Kayak fishing goes big time

Boat sales, or we should say powerboat sales, are in a slump. But one area of the market that has not been hit by the downturn in the economy is the kayak market. We're not talking high-end fiberglass boats, but plastic sit-on-tops favored by anglers.

Darry Jackson of the Bill Jackson Shop for Adventure in Pinellas Park said recently that he can't keep the paddlecraft on the shelves. They are light, user-friendly and they can get into shallow spots traditional flat boats dare not venture.

Many of the Tampa Bay area's best fishermen have forsaken their petroleum-powered watercraft and switched to carbon-neutral kayaks. But until recently, serious kayak fishermen had no place to test their skills.

Classic Tournaments Inc. of Punta Gorda has unveiled the schedule for the 2008 KayakSlam Series, all photo and release tournaments that target redfish, trout and snook. The series has two separate divisions: West Florida and Southwest Florida.

The West Florida division kicks off Saturday in Placida and is followed by an event in Clearwater on March 1 and another in Sarasota on April 5. Winners will qualify for the championship in Punta Gorda on April 26-27. For information go to www.kayakslam.com.

(Times photo - John Pendygraft.)