Kayak Fishing Standards of Conduct & Etiquette

Here is a piece that I have been working on for a long time.  It lays out standards of conduct and etiquette that kayak fisherman can use to promote safety, camaraderie and respect for the sport. I hope these guidelines will provide some basic rules of the road for all kayak anglers as we continue to grow the sport. --TLA

Article with photos:
https://thelostanchovy.com/kayak-fishing-etiquette/

Kayak Fishing Standards of Conduct & Etiquette

Written by the Lost Anchovy 2.24.2022
Introduction

One of the blessings that I count in my life is witnessing the kayak fishing community and sport grow from its infancy.  With the rise of youTubers (me included), Blogs, Magazines, social media and Internet forums the sport caught fire like a hot bite and soon the word got out – Kayak fishing was trending.

Over the past decade the sport has seen tremendous growth with trendy products and innovative kayaks coming out every year to capture the attention and market share of the growing community.

The exponential growth has not been without its challenges. Our community has seen an increase in: rescues from the coast guard; shark attacks, poaching, to unfortunately fatalities. What was once a tight knit community is now breaking into tribes and protectionism is starting to trend.

I think the envy of Central and Northern California Kayak fishing is that we work together to solve problems. We innovate and stay ahead of problems. With the growing number of Kayak anglers it is only a matter of time before one unfortunate trendy headline spurs talks of new regulations. – Let’s get ahead of the game.

I often state in my seminars and public speaking engagements – We are kayaker’s first and fisherman second. Over the past month, I have gone to great lengths to speak with fellow anglers, reached out to Internet forums, FB groups, and youTubers to find a consensus on how we can conduct ourselves.

These are my recommended standard of conduct guidelines for the kayak fishing community from the feedback I received. It can be used as a guideline to help promote safety, camaraderie and respect for the sport and others.

Radio Check & Hailing
It is my opinion that every angler should do a radio check before getting on the water as part of his or her routine.  A radio checks is a necessity to make sure the marine radio is charged and functioning correctly. As a common courtesy make sure to respond with “loud and clear” or state the potential problem. Others will extend the courtesy and it will keep us all safe.


Launch Ramp Etiquette
Keeping the peace with boaters and other mariners is important to the longevity of the sport and builds good will all. The boat ramp is a sensitive area when there is a potential for a hot bite.  If possible allow a direct path for boats to launch their vessel without impeding the flow. Many recreational boaters may be waiting hours to launch and seeing a kayak angler jump the line or worst imped the launch flow is a recipe for disaster, frustration and misunderstanding. Move the kayak to the side, away from the direct launch path or launch from a nearby beach if possible.

Keeping it Quiet
One of the advantages of Kayak fishing is the versatility of our vessels. We are not tethered to boat launches and marinas to get out on the water.  Many of the popular kayak launches can be found adjacent to residential areas, parks and state beaches where people reside. Staying quiet and conscientious of our surrounding, especially during early morning hours can got a long way maintaining the peace with local residents. No one enjoys being woken up in the early morning so let’s stay mindful of our surroundings and the people who reside in them.
Responding to Distress Signal
In the extreme case of a distress signal make every effort to assist if you are in the vicinity. Do what you can without putting yourself in jeopardy. If the situation is beyond your capability assist by relaying communication to the coast guard via channel 16, with as much detail as possible.

If there is a party already assisting make sure to stay clear and provide additional support if needed. Keep off the main communication channel to allow emergency communication to flow uninterrupted.

Hook ups, Communication and Reliability
I am a strong advocate for the buddy system when it comes to kayak fishing.
We are each others safety net and acting accordingly can and will save lives. Communicate clearly with your friend when, where, and the time you will arrive.  Let them know if there is a delay getting there so they are not left hanging and wondering about you.

If you are unable to make the fishing trip make sure to allow 24-hour notice to your friend so they can plan accordingly, find another buddy, or not go. At a minimum provide your friend adequate notice. NEVER BAIL without a bonefide emergency( i.e, medical, car or transportation issues).  This behavior puts your fishing partner at unnecessary risk.

