So you’re thinking of getting into saltwater fishing out of a kayak, huh?
You’ve come to the right place. Saltwater fishing is an awesome experience, but you have to be well equipped.
If something can go wrong, it will go wrong. Especially on the ocean. This post will help you be prepared for whatever mother nature might throw at you, as well as ensure that you’ll have a good time too!
It All Starts with the Kayak
Kayak fishing starts with a kayak. If you are Kayak Fishing on the ocean, it is especially important that you are mindful of which kayak you choose. The wrong type and you might find yourself taking on water or capsizing really easily.
SIT ON TOP vs. SIT-IN KAYAKS
There are two basic designs when it comes to kayaks, Sit On Top and Sit-In Kayaks.
A Sit-In Kayak generally has you sitting inside the hull of the kayak with a kayak ”skirt” sealing the opening. These are mostly used for freshwater applications, but many people do use these types of kayaks for riding the surf. They’re just not that great for Ocean Kayak Fishing.
They tend to be a little unstable thanks to the narrow design of the hull. There is also not much storage room on these kayaks. While it can be done, it’s not the best.
That leaves us with the Sit On Top kayaks. These kayaks have the rider sitting in a cockpit on the deck of the kayak. The only hull on these boats are for storage, or a small child if you’re bringing them along. In fact, these kayaks have a lot of storage options and can be very stable, with some even allowing you to stand while fishing.
LENGTH OF AN OCEAN KAYAK
The length of your ocean kayak depends on its use. If you are mostly fishing inshore tidal flats or narrow saltwater channels, a 10’ kayak would be your best bet. They tend to be more maneuverable and the ration of width to length tends to make them more stable as well.
If you are on open water where 5 to 10 miles of paddling tend to be the norm, I really like a 12’ kayak with a rudder. These kayaks are fast, great for traveling over long distances, are stable and still retain a bit of maneuverability.
Over 12’ and you’re getting a little too long. It’s hard to get the tip of your rods over the bow of your kayak if you have a fish run under you. They are hard to maneuver and feel very unstable to me. Some people love them though.
DURABILITY
Your kayak should be made out of strong material, that can take a beating. Ocean Kayaks take a beating. Out in the sun all day, getting scrapped over rocks, not to mention constantly corroded by saltwater, your kayak should be able to handle all of these conditions.
Stay away from fiberglass kayaks. The best are made from rotomolded plastic. The majority of cheap kayaks are made this way and will most likely be the type that you will be able to find.
MY TOP PICK
If I was going to recommend a kayak, my suggestion would be to always start out with a kayak that you customize yourself. If you can’t do that, then my hands-down favorite is the Hobie Mirage Outback. I have tested out a few and this one seems to have gotten the storage right. It also felt fast and really maneuverable. It worked well for both inshore and offshore fishing.
Hobie Mirage Outback is my favorite ocean kayak.
Splurge on your Paddle
You’d be surprised how much water you cover when you’re out fishing for the day off of your kayak. A good paddle is more efficient with each stroke, lighter which creates less fatigue on your body and more comfortable, savin your hands from cuts and blisters.
Experienced kayak fisherman will always suggest starting out on a budget kayak, but you should splurge on your paddle. You can always upgrade your kayak, but having a quality paddle from day one will make your kayak fishing life that much easier. Plus, you can take it with you when you do upgrade your kayak.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
When choosing a paddle, look for blade length, construction materials, and the ferrule system.
The blades should be at least 95 square inches in length, this gives you maximum drive and power for hauling heavy loads.
Paddles are typically equipped with 2 types of ferrule systems, a snap button ferrule and telescoping ferrule. The snap button ferrule is the most common type, allowing you to adjust the angle of the blades or separate the paddle into halves for easy storage. The telescopic ferrules allow you to extend the length of your paddle (handy if you have a high seat) as well as adjust the angle of the blade.
When choosing materials for your paddle, you will most likely be choosing by budget rather than what it’s made of. Graphite is the strongest and lightest material, with the highest price tag. If this is what you are looking for then you might want to check out the Angler Pro by Bending Branches.
Fiberglass would be in the midtier range of paddle materials, with aluminum rounding out the pack.
The great thing these days is that there are a few manufacturers making paddles specifically for Kayak Fishing. Some have features like a hook retrieval system built into the blade as well as measurements on the handle so that you can measure your catch.
For both budget and quality, my go to paddle would be the Angler Scout by Bending Branches.
Where to put your Rod Holders
Placement of rod holders for Saltwater Kayak Fishing always seems to be a matter of preference.
First off, there are two types of rod holders: Flush Mount rod holders and deck mount rod holders. Just as the name implies, flush mount rod holders sit flush with the deck of your boat and deck mount rod holders are mounted on the deck.
I use the one flush-mounted rod holder to hold the spinning rod that I use for light inshore casting and the other to hold my net. I locate these mounts just behind the cockpit on both sides of the kayak.
The deck mounted rod holders tend to be where its a matter of preference. Some like to keep the cockpit area clear and mount all rod holders behind the seat. Others like to keep an eye on their rods, especially while trolling so they’ll mount them up front. The best thing to do would be to test it out for yourself.
You can go out for a trial run by taping your rod holders to your kayak and sitting in the cockpit while paddling. Through trial and error, you will find the best location for your rod holders. Then make the holes you need to mount them in place. Nothing worse than mounting a rod holder only to want to move it later.
For trolling applications, there are 2 configurations that I really like. One would be mounting a rod holder just behind the cockpit on either side of the kayak, near the flush mount rod holders. The rod holder that I would use would be the Railblaza Rod Tube. These can adjust to hold your poles almost parallel to the water. With two 7’ poles in either holder, you can have 2 lines trolling about 15’ apart from each other.
