The fishing was not happening on this December 23,2020 kayak trip in Spring Branch which is just north of Orange Beach, Alabama. I was getting short strikes and bumps here and there but the fish just were not aggressive. I did hook up one right at the kayak but it shook itself free. From a distance I saw a big wake on the calm water and I was hoping it would be school of fish chasing bait. However, turned out to be a bottle-nosed dolphin doing the same thing I was except it was actually catching fish.

I started to peddle my Hobie Pro Angler faster and that got the dolphin’s attention. I could see its wake moving towards me and then it would dart off. I would spin in circles and it would swim around and under the kayak for a few moments. I felt like I was playing with a puppy as it would move towards me and then away. I didn’t catch any fish that day but it was fun spending a few moments with the dolphin.