I kayak fish on most of my outings, whether I’m targeting largemouth bass, striped bass, or any other species of fish. Why do I fish from a kayak and not a powerboat? For me the answer is complicated. It’s economics, access, storage, weight of the boat, and various other reasons. So, what’s your reason for considering a fishing kayak? Even if you already have a boat, it’s a great way to fish. If, that is, you choose the right kayak and outfit it properly.
Picking a Kayak
Let’s start with styles of kayaks. There are sit-inside, sit-on-top, fishing, and non-fishing styles of kayaks. From personal experience I would avoid any non-fishing type of kayaks for fishing. They are difficult to cast from, even more difficult to stand in to take a cast, and lack easy access to tackle storage and other basics like rod holders. My recommendation is that you start with a fishing kayak, period.
Pedal kayaks usually cost more than most paddle boats, but not always. The brand of kayak will dictate most of the cost. You could choose a Native, Hobie, or other high-end kayak, or one like an Ascend that’s a lower-priced boat. I have owned all types and have settled on pedal boats. They free me from the paddle, allowing me to troll, cast, and stand while moving along a shoreline or grass bed. You’ll still want to carry a paddle for fishing very skinny water where pedal systems drag bottom. Pedal kayak will also provide you with instant reverse when you need it.
Other considerations when choosing a kayak would be your body size and where you plan on using the kayak most. As with all boats, they have weight restrictions. If you are over six feet tall and you weigh over 200 pounds a 10’ boat probably wouldn’t work for you. Remember, you need to consider your gear in the weight calculation as well. Then, there is the general weight of the kayak, too. Will you haul it in the back of a truck or on a trailer, where you don’t have to lift it very high? Or are you cartopping the kayak and will need to lift the kayak over your head? Weight limits and the actual weight of the kayak need careful consideration.
Critical Kayak Fishing Gear
After you pick a kayak, but before you launch, you’ll need to think about safety gear. A personal flotation device (PFD) is a must and is required by law (as is a whistle or other sound-producing device). You aren’t required to wear your PFD, it only needs to be within easy access. But most experienced kayakers prefer to wear their PFD while out on the water. Not only will it keep you afloat, but it also provides you with attachment points for tools and pockets for storage of things like lures and a cell phone.
Before we move on to fitting out your kayak, you should also consider having a first aid kit onboard. Mine has saved the day numerous times. Whether getting a hook in my hand or a cut from a fish, I have my kit at the ready. I also carry a marine radio while out on the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, or while out on the ocean. When I think big water, I think marine radio. I will also use my radio if I am fishing with a group of friends. Whether I’m fishing on salt or fresh water, it makes for easy communication between anglers, sharing information as the day progresses.
If you are fishing at night you’ll also need a white light ready at hand or illuminated for your safety. If you have powered your kayak with an electric motor or similar you will need to have navigation lights, as with any powerboat.
Letting family or friends know of your float plan is another safety protocol and makes good sense. Before I head out on the water, I let my wife know where I will be launching from, where I’ll be fishing, and the time I’ll be off the water. You never know if the weather will change, an accident will occur, or of any other issue that may arise. If you'll be fishing during the cooler months of the year, be sure to check out Paddler's Edge: Winter Kayak Safety.
Outfitting for Angling
Once you pick your kayak and have your safety gear in order, you’ll want to fit it out to meet your needs. I’m a multispecies angler, so what I have on my kayak may not be what you’ll want on yours. Whatever you plan to pursue, however, you will need tackle storage. I use the typical plastic Stowaway tackle boxes, carrying two or three on an outing, packing the terminal tackle and baits I need for the day. You need to consider if you want to use a waterproof or standard box, and I recommend using waterproof boxes. Kayaks are notoriously wet from getting in and out of the boat, wave action, and catching fish. To keep your lures dry and prevent rusting, waterproof tackle storage boxes are a good choice.
Most fishing kayaks come with hatches, tiedown spaces, drawers, or fixed places molded into the body of the boat to stow your Stowaways, but you’ll most likely want a bit more. Like many kayak anglers I use a crate on my kayak. A crate serves more than one purpose because it not only holds tackle boxes, but also things like a first aid kit, a jacket or a raincoat, and so on. Most also offer rod holders for all those extra rods you’d like to bring along. I can carry up to eight or more fishing rods if I like, though on most occasions I only carry four to six rods. This gives the flexibility to change baits without having to retie by simply changing rods.
You may also want rod holders for trolling. You should not use the rod holders that are molded into your kayak to troll, since they are normally behind where you sit and you can’t watch them. My trolling rod holders are mounted on rails and in my forward view, so I can see if I get bit and if a fish has been hooked. They are also in easy reach so I can act quickly and play the fish.
As for anchors, at one time I always carried one on the boat. Now I only carry an anchor when I fish moving water and know I’ll want to remain in place to bottom fish. You need to use an anchor system or tie the anchor to the bow or transom of the boat, keeping in mind that you will need to reach it to retrieve it in a safe manner. You don’t want to use your anchor on the side of your kayak, because in swift water you can get yourself into trouble quickly and swamp your boat or turn it over.
Most anglers also will want to have a fishfinder. I have two different types of sonar, a standard fishfinder that reads the bottom and another that has side-scan. Keep in mind that if you only fish shallow water you may not need a fish finder because the depth isn’t there to see fish. If you are fishing a freshwater lake, a small body of water, or casting on a shoreline you may only need down scan. But if you are casing schools of redfish, striped bass, or other open-water fish, side scan is a great benefit. These fish are always on the move chasing bait and side scan can help you keep on the school.
Okay, now you have a kayak. You have the gear. The next obvious question is: where will you fish? I recommend you start by looking in our Where-To section, or entering some local bodies of water into the search bar at the upper right of this webpage to see if they’ve been covered in detail. Or, click on the Kayak button and visit the Kayak Fishing pages, where you’ll find additional information on the above and much more. Remember, a cast not taken is a fish not caught—so take that cast from a kayak, and hang on!
-By Eric Packard