Another option for trolling would be to mount a vertical rod holder in front of you. Many kayak fisherman like to have an eye on their rods while trolling so that they can pickup on any nibbles. Find a suitable location close enough for you to reach but out of your way when you are paddling. You can mount a Dual Rod Holder by Scotty, which is great for trolling applications.
Getting Comfortable
The wind can blow you off course, a fish might take you on a sleigh ride for miles and the hot sun will whither you to the point of exhaustion. It is important that you are as comfortable as possible so that you are ready for a possible long haul.
CHOOSE A GOOD SEAT
Most comfort issues that arise in kayak fishing can be traced back to one item, the seat. A good, padded seat with solid backrest can keep you paddling for miles. Some come equipped with storage compartments for you to be able to store gear easily.
I only have one recommendation for a seat. With a bad back, I NEED a good seat. I like the GTS Sport Seat. It was designed for folks with a bad back. It has a soft padding for the bum and a solid backrest so that you feel well supported.
CLOTHING
Comfort on the water also means having the right clothing and accessories. You should always dress for the water, not what’s going on while you’re sitting on top of your kayak. If you’re fishing sub-50° water on an 80° day and you take a spill, you could be looking at possible hypothermia or worse.
A wetsuit might be necessary.
I live in Hawai’i, where it’s trunkable year round. But the sun is also brutal. I do wear trunks, but also try and wear a long sleeve shirt to keep the sun off. I will have a wide-brimmed hat and a bandana if more coverage is needed. I tend to go barefoot as well, but in some water, water-shoes or booties may be necessary.
Bringing sunglasses and sunscreen couldn’t hurt as well.
SNACKS & WATER
I don’t know about you, but for some reason I always get hungry on a kayak. I hate cutting my trips short, but if I’m hungry, my mind is no longer on fishing. To make sure I’m comfortable, I’ll bring plenty of snacks and water along. I get a small dry bag and stuff all of my food into it, leaving it in my fishing crate behind the cockpit.
Must have Safety Gear for Ocean Fishing
Safety is of the utmost importance when fishing on the ocean. Between the elements, sea life and human error, problems are very likely to occur. Sometimes you can find yourself miles out to sea when something goes wrong, you should be ready for anything. Here is a checklist of all the safety gear I would bring with me.
- PFD – Do not just bring this one your boat. Wear it! It could save your life. My favorite for the price is the PFD by Onyx.
- Safety Light and Flag – Other boaters need to see you, plus it’s the law. The Visibility Kit by Railblaza will get you what you need. Or you could make your own by checking out this post.
- VHF Radio – You need a way to contact in case of emergency. The Standard Horizon VHF radio is a good one for this.
- GPS – It is easy to get lost on the open ocean. Equip yourself with a GPS. Luckily for us, most fishfinders come with a GPS. Raymarine makes the best.
- Airhorn and Flares – the US coast guard recommends these to be carried with every ocean kayaker.
- Hand Pump & Tile Sponge – If you start taking on water, you need to get rid of it as quickly as possible. It has happened to many others before, don’t think it won’t happen to you.
- First Aid Kit – I like it to have band-aids, bandages and a suture kit. You never know.
How to Find Fish from a Kayak
It took me a few years to catch on to this. I have always been the last to introduce a new piece of technology into my life. I didn’t get a smartphone until a few years ago. Just like the smartphone, once I used a fish finder, I knew I could never go back.
If you ever had a hard time finding fish, then get a fish finder. The ocean is a big place. The biggest key to success is knowing where to look. A fish finder allows you to see underwater structure and fish. They can give you the temperature readings and the depth, allowing you to target fish species more easily.
My favorite fish finder is the Raymarine Dragonfly Pro. It takes all of the guesswork out of finding fish. The displays are clear and easy to understand. They are relatively easy to mount on a kayak and can withstand the elements.
If you ever wondered why other people are always finding fish and you keep coming home empty, a fish finder may be just what you need.
What Gear Do I Need?
Besides your line and lures, what other gear do you need? I went through everything I carry with me and made this list to help you bring the right gear next time you go saltwater fishing.
- Gloves – I like Maxiflex. It is important to know your size though.
- Pliers – for removing hooks
- Wire cutters – for cutting through wire leaders
- Knife – I have fixed blade knife that I store on my kayak crate
- Gaffs – At least 1 gaff, 2 if you are targeting fish 80lbs and above
- Fishing Net – It is important that it can be handled easily with one hand. YakAttack makes a great one.
- Scissors
Keeping Your Catch Cool
I used to just use a fish stringer for the fish I caught, until one day I lost it all by a visiting shark. I don’t ever want to attract one of those again.
I like to keep my kayak light. Having to now add a fish bag onto my kayak was a little bit of a bummer, but I found the perfect solution with the fish bag from Precision-Pak.
I am able to store this bag into the hull of my kayak, leaving the opening at the opening of the hull, making it easy to insert a fish without having to pull the bag all the way out. It keeps the fish cool for long periods of time. It even acts as a great place to keep drinks cool, before you fill it with fish of course.
Make Sure you Wash It All Down
If you’re used to fishing on freshwater you probably don’t do this very often, but when fishing in saltwater you must wash down all of your equipment after each time you go out. The saltwater has a corrosive effect on almost all of your gear.
If you are pressed for time, make sure you wash down everything with moving parts at least. Leaving a reel encrusted with saltwater for a week is a surefire way to destroy it in little time. You invested in all of your equipment, make sure that you care for it as best you can so that it may last a lifetime.
All it takes is a little spray down with a hose to clean most everything. Wipe dry your reels and electronics to ensure their longevity, but most everything else can drip dry.
And hey, wash yourself down while you’re at it. You probably smell all fishy. I hope you enjoy your next time on the water. Aloha!!