When did you begin kayak angling?

Kayak fishing has really taken off in the last year or two as evident by the rapid growth in memebership for this site (thanks again Bill).  Following on Allen's poll regarding whether we were kayakers or anglers first, I thought it would be interesting to find out when everybody started out in this sport.  I'm guessing most of you started in the last couple years.  Others may have tried it a long time ago never thinking it would become a sport in its own right.  Oh, and for clarification, fishing out of a canoe doesn't count.

-Brian

I might as well go first... in 1994 I was in grad school on Long Island, NY.  I rented a beach house with a few other grad students and some of our friends would keep there ocean kayaks at our place with the understanding that we could use them any time we wanted.   Anyway, Long Island Sound has great striper and bluefish fishing and I would troll around for them from my friend's kayak.  BTW, a 15 lb bluefish can give you a heck of a Nantuket sleigh ride.

In the late 1990's I had a small sit inside kayak of my own and lived on the Chesapeak bay.  Managed to catch a few sea trout, drum, and stripers out of that boat during those years.

In the early 2000's I lived in San Diego and didn't fish out of a kayak once during the 3 years I lived there.  Yes I know, what a waste of a great opportunity.

Two years ago I moved to Bodega Bay and took the sport back up right away.

Brian

Good poll Brian,  2003 for me, although I've fished hard my whole life and kayaked hard for the last 11 years.

-Allen

4 years ago, I took up sea kayaking because Pat was into it and it looked like good exercise and fun.  After taking a couple of classes, I started looking around for a kayak to buy and decided on a sit-on-top because SIKs were too confining and I thought SOTs would be safer when it came to self-rescues in heavier seas.  Problem was, I needed something to keep up with Pat's 17' fiberglass Necky and most of the available SOTs looked (and paddled) like plastic bathtubs.  Finally found the Tarpon 160 Angler, and we've been on the water nearly every week July thru December and less frequently the rest of the year since.  We stumbled through the learning curve on our own for the first couple of years, then found NCKA.  It's gotten better and better ever since.  I'm sure I've done as much fishing in the past 4 years as I did in my whole life before than. 

Thanks Papa Bill!

Just found the receipt for my first yak. 03-09-1999. I was fishing out of it within a week.

I first fished off of Avila Beach in February '93, in a Necky Arluk II. Realized it wasn't the optimal way to go, and wasn't really into fishing at the time anyway. In '96 I was in Durango CO, and used the Arluk for trolling for trout, and for jumpshooting ducks on the Animas. The Arluk got "swiped" in '97 from a "buddies" back yard. Around 2000 I picked up a couple other Necky SIK's, and eventually started to fish for LMB and trout out of the SIK. Still not the greatest, but I was more persistent. Picked up a used Scupper Pro this year, and am now going to town. Still think SOT's handle like pigs, but you can't beat them for fishing platforms.


Scott

2004 for me. I grew up fishing the Texas Gulf coast then moved to Kansas and decide no way I was fishing lakes for catfish. Moved to CA but only went fishing a few times on charter boats since I did not know anyone that owned a boat. Then I noticed how close we where fishing to Moss Landing on one trip and decided that there had to be a way to get out there on a smaller craft. Did some searching and stumbled across a few kayak fishing sites and then hooked up with Allen Bushnell who was kind enough to take me out on a guided trip. After that I was hooked!  I have been lucky enough to land every major norcal sportfish on my kayak since then, not all of the legal size though  and meet a bunch of awesome people that have taught be a ton about fishing.

 In 2004 on a field trip senor year of highschool we kayaked the elkhorn slew I came home and told my dad how much fun it was and that I would like a kayak of my own.  He showed me an article about kayak fishing in the latest isue of western outdoors.  I went to a cuple of the websites it mentiond and started drooling over diffrent kayaks I rented a tarpon 140 and tried it out and had a good time Then for my highschool graduation My dad got everybody in my family to chip in and drove down to long beach to pick up my exterme.  After a year of watching me have way too much fun I talked my dad into returning to long beach To "try out" a cuple of kayaks.  Needless to say we came home with a new x-factor straped to the roof.  My mom still hasent forgivein me for that one.

