The ABC's of Kayak Fishing

This is an article I wrote long ago, but figured I would post now.  We always have newbies.
I will get it posted up as an article and maybe add a couple pix. 


The ABC’s of Saltwater Kayak Fishing
By Allen Bushnell
Santa Cruz, CA

Saltwater kayak fishing has been a popular pursuit in Southern California for quite a while. It’s not unusual to see 40 or 50 kayak anglers out on a summer weekend at La Jolla Cove, for instance.  Despite conditions of bigger seas, colder water, higher winds, and a shorter fishing season, this approach to fishing is rapidly gaining devotees in these less hospitable northern climes. The number of northern kayak anglers, once miniscule, is growing at a consistent rate.

Most saltwater kayak anglers use the sit on top type of kayak, rather than a sit inside.  The SOT offers more usable deck space for equipment and rigging and most include some degree of inside storage via a front or back hatch, or preferably, an open rear tankwell. SOT’s may be a bit slower than a full-race sit inside sea touring kayak, but they are a lot more stable as a fishing platform and are way more efficient in terms of self rescue, should you wind up in the water.  Made of tough, roto-molded plastic, SOTs offer an inexpensive way to get out on the water.  Usually light enough to be handled easily by one person, the SOT kayak is transported easily on your roof racks, and opens up many remote areas for fishing.

The first concern of the kayak angler, or anyone who ventures even slightly offshore on a self-powered craft is safety.  You should know your boat, your abilities, and your limitations.  Newbies to the sport are encouraged to take their kayak out to the surf zone, without any equipment aboard, and practice surf entries and recoveries.   Fall off the boat deliberately and practice your self-rescue technique.  Tip the boat from side to side to test the turnover point.  Learn the secondary stability characteristics of the boat.  Practice sitting sideways, backwards, and scooting to the bow and the stern.  Test the limits by kneeling and even standing on the boat.  Having a physical knowledge of your boat’s limits will go a long way towards staying within those limits when fishing offshore.

There is safety in numbers.  When planning a fishing trip, try to get a partner or two for company.  Besides being more enjoyable and having witnesses for your big catch, your partners help ensure your safe return.  They may also keep you a bit more honest in reporting the size and number of your catch.  If no one is available for company, and you have gained enough experience for solo offshore ventures, always let someone know where you will be fishing, and when you expect to return; “file a flight plan.”  Keep an eye on the weather forecasts and remember conditions can change very quickly in our northern waters.  What started out as a bright calm morning often switches to howling winds and white-capped wind chop, or thick pea-soup fog.

Every saltwater kayak angler should carry a few items that are considered “the minimum” as safety equipment.  Some of these seem self evident, and this is by no means a complete list:

PFD- (Personal flotation Device, or lifejacket)  PFDs are designed to keep a person floating face up when worn correctly.  Always wear your PFD properly and you will stay alive even if you are not conscious.

Communication Devices-  I prefer a handheld VHF marine band radio.  Many models of submersible VHFs are available on the market.  This will allow you to speak directly with the Coast Guard, Port Authorities, or other boaters in your area should you need assistance.  Cell phones can serve in a pinch, but should be kept in a dry-bag as no submersible models are available. A loud waterproof whistle can come in handy to signal other boaters that you need help, or if it’s foggy, just to let them know you are in the area.  Other signaling devices to call for assistance include signal flares, a hand mirror to flash the sun reflection, or a small waterproof air horn.

Paddle Leash:  this connects your paddle to your boat or to your PFD.  You do not want to have your paddle drift away while you’re a mile offshore fighting a fish.  Many kayak anglers will carry an extra paddle inside their boat for the redundancy factor.

Compass:  Even the best mariner can get turned around with no landmarks visible.  A compass is a must.  Even better are the GPS units that display your exact position using latitude and longitude.  Most models include a local marine map upon which you can track progress from your launch point and provide a backtrack if necessary.  Like anything electronic, GPS units can fail and batteries can die, so always have at least one compass as backup.

Proper clothing:  Even at its warmest, our Northern waters will induce hypothermia in a short while.  50-60 degree water causes exhaustion or unconsciousness in 1 - 2 hours and expected survival time is 1 - 6 hours.  For this reason, I recommend wearing a wetsuit when paddling far out to fish, or in unfamiliar territory.  A farmer john style suit is probably the best for kayak fishing, as it leaves your arms free for paddling, but will preserve body temperature if you end up in the water.  Include a rash-guard, poly-prop pullover, windbreaker or paddling jacket, and you are well-prepared for most paddling days in our area.  Don’t forget a good hat with a brim for glare, and your UV blocking polaroid sunglasses.

Fishing equipment varies according to each individual angler’s preferences.  Most saltwater kayak anglers use conventional gear, that is, open spool reels and appropriate rods for the species being targeted.  A few essentials for rigging your kayak for fishing would include rod holders, a gaff or net and a stringer or bag for holding your fish, Many saltwater anglers adapt 12-volt fishfinder sonar units for their craft.  Some consider the fishfinder as an essential piece of equipment.  Another essential is a drift-chute or sea anchor that an angler can deploy to slow their drift and keep fishing when the winds get strong.

In the Monterey Bay area, and the Northern Coast of California, we mostly pursue rockfish and lingcod, halibut, salmon, striped bass or sturgeon.  Each of these species requires a different approach in terms of strategy, areas and locales, and often in bait, lures and equipment used.  Luckily, practice consists of getting out on the water and actually fishing. No kayak angler will ever forget the heart-stopping moment of his or her first big takedown, or the thrill of a big fish “sleigh ride.” 

Even the greenest grommet can find some measure of success to build upon, and near-shore trips for sand dabs, gopher cod or blue rockfish can soon escalate to fishing the edge of the Monterey Bay Canyon where the drop-off plunges thousands of feet and  anchovy schools attract the big king salmon.  Pay attention to your safety equipment and talk to other anglers for tips, tricks, and techniques.  No one of us knows more than all of us, and anglers, as a rule, are eager to share. (Sometimes the challenge is to get them to STOP talking!)  In Central and Northern California, we’re enjoying the adolescense of this sport.  The saltwater kayak fishing community is still somewhat small and intimate, much like surfing was in the early 60’s.  It’s an eco-friendly, healthful, exhilarating pursuit and to top it off, you get the freshest seafood dinner in town!



Allen Bushnell is the 2003 winner of the Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing Derby and now host multiple derbies each year. He counts among his sponsors Ocean Kayaks, Humminbird Electronics, and Kokotat paddling gear.  He writes the weekly fishing report for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and is co-host of “The Let’s Go Fishing Radio Show” that airs every Thursday evening at 8pm on KSCO 1080AM.  Bushnell is a licensed DFG Fishing Guide and operates Santa Cruz kayak Fishing.  He  can be contacted at [email protected], or through these websites:

http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net
http://www.theletsgofishingradioshow.com/
http://www.santacruzkayakfishing.com/