My 'new' boat: Sidekick

Hi All.  I figure an appropriate first post/introduction would be to show my new (to me) boat.  I got an OK Sidekick very slightly used from a local kayak rental outfit for a great deal.  This boat is not really designed for fishing (no big hatches or obvious spots for flush-mount rod holders), but it floats and it's super stable.  I have already gotten it out on the ocean near Trinidad a few times - the first time on the rockfish opener, which was fairly unsuccessful (4 undersized lings and a decent black rf between 3 guys), and a second very successful time out around the Head to the north.  Clayman posted a trip report ("Rockfishing out of Trinidad, 5-24-2010") about the second trip.  I love the boat, and fishing from it, and I can't believe I didn't get caught up in this sport sooner... all these years being limited to an existence of bank fishing when I could have been on the water affordably the whole time!!!!  Thanks AbKing (or is it BlackAb?) for selling me on the sport!  Anyway, here's a picture of me and my boat from the opener.



I'll be posting on the OK forum page to find out how many other people have Sidekicks (a little research shows there're at least a few) and how they've tackled the rigging issues.  And hopefully I'll be getting out a lot in the near future and will have more pics to post.  I will definitely be doing GS5 next year, but I hope to meet many of you and see you OTW soon!

Fish on!
Brian

p.s. my other addictions include disc golf and hunting for wild mushrooms, so if any of you on the north coast share these passions and want to hook up for either of these, I'm always down...

Right on man! and any yak can be rigged, just gotta use your imagination. Need to hook yourself up with a crate

Humboldt, kayak fishing, discgolf, shroom hunting....you'll make a lot of friends here. 
Might go throw some disc after work, there's like 8 courses within 20min of each other on the Monterey peninsula nowadays.

welcome. Looks kinda similar (at least in your pic) to my old scrambler. I am sure you can get some rigging suggestions from this group

Welcome!!!

I just very recently upgraded from an OK BigYak (which looks to be probably even smaller and stubbier than your SideKick). It has no hatches, but did have two flushmount rod holders behind the seat and a Scotty in the middle between my legs...

Surf landings entailed strapping the rods down on the sides of the yak and hoping I wouldn't wipe out too hard!!  

One piece of equipment that really helped me out was this cool little tackle bag/cooler/rod holder/potential live bait well that fits right in the tank well behind the seat. It fits sideways on the BigYak, but still fits fine...

http://www.tackledirect.com/shimano-bristol-bay-portable-live-well-bag.html

For $49 it has been a very worthwhile investment...all my bait and beverages go in the cooler with some of those dry ice pack thingys to keep them cold...little bit of extra tackle and whatnot in the dry zipper compartment...four spots (three on the backside you can't see in the picture) for rods, net, gaff etc (these can be made sturdier by adding in a simple cut piece of PVC, though I haven't bothered), and it also has a couple good places to clip on a pee-bottle or other things you want to keep handy.

Also, you can take reels off your rods and put them in the cooler for protection when landing (it is hard sided).

It keeps your stuff out of your way, and safe and secure...good when you don't got a hatch at all...also will keep your rods in an upright position and out of your way while you paddle...

Also, a game clip will keep your catch secure and can be laid across your bow if you don't got any room left in the tank well, or if you get anything too big, in your lap while you paddle back!!

http://kayakfishinggear.com/18stringergameclip.aspx

You can clip a leash onto the clip and hang it off the side of your yak too if you don't mind hanging dying fish in the water..SHARK BAIT...just kidding..kinda!!  

My last piece of gear that I have found super helpful is a nice kelp clip...not necessary, but really helps when the wind or drift is being a pain and you want to work a spot for a bit...

http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/servlet/the-780/Kelp-Clip-w-fdsh--Float/Detail

Cool thing about short yaks like yours is they are super easy to maneauver (sp?) around the kelp beds and work little points here and there, and then move on quickly if nothing is biting...

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions about the above...

I am sure you are gonna love your new kayak, and I hope to get to fish with you one day soon!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Congrats, that boat will do fine!  I get over your way every now and then, would love to meet up and stick a few!
-beenfishin

Thanks guys for the warm welcome and rigging thoughts!