Honest opinions about the sport of kayak fishing

It honestly costs more than I expected.

But that’s mainly because of me. I’m a sucker for the newest and flashiest and there is always room in the tackle box for a few more lures. Then there are the new spots to explore and new fish to chase, which of course leads to more gear!

4 kayaks, pounds upon pounds of gear, numerous rods and reels later and here I am. All I wanted to do was float down the creek near my house and catch a few small fish.

Along the way I’ve learned a lot and met a bunch of great people through kayak fishing.

If you want to learn the best and safest way to do it there is a wealth of information among the members here and can be found using a search of the site.

If you want to be humbled go fish with a few of the guys on here. The knowledge and generosity of that knowledge is amazing.

I concur

If you want to be humbled go fish with a few of the guys on here. The knowledge and generosity of that knowledge is amazing.

This ^^^^

Do It!
It is expensive. The clean up is a PITA.

Before I started kayakfishing, I could barely paddle and didn't know how to fish.
Now, I can barely paddle and still can't catch fish. 

But it has probably been best thing I've ever done for myself. I have made lifelong friends that span well beyond sitting in a kayak. I have laughed harder around a campfire than I thought was possible.

It's definitely and addition and never gets old.

But honestly, kayak fishing probably saved my life...

I bought my first sit on top in 1974. It’s been a live affair ever since. Just do it. Ft. Ross is still as fun to fish as it was way back. AOTY will break your bank. It’s super fun though. I’ve met so many excellent people. Come to Ocean Cove this weekend and meet us. Cheers.

• I'm a fly fisherman, so I like things light and tidy -- basically reduced to the minimum level
• A kayak is the most minimal boat
• If you try it and decide you want to kayak fish enough to buy a boat, then buy only a pedal boat (I'm partial to my Hobie Revo-16 but that's because I'm 99% salt oriented and want the speed, power, and rough water handling of the Revo-16)
• When me and my homies head out, we catch whatever we need/want with some variation of about 3 different bait/lures, no kidding.  That is super simple, it points out that it's all about the golfer, not the golf clubs, and the kayak is no place to fiddle with masses of gear.  K.I.S.S.
• I carry more safety gear, food, & water than fishing gear.
• Budget wisely before actually buying.  For example, if you have apprehension about falling off the boat, then buy a drysuit and you'll have no more worries; plus it's always good to buy top notch gear that will save your life, but drysuits are pretty dear, so that will impact your budget (25% - 50% the cost of the kayak).
• Speaking of budget, I won't go out on the ocean without a fish finder with GPS (I consider GPS to be essential gear).
• I'm a fly fisherman, I love being IN the water and a kayak offers the most intimate possible relationship to the water of any boat -- I frequently just reach down and touch the water with my hands, it's right there, I can smell it, I can feel it, I can see the little bait fish ever-so gently disturbing its glassy surface, I'm eye-to-eye with the pelicans, I rise and fall with the swells, it is quiet enough to hear the water swirling around me and my boat.  I love being on the water so much that it doesn't kill me if I don't catch (an outcome that's a little too frequent  )
• Everything the other folks said about the fishing and ability to access ANY water you're willing to shlep your boat to.
• Then there's the friends.  This is as special as the being on the water and majorly catching fish.  We always go out as a group (safety is smart) and help each other in any way that is needed -- this is super satisfying to me.  We look out for each other and share the great times.
• Consider a boat for wifey 

like any other "thing" there`s hardcore kayak-angling jerks, hardcore  kayak-angling  nice guys, casual slayers and  cliques , the competitive types ,non competitive types , over the top going to get a divorce cause they fish too much and ignore their family types.there`s  the sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wasteoids, dweebies, dickheads  they all get a kick out of it. , they think it`s a righteous challenge

what I hate  : bmb and getting a hook embedded in my hand ,but I cant decide which is worse

