West Cove Kayaking
 

Hello everyone, I was recommended by a member here to check in and ask a few questions. I've been reading the forum and I love it so far. A few friends and I plan to head down to West Cove to do some kayak fishing on the 20th but we have never fished that area. I was hoping to get some pointers if possible. I am pretty green to saltwater fishing but the more I fish it the more I love it. Thanks in advance everyone

Duke

Welcome. I would recommend to start off fishing the marsh to the South. Easy fishing going back about a mile or so. You can also fish the main channel leading out to the cove.

Thanks! That is good information to know. My biggest fear is not knowing the area and getting lost. Any recommendations on baits for the area? I've bought some Gulp shrimp to try this go around but we were also thinking live shrimp.

Gulp Swimming mullets.

I'll be sure to pick that up too, thanks!

Any particular colors on the mullets?

If I had a yak and was headed that way, my plan A would be to fish Holly Beach if conditions permitted and only hit West Cove if conditions did not permit fishing the beach.

Chartreuse and pearl white can't go wrong

nailed it

Good info, thanks!

As far as Holly Beach goes, forgive my ignorance but what would be a good place to put in? I am guessing I would be surf fishing?

yea itll be surf fishing. if you get there at sunrise you can usually hit the rock area that is west of holly and fish the rocks for specks... given the clarity and waves participate. if not then you can soak a mullet and catch a big old red. west cove would be more eventful for the most part unless you wanna sit and wait.

Too many decisions. ..lol. This is good to know. I'll have to get with the guys and see now.

^^^^^

Duke, Holly beach is great when the conditions are right and the fish are there. Keep an eye on the wind forecast and if it's relatively light then the rocks just to the west of holly beach is great at daylight. If that's not your fancy, or you go and find the water clarity is poor or the fish aren't there, you can run up to west cove in a minute and be in the marsh on the south side of the canal very easily. Live bait can usually be gotten at spicers marina in hackberry on your way down. Left side of the road, just after the bridge when getting into hackberry.

Y'all are a great group of guys, I feel better and better about this trip every post I read. We were worried about buying live bait to bring with us. We might just have to hit Holly Beach then. I'm getting excited!

Posting from my phone, I think the pic will be small.

The left red blob is the rocks? The right is Holly Beach.

Attachment 70966

Idk if this pic screen shot will upload right, but if u can see it the rocks start at the dropped pin. To the right is Holly Beach

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That is what I had circled. Awesome. My wife's family has property in Holly Beach. I know the beach pretty fair around there.

Not to beat a dead horse but is there any must have gear? Obviously a life vest you can move in but is there something some of you wouldn't leave home without? We are going to have a spare kayak to carry with us to keep a few things in if needed. I think the kayak I'm going to be renting is a Jackson dive/fish.

1.) BOGA
2.) BRAID

[emoji41]

Good call on the Boga.

Net, net, and a net. Salt life gear optional

pahaha:spineyes:
good ol' salty cajun

For real though. You can get a short handle net at academy for like 10 bucks or just saw off a long handle one you already have. It will save you a hook in the lap eventualy. Or a hard head stab in the legs. Trust me lol...

Or you can get a CCA boga.. totaly up to you.

Hahahaha yea I have that short handle net and it floats too. Great for wading and yakin


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I thought hooks in skin was the in thing these days...lol. Yeah, I could do without a nasty infection.

Broke Down,
I'm pretty green to saltwater fishing myself, but a couple buddies and I just got back from kayak fishing the west cove Tuesday and Wednesday. We caught a lot of fish, but not many specks or reds. Mostly croakers, white trout, black drum, and gafftops. We were fishing dead shrimp, both carolina rigged and tipping plastics with them. I know a lot of people prefer plastics, but I prefer to fill the box, no matter what kind of fish it is. I don't know if this will help you make your decision as to fish the West Cove or the rocks off the beach, but I'd try the beach first. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Oh yea, as for something not to leave home without, a good pair of needle nose pliers, especially if your gonna be fishing with live bait/shrimp. I've been down there without them and won't do that again.

Great info! Thanks guys for the replies. My name is Duke by the way. We are getting excited, I'm on 12's from tomorrow morning until next Friday. I'll be ready for the kayak trip. I'll get some pictures of the kayaks we rent when we pick them up. I'll try to document this a little too. Maybe we can all learn a little something and help out with the newbies like myself. ...haha.

Hey Broke Down, where are you renting a yak in that area? Seems like fun to try.

We have a local diving outfit here local in Pineville we are renting them from. I was wanting a Wilderness but I just found out today all they have are cobras. Still going to be fun for $45.

Thanks for the info.

So we canceled our trip for tomorrow due to the rain. I think we may do it next month.