Great video. Makes me want to get another kayak. Sold mine a few years back after it became difficult for me to load the 18' Seda. I have been in some tight places with my kayak before and once got stuck under a bridge when I first got the Seda. Had to back out and portage around. Thanks for posting and keep them coming. Will help me get through the winter.
My 9 year old son turned me on to your videos and I must say they have become my favorite. I am loving the time and attention you put into keeping our Tampa waters and shores as beautiful as they can be. I took my yak out last night after watching your stuff for about 2hours I had no choice. The top water snook bite was crazy under the 41 bridge over the alafia once the late night incoming tide started moving.
I,ve been watching you videos for a little while now and i think they are the most helpful, cool, and absolutely great kayaking videos on the entire internet so please don't stop coming out with them
Marty, great video. The mangroves are such a unique eco-system. The estuary is totally alive. We need to be careful that it doesn't get destroyed. I too fish this area, and absolutely love fishing the east bay. I just recently got a yak, and follow your channel. Learning every day. Thanks for teaching me(us) and bringing out some creative genius in all of us as we mod our yaks!
I'm so impressed with your content. You gave all us subscribers an incredible tour of the Mangroves. I've been to Clearwater Beach at least 20 times. I've seen some paths from Google Maps always wondered if they were passable. It took a lot of guts & crazy to go deep into the Mangroves alone, but your good kind of craziness for adventure is why I watch your channel. Keep it coming.
Another great adventure, thanks for sharing. This past winter was my first time out with a kayak and after a few weeks I was doing a little of this same type of exploring on the east coast of Florida in the Mosquito Lagoon. Never thought much about the alligator and snake issue but now after reading some of the comments I'll definitely keep it in mind. I have no love for them and would not appreciate sharing my kayak with them.
I live in Tampa/St Pete and these videos are so great and I enjoy them so much because its very relatable living here all my life and fishing around the same places. Really cool when you know where something is and have been there before. Great sharing places with other anglers.
I haven't seen every one of your vids yet, but this one was pretty special. You produced it well with the music and all. It set up the whole tension and drama thing and put the viewer right on the spot wondering if we'd make it through. Felt sort of like Nat Geo's Michael Foy doing the Congo transect....well done! Hope you caught some fish later!
Thanks, Greg. I couldn't get the skunk off the boat this day, but it was a good day on the water! I got video of the new trolley I had built and I managed these mangrove tunnels and I explored a few islands that had previously been too far for me to reach.
Man that looks like it would be so awesome to take a kayak into that mangrove tunnel, bring a book or what have you, and just sit in your boat and relax. Oh man awesome, awesome nature.
Very neat..loved it..Thanks for sharing the ride with us..I don't think I would of done it.....without a couple friends egging me on...yea I hate the spider webs...great soundtrack..I may have fished several of those open spots just to see what may of been there or is there nothing in there....probably not....
Great sound effect. That place is so creepy to be kayaking alone. I was thinking that you're going to encounter a giant anaconda. Nice video Marty! Thanks for taking us for the ride!
Another nice outing buddy! My concern was the draft of those fins under the yak. I guess they don't go down extremely far? And yeah, Google Earth is an awesome program! That's how we figure out new spots, how far we paddle on trips and sometimes, if we are careless in the creeks, how to get back! Lol
If you push either peddle all the way forward, the fins hug the bottom of the boat. Otherwise they hang down a foot or so. I need to get some underwater footage of them soon...
Another great episode! I was born in the country... Making trails on land... This I would not do, lol! for all of the reasons that did not stop you... But I know exploring had to be more fun than anything else. You have a lot of fun for us fans!
This is one of my favorite vids of yours, so far! Your editing is really good and you have a pleasant voice for narrating, too. I felt like I was on that water trail with you...good show!
Golly Marty , I'm so claustrophobic there is no way I could do that . I would have thought I was entering the Gauntlet of no return . It looks like the Hobie did well . I've been debating on the Hobie PA12 or the new to be released Predator XL . I'll keep watching and learning on your adventures . Thanks Again love your video's .
Very cool video! When you get a chance, can you give us a tour of the new Yak? Especially the propulsion system and how you steer (ruder I'm guessing). Sure am enjoying your adventures.
great stuff reminded me of a small river squeeze we tried to do on rowing boat not too long ago on this beautiful natural park in eastern Finland did not get too far down stream cos of all of the logs going across the stream but still the small stream was full of fish so definitely worth the sweating.
its not always about the fish and i think this little trip among the mangroves proves that, sometimes the experience of actually being out there in nature experiencing the different shades of its beauty can be as memorable as the sound of a screaming reel.