Cleaning up after yourself & the environment
We have one planet and we are temporary guest on it. Ultimately we will leave the planet to the next generation. I have a simple creed that I try live by – leave the world a little better place then when I came in. This goes for the locations that I frequent for fishing.

I recommend bringing a dedicated bag to pack up any used fishing gear and pick up garbage that frequents the ocean and bays. Kayak fishermen are a large contingent and if we each do a little good the impact can be large. Here is a trade secret: When you do good with good intent the fish gods will ultimately reward your good will.

Properly release and descend undersize fish.
Having good fishing etiquette means taking care for the longevity of our fishery. 
Certain rockfish such as Chinas, Vermilions, Yellow eyes have a long life span, and protecting them, if we do not plan to keep them, tends to the welfare of our oceans.  Use a descender or a barbless hook to send fish back safely and do not leave floaters.

Try using a meshed net to limit tail splitting on undersized halibut or other game fish. Use a lip gripper to minimize handling of undersized fish, and shake them off at the boat if you do not intend to keep them.  These simple methods can help ensure the longevity of our fishery for the next generation.

Conclusion
The kayak fishing community has grown and is continuing to grow at an exponential rate. We have a substantial presence and with it a collective responsibility to try and work towards an amicable co-existence with other mariners, the environment and government entities. The future is bright for our eco-friendly sport, and I hope these guidelines help to move us all in the right direction.

Great article, Keith.

My only minor addition is to keep your radio calls short.  Some people think of VHF Radio as their personal cell phone.

Paul

Well stated Lost Anchovy. One thing I would add is to generally look out for your brothers at the launch and in the parking lot
 If you see someone yard sale, help them pick up their shit and get the boat in. If you see an old or small guy struggling with his boat and gear, help them out.

Thanks for the "Kayak Fishing Conduct and Etiquette" article Keith

thanks for putting this together. what are your thoughts on EPIRBs and bilge pumps?

All good points Keith
Great job, well written

Well done! The suggestions from the replies are great as well. The more we can share about safety, essential gear and etiquette the better.

Illustration of poor ramp etiquette: About ten years ago I was doing some ocean fishing up in Oregon. As I drove up to the launch I noticed there was no place to launch but a two lane boat ramp with a single dock to one side. The good news, there was nobody around as it seemed… every already launched and parked for the morning. My son and I backed down the ramp next to the dock, unloaded the kayaks from a kayak trailer and started to put the final pieces of gear in the kayaks from the car (by now you already can foreshadow what happened next). As we were unloading a rather large rig with a big local fishing boat pulled up, and yes, you guess it I received my first lesson about tying up a ramp. The driver promptly climbed down from his truck, not knowing how long we were there or how long we would be there, came down and literally got in my face and gave me his version/lecture on boat ramp etiquette. Of course, his energy pushed my button and I responded in the same manner (second mistake that day) I am usually able to bring down energy and keep calm but for some reason I was ready to put my foot on the side of his face. Fortunately, he backed off and we finished unloading and he waited for that lane. I later saw him at the fish cleaning station where we had a much better “conversation”. He admitted to getting in face unnecessarily in front of my young son and I learned not to, even when most of your gear is in the yak, not to take up the lane next to the dock when possible. To this day I do not like launching from a ramp as it is my luck a rig will pull up in a hurry want to do the drop and go. Lessons learned.

The biggest issue with rapid growth isn’t regulation, it’s loss of life and any discourse on standards or conduct, that doesn’t start with self-reliance, is doing your audience a disservice.  That’s where the, “kayaker first,” mentality comes from.  You have to know the environment and water conditions that you’re putting yourself into. You have to have the experience, tools and wherewithal to recognize an emergency situation.  You have to have the physical and mental strength to stay calm and rescue yourself if things turn south. A buddy is a great Plan B, but it shouldn’t be a primary source of rescue.  If you’re that dependent on your friend, you’re a liability. 

I’m in agreement with having a radio as well but one must also know that they are a tool in the box and not the be all end all.  They have broadcast limitations due to their power and line of sight capabilities.  It’s very possible that your calls for help are gonna go unheard, especially if you’re on a remote area of the coast.  Again, plan b.