2004 for me, 2005 first time on salt water. I got tired of the high cost of the PB trips, and nobody wanting to hang out and help clean the boat after the trips. So I donated the boat, and compared Kayaks for a month. Bought my drifter and never been happy'er, I fish more places in my kayak than I ever did in the PB. I would never think of taking the PB in the Ocean, but no problem with the kayak.

Craigh

I fish hit the water in Avila bay while going to school in 98 at cal poly. Did a rental trip with friends and managed to sneak in a pole. First time on the water and also my first encounter with a seal. There was a harbor seal that thought it was funny to know people over.

My first kayak was bought from MBK in mid 99 during there big sale. I wanted a scupper pro but they were sold out and I wasn't going home with a kayak. Ended up with  my WS freedom and have enjoyed the speed ever since. However of late, having a live in girlfriend cuts the fishing time in nothing.


-Brian G

I think the first time I actually fished using a kayak was 1997, but I could be off by a year. I was using a prijon yukon tour SIK(NOT ideal for surf launches) to fish calicos off the santa barbara coast. I went up to Whittier AK for another summer of guidework and used the same boat to fish silver salmon. Moved back to CA and settled in Santa Cruz. My wife & I scheduled a weeks' worth of camping and paddling at the channel islands in socal, so I sold the yukon and since I was working occasionally at Kayak Connection Mark & Margaret set me up with two Dagger Cayman SOT's. While I didn't catch much at the islands, I started fishing more regularly back home.  My brother in law and my wife's sister & brother in law are all also heavily into kayak fishing, so I had plenty of info & a family tolerance for many hours of kayak fishing discussion  . Last year I sold one of the caymans & Kayak Connection again set me up with a new boat, a tarpon 140.
-Sean
Piscean Artworks

PS: This is pretty cool reading Brian, nice topic!

Year 2000, is when I began searching for a better fishing platform. Looked into kayaks and took a class with kayak connection - SOLD!!! Year 2001, I bought my first sit-on-top - Cobra Explorer. Hit all the foothill lakes in the Bay Area and then entered my first Kayak Fishing Derby with Kayak Connection. Met Erik K, Brian G., Allen Bushnell, Sean / Piscean and Elric.

....and the madness continues 

in '96 I caught some fish (barred pargo) off my surfboard @ 9 palms on the east cape of cabo.

my fishing was always pretty limited tho, my youngest brother actually taught me the most
about fishing and it was mainly shore casting with krocodiles in mexico while on surf trips.

I have done some real limited spear fishing the same way, with a pole spear on surf trips.

I have to say that although I am personally aesthetically and style challenged I swore I would be
dead before I got into a dorky plastic primary colored boat and paddled around.

My pride would not let me do that!

But in 2003/2004 I rented out my house packed up my family and hit the road on a year long
trip that included 6 months in baja and 2 months in the florida keys.

while in the keys my wife rented a malibu two. The lightbulb went on one day and I "invented" kayak fishing.
After I figured out how much fishing one could do from the kayak without any hassle or $$,
I didn't mind how dorky they looked, in fact, I kind of reveled in it.

when I eventually got internet access again, I was stunned to find out that I was not the original inventor of
kayak fishing!

imagine that,  .

When I got back into my house I found kayak4fish.com, bought a used scrambler and called up
brendan who showed me how to fish for rockfish and halibut. I got my long time surf bud Leo to get one too.
I read about guys catching 20+lb halibut and could not believe it. Then I caught one myself! wow! hooked!

my goal is to learn enough that I can actually relax on a fishing trip and not freak out over all the gear I have
to remember to bring and learn how to use. and to catch a salmon from the kayak.

They really need to do something about the dorkiness of these kayaks tho.    Would a few skulls and
flames really be so bad? 

Early 90's for me.  My first yak was a Wanona fierglass 8 ft sit in side. I really  went nuts after reading the Outdoor Life article.

I'm a bit disappointed..... only 33 of our 545 members have answered the poll.   But even with only 33 responses, it does start to show a nice trend.

Brian