Share pictures of your Kayak Setup!

Hey folks!

So, I'm super new to this forum and new to kayak fishing so forgive me if there's already a thread on this.
I'm curious how all you NCKA anglers set up your kayaks as I'm thinking about how I want to set up my first kayak. I got a great deal on a Perception Hook Angler (Sit in, I promise eventually I'll switch to a sit on when I can afford a nice one) and have already set up my scotty rod holders and my fish finder. Trying to figure out how I want to set up my stern well as I'll put a milk crate along with a gaff, net, and potentially an additional rod.

Now obviously setting up your kayak is a very personal thing, and you want to set it up how it works best for you, which wont work best for other people. But I just thought it'd be cool for me to see how you veteran anglers set up your kayak and maybe we can all admire each others Yaks and/or learn a thing or two from each other! Theres got to be some cool rigging hacks out there just waiting to be shared.

Pictures of my kayak to come!

Thanks!

-TK

Plankton slays in a sit in...maybe he'll chime in...otherwise drill baby drill...

Learn how to self rescue in it first

I have 25 years of whitewater kayaking experience, so I've spent some time in a sit-inside kayak. And I am an enthusiastic kayak angler who has spent a lot of time on a sit-on-top kayak. Here are my thoughts about sit-inside and sit-on-top kayaks for fishing:

1. For kayak fishing, a sit-on-top kayak is way safer than a sit-inside kayak.  If you get dumped over in a sit-on-top kayak, you can flip it back over, climb back on top, and be on your way.  With practice, you can do that in about 20 seconds.  If you get dumped over in a sit-inside kayak, and you weren't wearing a spray skirt and aren't proficient at using your paddle to roll upright, you will be in a world of trouble, and won't be able to empty the water out of your kayak and climb back into it without assistance from a couple of experienced kayakers.

2. If a wave washes over a sit-on-top kayak, the water drains out down the scupper holes, and all you get is damp.  If a wave washes over a sit-inside kayak and you aren't wearing a spray skirt, a lot of water can get inside a kayak from one wave, the kayak will become unstable and sit lower in the water, and it will be a big hassle to pump the water out with a bilge pump.  If additional waves slosh water inside the kayak, it will eventually become so unstable that it tips over.  See Paragraph 1 about that situation.  As a result, when paddling a sit-inside kayak, you should always wear a spray skirt unless the water is reliably calm and you are near shore.

3. You can outfit a sit-on-top kayak for fishing much better than you can a sit-inside kayak.  Sit-on-top kayakers routinely mount fish finders, rod holders, a fish cooler, a downrigger, a net, and various fishing tools (fish bonker, fish stringer, lip gripper, pliers, shears, knife, and whatever) on their sit-on-top kayaks, and it's easy to reach and use that equipment.  A sit-on-top kayaker can turn sideways in his or her seat to reach items in the large cargo area behind the seat.  With a sit-inside kayak, it's a challenge to mount a a fish finder and rod holder on the top deck in a place where it doesn't interfere with paddling, and any other gear will need to be stowed inconveniently between your legs or behind your seat, or perhaps under a bungee net on your front deck.  Storing fish is not easy.

4. Because most of us have only two arms, it's a lot easier to fish from a pedal kayak than a paddle kayak.  I fished from a sit-on-top paddle kayak for several years, and it was fun.  But then I tried a friend's pedal kayak, was instantly persuaded of the advantages of pedal kayaks for fishing, and ordered a pedal kayak withing a couple of days. In a pedal kayak, you have both arms free to fish, eat lunch, put on suntan lotion, rig lures, or whatever while you pedal around.  You can point your nose into the wind and/or current, pedal lightly, and steer to hold yourself stationary over the bottom while fishing with both hands.  Fishing from a paddle kayak is a lot less convenient.

But the good news is that fishing from any kayak is a lot of fun.  Get out there, be safe, fish, and have fun.  But check out the kayaks which other kayak anglers are using and how they have those kayaks outfitted, and move up to a sit-on-top pedal kayak as soon as you can.

A couple pictures of my sit-on-top pedal kayak are shown below.

Hey!

Appreciate the replies and the advice guys. I'll take anything! All the times I've ever rented kayaks for fishing, I've always hated the molded in rod holders. They're not deep enough and the rod feels like it'll fall out and the same goes for this Perception Hook Angler. So I know for certain I want to stick a milk crate with some attached DIY PVC rod holders in my sternwell directly behind my seat so my equipment/unused rods stay more secure. And the kayak came with two scotty mounts directly in front of me which I know I'll have one used for my rod holder and the other for my fish finder.

