Experiment

I have an old Tarpon 140 that I have used extensively on the pilings of the CBBT. Most of you know we grind up and down on the rough pilings often coloring the piling the color of your boat, like a giant crayon. This never bothered me much but with the wind howling and a day off I decided to stop by Appomattox River Company for an experiment.

I brought some course sandpaper and began sanding the scars off (be careful with your boat thickness may vary).

Once sanded down to clean smooth plastic, although scuffed I took a heat gun and blasted the scuffed plastic reveling some deeper cuts but the overall appearance appeared cleaner. I was able to remove minor scratches with ease.

I also added flush mount rod holders to my new Tarpon 140.

Lessons learned from this experiment would be to use course sandpaper, then fine sandpaper, then a heavy duty heat gun (mine was for hobbies). If I had the time and inclination you could remove scratches and scuffs to have your kayak looking good as new. While there Andrea Nunnally , Kayak Kevin, and I also replaced the rudder, nylon cords in the tank well and cockpit, new seat cushion and of course added some stickers. overall the kayak looks and is more functional with the fix up. She is ready for 5 more years of service!

While I was there I had to purchase the newest edition of Kayak Fishing The Chesapeake Bay 3 where I made an appearance! Get yours at www.KayakKevin.com

 

Change Up

We had been hitting the reds up pretty hard so I decided to head out on the kayak and get one for my sponsors. They had been asking for a photo with a paddle so I headed out, and within 90 seconds I was hooked up and landed a smallish bull. I got the photos I needed and released it back to the herd. It slowed a bit with Kevin (KayakKevin.com) landing one and a boat idling up and fishing right in the middle of 5 kayakers and then it was dead. I did catch a 19.5" flounder on a giant gulp while jigging for reds though! We paddled in happy with the quick session.

I then got out with Lee looking for AJs and kings, no one was home at the light tower and the reds covered us up on the troll. No kings, sharks, rays just bull reds but that's never a by catch!

Also, I was using a pair of cheap fish grips and recently upgraded to Lucid fish grips and its night and day. Im not sponsored by them and even lee said how much he liked them. I tried to hand him the old ones and he refused and specifically asked for the Lucid grips! Good investment apparently!

Ill prob spend more time in a kayak the next few weeks focusing on trout and tog, well see if the winds work with us!