Suggestions for my newbie setup?

I recently got a 14 foot ocean kayak (not sure of the make) for $200. 

I verified that it floated and checked for leaks in the San Lorenzo river and took it out for a trial run yesterday after acquiring a bunch of safety equipment (VHF radio and such). Caught a few fish. Traveled light with a single rod (old fiberglass Sabre 7' medium action, Penn spinfisher 710, 30lb braid). Stowed most of my tackle and bait in the rear hatch, put pool noodles in the bottom as I have seen suggested, and had a small cooler strapped to the back to hold fish.

After this trip I promptly bought a clip for the side to secure the paddle and a better seat (anything between my butt and hard plastic). Also looking to add a rod holder or two as I had it lashed to the side with a bungee cord.



I am looking for other suggestions for the setup, any nice to have things?

Currently I am limited by a grad student budget. I do though have a plethora of rods and reels (mostly older and surf focused stuff).

Looks like a classic WS Ride kayak. Stable platform but if I recall, the tankwell is an odd shape—so a regular milk crate might not fit. I’d looke for a marine plano box that fits and add some pvc rod holders to it (for net & gaff or rods). It’s a good plqce to store tackle & lunch. And hopefully it doesn’t take up too much room in the tankwell, so you can still store fish [under a burlap sack].Also attach some bungee to strap it down in case you flip.
For intial mods, I’d put in flush-mount rod holders behind the seat (either the normal tube style or flush-mount Scotty bases etc). Then put a track along the gunwale near your foot for a rod holder (and maybe other stuff in the future like a fishfinder).
Of course, this is after you get a handheld vhf radio & bildge pump.

Looks like a classic WS Ride kayak. Stable platform but if I recall, the tankwell is an odd shape—so a regular milk crate might not fit. I’d looke for a marine plano box that fits and add some pvc rod holders to it (for net & gaff or rods). It’s a good plqce to store tackle & lunch. And hopefully it doesn’t take up too much room in the tankwell, so you can still store fish [under a burlap sack].Also attach some bungee to strap it down in case you flip.
For intial mods, I’d put in flush-mount rod holders behind the seat (either the normal tube style or flush-mount Scotty bases etc). Then put a track along the gunwale near your foot for a rod holder (and maybe other stuff in the future like a fishfinder).
Of course, this is after you get a handheld vhf radio & bildge pump.

It is a very odd shape, kind of a triangle. I am trying to find my hole saw set and silicone to add some flush mount rod holders. The track is a good idea. Any bildge pump you recommend? I have a VHF strapped to my life jacket. The kayak is very well loved, reminds me of the sort my boy scout troop used.

A fish finder/GPS is definitely on my list. I just sort of guessed at the bottom from google map photos.

Sounds like you're breaking in to the sport with open eyes and plenty of ability.  I've never been one to do many mods - I like my factory flush-mounts and I use one of my hatches while on the water.

One piece of advice is to bring a net of at least 18" diameter.  There's a CDFW reg - not often followed or even widely known by wardens, it seems - that requires a net of at least that size while fishing on the ocean from a boat.  Must be available "for immediate use" I think, so sometimes I'll have a guest with me that I won't put a net on their boat because I'm right there with them.  Otherwise, I've heard of a guy on the central coast who got a hefty ticket for not having one.  Most agree it's a dumb requirement - me included, but it's a great idea to have a big net so you don't watch your catch of a lifetime break your leader and get away.

I appreciate that you've replied here and on your fishing report post regarding essential gear that you have, and I'd responded there like I did because of seeing that you were not dressing for immersion.  At least a 3 MM farmerjohn is recommended.  I most often wear a 6 MM under my drysuit.

That yak will do the job for sure, but a 30 pound 'but or stout salmon/lingcod will have you pretty maxed for space as well as affecting your stability.

Enjoy.   

Get a gaff and game clip. And carry a needle nose pliers to rip the gills and/or a fish bonker. You don't want an angry halibut in your lap.

Btw, there is a writeup here somewhere about how to fish for halibut, including the all-important gaffing (written by the Captain Kirk of Santa Cruz kayak fishing, Bushy). That's definitely worth a read before you catch a fish that requires gaffing...

Sounds like you're breaking in to the sport with open eyes and plenty of ability.  I've never been one to do many mods - I like my factory flush-mounts and I use one of my hatches while on the water.

