Old Town Canoe and Kayaks launch the Predator 13 and the Predator MX

The Old Town Predator 13

 Old Town Canoes & Kayaks, a brand steeped in craftsmanship, innovation and tradition, is pleased to announce that its new Predator kayak took home ‘Best Boat’ accolades from the New Product Showcase at the recently concluded ICAST sport fishing tradeshow. Selected in voting by media and buyers attending ICAST, ‘Best of Show’ awards honor new products that set the bar for innovation, design and potential in the fishing industry.

Representing a paradigm shift in angling-specific kayaks, the Predator is completely engineered, below and above the waterline, to deliver the perfect platform for fishing. The Old Town Predator brings anglers closer to the water and the action with nearly unlimited options to customize the kayak around their specific equipment and unique needs.
It features six strategically placed, removable mounting plates to hold a myriad of fishing gear and the innovative three-stage Element™ seating system that can be lowered for paddling, raised for fishing or even flipped out of the way in stand-up mode for poling, sighting and casting. The slip resistant Exo-Ridge™ deck is designed for sure footing and superior drainage, while the Tri-hull construction provides both incredible durability and stability.



Your Equipment. Right Were You Want It.

Customize your Predator

The Predator comes equipped with all the essentials needed to take your fishing experience to the next level. That includes giving you the ability to customize your boat to meet your exact style and preferences.

Available Options

• Steady-Stand Bar – offers additional support when out of the seat
• Scotty Outriggers – for extra buoyancy and stability
• Minn Kota Trolling Motor Mount – makes it easy to add power
• Unlimited Opportunities – The Predator’s multiple mounting plates let you add all the greatest accessories from makers like Cannon®, Scotty®, YakAttack® and RAM Mounts®.

Get Connected

Something changes when you take your fishing to the surface level. It alters the playing field and provides a more personal connection to your environment – and the battles that take place there. You just may find the closer you get to the water, the further you can take your game.

Length
13' 2"

Width
33.5"

Weight
86lbs

Seat Width
21"

Seat Height
15"

Leg Length
48"

Bow Hatch
16.5"x10.5"

Max Capacity
400lbs - 425lbs

We at  Kayak Charters are on the Elite level pro staff with Johnson Outdoors , Old town and Ocean Kayak. So at Kayak Charters you can tour, fish, see and here all about this wonderful new kayak from Old Town. Come out on a tour, training or fishing excursion and try the new Predator series of kayaks.

Kayak Charters donates time to reach out to our youth and get them into this wonderful sport.

Kayak Charters has been asked for the past several years to speak at our local schools about kayaking, fishing and fly fishing every year. We are always honored to talk to them and reach out to our youth.

Here we are talking to a local middle school about the new Trident 11 kayak.

Dominick Greco talking to the class.

Dominick Greco about kayaking and water clarity.

Dominick talking about Kayaks and needed equiptment.

This group of kids that we talked today are very excited about the new kayaks from Ocean Kayak and Old Town. We spoke about the Old Town Predator 13 and MX models and they are looking to buy their own now. Drei talked to the kids about tying flies and fly fishing. I talk to them about kayaking and fishing safety. What a lovely group. And thank you to their  teacher Mr. Luten and the school principle for attending. We are invited every year to talk to our middle schools and high schools here in Florida and to educate them. we are honored as also. You kids are awesome!

Predator MX

Wonderful Eco Tours and Club Member Training

Check out our eco tour and our club member specials! Call today 239-425-7823. God bless

My First Saltwater Fish

Hi everyone, its Drei from kayak-charters. There's nothing like catching that first fish from foreign waters. Waters that you have seen and heard about. Waters that make you asked                                            " what are the fish like there".    Then you finally the opportunity to see and fish a portion of those waters has arrived.  Now one will start to think that they got this... Comparing what they may know to what they don't know, or should I say what they have not experienced. So anyway let when you're new to something there's always a learning curve....I enjoy teaching people about fishing it is one of many things that can seem easy and be difficult. It allows a person to there still alive... I think you can fill in the rest if you're reading this.

Here's a pic of a good friend and wonderful guy. This is his first..

