hooking up, catching, releasing all while being able to go in reverse back over your honey hole to make another drift again. Yes, it seems like a lot to do but when you get the hang of it this becomes natural to you and the time saved by doing this will increase your odds of catching more! The term you gotta have your line in the water to catch 'em couldn't be more of a fact with this kayak!

Weeds got ya down? Well here is another fact. The propel system can be pulled up and out of the kayak to easily get to the propel system to remove grass if you get into this situation. You have to be able to get to it to fix the problem and Native Watercraft has made this easy.

Do you think you get more out of your casting by standing than sitting? There is a ton of videos out there for you to really see how this craft's stability is. Guys are out there just a slinging and a singing as they stand in this kayak and use the foot pedal device as a hand pedal device to go forwards and backwards while fishing. Stability is a key factor in any kayak and we can tell you that it has it.

Shallow water fishing? Sure, just put your propel drive in the up position and you can push pole or paddle your way around. It's that simple.

So, point being is this. Look into how you like to fish and what advantages you need in a craft to make a successful day of fishing. Don't hesitate to ask about features in all of the kayak's we carry. Take the time to study and ask questions. Be sure to see our full line of quality built in the USA kayaks we carry at www.delawarepaddlesports.com and also please like our kayak fishing page on Facebook!

Thanks for reading!!