Regarding YouTubers…..I’ll save my personal opinions but in a lot of cases they’ve earned the ire they receive.  Keeping it quiet is only one aspect of the ethics conversation that “community,” needs to have with itself.

Well done! The suggestions from the replies are great as well. The more we can share about safety, essential gear and etiquette the better.

Illustration of poor ramp etiquette: About ten years ago I was doing some ocean fishing up in Oregon. As I drove up to the launch I noticed there was no place to launch but a two lane boat ramp with a single dock to one side. The good news, there was nobody around as it seemed… every already launched and parked for the morning. My son and I backed down the ramp next to the dock, unloaded the kayaks from a kayak trailer and started to put the final pieces of gear in the kayaks from the car (by now you already can foreshadow what happened next). As we were unloading a rather large rig with a big local fishing boat pulled up, and yes, you guess it I received my first lesson about tying up a ramp. The driver promptly climbed down from his truck, not knowing how long we were there or how long we would be there, came down and literally got in my face and gave me his version/lecture on boat ramp etiquette. Of course, his energy pushed my button and I responded in the same manner (second mistake that day) I am usually able to bring down energy and keep calm but for some reason I was ready to put my foot on the side of his face. Fortunately, he backed off and we finished unloading and he waited for that lane. I later saw him at the fish cleaning station where we had a much better “conversation”. He admitted to getting in face unnecessarily in front of my young son and I learned not to, even when most of your gear is in the yak, not to take up the lane next to the dock when possible. To this day I do not like launching from a ramp as it is my luck a rig will pull up in a hurry want to do the drop and go. Lessons learned.

Thanks for sharing the story

I’m in agreement with having a radio as well but one must also know that they are a tool in the box and not the be all end all.  They have broadcast limitations due to their power and line of sight capabilities.  It’s very possible that your calls for help are gonna go unheard, especially if you’re on a remote area of the coast.  Again, plan b.

I've used a bilge pump a lot more than a radio when things get nuts. Also, an EPIRB is better than a radio if things get scary.

very much agree with this..."Self-reliance/personal responsibility" should be numero uno I think...it's up to each individual to be responsible for their own safety, training, preparedness, etc.  Kayaker first mentality would require learning about equipment, route finding and navigation, tide/swell/current/wind (how to read charts, plan a day, etc), personal limits, OTW safety, etc.  Self-rescue and appropriate equipment is a must, but so is the knowledge to prevent (to the best of our ability) needing to use any of that equipment or self-rescue techniques.  A lot of that comes down to mental heuristics and making good choices, despite the hot salmon bite and "guarantees" of a 50 pound limit  . 

The biggest issue with rapid growth isn’t regulation, it’s loss of life and any discourse on standards or conduct, that doesn’t start with self-reliance, is doing your audience a disservice.  That’s where the, “kayaker first,” mentality comes from.  You have to know the environment and water conditions that you’re putting yourself into. You have to have the experience, tools and wherewithal to recognize an emergency situation.  You have to have the physical and mental strength to stay calm and rescue yourself if things turn south. A buddy is a great Plan B, but it shouldn’t be a primary source of rescue.  If you’re that dependent on your friend, you’re a liability. 

I’m in agreement with having a radio as well but one must also know that they are a tool in the box and not the be all end all.  They have broadcast limitations due to their power and line of sight capabilities.  It’s very possible that your calls for help are gonna go unheard, especially if you’re on a remote area of the coast.  Again, plan b.

Regarding YouTubers…..I’ll save my personal opinions but in a lot of cases they’ve earned the ire they receive.  Keeping it quiet is only one aspect of the ethics conversation that “community,” needs to have with itself.

Good on you Keith for doing the community a service and helping to spell out some of the basics everyone should come to understand, at some point. 

Not that I disagree with the sentiment of being self-reliant and personally responsible, but I think that a lot of people forget what it was like when they first started into this sport.  Practically everyone I have met on NCKA has told me some "I was a total idiot" one time story that they learned from.  We all laugh at them and share them around a camp fire, yada yada yada.  While I understand the hard line we tend to take towards newcomers to the sport, for their safety and others, I feel like it's also disingenuous to think that you are superior because you have more experience.  Was I ready the first time I flipped over in the ocean.  No.  But I sure as hell learned from it.  Then flipped over the next day again 

Guilty as charged  as some on this forum will attest, first ocean launch, I flipped over and got tangled up in all the cords tied to a dozen accessories that I did not need on deck, lol.  Second launch flipped and broke the net that was sticking out of the rod holder  it was a steep learning curve, but eventually figured out some stuff...

