Fishing from a kayak is a very unique and exhilarating sport. Fishing opportunities are opened exponentially to these anglers who can access waterways obstructed from standard boat anglers and can bank fish areas not typically accessible to anglers on foot. This ability to go virtually anywhere, fish just about anything, and have all your necessary resources at hand makes kayak fishing almost universal.
Freshwater and saltwater kayak fishing have their own unique styles and demands, but much of what you will experience is quite similar. It is those similarities we will deal with today.
Getting started with kayak fishing doesn’t have to feel impossible.
There are three major factors that have to be addressed when you decide you’re ready to delve into the world of kayak fishing. First, and probably most importantly, you have to choose your kayak. Now there are honestly no right or wrong choices to this question. Your choice will be based on your area, your needs, and your intentions. The old standard “you get what you pay for” is not always the truest answer.
We have purchased extremely expensive kayaks that were simply not up to the tasks we had in mind. Alternatively, we have purchased rather “cheap” kayaks that have been exceptionally impressive in meeting our intentions. You will have a list of goals when you reach the point where you’re ready to purchase your kayak. Do some research, study reviews, and make sure your choice meets your needs. Just about every manufacturer in existence today has a website that will include breakdowns of their kayak models. Distributors and licensed retailers will have experts on hand that can answer your questions and have suggestions for your intended purposes. While it won’t be the best option for getting first-hand experiences and recommendations, the manufacturer’s sites are an excellent resource for determining what qualities you want in your chosen kayak and what manufacturers will produce those options.
Whenever fishing, be it kayaking or otherwise, you must always ensure you are doing it safely and legally. Check out “The Three Rules for Becoming a Successful Angler” to get a better grasp on this absolute necessity.
Once you have chosen the kayak you want to start with you’ll be able to move on to preparing your kayak and yourself.
No matter if your age and/or experiences excuse you from taking a boater safety course or not, we strongly urge every kayaker to take a local or online course. There are certain precautions you should always take when kayaking which are covered in all boater safety courses. Other precautions are more localized which a local course will allow you to learn more easily. Another important location for your safety needs and concerns is your state’s boating enforcement agency. This is a good place to start when researching your obligations.
Why Kayak fish?
I have ocean and freshwater kayaked but (due to current locations) I am mostly a freshwater kayaker. That being said, the answer to this question is predominantly a freshwater fishing answer as ocean fishing truly comes down to personal preference.
- You have the ability to set up a vessel with virtually everything you could need for your fishing adventure. In a somewhat confined space you can make everything readily available/accessible to you while fighting that mega fish. All that is required is a bit of experimenting and a little ingenuity.
- Your body, fishing angle, and perspective is closer to the water which can frequently improve your ability to sight fish and can vastly improve your hookup ratio.
- The cost of purchase, maintenance, and use is typically significantly lower than maintaining a full-sized boat.
- Traditional bank fishing limits you to the areas you can access by foot while boat fishing is limited to locations that are deep enough to accommodate your vessel’s demands. Now, many boats today are designed for shallow water access, but there is still a deeper depth demand than what most kayaks require.
- The technology behind kayak design has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 10 or so years. They are, overall, more stable than older kayak models, have massively more options for layout and shape than past setups and are frequently light enough (with the newer material technologies) to carry or drag into more remote and isolated fisheries than previously accessed by the recreational angler.
- Propulsion options are vast enough to accommodate just about any desired method: peddle drive, paddle, rear trolling motor, side mount trolling motor, center trolling motor, front trolling motor, in hull propulsion systems, gas motors, propane motors, etc.
- Seating options accommodate multiple preferences: Sitting on the floor, sitting on a low pad, sitting on short seats, sitting on lifted seats, or standing.
Kayak fishing requires a few precautions and preparations that you may not expect if you’re used to other fishing styles.
First and foremost,
you should always have a life vest, commonly referred to as a PFD (Personal Flotation Device). You can be a gold medalist swimming expert, but variables while kayaking will always be beyond your control, and most regulatory agencies (if not all) now require it of kayakers. There are so many different options these days that you’ll be able to find one that fits well, meets your various needs (and sometimes desires you didn’t even know you had), and is comfortable enough for your outing. I have a somewhat bulky vest with pockets and loops designed for fishing that works great for when I’m fishing in my sit-on-top kayak that does not have back support. Alternately, I have a low profile PFD that drapes over my neck and is so small I typically forget it’s there for when I’m fishing in my larger kayak with full boat lifted seats.