what  like : DirtyDave ,Eddy,Rockfish,Bushy,3$J,polepole,Raydon,Ravensblack,LoletaEric,rockroach,Chad,Cabeza,Craig ,TW ,Alex-Bulldog  ,rider,Hojo,SHULAND,Vwool,Big Jim,FishMaster , Sin Coast,NoSoupforU,Ariel,Shifra,Yakhopper,Fisherman X,RockHopper,Fishshadow,Napajustin,Louis ,Josh,ChuckE,Yoda,Crash (even though he likes turtles), Traildad,Scottymeboy,Nick,Annie,Kiel,Tommy,Jingle,Happy Hooker ,H1,Jeff,Rob ,Steve,R bark, Pablo, Darius,Don,texas boy ,Alain,Yakhopper and thats just the off the top of my head..oh and yeah even Bmb ( dont tell him)

I just read through this whole thread and the only takeaway is that there's some secret club with yak sluts............so long as they're not the gaysian tuna chasers I think I need to join this clique   

half dozen mortal enemies.

I've read through this thread.  The count is now up to 9.

half dozen mortal enemies.

I've read through this thread.  The count is now up to 9.

What is this half assed crap. Live your life, do a full dozen mortal enemies!

half dozen mortal enemies.

I've read through this thread.  The count is now up to 9.

What is this half assed crap. Live your life, do a full dozen mortal enemies!

these things take time. I'm incredibly patient.

I do plan on trying it out first (rental somewhere), but before I pull the trigger for my own yak, I'm hoping some of you could share your opinions about the sport. Good and bad, what can I expect? What do you like, what do you hate? Any regrets? Thanks all

I don't know why, and I'm sure I'm wrong, but this all reminds me of SG. (OG's know who that is)

Lots of good advise has been shared. Welcome and have fun!

Al

I do plan on trying it out first (rental somewhere), but before I pull the trigger for my own yak, I'm hoping some of you could share your opinions about the sport. Good and bad, what can I expect? What do you like, what do you hate? Any regrets? Thanks all

I don't know why, and I'm sure I'm wrong, but this all reminds me of SG. (OG's know who that is)

Lots of good advise has been shared. Welcome and have fun!

Al

 

IMHO from a newbie who never fished from a boat.

First off, kayakers are great people and are very supportive of other kayakers.  (We will help each other roof top our yaks, help each other on the water, etc.)  This community is awesome and welcomes newbies.  I have yet to meet anyone I would call an enemy, but I am a pure recreational kayak fisherman.  Catching a fish is always the best outcome, but a good day on the water can't be beat in my mind.

I have owned a kayak since April and have had it out on the water about ten times.  I love fishing even if it doesn't involve catching.  This applied even before I bought my kayak.

The learning curve on a kayak takes some time.  Getting comfortable with handling your gear on the water and dealing with power boat traffic, current, wind, etc are all the things no one tells you about but you need to pick up on quickly.  If you ride a bike, just use the same level of care (head on a swivel/aware of surroundings) and common sense.  You are unprotected and small compared to the other traffic around you.  Wear your PFD!

The other part of learning is dealing with line and tackle issues in open water.  This was a big transition from bank fishing to being on the water.  Here your layout of your kayak and where you keep essential equipment comes into play.   

The most enjoyable part for me is being on the water paddling from place to place and being able to get to spots that I could never get to from the shoreline line/pier/bank....

Paddle or pedal depends on what you want to do and what body of water you expect to be on as does the size of your kayak (perhaps that is why some people own multiple yaks).  Pedal yaks will get you to places faster and you can go a lot further without wearing out.  Paddle yaks can go shallow, cost less, but if you are looking to be on the ocean or want travel more than five miles on the water, you should get a pedal yak.(IMHO)

IMHO the sport of kayak fishing is heaven on earth (unless you are snagged, with a birdsnest in your line, and the boat traffic around you is causing you to almost fall out)

<snipped> I don't know why, and I'm sure I'm wrong, but this all reminds me of SG. (OG's know who that is)

Al

Shudder - let's hope.

<snipped> I don't know why, and I'm sure I'm wrong, but this all reminds me of SG. (OG's know who that is)

Al

Shudder - let's hope.

the SG still rears up from time to time in the most unexpected places
around the campfire y'all noobs can learn how to become a living meme