Black Tip Sharks Nursery

I often wondered we're these sharks were going and finally I found them. Because this stretch of Hickory Pass has a bounty of delights these sharks can just eat at will. The food supply given here can ensure their grow rate to be promising. The many sharks that were caught were average  15-17 inches, 5-7 pounds and healthy. Very beautiful they were color and making just out standing. All sharks were released unharmed.
Drei

Early Summer Tarpon

On a recent fishing trip the clients requested to fish for some poons. Now this usually is an easy request, but this year the poons were very weary. I say this because the day before in many scouting I found them to be more active and willing to participate. The water was stained and clean, the day of the trip the water had changed over night. Now this was something new for me, I'm convinced this had affected the activity of the fish. Below the surface of the water about10-12inches there was a layer of suspended silt ( ?). It seemed to be some what thicker consistency which just rolled under the surface and never mixed when disturbed. What ever this was the Tarpon seem to not care for it, not sure how far it went down in the water column. The fish were much fewer than the day before, fish were caught and fish were jumped. So the day was not a lost, just not as good as hoped for. Still I would like to know what that bio matter is and how it effects the eco system.
Drei

Buddagrassy Shrimp

A few years ago I wanted a "better"shrimp pattern for Flyfishing. I wanted a pattern that gave a more natural appearance. Even though this is a 3D fly it supports the the purpose.
This fly  just like many others had to be fine tuned, it's counter balance is the key to it's success. It is a simple tye but some imagination is always needed.
In the field with other flyfishing club members it performed on the  first cast,landing a respectable Seatrout.This is a GTF works well on Snapper, Snook, Jacks, Flounder... oh hell any fish that eat's  shrimp.
I do apologize there is no pic for this fly this time.

A Wonderous Day on the water

It was a fabulous day, I was very fortunate to take a client out today and target some Sheephead. What and "AWESOME" fish, they have those prison stripes for a reason as I explained. Haha....I tell you these fish are a rush the client expressed. They will get your adrenaline going. My client doesn't Flyfish so we opted for Spin and shrimp, free falling natural. Using Ultralight tackle my client had the " Ultimate Time". Watching a client get into the zone is the best. Many species were caught, Small Redfish, Snook, Snapper, Large Pinfish(Sailors Choice to others ) as well as some Eel's  and other nice fish. To conclude the day with a record of fish caught,I leave you with this " Never underestimate what some of the simplest things can do for a person who has never done"

