Gulf
Coast Kayak Fishing Association
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Gulf
Coast Kayak Fishing Association
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GCKFA NEWS |
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GCKFA Spring Tournament !! The Gulf Coast Kayak Fishing Association is proud to announce the inaugural Gulf Coast Kayak Fishing Spring Tournament on Saturday, June 10th here in Pensacola. Kayak fishing is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and the Northwest Florida / South Alabama area boasts a very dynamic and active group of kayak fishermen - not to mention some of the best fishing in the country. Please plan to join us for the fishing, fun and fellowship - plus we have some great prizes, including a new Malibu kayak courtesy of Panhandle Kayaks! The event is open to all Kayaks, Canoes, other paddlecraft only- no motors!! (except by special approval on basis of disability or other consideration). Schedule of events - Grand Prize is a Malibu kayak courtesy of Panhandle
Kayaks! Additionally, there will be prizes for the Top 3 anglers in
each of following categories and door prizes open to all tournament
entrants. Entry fee is $35.00 on the day of the tournament Information subject to change - for the latest details, please go to the GCKFA website and click on "News". Entry forms and on-line submission and payment of entry fees will be available through PayPal in the very near future. Visit our website: www.gulfcoastkayakfishing.com |
Reprinted from March 29, 2006, Pensacola News-Journal "Newly formed kayak club reels
in 27 members" On a recent Saturday morning, members of the Gulf Coast Kayak Fishing Association launched a fleet of kayaks from Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze into the calm water of Santa Rosa Sound. A thick fog blanketed the Sound's surface as Ted Gorder, vice president of the association, paddled toward the group. He pulled alongside Ferd Salomon, president of the club, and the two consulted in hushed tones. In a few minutes, Salomon announced the decision: head for Bob Sikes Bridge where the best indicators of fish had been found. One after the other, kayaks with fishing poles fanned at the rear and with decks covered in tackle boxes and other gear, headed toward the bridge. The kayakers' smooth strokes and fishing acumen belied the fact that their club has only been in existence for six weeks. "This is way ahead of my expectations," Salomon said. "We have grown to 27 members in a very short amount of time and have members from Mobile to Destin. The most important thing for us is to have a good time fishing, and anyone who wants to come out with us is welcome." Fishing trips the club organizes are a major draw. To date, the kayakers have fished North Escambia Bay, Greenshores and Santa Rosa Sound, and a rigging clinic was conducted to help members set up their kayaks for optimum fishing. The club now has plans for fishing trips to South Florida, participation in regional fishing tournaments and may organize its own tournament in the future, Gorder and Salomon said. Meanwhile, the kayakers eagerly await prime fishing season. "We are going to go into the Gulf this summer and fish for cobia," Salomon said. "It will be a challenge, but an exciting challenge. These kayaks are extremely diverse crafts, and it is amazing the size of the fish you can reel in with these boats." Gorder said he has caught numerous fish from his kayak: a huge redfish, several 3-foot sharks and even a 12-pound jack crevalle. In Northwest Florida, the kayak angler has an advantage over those fishing in a motorized watercraft -- namely, simplicity and convenience, Gorder said. "You can launch almost anywhere with a kayak. We can get to a lot of waters that boats can't get to," he said. "Here, some of the best fishing is in shallow grass flats and bayous. The most popular inshore species are redfish and speckled trout, and there is no place they live that we can't get to in a kayak." Want to know more? For more information about the Gulf Coast Kayak Fishing Association and upcoming events, visit www.gulfcoastkayakfishing.com. Copyright (c) Pensacola News Journal. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
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Reprinted from May 4, 2006 Pensacola News-Journal
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The 'yak attack Kayak fishing long has been a recreation enjoyed by a few adventurous anglers who wanted to get a little closer to the action and move away from using noisy, fuel-guzzling engines. Now those anglers have an organization to pool their efforts -- and their enjoyment. "We were getting on these forums, and everybody was talking about motor boating," said Ted Gorder, vice president of the Gulf Coast Kayak Fishing Association. "We were getting lost in the noise of the motors. "We decided to start up a club dedicated to kayak fishing and the response has been great." About six months ago, club president Ferd Salomon and Gorder started talking about an association and were visiting area fishing forums online in search of anglers interested in kayak fishing. What they found was enough interest to form a club. So, gulfcoastkayakfishing.com was developed and since has drawn more than 100 subscribers during the past month. On a recent Sunday morning, members met before sunrise at Shoreline Park. Gorder, Gene Sowell and Larry Burner are part of the new breed of paddler/angler hybrids who have helped move one of the fastest growing water sports in the world from the margins to the mainstream. Their sleek, customized and completely modular crafts are loaded down with coolers converted into bait wells, knives, multi-tools, fish finders, GPS systems, live bait, tackle and a variety of poles. What they do not have are motors, and they are very happy about it. "We are going to spend this morning going after specks and big slot reds in the grass beds here. And then later, we will head into the Gulf and hook some Spanish," Gorder said. "The best thing is that it won't cost us a dime in gas." Burner and Sowell are out-of-town retirees with roots in Pensacola who brought their interest in kayak fishing with them. Sowell got his start fishing the lakes and Gulf in Texas. "It's all about the sleigh ride," Burner said of the ride kayak anglers get after hooking a large fish. In their attempt at escape, fish drag anglers around, adding challenge and excitement to the catch. "The serious guys out in California are catching and reeling in sailfish on their kayaks," Burner added. While this crew isn't going after sailfish, yet, they are paddling into some brave waters. Sowell has been fishing for shark. "The largest shark I ever caught from my kayak was 6-foot," he said. "I let him drag me around for 30 minutes or so before I let him go, and he didn't slow down for a second." Covering new ground The club has paddled and put their unconventional angling skills to the test in the Gulf, around Navarre, Escambia Bay, Greenshores and Santa Rosa Sound. Members have put on a rigging clinic to help prepare boats, and the club soon will be rallying troops, loading the boats and hitting the road for some regional fishing trips. The first GCKFA tournament has been scheduled for June 10, and anglers will be fishing for redfish, trout and flounder. A new fishing kayak is the grand prize. For more information about the club, visit gulfcoastkayakfishing.com.
Copyright (c) Pensacola News Journal. All rights
reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank,
inc. |
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GCKFA copyright © 2006