I also backcountry ski, where avalanches are the main, obvious risk.  Fortunately for that community, there are certified avalanche courses one can (should) take where the basics are taught.  Certification is no guarantee of safety or good decision making but at least provides the tools to make better decisions and foundational knowledge for things like route finding, risk assessment, gear selection, partner rescue, etc.  I find some parallels with BC skiing and kayak fishing actually. Both involve some risk, have similar requirements of activity-appropriate gear, route finding skills, self-preservation, etc. and both have the human factor element; the desire for the objective (fresh powder, peak bagging vs big fish, etc) can cloud objective decision making.  For any type of code of conduct document in the backcountry world, Avy I training would be a pre-requisite, IMO so I was trying to make that connection.  Unfortunately, in the kayak world, there is no standardized agreed upon curriculum to teach some of the basic skills.   

Both in the backcountry where there is avalance risk, and in the ocean where there is a drowning risk, it is the responsibility of the individual to learn about the risks and how to safely mitigate some of those risks.  That's all I was trying to say....

Good on you Keith for doing the community a service and helping to spell out some of the basics everyone should come to understand, at some point. 

Not that I disagree with the sentiment of being self-reliant and personally responsible, but I think that a lot of people forget what it was like when they first started into this sport.  Practically everyone I have met on NCKA has told me some "I was a total idiot" one time story that they learned from.  We all laugh at them and share them around a camp fire, yada yada yada.  While I understand the hard line we tend to take towards newcomers to the sport, for their safety and others, I feel like it's also disingenuous to think that you are superior because you have more experience.  Was I ready the first time I flipped over in the ocean.  No.  But I sure as hell learned from it.  Then flipped over the next day again 

"Keeping it quiet" is an issue that is purely etiquette and not safety related, but is super hi vis and will trigger ppl super fast.

I'm specifically calling out the shameless yahoos that strip down to their skivvies revealing their inglorious flab, or even flashing, in and around Carmel/ CRSB/ Monterey while slapping high fives by their ramshackle rides parked in front of $5+M homes. 

Beg of thee, pls exercise discretion/decency.  Be decent and do a "towel change" aka deck change to minimize PO'ing area stakeholders, and revolting other anglers 

BTW, nice content, Keith.

Good on you Keith for doing the community a service and helping to spell out some of the basics everyone should come to understand, at some point. 

Not that I disagree with the sentiment of being self-reliant and personally responsible, but I think that a lot of people forget what it was like when they first started into this sport.  Practically everyone I have met on NCKA has told me some "I was a total idiot" one time story that they learned from.  We all laugh at them and share them around a camp fire, yada yada yada.  While I understand the hard line we tend to take towards newcomers to the sport, for their safety and others, I feel like it's also disingenuous to think that you are superior because you have more experience.  Was I ready the first time I flipped over in the ocean.  No.  But I sure as hell learned from it.  Then flipped over the next day again 

Thanks Al. I know that I spelled out a lot of stuff that us old timers take for granted, but from the perspective of someone "completely" new to the sport it isn't always so black and white. For example, we take for granted that channel 69 is the recreational channel, but as someone who has never kayaked would you know?? I sure hell wouldn't.

I tend to agree that there has been a lot of Shting on NEWBS, Youtubers, etc.. on this forum over basic questions or reports. I guess those people feel a  heighten sense of "Superiority' by when they can trash talk or belittle others (Nothing new here). There is always a portion of the society that thrives on DRAMA  .  I will remind everyone. At some point on this forum, those were the exact same questions and activities US OLD TIMERS, partaked in if you go far back enough.  It's nothing new, but the toxicity, language and judgement from members of this current community -- The TONE, has shifted. 

If you ask me AL. That is one, if not, the main driving factors why the forum has seen a decrease in activity and overall growth. New people don't want to share anything because they don't feel safe to. That is a sad reality.