Kayak Fishing

[smr_hga]

I am planning to go kayaking here in the Indian River. Of course, as an avid fisherman, my rod is coming with me! Unfortunately i have never done kayak fishing or kayaking in general so i could use some advice from you guys! First things first, i have some Gulp shrimp (penny) in stock and have my eye on a super spook jr. Any other lures or tips for this noob?

[Choporoz]

I know nothing about your area.  But as a first-year kayak fisherman, the best advice I can give you is take a rod or two, some tackle and just get out and do it.  This is one activity that reading about and watching videos just doesn't do it justice.  You need to get on the water, paddle around and start casting.  Unless you're both experienced at fishing AND experienced at kayaking, you're going to have to get used to the limited space, mobility, etc.   If you're mostly looking for specific lures, etc, you're going to have to provide a lot more info, I'm afraid.

[davecon]

Check out a website called "the online fisherman".

Lots of info and good guys/gals willing to help out. It is primarily weat central Florida but some guys from over on the east coast.

[the reel ess]

Don't stand up!

 

Wear your PFD. Be careful and have fun. It's a good time.

[smr_hga]

I know nothing about your area.  But as a first-year kayak fisherman, the best advice I can give you is take a rod or two, some tackle and just get out and do it.  This is one activity that reading about and watching videos just doesn't do it justice.  You need to get on the water, paddle around and start casting.  Unless you're both experienced at fishing AND experienced at kayaking, you're going to have to get used to the limited space, mobility, etc.   If you're mostly looking for specific lures, etc, you're going to have to provide a lot more info, I'm afraid.

Well, Around here we have Redfish, Snook, Seatrout, Bluefish, Jacks, Tarpon... (Although i don't think my gear could handle a tarpon)

[Darren.]

First, think safety.

 

Wear your PFD at all times.

 

Have gear like a knife within reach, or in your PFD,

a whistle, horn, etc.

 

Have a flag for visibility since you'll be on big water.

Last thing you want is for a boater to not see you.

 

I'd take two rods, a net, a scale, maybe a bump board

for measuring (if you want to keep records).

 

Personally, I'd stay in smaller areas, closer to shore.

I'm not a risk-taker when it comes to big waters in my

kayak. I know guys who fish big waters (Chesapeake

Bay, etc.) and have no fear. Not me.

[Dtree11]

I can not stress enough, much like everyone else, how important having your PFD is. I am not sure how the wakes are on the Indian River, if they are anything like what I experience on Lake Michigan, I would suggest getting a safety flag.

[2833-34497]

Agree with what everyone says about safety and PDF if you haven't kayaked before, especially on bigger water. Make sure you secure your items in case you tip over. I have (knock on wood) never tipped, but secure everything but the rod in my hand just in case it should ever happen. Let someone learning about kayaks try mine once and used there's meanwhile, and for some unknown reason it just flipped. On mine I've been in whitecaps heading home for short distances on main lake area at times and always still felt safe so a good kayak helps you also.

[BaitMonkey1984]

Not to beat a dead horse- but wear your PFD. I don't wear mine as much as I should in my two boats. I do in the Yak. And maybe this short story will tell you why...

 

I was fishing out of my aluminum boat. Beautiful day in the summer, mid-day. Two guys around my age, 30, paddle by me in the yaks and make quick conversation about the fishing. I could tell these guys were having a good time. They move past me. I make maybe 5 casts and hear one of these guys cracking up. I turn, one flipped his kayak and the other guy is laughing his butt off about it. The one in the water (50 yards away from me) says I'm going to shore, tells his buddy to take his kayak. Perhaps 3 overhead strokes later and he is yelling for help, he is 300 yards plus from any shore. I pull anchor go and get him. The guy was loaded, was in pants and his shoes. His buddy wasn't initially able to get to him, and the guy erronesouly thought he could make it so shore. This guy was lucky to be alive.

 

I have the deck of My ranger loaded with 14+ combos in all times. Yak fishing, two rods max and limited tackle. Keep a set of pliers handy too, in case you get a pickerel bite. It is a blast when you catch a decent fish and it takes you for a ride. The hooksett is difficult to adjust to, so do not be discouraged if you lose some fish. One thing I would add, I use shorter rods so it is easy to land fish, as a 7ft 6 inch rod is difficult to land the fish in tight quarters. 

[DogBone_384]

Don't stand up!

