New Ocean Fishing Buddy Checklist

Now here is the big question - if you are out with a buddy, what gear can you reasonably leave behind if you know they have one?

I kind of ponder this a lot.  I go out with intention of being self sufficient, since I'm out alone most of the time. 

I think if you have a partner, you should at least between you two have at least one of these:
Spare paddle - If you have a hobie, the paddle is your spare.  If you only have a paddle, better have a backup as well in case something happens to your paddle.
Bilge Pump - Even though I've only ever used it on someone else's kayak, I never feel comfortable leaving without it. 
Throw Rope - If your with a buddy, you might have a reason to throw a rope for assisting or towing their kayak
Cutters - For the unfortunate time you get hooked while fishing

Water should also be on the original list now that I think about it.  I don't always drink it, but I always bring it.

id move the whistle to the required section, you need a noise-making signaling device by law iirc

+1, whistle is probably the smallest and cheapest thing that could save your life.

+1, whistle is probably the smallest and cheapest thing that could save your life besides a compass 

Now here is the big question - if you are out with a buddy, what gear can you reasonably leave behind if you know they have one?

I kind of ponder this a lot.  I go out with intention of being self sufficient, since I'm out alone most of the time. 

I think if you have a partner, you should at least between you two have at least one of these:
Spare paddle - If you have a hobie, the paddle is your spare.  If you only have a paddle, better have a backup as well in case something happens to your paddle.
Bilge Pump - Even though I've only ever used it on someone else's kayak, I never feel comfortable leaving without it. 
Throw Rope - If your with a buddy, you might have a reason to throw a rope for assisting or towing their kayak
Cutters - For the unfortunate time you get hooked while fishing

Water should also be on the original list now that I think about it.  I don't always drink it, but I always bring it.

I used to ride bicycles over relatively long distances, both alone and with others. Weight and space are both critical for carrying gear on a bicycle, so when riding with others, it is common to distribute the load. One person carries a repair kit, and the other carries snacks. Both carry water. Hat and sunglasses are also crucial for me, along with sunscreen.

I don't carry a bilge pump, but that's because I can't reach any of my hatches from the cockpit. So, for that to be of use for me, I've already capsized.  I do have 4 large pool noodles stuffed in my hull though, which I am confident will keep the kayak afloat if the worst happens.  I think I would need to stuff the hull to the brim with pool noodles for them to displace enough water to keep me upright, if I had a major puncture below the waterline. Even then, I'm not sure it would have the desired effect, at least not with my kayak.

I do carry side cutters, water, and at least two propulsion methods everytime.  This is in addition to my fishing kit, which has pliers. In theory, if I embedded a hook into my flesh, I could probably cut it close to the skin, leave the point in, and make my way to shore.  I should probably try cutting a 4/0 hook sometime just to see how much force it takes with the side cutters, and asses from there.  I also keep a whistle, line cutters, and radio clipped to my PFD, which I wear all the time on the kayak.

I also keep about 10' of line attached to both front and rear grab handles on all my kayaks - I can toss to someone else without even leaving my seat. I've been out at Alamada with my son (14) before, and towed him in when it got windy and he got tired - makes that a lot easier if the lines are already connected to the kayaks.

If out with a partner, it's probably also best to discuss the timeline for the day before launching, and a meet up point if you get separated/lose sight of each other. Happens quickly sometimes, good to have a plan.

Great information. Thank you!

... Like the time a whale grabbed my downrigger ball - my knife was there within seconds to cut the line before it spooled my downrigger.

Exact same thing happened to me.

I don't like a lot of gear but I do have one of these on my life jacket- it can't cut through the thickest ropes but it does a great job of cutting smaller lines really safely, and it's totally safe just clipped on my life jacket all the time. https://a.co/d/0WxprPz

My opinions tend to go against the current here so take this with a grain of salt

The typical gear junkie syndrome is to overload yaks which imo makes them unsafe

Same principle goes for safety gear as everything else you should keep it simple and know what to do in a pinch

I am quite with you, i think usually there is three steps:
1st:  The simple because dont know what to bring and dont really realize the how risk on the ocean
2nd: after learn the stories and listen the suggestions from others people, add this add that to be safe, in the end found too complicated, too many stuff provided duplicate functions
3rd: slowly found what stuffs are really I need, consider my own strength and weaknesses, consider where i am going, decide what stuff i must to have  when in ocean, what stuff can be multi-functional to cover lots of area. So reduce a lot of duplicate stuff in kayak, from the real experience to realize the theory that the more simple the more reliable and will be better. You can see, all the top experienced survivors their equipment all are very simple but useful

These steps cannot be skipped, if someone jump to 3rd step, they maybe don’t really understand why simple and why it is better, they maybe also don't know whether their limited belongings can cover all difficult situations or not. 

This is My 2 cents

Not safety but if you talking what allows you both to enjoy the trip then I would add a measuring device and a way to do fish id. I once had a buddy constantly calling me over to id his fish or check length. It’s hard to enjoy the trip if your fishing is frequently being interrupted.

I would add a measuring device

I've been trying to think of a way to mount a measuring board somehow in my kayak.  I hate having to pull the board out and do the three arm shuffle trying to hold the fish, hold the board, take a picture, and hoping the whole time that the fish cooperates and doesn't jump out of my lap and back in the water.  Go go gadget bump board? I lost a mediumish ling a while back because as I was trying to measure it, the fish decided it had better plans and flopped off the board and right back into the water.

The whole thing would be easier if the board just lived on a flat surface somewhere on the deck of my kayak. Trouble is, all the deck space is accounted for ... Still pondering it...

I would add a measuring device

I've been trying to think of a way to mount a measuring board somehow in my kayak.

I've felt the same way, i've had my board slip and be hard to manage with a fish sometimes out in the swell.  Your question sparked an idea that think I'll try out!  I have some flat magnets I can add to the board and the topside of my kayak so i will stay in place when I pull it out.

Knife on PDF. Dedicated for rescue only. Don't use it to cut bait or anything else.

Why not use it for anything else? I have a knife, but it multitasks...

I want it to be 100% ready to go if I need it. If I get tangled when I flip, I don't want to be trying to cut things with a compromised knife edge.

I also subscribe to this reasoning.  Hell, at any given time, there may be 3-4 knives at different known, dependable locations on the yak that if I need to use one in a pinch, I know where to reach.  Like the time a whale grabbed my downrigger ball - my knife was there within seconds to cut the line before it spooled my downrigger.

Yikes, I could see this happening. What did you replace your downrigger cable with?

I would add a measuring device

I've been trying to think of a way to mount a measuring board somehow in my kayak.

I've felt the same way, i've had my board slip and be hard to manage with a fish sometimes out in the swell.  Your question sparked an idea that think I'll try out!  I have some flat magnets I can add to the board and the topside of my kayak so i will stay in place when I pull it out.

Ooo, magnets are a good idea... Gonna have to do some measuring and figuring now...

I bought a used kayak, the previous owner had drawn a ruler directly onto the hull with a sharpie. it's not quite as accurate as a board but it's one fewer thing to worry about losing!