One piece of advice is to bring a net of at least 18" diameter.  There's a CDFW reg - not often followed or even widely known by wardens, it seems - that requires a net of at least that size while fishing on the ocean from a boat.  Must be available "for immediate use" I think, so sometimes I'll have a guest with me that I won't put a net on their boat because I'm right there with them.  Otherwise, I've heard of a guy on the central coast who got a hefty ticket for not having one.  Most agree it's a dumb requirement - me included, but it's a great idea to have a big net so you don't watch your catch of a lifetime break your leader and get away.

I appreciate that you've replied here and on your fishing report post regarding essential gear that you have, and I'd responded there like I did because of seeing that you were not dressing for immersion.  At least a 3 MM farmerjohn is recommended.  I most often wear a 6 MM under my drysuit.

That yak will do the job for sure, but a 30 pound 'but or stout salmon/lingcod will have you pretty maxed for space as well as affecting your stability.

Enjoy.   

I got the "be prepared" thing drilled into me in scouts. Too many outings where things went south for me not to.

When I was out there yesterday I had an 18" net, tied to the boat and tucked to the side of my cooler. I didn't have to use it as the rockfish didn't really have teeth and weren't that big. I have felt the pain of losing a fish because I didn't have one. Lost a ling while poke poling that way. It knocked my bag of bait into the water for good measure.

Time to go shopping for a suitable farmer john.

I am definitely worried about fitting larger fish in this boat. I think one big enough halibut or ling and I would only have room for a smaller rock fish or two. Although heading back because you ran out of room for fish doesn't sound like the worst thing.

I have a good chunk of hickory laying around that I can make into a bonker. I definitely will read up on dealing with halibut.

Found a few images of how people dealt with the milk crate in this kayak. I can get the 13"x15" one I have to fit but it will be far forward enough that I can't get to the rear hatch. In this one case someone just modified the crate to fit. I also like the lid. I sadly don't have the welding equipment to replicate the rod holder.



http://www.allkayakfishing.com/rigged/blueride.html

I do like where this person mounted their fish finder, it seems like the logical location on this model rather than putting rails on the side.



http://www.allkayakfishing.com/rigged/jonsride.html

Looks like you are off to a great start. Enjoy it!

When I first started kayak fishing I was using a sit-inside kayak and I had to slide the big lingcod down next to my legs inside the hull. Fun memories.

Instead of a milk crate, consider getting a marine plano box and adding pvc rod holders. It will take up less room in the tankwell, giving you more room for fish back there. Plus it will keep your tackle & lunch dry.
On the FF location, I always put mine up front like your pic. Because I don’t want it in the way if I have to climb back in...and I hardly ever mess with my FF when I’m OTW. You’ll remove the FF head unit when you’re not using it but make sure the FF base doesn’t stick up too much or else you might break it while loading it/carrying it.

Great hack.  Thanks 

I like the tacklebox idea. This is what I came up with given what was in my basement. There were some unused clips on the back of the seat for some strange reason. I also found my water resistant backpack. Made a small strap between those two clips and ran it through some loops on the backpack. Buckled the hip belt around the rear seat straps. Add in flush mount rod holders and two mounts for rod holders on the sides in front. Now I just have to figure out some way to secure the paddle. The milk crate that I plan to throw my cooler in is a bit awkward, but it will do for now. If I can find something long and skinny that would be great (could probably fit a large ling or halibut better that way).

I like the plano marine storage box concept, but when I looked at it on Amazon, some of the reviews said that it isn't waterproof.  Do you have any issues with water/moisture getting inside?  From your photos, it doesn't look like it has a gasket around the lid. 

I like that idea with the waterproof backpack, Spock!
And no, I haven’t had a problem with water getting inside the plano box. I removed the rubber gasket about 7yrs ago...been using this one for about 10yrs. One time I flipped over in the surf and found out it floated—that time I got a little water inside...

I like the plano marine storage box concept, but when I looked at it on Amazon, some of the reviews said that it isn't waterproof.  Do you have any issues with water/moisture getting inside?  From your photos, it doesn't look like it has a gasket around the lid.

Like Sin Coast i haven't had any issues either. Mine's probably 6 years old? I never expected it to be totally leakproof either, I use a drybag for my phone inside it. I like it just to keep sand out of my reels and stuff when I inevitably dump in the surf each season.
I'm all for using what you have around, especially getting started. Your waterproof backpack ought to work fine!