Andrei Stroman
Drei@kayak-charters.com

Barametric Pressure And Fishing

By Dominick Greco
Southeastern Staff Writer For Gary Yamamoto

There is little doubt that barometric pressure affects fishing even though facts are few and far between and hard for some to interpret. Barometric pressure is the force that the atmosphere exerts on the earth and its water. The air has weight to it and the more it weighs the harder it pushes down on the earth.
Low pressure happens when the air weighs less, high pressure when it weighs more. Masses of air, varying in weight, move overhead causing air pressure to vary. Radio, TV and NOAA weather stations all talk about the pressure in inches of mercury. Newspapers, on the other hand, often show a weather map with isobars of pressure in millibars (these are lines of equal pressure). If isobars of pressure only show a small change over a large distance, this means that the air mass is stable and the weather will not be changing much. If the isobars are closely spaced over a short distance, this means the barometric pressure is changing rapidly. When you see large bands of isobars close together, this defines a front, which is the interface between high pressure and low pressure areas.
Fronts mean changing weather, or unstable air masses. Fishing just prior to, or just after the passing of a front usually means a rapidly changing barometer and can often mean windy weather. If you are reading a weather map, note whether the weather moving toward you contains higher or lower isobars of barometric pressure, in millibars. If it is higher the weather is associated with a high pressure area, if it is lower it is a low pressure area. If the lines are far apart, this means the weather will remain the same for a while.
Now, what does this all have to do with fishing you are asking yourself? Pressure changes affect the tides and seem to affect the feeding habits of the fish in both tidal water and non tidal waters. Barometric pressure also seems to affect fish feeding habits. While little actual data is available, it is commonly accepted lore that fish feed well when the barometer is rising and poorly when it is falling. There also seems to be some documentation indicating that the fishing is poor when the barometer is very high or very low. I personally fish about 300 days a year and guide from boat and kayak and use the barometer every time I go out. I have found that when the barometer is rising I have better bites and more active fish; when the barometer is stable fishing is good. But when the barometer is between 30.0 and 29.7 and falling fishing is at its worst. By no means does this falling barometer mean you can’t catch them, but I have noticed a drop in bites and active fish. Saltwater and tidal freshwater fish seem to feed best when the tide is changing, when the barometer is changing and when dusk is changing the light intensity. Of course there are no golden rules to why fish bite, that is why we call it fishing. But when fish bite seems to have direct correlations to changing environmental conditions.
Saltwater fishing here in Florida is usually not as good two days before and two days after a full moon. I have personally found that if the barometer is rising that fishing during this time can be productive despite the moons phase.
Bass seems to have definite movements and feeding habits here in Florida and around the country that are directly connected to moon phases and barometer pressure reading. I recommend looking more at barometric changes and try to glean some other information from a weather map or meteorologists on what the barometer is before going out on your next fishing excursion. You might just find you had some definite tools missing from your toolbox.
The 13lb 2oz. bass below was caught during a rising barometer and a week before the full moon. The bass were feeding like there was no tomorrow.
As most big bass this one was solitary and buried deep along a flooded tree. I caught this beauty with a Shad Shaped Worm in color # 021. I use a one–two punch with all my fishing freshwater and saltwater. By one-two punch I mean I use search baits like a Swimming Senko or Phenix Jig (Chatter Bait) to locate fish then I follow up with a slower more surgical approach and use an Ika, Flappin’ Hog or Senko rigged weed-less to drop down into the gnarly cover. If the fish are lethargic or not apt to taking a large offering I will present them with a Shad Shaped Worm or a Kut tail worm on a 1/0 hook rigging Texas style and weight-less. I start always with a slow presentation then speed it up till the fish tell me what kind of retrieve they want.
Here are some basic trends I have found that work for me regarding barometer readings.

High Pressure

Typical Weather: Clear Skies
Fishing Trends: Fish slow down, find cover or go to deeper waters.

Rising Pressure

Typical Weather: Clearing or Improving
Fishing Trends: Fish tend to become slightly more active

Stable Pressure

Typical Weather: Fair
Fishing Trends: Normal Fishing

Falling Pressure

Typical Weather: Degrading
Fishing Trends: Most active fishing

Slightly Lower Pressure

Typical Weather: Usually Cloudy
Fishing Trends: Fishing head away from cover and seek shallower waters.

Low Pressure

Typical Weather: Rainy and Stormy
Fishing Trends: Fish will tend to become less active the longer this period remains.

Look into this overlooked tool and I am sure you will find some correlations that help you catch more fish, learn patterns and find fish.

Kayak Charters

Please Make Sure To Visit Our New Fly Fishing Page!

From Dominick Greco of Kayak Charters

Today is a beautiful day in Southwest Florida. We are now starting to see the winds die down and are getting lots of our Eco Tours, Classes and guided fishing trips out on the water all week. The weather is almost 80 degrees and the winds are now light. Book your trip today. 239-425-7823.

We have now added Top Kayak Destinations to our website and have our top rated suggested location up with all their information. Kayak Charters is now offering all our services at this location. So book your stay today with them and enjoy our services also.

Kayak Charters and Dominick Greco Debuted in KAYAKFISH Magazine on the cover and in feature stories

Kayak Charters, Dominick Greco & Drei Stroman debuted in KAYAKFISH Magazine on the cover and in feature stories. This is the first issue of a wonderful new magazine offering you a wealth of knowledge on this exciting sport.

Kayak Charters

Kayak Charters and Dominick Greco are proud to have a special program called "OPEN WOUND" now for several years where we offer FREE kayak tours, fishing and training sessions to our returning troops. It is because of their dedication, protection, hard work and service that we have the freedoms that we have. You are not forgotten in our eyes and never will be. We appreciate you! We are raising money ever year to keep these wonderful programs going and growing stronger. We have outfitted our kayaks with all kinds of special accessories to make this possible. Please help us with this program by donations as we are trying to reach the masses of those who are injured and returning and those that have served.