Another key issue
is making sure you don’t overload yourself or your kayak. Excessive tackle, rods, storage crates, ice chests, live wells, batteries, all add up. They take up sitting and foot space. Combined, they can account for more weight than you. Also, keep in mind that if you’re carrying your kayak into that sweet spot that never gets boat traffic you’re going to have to carry all that gear with you also. Most importantly, you have to remember that every kayak has a weight limit. Every item you put in that boat (you, PFD, fishing rods, tackle, lights, battery, etc.) adds weight.
Sun exposure
is a given when fishing out on the open water. There is specialized fishing gear, clothing, hats, and shade options available to you but nothing will be more effective than sunscreen.
Always have
some kind of anchoring system onboard. Manmade anchors, store-bought anchors, rope and clamp, the options are fairly broad but the necessity is constant. Not only is it important for helping you “stay on the fish” when the bite picks up, but it also provides a degree of safety for when you are needing to remain stationary. You may need help, be with someone else who needs help or need to deal with gear on your kayak that will take your attention away from your location. I have found myself in predicaments where I forgot to anchor myself when frustrated and wanting to change lures. It only takes a blink of an eye for the current to drag you away from your position…into rocks, a pilon, another boat…
Tow ropes
are another invaluable item for your kayak. When you put in to your fishery that rope can be tied off to shore as you’re preparing to board which will prevent it from drifting out into the waterway while you are momentarily distracted. It can serve as a tie-off point if you want to remain close to a protruding structure. If you are needing a tow or find yourself needing to tow someone else your rope will prove to be a lifesaver.
As a former EMT,
ER Tech, etc. AJ and I could not stress enough just how important a first aid kit will be. Kayaking doesn’t necessarily require as extensive first-aid kit as hunting might require but the need for supplies still exists. At the very least, it would be ideal to have Band-Aids, quick clot, gauze, and forceps (to remove those deep-seated hooks).
For more details about our recommendations on first-aid kits and packing for outdoors adventures, check out “15 Musts for your Outdoors Pack.”
One last absolute necessity,
in our opinion, is a reliable app on your smartphone. There are a few options but On-X and Fishbrain are the two we typically use. These apps help you identify the terrain under the water, help identify weather and environmental concerns, and (some) can track your path to ensure you are able to return to your launch point. Some of these types of apps will even give you hints as to what fish are most likely to bite and what lures will typically work best in the fishery you’re navigating.
There are other items
often recommended by various anglers and it is up to you to decide what is necessary for your adventure. Depending on your skill level, the environment you’ll be in, and other factors specific to your situation you may want a wetsuit, drysuit, bibs, a dive-knife, or various other tools. The choice is yours, but always remember to err on the side of caution when in doubt. Also, keep in mind, depending on where you are there may be additional items your legal agency requires (flags, radio, whistle, etc.).
Kayaking can lead to a true fishing addiction that can be made easier with modifications.
Some of the most common “modifications” include fish finders, trolling motors, and lights. Keep in mind that if you will be out on the water before sunrise or after sunset you will inevitably be required to have Coast Guard regulated safety lights. Other lighting options that can make your fishing adventure more exciting can include underwater lights to attract fish, spotlights (especially if you’re bowfishing at night), or interior lights to make switching gear and unhooking fish a bit easier. The options for modifications can, however, be limitless.
Some of the modifications AJ and I have done to our various kayaks include
- Seats and seat risers
- Hands-free setups to our trolling motors
- Replacing or extending attachment tracks
- Noise reducing, padded, flooring
Upcoming modifications we have planned include
- Additional rod holders
- Paint jobs
- Tool racks
- Storage compartments
- Live well setups
- Stabilizing pontoons
- Just to name a few.
To check out these modifications as they come to life be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and select notifications. This summer will be chocked full of modifications and projects any of you will be able to do with limited necessary resources.
No matter what, make the kayak yours
Kayak fishing can be what you make of it. Saltwater or freshwater, your adventure will be spectacular. There is always a learning curve. Your first few outings will be a challenge. Remember what you read in “The Golden Rule of Fishing?” The excitement and reward doesn’t come from just throwing your lure in the water and reeling in a fish. Your reward comes from the learning, the improving, the continuously bettering yourself that comes from experimenting and experiencing different situations. Every time you take your kayak out you’ll discover something doesn’t quite work right for you or something would be better if moved to another location. These changes will make your next outing smoother, better, more exciting. Each outing will be better than the previous, even when you don’t catch that giant fish.