Given the sit in kayak, I'm actually not too concerned about it not working out for me. I'm quite comfortable in the ocean/water being a longtime local surfer and the kayak is more than big enough for me and my gear and I only plan on going out when winds and swells are down and will try my best to always go with companions. I also don't plan on doing any beach/surf launches except maybe Rio or Capitola, and will likely launch out of the harbor primarily. I've gone ahead and bought a manual bilge, as well as the pool noodles to stuff in my hull, as well as researched what to do in the event of flipping my kayak over because you never know what the ocean or some hooked big fish will dish out to you. My plan was if i ended up feeling too insecure in the kayak, I'd either build my own outriggers, OR just sell it and buy another but I don't imagine I'll need to. Who knows though, that could change once I take it out for its maiden voyage.


I have a pretty clear idea of how I'm setting my kayak up but I'd still really like to see some cool kayak setups if anyone doesn't mind sharing!

-TK

This is our Hobie Oasis setup photo.

Paul

Here's my Revo setup. Hard to tell the details in the pic, but my advice is to keep it as simple as possible. Utilize what you can that comes with the kayak, and attach as neccesary. Less is more when it comes to this sport.

Sometimes you gotta be creative so there's no one size fits all solution. Also, the way I outfitted my yak has evolved over time so just have fun in the process 

This is our Hobie Oasis setup photo.

Paul

Love the decal on the bow. Sweet details. 

Here's my Revo setup. Hard to tell the details in the pic, but my advice is to keep it as simple as possible. Utilize what you can that comes with the kayak, and attach as neccesary. Less is more when it comes to this sport.

Sometimes you gotta be creative so there's no one size fits all solution. Also, the way I outfitted my yak has evolved over time so just have fun in the process 

Already really enjoying the process of setting it up/figuring out how to utilize the minimal space I've got. I'm positive it'll evolve over time as I get more and more experience.
Do you normally stow your rods along the side of the kayak like that? If so, what is there thats holding them in place? Just bungee?


Thanks for sharing guys! One day I'll get kayaks as nice as all of yours!

-TK

Here's my TI. The PVC rod/wheel holder + main sheet riser was quite a project, but a fun one.
This setup has seen lots of action, including a bump from a GWS off Point Reyes.

We generally fish with one ama and no sail. It's faster, more manageable, and just as fishable, and it works great as a solo boat, too.

-Andrew

Here's my TI. The PVC rod/wheel holder + main sheet riser was quite a project, but a fun one.
This setup has seen lots of action, including a bump from a GWS off Point Reyes.

We generally fish with one ama and no sail. It's faster, more manageable, and just as fishable, and it works great as a solo boat, too.

-Andrew

There's salmon blood on that yak...

Here's my TI. The PVC rod/wheel holder + main sheet riser was quite a project, but a fun one.
This setup has seen lots of action, including a bump from a GWS off Point Reyes.

We generally fish with one ama and no sail. It's faster, more manageable, and just as fishable, and it works great as a solo boat, too.

-Andrew

There's salmon blood on that yak...

And lots of fire brine, aka "predator blood!"

I’ll bite...

Here's my TI. The PVC rod/wheel holder + main sheet riser was quite a project, but a fun one.
This setup has seen lots of action, including a bump from a GWS off Point Reyes.

We generally fish with one ama and no sail. It's faster, more manageable, and just as fishable, and it works great as a solo boat, too.

-Andrew

First time I saw one of those catamaran style hobies was on Nick Fish's youtube channel (another bay area kayak fisher, idk if hes on NCKA) and ever since that, I've wanted one. So envious of you and others who have them!

One day...

)
Already really enjoying the process of setting it up/figuring out how to utilize the minimal space I've got. I'm positive it'll evolve over time as I get more and more experience.
Do you normally stow your rods along the side of the kayak like that? If so, what is there thats holding them in place? Just bungee?

yea, it's a bungee holding it in although I usually have my rods in the built-in rod holders behind the seat. Having it on the side like that is just easy access for me (that was a calm day in the pic), but I normally wouldn't recommend putting it for surf landings unless you get one of those rod tip holders/protectors like this:

https://www.outdoorplay.com/hobie-horizontal-rod-holder-kit?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6f_Rr7fz6AIVBqSzCh36UQaBEAQYASABEgKXoPD_BwE

)
Already really enjoying the process of setting it up/figuring out how to utilize the minimal space I've got. I'm positive it'll evolve over time as I get more and more experience.
Do you normally stow your rods along the side of the kayak like that? If so, what is there thats holding them in place? Just bungee?

yea, it's a bungee holding it in although I usually have my rods in the built-in rod holders behind the seat. Having it on the side like that is just easy access for me (that was a calm day in the pic), but I normally wouldn't recommend putting it for surf landings unless you get one of those rod tip holders/protectors like this:

https://www.outdoorplay.com/hobie-horizontal-rod-holder-kit?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6f_Rr7fz6AIVBqSzCh36UQaBEAQYASABEgKXoPD_BwE

Alternatively, you can use PVC pipe (I recommend black), though not as fancy but save some $$  and you can make multiple holders easily.  Dont forget the goop.