 

Wear your PFD. Be careful and have fun. It's a good time.

About sums it up.

[Caliyak]

My two cents; if you have time, take a chair out back and cast from a sitting position. Use all your same gear and have fun.

[Bluebasser86]

I just bought a kayak a little over a month ago, it's a blast. Like others said, there really is no way to explain it to someone who has never done it. I couldn't imagine trying to walk a spook in my yak though, at least until I get a feel for it better. I prefer bottom contact or straight retrieve baits. I wear an inflatable PFD, you're required to wear one here and obviously the inflatables are more comfortable. I like using an anchor so I can move a little ways and fish an area thoroughly before moving on. Take a net with you. I don't normally use a net much, but I never would have guessed how hard it is to land a fish from a kayak with the limited mobility. Enjoy the experience, I know I have really been having fun in mine. 

[the reel ess]

I just bought a kayak a little over a month ago, it's a blast. Like others said, there really is no way to explain it to someone who has never done it. I couldn't imagine trying to walk a spook in my yak though, at least until I get a feel for it better. I prefer bottom contact or straight retrieve baits. I wear an inflatable PFD, you're required to wear one here and obviously the inflatables are more comfortable. I like using an anchor so I can move a little ways and fish an area thoroughly before moving on. Take a net with you. I don't normally use a net much, but I never would have guessed how hard it is to land a fish from a kayak with the limited mobility. Enjoy the experience, I know I have really been having fun in mine. 

It is different. I used a Chug'n Spook, Jr a lot this summer. You just hold the rod up instead of down because you have a lot of line already in the water. If it starts diving you have to let it settle back on top and start over. Using the Chug'n model added another dimension to the action so I don't think it needed to be wallked continuously. It looks like it's struggling more than swimming. 

 

Someday I want an SUP so I can stand and fish. That's not something I feel comfy with on my kayak.

[the reel ess]

I've made a kayak crate from a milk crate. I zip tied 4 rod holders around the inside of it and I bungee it to the back well. The kayak came with one holder so I can carry 5 combos. Just be careful. The more you carry, the more you can lose.

 

I start with several things I think I'll need tied on-whtever they "should bite" for the season and location. Then I throw a few bags of different plastics behind the seat. If they won't bite those, oh well, it wasn't meant to be. I can say I've only been shut out completely twice all of 2015. But I was run off the water by a storm once.

[Dye99]

Ive owned a few nice bass boats, a few fun jon boats, and started fishing bass as a kid in a canoe...

 

But Kayak fishing is for me, the best way to get deep down and personal. 

Got my first one in 06, and haven't tired of it yet.

Im sure you are going to have a blast. Make sure to wear a pfd as already mentioned, take a few rods and reels, make sure everything is attached to the boat or is in arms reach for when ya dump it in the drink!

 

But with that said there is only one real safety tip that hasn't been mentioned yet in this thread.

 

Make sure after your first trip to hide your wallet, as it not only is addictive its expensive!

 

Have fun!

[the reel ess]

If you have rods in rod holders behind you, don't forget and make a straight overhand cast. It will ruin your BC reel for the rest of the day. And we all forget it sooner or later.

[bigfruits]

use an empty large mouth Gatorade bottle. don't attempt the lean and over the side method until you got your sea legs.

[boostr]

I have no problem walking a bait in my yak... but then again it 36" wide. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR PFD!

[boostr]

I just bought a kayak a little over a month ago, it's a blast. Like others said, there really is no way to explain it to someone who has never done it. I couldn't imagine trying to walk a spook in my yak though, at least until I get a feel for it better. I prefer bottom contact or straight retrieve baits. I wear an inflatable PFD, you're required to wear one here and obviously the inflatables are more comfortable. I like using an anchor so I can move a little ways and fish an area thoroughly before moving on. Take a net with you. I don't normally use a net much, but I never would have guessed how hard it is to land a fish from a kayak with the limited mobility. Enjoy the experience, I know I have really been having fun in mine.

It does take getting used to. I stand 100% of the time when I'm fishing, and playing a fish. I only sit when I'm paddeling, (unless I paddeling standing up to maintain position) or landing a fish. I'm still figuring out how high to hold my rod, how much line to leave out when i net a fish. When I wasn't using a net I would flip the fish in the yak, and have to little line out. So trying to keep a fish from trying to jump back in the water or trying to lip and remove the hook while trying to release line from your real can be a pain. The net in this case is very important.