How to Rig a Sea Kayak for Fishing Inshore and Off

[surferman]

How to Rig a Sea Kayak for Fishing Inshore and Off

By Dave Williams (Adam Bolonsky) published Sep 16, 2008
AC Associated

Here's how to rig a sea kayak for saltwater fishing -- ideas, suggestions and lessons useful for any saltwater fish from yellowfin tuna to halibut to bluefish and grouper.

Fast, silent, and easy to maneuver, a sea kayak's speed and seaworthiness also make it a good choice for chasing inshore saltwater pelagics ranging from striped bass to red drum and sea run trout.

Gear is as much a part of kayak fishing as a good put-in is, which means some gear is better than others.

A good choice is the number of small spincast rods, made by Shakespeare, with their soft tips. Ugly Stiks are durable, a decided plus, given how rods in kayaks tend to get knocked around a lot. A good choice is to buy a rod short enough to grasp the reel with one hand, the other to reach the tip, which makes clearing fouled line easier.

Short rods also make housekeeping tasks such as changing lures and leaders and clearing weeds from hooks easier, especially if yoiu've also got snags or line twist to deal with. A rod short enough to hold the butt with one hand and grasp the leader with the other is a good size to consider.

For me, since I'm six foot with a six-foot wingspan, these specs balance out to a 5'10 rod'. I can troll it and keep the rod out of the way while I troll or chase feeding fish. I espeicaly enjoy a short, bendy rod's light action --- very "snappy" and quick. Plus, come time to paddle in, a short rod stores easily on deck or in the aft hatch, which makes landings in dumping surf a lot easier: no gear falling out of the boat.

Chunking offshore and working groundfish in a kayak is a highly productive option and two pieces of gear --- stabilizing sponsons and an anchor --- greatly simplify the job.

The beauty of sponsons and anchors is how easily you can throw them together from a few odds and ends. A handy anchor and rode-bag soft and small enough to store in the lap can be fashioned from a couple of lobsterman's bait bags. Stuffed with rocks and cinched shut, one bag is heavy enough dropped overboard to set anchor with and, once stored, has no sharp edges. It's inexpensive.

For rode use 50'' to 100' of 1/4" stretchy-braid stored in a second bag stashed beneath a bungie on the foredeck. Tie the rode to the anchor bag with a bowline and a slip knot, and fill the anchor bag with rocks before you set off.

When you want to anchor, fasten the anchor line's bitter end and chuck the anchor overboard. Pay out rode roughly twice times the water's depth. Come to paddle home at day's end, haul up the bag and dump out the rocks. Lobstermen's nylon mesh baitbags can be found on any beach after a strong Nor'easter. One feature worth adding is a rode-retrieve line strung back to the cockpit, quite handy should you need to cut your anchor line in an instant.

To read more about kayaking and kayak fishing skills, see my media-rich blogs North American Kayak Fishing and Sea Kayaking Dot Net.

[hookedonbass]

Can't imagine pulling in a tuna from a kayak, good post.

[Great South Bay Bucktails]

12 ft Patroit all hooked up

[hookedonbass]

Cool Set-up! Must have taken so time to get like that. Love those rod holders.

[hookedonbass]

Getting Started In Kayak Fishing
By Philip Metz

Ever been on the shore watching the fish break just beyond your every cast? Ever say if I could only get another 5 feet on my cast I'd be catching fish? Well if you can't cast farther then the next logical choice is to get closer. Buy a boat, you say, well not exactly. With the addition of a kayak as a fishing vessel you can increase your catches and become the envy of the shore bound angler.

Over the past few years the use of kayaks as fishing crafts has increased dramatically. Kayaks provide the angler with a relatively stable, light, maneuverable vessel in which to fish from. Not all kayaks are created equal when it comes to kayak fishing. The kayak fisherman will have to address the specific needs associated with the types of fishing he or she partakes in. Will the angler be traveling long distances to get to the fishing grounds? Will the angler be primarily fishing back bay areas or the open ocean? Will the angler be carrying heavy loads during the fishing session? These are just a few of the questions that need to be addressed when choosing a kayak. While the answers to these questions may vary from angler to angler there are certain essentials that the kayak fisherman must have to be efficient and successful.

Lure/gear storage: To be successful at kayak fishing the angler must have an area within or atop his vessel to store various lures and tackle. Most kayaks have a small hatch or pot in which to store the days most essential lures while providing additional room for storage containers below. Some ingenious kayak anglers have attached internal pulley systems within the hull to attach lure boxes which prevents them from sliding out of reach while underway. Other anglers opt for a small milk crate attached to the rear section of the kayak where they store the gear they will use for the day. Both methods work well and are determined by angler preference.

Rod storage/holders: It is nearly impossible to paddle a kayak while holding a fishing rod at the same time so the kayak angler must provide some type of holder for the rod when not in use. Two of the most popular types of rod holders in use are the flushmount and the basemount rod holder. Flushmount rod holders require the angler to drill a hole into the hull of the kayak and drop the holder within the hull of the craft. The advantage to the flushmount rod holder is that when not in use it remains out of the way of the paddler. The basemount rod holder requires the angler to mount the base of the holder into the hull but allows for a wide range of motion and settings when the rod is placed in the holder. Again either one can be employed as it is the preference of the angler.

Leashes: To ensure that in the case of the kayak being upset the gear is not lost, the kayak angler can employ leashes to all essential gear atop the hull. Leashes can be made from rope or twisted telephone cord secured by a snap to the kayak and the gear. Fishing rods, pliers, scissors and a net or gaff are some common items secured by leashes. They may be a little cumbersome to get used to at first but are much better than losing a two hundred dollar rod and reel combo.

Anchor/Drift Sock: Although not an essential piece of equipment, an anchor is a good item to have when kayak fishing. If a productive area is located, one can simply drop the anchor and cast to the intended target. Also it serves as a safety item in case the angler tires and need to take a break. Simply drop the anchor and take a breather. Utilized more often however is a sea anchor or drift sock. A drift sock is like a parachute for the water. Once deployed it catches the water and forms resistance thus slowing down the anglers drift. This can increase the time spent in productive fishing zones, allowing the angler to be more successful.

Safety Items: Last but not least are the safety items such as a sound signaling device, visual aid and first aid kit. All kayak anglers should carry at least one sound-signaling device like a whistle or small airhorn to avoid potential dangerous situations or make others aware of an emergency situation. Visual aids such as distress flags, flairs and strobe lights are beneficial in preventing tragedies and making others aware of an impending situation. A first aid kit that provides sterile wraps, ointment and minor tools such as tweezers can save the day should a mishap occur.

These are some of the basics a potential kayak fisherman must consider when starting out in the sport. Careful consideration and preparation in choosing and outfitting a kayak for fishing will ensure the best possible time on the water for the angler. The use of a kayak increases the angler's mobility and gives him or her access to areas unattainable from the shore. So the next time you're on the beach and you hear the fish are just out of reach, grab your kayak, head for the water and tell them not anymore. Good luck and good fishing.



http://www.njstriper.com/articles/getstartkayak.asp