Gear arrangement and what to do once you catch a fish

As a noob kayak-angler, there are a lot of new things to think about for a heretofore land-based stream fisherman new to the coast.

I'm trying to think through my setup on the kayak while fishing, mostly at this point in terms of what goes where and how to go about things once on the water (in my case, mostly off the Mendocino coast).

So I’ll be out there in my Scupper Pro. Got my rod and net holders, left and right, in tube attachments in the guides. How about tackle? Do you wear a fishing vest over your life jacket or what? Or a small tackle box between your legs, somehow lashed down or floatable? Knife, pliers, fish-mouth-grippers and whacker somewhere. VHF radio somehow attached to me. Got all the safety gear mentioned in the excellent posts on this site.

I catch a big lingcod, reel him up (oar is locked into the clamps alongside the kayak), net him, grip his mouth with the grippers, remove the hook, slit his gills, whack him(?), splatter blood everywhere (attracting sharks?), and then what do I do with him? Can’t imagine trailing him and his mates on a stringer, what with all the blood. There’s no way the kayak is stable enough (or me flexible enough, wearing the wetsuit) to turn around and access an ice chest (or anything, for that matter) strapped behind me. I could potentially scooch forward to the front hatch and throw him in there (on ice somehow, right, ideally?) But even that seems dodgy if there’s any swell, and the rod, net, paddle, tackle box, etc. are in the way.

I know this is all second nature to you all, but I’d appreciate your advice.

Thanks,

James

I recommend practice.

Use your anchor as a fish....practice landing that ling cod.

Go up river, above Dolphin Isle, watch the tides, answer your own questions with experience.

My Vest has fishing pockets, I carry a couple of small Plano boxes, radio attached to vest, aluminum fish pliers on a leash, light stick and strobe, whistle.

Aside from safety gear, less is better on a kayak, especially when starting.

Presuming you have the tankwell version of the Scupper Pro, I would keep a game clip on a tether behind me, clip fish to that and then toss them in the tankwell. If you are going to be out for a long time you could get an insulated kill bag. You can straddle the kayak with both legs in the water for extra stability, and sit side-saddle when accessing things behind you. If you aren't comfortable doing this, practice until you are. A lot of people also leash their paddle (it's not an oar!  ) so they don't have to worry about losing it.

When I go out the lip gripper, game clip, and paddle are leashed. Knife, pliers, and 1 tackle box (Plano 3600 deep) are loose. Phone, and transponder attached to vest, flares, dive knife, whistle, and mirror in pockets of vest(PFD). Throw bag, tourniquet, and small bolt cutters in front hatch. Bump board, unused tackle boxes, and pump in back crate. Waterproof bandages, rag, and superglue in small middle compartment.

I keep rockfish, and halibut live on the game clip in the water until I’m on the way in then I bleed them. I haven’t caught a salmon in the kayak yet, but I have had sea lions steal the heads out of my crab traps. They will do just about anything to get them so they need to be stowed onboard. I keep a bag of ice and burlap sack in the back when going for salmon.

To reach for stuff in the back just spin and put your legs in the water off the side. That way it’s an easy reach and super stable.

There isn’t a right, or wrong way to organize everything, with time you will figure out what works for you. Most of the safety stuff I carry is just in case something happens. The water proof bandages, and supper glue I carry because I got a small cut at Albion that wouldn’t stop bleeding while on the kayak. It was okay once on shore but opened back up when I went out the next day. I carry the bolt cutters because we had a difficult time trying to free a pelican with a large treble hook in it’s beak.

Time on the boat will tell you what is for you. I hope you are using a paddle and not an oar.

Like others said - to jump start the process and get a great intro and super insider intel, book a trip with Loleta Eric - sound investment, pays great dividends.