I've never really seen peddle kayaks so could you do a review of how they work? That would be awesome to see and like if you run aground with them what happens
Great Vid Z. We all have to remember that these mangro swamps have to be protected at the utmost.. This is the area all the little ones come from. Great job buddy
hey Marty, Dylan is a great inspiration for anyone that makes videos. Did you watch the one where he went crabbing with the youngster rowing a boat. Dylan is an amazing videographer and story teller, but has an unusual style of interviewing people. He said in the beginning the boy was going to take him out on his boat crabbing, and I wondered to myself if the boy would be bringing Dylan back. The video is funny as it ends at an odd moment and I was left wondering if he did get marooned after all. Still, he is leaving a wonderful video legacy for the people of his country. Years from now they will see what they used to have. and be glad Dylan recorded it for them.
Love the videos man, your like the neighbor I never had. Wish there were more people like you around. Thanks for the google earth tip as well....I'm sure I'll be using it being that I'm new to the fishing out here in DFW area. God bless man and be safe out there.
I'd say it's about 40% faster and if you go 40% further, it actually takes less effort than a normal days paddling. Guys in paddle kayaks are gonna have a very hard time keeping up with a casual peddler.
No problems there but the thing needs a lot of space to turn from a standstill. Like the fins are skegs that resist turning. Thus the half paddle that I keep close by for tight quarter maneuvers.
Do you usually keep a paddle on board in case the fins start hitting bottom? How durable are the fins when it comes to bumping into rocks, stumps and other underwater hazards?
That was excellent. Now we know if we never hear from you again what happened to you. I have similar small canals I've been wanting to explore, now I'm going to do it. I'd be wary of the gators though, there's now where to run- they gotcha if they want you.
Nice hat ! Go gators! And great video I was thinking about getting a kayak myself can't afford a boat but still want to get out on the intercostal I was thinking about looking on craigslist ,but your kayak videos are really awesome so I was wondering if you had any suggestions?
Congrats on 100K subs. I love the creepy music you picked for the tight spots. Now if you want to turn the creepy scale up to 100 do this trip at night!
Awesome video Marty. Just one question, What resolution did you export in? I'm asking Because my latest upload was exported and when it got on youtube it was crappy! I noticed yours is in 720 HD But the quality is not on par with your other work. Is youtube doing this???
I wish I had a solid answer for you. Truth is, I'm a bit in the dark myself. Some shots go from crisp to pixilated in a single take. Could be the way the camera takes the video. Could be the way it's recorded onto the sd card. Could be the editor in post causing this. I try and keep everything in 720 and let the video gods do what they will. If you find out anything, let me know :}
How are your legs holding up on these longer treks? It got kind of tight there for a while I was wondering if you were going to be able to make it and if not how you would manage to turn the yak around. Great to see you getting out and on new adventures. Did you see any fish? I thought I saw some swirls in the water ahead of you in a couple of places.
Marty, that looks awesome! One thing I'd love for you to do is go through with a fish finder just to check out the depth of these things. Maybe come across a pocket that holds fish? Also, it certainly looks like the perfect place to hide a body lol.
Zoffinger- What made you decide to step up to the Hobie? Can't really call it the Poor Man's yak anymore. Do you find that the pedal system works well while fishing? Thx. BTW- love the videos. Sometimes I watch them after a long day and find them relaxing.
Hi, Eric. The Hobie was made possible because of a generous donation from a subscriber! The pedal drive is a dream I still feel like I haven't woken up from.
Just curious; what's "Plan B" if a tunnel gets too narrow to go forward and/or the water gets too shallow for the fins. I imagine trying to paddle you're Hobie out backwards would be a major workout. Also, will you be taking your new kayak into the big water now?
I suppose "Plan B" consisted of me being very aware that I was going against the current and it was a rising tide. If the tide had been falling, I probably wouldn't have gone, because you can get marooned in a skinny spot. I knew if I got stuck, I'd have a chance to get back out.-As for taking the kayak to deeper water, there are a first a bunch of shallow spots that were previously out of my reach that I want to explore first since the Hobie has a greater range.
damn marty you sure have a couple miles in that kayak already lol! you go out pretty far! on that thing lol and next time you go through those mangroves bring a machete and chop your way through!!! lol
Wow Marty what a great adventurous ride, the suspense, music, narrative was well done. I felt as thou I was along for the trip. Great video!!! Did you happen to see any bait movement?
There were mullet near the entrance of the tunnel. That's about it. Inside it was quiet. Real quiet! Reminded me of snowstorms up north that muffle the sound of the world. It was spooky.
The hand steering needs constant adjusting, so paddling at the same time would be like juggling. So far the added speed is plenty to appease me. And it's neat to have a rod in one hand at the ready instead of dealing with the paddle. Especially when I'm chasing a school of fish that I've spotted on the surface :)
Man's game... Your are brave to do that alone Marty! I subscribed right after watching this video. I also use Google Earth to scout locations. It's a great free tool.