Call Us At 239-425-7823 to recieve details and schedule your free excursion!

Companies and individuals that donate to this program will recieve promotions on our website as we expand. We also offer special Club Membership and training's for those who help us in our program with donations. This gets your company lots of great promotions and shows that you care. All doantions go directly to funding this program offered by Kayak Charters and pays for all the expenses in helping us reach more of our troops and let them know that their service is not forgotten.

There is no charge to our members of the armed forces for trips, tours and training sessions we offer. We are also travelling to the area VA hospitals and Florida based clubs and organizations to get the word out about what we are doing at Kayak Charters for them.

Some of our military personel below out on their excursions.

Here is a letter from one of our guys...

Dominic,

Thanks again for a wonderful time. First, I want to truly thank you for your support of the Servicemen and women. It means a lot to see folks like you go well above and beyond for us! I had an incredible time out on the water. Kayaks are such a different way to see and experience nature. They really allow you to get immersed in the environment rather than "moving your tourist-bubble" through it! To see wildlife that close without it being too concerned with us is incredible! One of the greatest things I got from the tour is something I have had problems with since coming back from my first tour in Iraq. That is relaxation. I have a form of post-deployment stress that doesn't allow me to relax to the home environment after the adrenaline rush of downrange. For the first time I was able to do what my counselor tried to coach me in to doing, and that was to participate in a hobby where I was not fully in charge and to not work to a plan or time-line. Kayaking gave me enough physical release in the exercise of paddling when I wanted it but not over-taxing by any means. Speaking of the paddling, you gave just the right amount of training at the beginning combined with continuous but non-intrusive coaching as needed throughout the day. The technique you taught gave both Kristy and I the easy ability to paddle all day and not be tired or feel like we exercised rather than fully enjoy ourselves. Thank you once again for a really great time!

Please feel free to use as much of this testimonial as you desire.

Matthew Perry

Staff Sergeant, US Army

P.S. we were at Busch Gardens Theme Park the next day and both would have rather been out on the kayaks with you!

Our recent Conservation efforts.

KAYAK CHARTERS CONSERVATION EFFORTS
Kayak Charters has been asked to be part of the Florida Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. We have joined efforts with these and other organizations in bringing awareness about water quality and conservation.

Kayak Charters on NBC news with Ralf Brookes - attorney for The Sierra Club, Snook Foundation and other organizations. Jennifer Hecker - Director of Natural Resource of Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Frank Jackalone of the Sierra Club. On April 15th Kayak Charters and the above mentioned have presented a letter to the State Senator Lizabeth Benacquisto to oppose a bill that would replace EPA's propossed strong rules placing numeric limits on nitrogen and phosphorus levels in atate waters with a weak, ineffective process managed and enforced by the Florida Dept. Of Enviromental Protection.

By Lauren DiSpirito, Reporter - bio | email

FORT MYERS, FL -

Protestors gathered around the state and Fort Myers urging legislators not to pass a set of bills that let state officials set pollution standards. Those protesting want the federal government to control it instead, arguing state rules won't go far enough.
Protestors fear DEP standards won't go far enough--for instance, they say plans won't protect fresh and flowing water, like the Caloosahatchee River.
People outside Senator Lizabeth Benaquisto's office today argue the bills state lawmakers are considering will leave them with a hefty price tag--the cost to clean up harmful algae blooms that can fill Southwest Florida's rivers and estuary.
Rather than protect from pollution, protestors argue DEP rules are not stringent enough to limit the phosphorus and nitrogen levels that travel downstream to our coastline. Protestors say pollution and blooms that form hurt tourism-based industries, like fishing.

"You affect one little part of that circle of life and it directly affects everything down the chain," said Dominick Greco, professional angler, master kayaker and survival instructor of Kayak Charters.

"So many of our waters are polluted in Florida that we need help from federal government," said Frank Jackalone of the Sierra Club.
The DEP says its standards have the backing of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
We've asked, but so far have not gotten a response to today's protests from Senator Benaquisto's office.
We're told she's in Tallahassee today.
The Senate bill is set for a second reading and vote tomorrow.