Eric Stockwell - (707) 845-0400

Less gear is better.  You'll probably start out taking too much, then figure out what you can leave in the car/at home.  Only things on the deck of my kayak are the fish finder, net laid flat on the front, and rods in holders.  I keep a small backpack bungeed behind my seat witha few extra lures, pliers, tape measure, license, water, zip ties, small length of rope, and a fleece.  Also a cuban yoyo reel in case I break my rod or reel OTW, I can still do some fishing for the day.  Knife strapped to me, and whistle, waterproof flashlight, and vhf strapped on my pfd.

I catch a big lingcod, reel him up (oar is locked into the clamps alongside the kayak), net him, grip his mouth with the grippers, remove the hook, slit his gills, whack him(?), splatter blood everywhere (attracting sharks?), and then what do I do with him? Can’t imagine trailing him and his mates on a stringer, what with all the blood. There’s no way the kayak is stable enough (or me flexible enough, wearing the wetsuit) to turn around and access an ice chest (or anything, for that matter) strapped behind me. I could potentially scooch forward to the front hatch and throw him in there (on ice somehow, right, ideally?)

I net them, then brain spike with a diving knife (iki jime).  If you do it right, they won't move at all after that. Then onto stringer, the big safety pin style works, but I like a kui style through the eyes for a good-sized ling, they aren't getting off.  Cut gills immediately after spiking while the heart is still pumping, and bleed them in the water.  I keep my stringer in the water unless I'm paddling or I see seals, but maybe not the best idea depending on where you are.  Flip the stringer (still clipped in) up into the back tankwell under a wet burlap to move without the drag in the water.  A kill bag with ice packs is on my shopping list for salmon and halibut, but the wet burlap has worked so far for lings and rockies.


knife :  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DPEDAOK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
ling stringer: (something like this, but with a tuna clip or carabiner on the tag end to clip to deck lines.)  https://store.westsidedive.com/product-p/fsk.htm

You are making me remember when I first started kayak fishing and was using a sit-in kayak. I didn't have to worry about a stringer: I would just slide the big lings inside the hull next to my legs. Slimy!

Mendocino coast !! Most of us have to drive 2-3 hours to get to the quality fishing you have. Definitely have your VHF radio attached to your PFD. No need for a vest over that. A decent fishing PFD will have enough pockets for your gear. Definitely leash your paddle. Deciding on leashing or putting floats on rods etc is a personal choice. A section of pool noodle on a net is a good choice.   You have an older model kayak, but they caught all sorts of fish before things got fancy. Two fish clips on about five feet of line. Keep your average fish on one and big Lings /Halibut etc on the other. Bleeding - not bleeding etc is a choice and there are arguments for both.  Just toss the fishy clips into your rear well.  Splash water on the fish occasionally and maybe have a burlap bag to toss over the fish to keep them wet and cool. Paddling with fish on a clip in the water is a bitch. But, if you are going with a drift, having them float beside the boat is fine. The possibility of Seals or Sharks is there, but remote. Its a judgement call among many judgement calls.  The most important thing is to have the proper safety gear and to find dependable fishing buddies who can back you up if things go south.

Lots of good advice here. The only thing I’d argue with is the suggestion to keep fish dangling in the water, as that’s just asking for sea lion mayhem.

I hope you are using a paddle and not an oar.

Yeah, a kayak paddle, with an extra one under the front hatch. Excuse the noob brain-fart.

~j

I hope you are using a paddle and not an oar.

Yeah, a kayak paddle, with an extra one under the front hatch. Excuse the noob brain-fart.

~j

Cool, thought so, but hadta ask. 

There are some solid kayak fishing folks along the Mendo coast to fish with. Once North of Point Arena opens up for rockfish, there will be lots of ops.

Lots of good advice here. The only thing I’d argue with is the suggestion to keep fish dangling in the water, as that’s just asking for sea lion mayhem.

I concur... sea lion or unwelcome shark... 😳

The only thing I’d argue with is the suggestion to keep fish dangling in the water, as that’s just asking for sea lion mayhem.

+1   I'd call dangling the catch a "never do" in the ocean.

Here's a pretty good representation of how I roll:

When in doubt fish with others or an experienced guide. Less is best.

Here's a pretty good representation of how I roll:

That net is way too small for you...