The Southwest Florida Kayak Angler’s Association “Spring Snook and Redfish Challenge” is in the record books. On May 12, 2012, some of the area’s finest anglers competed in windy conditions for great prizes, including the first place Native Ultimate 12 kayak.

This was my first Inshore Fishing Association (IFA) kayak tournament. This event proved to be a great opportunity to fish a new area, and meet old and new friends, just like the Boondoggles - except the anglers are a little more tight-lipped. During Saturday pre-fishing for Robert Vaughn (from Columbia) and me, it looked like we were in some fishy waters, but we struck out. We checked out the Turner River and the Lazaretto Creek. Both places we noticed bait activity and possible redfish escaping our lures, but no hookups to confirm our thoughts.

The 2012 Kayak Fishing ClassicS Tournament Series (presented by Diablo Paddlesports) is a 10-event “open to the public” run. Contestants earn points throughout the series based on their catch. The “Southern Redfish Classic” is the series championship, and the series point’s leader at the conclusion of this tournament wins a Diablo Paddlesports kayak. High point scorers qualify for the National Championship invitational tournament in November.

Sixty two anglers woke up bright and early on November 19th, in eager anticipation of kayak fishing tournament number two in the Paddle-Fishing.com Tournament Series. “The Mystery Lure” has all anglers using the same exact lure or in this case “lures”. This year the Mystery Lure was sponsored by Culpirt Riptide. As each angler signed in, they were handed their lure bag, loaded with an amazing assortment of lures.

The results are in from the 2011 Calusa Blueway kayak fishing tournament. This marked the 6th kayak fishing tournament of the 10-day canoe and kayak festival along the Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail benefiting the Great Calusa Blueway and the Society for Ethical Ecotourism. Of the 44 registered kayak anglers only 10 were able to SLAM “catch a Redfish, Snook, and Seatrout”. Ben Homola of Fort Myers FL took first place with a total of 71.25” winning the grand prize a fully rigged Hobie Pro Angler.

A new fishing location, less than favorable weather conditions, and a malfunctioning camera would have been more than enough to take out the average tournament kayak fisherman. With the odds truly stacked against him Bob Bramblet of Bonita Springs Florida soldiered on to maintain his points lead and win the series championship. Check out the following press release by KayakFishingClassicS for all the kayak fishing tournament details.

Aussies take the first annual Diawa Hobie World Kayak Fishing Tournament. It should be no surprise that the Aussies took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in an event held on their home waters what was a surprise was how well Jose Chavez did. Jose led the tournament after the first day of fishing but slipped to 4th by tournaments end. Scott Baker of Mornington Victoria Australia took first being crowned the first Diawa Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion, Jason Meech took second, and Kevin Winchester took third.

Look out Bassmasters, here comes the little plastic boats! This month 4 US Hobie Fishing Team members will compete in the first ever Kayak Fishing World Championship! The US team will compete against Hobie Fishing Teams from Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, and Australia. For more details about the kayak fishing tournament check out the following press release from Hobie.

It had been raining on and off all day. My hands were exceedingly pruney, my hat was soaked all the way through and I was yet to feel a fish on the end of my line. Other tournament anglers started heading in and many of them asked about my luck. Every one of them had either a perplexed look or thought I was joking when I told them I hadn't hooked a single one. I was running out of time so I decided to make one more pass by my favorite spot in the inlet as the rain got heavier. I was trolling a MirrOLure when it got crushed...

Capt Pat Horrigan asks “Can anyone catch Bob Bramblet”? This past weekend Bramblet held onto his lead in The Tampa Bay Slam Classic, with only a couple of kayak fishing tournaments left everyone’s wondering if Bramblet will hold onto his ever decreasing lead. Read the full tournament details below.