kayak bass fishing stick marsh

So I am ashamed of something, but I believe the truth shall set us free, so let me tell you the truth and please don’t be mad at me. I have a good reason, I think. Bear with me a moment…

When I moved to Brevard County in February of 2020, it didn’t take long for me to become a full blown kayak fishing addict, I’m from Georgia, the land of farm ponds – freshwater fishing is all I had really known outside of fishing the low country for a couple of months when I lived in McIntosh County, GA in 2015. So when I started kayak fishing I fished solely our inshore waters – to which I thoroughly loved, enjoyed and was enriched by. My brother and I went and kayak fished a set of farm ponds in Toombs County, GA on Easter weekend. I got bit by something out there that day, and no it wasn’t a water moccasin, it was the bass bug. Shortly after, I started fishing stretches of the St. John’s river around Cocoa (I will have more reports there coming soon). Once the summer came, I started fishing Headwaters, that was my first report, but I am ashamed to admit as an avid kayak angler, I made my first trip on the Stick Marsh last weekend. I have had 2 full days on the water there, and 2 shortened trips due to inclement weather. I am ashamed because it is a world class bass fishery, 34 miles from my front door. I am a little salty that I haven’t gotten out there before now, but what do they say? Better late than never! So here’s my guide to fellow kayak anglers that may not have gotten down there, or those that have fished before and it’s been a while, know how truly great it is, and are considering going again.

Where to Launch: Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area. There is a two land boat ramp with a floating dock, to the sides of both lanes, are areas of the bank that are ideal for launching a kayak.

Where to Fish: So like so many of our waters, you glide off the bank, and every square inch of the place looks like it holds fish – this can be overwhelming, and if you are like me and are high on enthusiasm, and low on patience, you may be tempted to spend an hour fishing on your way out of the canal to the main part of the lake. Don’t do that, I wasted an hour and caught one quarter pounder (and it wasn’t a quarter-pounder with cheese!). Bend left out of the boat ramp area, take the canal east for a few hundred yards, and then take the left out to the main part of the lake, go a few hundred yards until you see the first cove break beyond the trees. Fish the trees, from about that point on you can watch fish in and around trees. Be careful approaching the little coves that break into the tree line, they are home to alligators, and they aren’t small – usually what you will see is as you are getting close to each one, the residential Gator will hear your approach, cruise out, and want nothing to do with you, but you don’t want to corner one in a kayak, that’s for sure. On my two full day trips (7 am to Noon), I fished that north tree line all the way to the west bank of the lake. These two trips resulted in 46 fish, 11 of which were over 4 pounds, and 6 were over 5 pounds. My two weather shortened trips resulted in a combined 22 fish, 6 of which were over 4 pounds. As you work your way east or west along that tree line conditions and time of day could prove certain stretches to be more productive than others. When the wind is up and the water is rolling I really like the stretch right after the bank gives way to submerged trees and there is water to the north and south of those trees, I have caught many fish zig-zagging my way through the trees but also catching fish in the shallows on the bank north of the trees. My biggest fish of the combined trips was a 7.7 pounder caught near the west bank of the lake.

Note of caution: Cell Service out there is very poor/non-existent, so don’t bank on being able to pull up a weather radar, please keep an eye on the weather. When you are over on the west bank and a storm rolls in from the southeast and the winds pick up, that is not an easy paddle back to the ramp area. That happened to me this past Saturday and I got quite the upper body workout in paddling back in a hurry against the wind. Please keep an eye on the weather when you are out miles away from your launch spot in a kayak!

My Top Baits/Presentations: As a kayak angler, I believe that keeping it simple is one of the keys to success. I bring a ziploc bag of my favorite soft plastics, that fit into a shoulder bag, a small tackle box with my hooks, terminal tackle and top water frogs – and that’s it. I bring 3 rods, a 7 foot medium heavy, a 7 foot medium, and a 6’6” medium fast. My 7’ MH is for top water, I tie on 30 pound braid, with a short section 1-1 ½ feet of 30 pound mono leader just to stiffen the line in front of the bait (mono floats too). I have become a huge fan of the Bitters Buzz’n Gator in Watermelon or Mardi Gras, depending on water clarity, I throw that first, cast and use a straight retrieve, hold the rod tip up so it buzzes the surface and be ready for action. I rig it weedless on a 3/0 worm hook, and even though it is weightless it throws really well on a baitcaster. It is a dense piece of plastic, and it skips well under overhanging cover, I have some absolutely epic surface explosions as I’m buzzing that out of cover – once that bite slows, I go to the popping frog and work it really, really slow – they will hit on the pause, I actually got broken off as a fish ran around a stump with my white frog Saturday morning, I think that was the 10 pounder I have been looking for. With the frogs I like White if the sun is up, and Black if it’s cloudy. On my 7’ Medium I use 30 pound braid and this is for my Swim Baits, I throw the Gambler EZ Swimmer in Copperfield on a twistlock hook, and on my last trip I used an Owner Twistlock, 5/0 with a gold willow blad under-spin, recommended by one for the guys at Strike Zone, and it really worked well! I have caught a few fish on the Lane Toad color too, but the Copperfield has been my go-to. Last but certainly not least, on my 6’6” MF I throw the speed worm. I have started using a Big Bites Shaky Head rigged weedless, I vary between the straight retrieve, a jerk-jerk-pause cadence or I will hop along the bottom slowly. The beauty of this bait is the versatility. My top choices are the Zoom in Watermelon/Red Flake or Bitters Watermelon Red/Red Hi-Lite.

Side note about Bitters Baits: You can get 2 packs for 7 bucks, they sell them at Strike Zone and they are very quality baits! They are a local bait shop out of Longwood, FL and they make their own soft plastics.

Other Things to Know: Stick Marsh is a breathtakingly gorgeous place, it is quiet and peaceful, you will feel like you are miles away from civilization. You will see Alligators, Ospreys, Anhingas, Herons, and Roseate Spoonbills. It is a truly soul-cleansing place to paddle, breath fresh air, and enjoy the quiet solitude and beauty of Central Florida. Please respect the wildlife, keep your distance, enjoy and observe. This is a catch and release fishery to please take great care of the fish. Let them go, let them grow! I hope you enjoy this report and find it helpful, please reach out if there’s a question I can answer. I hope you are able to get out on the water this week and wet a line.

Have a very happy 4th of July. I hope it is a time of great food and fun with family. Be blessed everyone, Peace!