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FAQ’s
ON OCEAN KAYAK FISHING By Capt. Jim Sammons of La Jolla Kayak Fishing Kayak4Fish.com Having worked in the kayak fishing industry for many years I have heard just about every question people can think of about the sport. Whether it is at a trade show, during a trip, or on my web site, people come up with many of the same questions. I thought this would be a good place to answers some of the more common questions I hear. What is the best kayak for me? I could tell you the Ocean Kayak Prowler 15 that I use is the perfect kayak, and it is, for me. In reality, there is no perfect kayak for everyone. Think of it like shoes, there is no one shoe that fits every person, and there is no one kayak that every person is comfortable in. The best thing you can do is to ask some questions from people already involved in the sport; you can do this on one of the many kayak fishing web sites such as Kayak4Fish.com or other regional sites . Give them your height, weight, what you plan on fishing for, what kind of water you plan on paddling, plus any other pertinent info such as storage limitations. You likely will be given several kayaks, from different manufacturers, from which to choose. Find the shops in your area that stock these kayaks to demo, and take them for a test paddle. If you can take the kayak out on a day when the water is a bit choppy you will get a better idea of its performance. You will then be able to make an educated decision on which is the correct kayak for you. Are these kayaks stable? Don’t over estimate the importance of stability, sure you don’t want to feel like you are in a fight to stay upright all day but you also don’t want to feel you are trying to paddle the dock out to sea. The learning curve for feeling stable in a kayak is rather short, you will learn to be stable but you cannot make a slow boat fast. The short answer is this; yes, even the kayaks that are considered tippy, are stable, if you take the time to learn the how to be a good paddler. If you choose not to take that time, we can find you a kayak so stable that you can stand up and dance on it. Do you have a kayak big enough for me? The average kayak fisherman is actually a fairly large person and the kayak manufactures have addressed this with a variety of kayaks that will fit persons of all sizes, extra large or small. Do you prefer a longer or shorter kayak? The longer the kayak the better it glides through the water, so the less effort I have to put out to move the kayak through the water. Think of it this way, have you ever peddled a bike with low air in the tires, then gone to the gas station and filled those tires up? That is what it feels like to go from a short kayak to a long one. You can still get there on the bike with low tires, but it is a lot easier once those tires are pumped up. Should I spend the money on a Carbon Fiber paddle? You will find paddles ranging in price from $49 to $500, with the carbon fibers starting around $200. Your paddle is your motor and I generally tell people to get the best motor they can afford. Would you rather have a Porsche motor or a Volkswagen motor? Carbon fiber paddles are lighter and stronger than lower cost paddles, so like the faster kayak, with the lighter paddle I will have to work less to move my boat through the water, all, day, long. Once you go carbon fiber you will never go back, for reference I use a Werner Kalista with the ergonomic shaft. What do you do if a fish starts to pull you out to sea? Sit back and enjoy the ride, and what a fun ride it is! Can you catch big fish from a kayak? I would have to say YES. My clients have now landed fifteen Bill fish from their kayaks and have joined the La Jolla Kayak Fishing Bill Fish Club. You can see photos of theirs and other catches on our gallery.  What happens if you catch a big fish, do they ever pull you off your kayak? As far as I am concerned, the bigger the better, I love big game kayak fishing. If your drags are set properly there is no reason a fish would ever pull you off your kayak. If you do make a mistake and fall off your kayak, make sure you are wearing your PFD and have a cut away tool on your vest. Do you ever tip over and what do you do if it happens? People generally fall off the kayaks because they forget one basic rule, where your head goes your body will follow. You should always keep your head down the centerline of the kayak, letting the kayak move under you. You should also know how to do a self-rescue, and practice it. The last thing you want to happen is to fall off your kayak a mile from the beach and realize you do not know how to get back on. Here is some basic instruction on a self rescue. Where do you put the fish that you catch? We practice a lot of catch and release, particularly with Calicos, but I do like to keep fish for the dinner table. When I am keeping fish, I want to keep them as fresh as possible, so I have an insulated game bag that fits into my forward hatch. I can keep my fish inside the kayak on ice. The other options would be a diver’s game clip or a gunnysack. I do not recommend hanging the fish off the side of the kayak, as this is just an invitation to unwanted guests. There is more than one story out there of kayak fisherman being tipped over by a hungry Sea lion that grabs a fish hanging off the side of the kayak. What about sharks? In all honesty, in all my years kayak fishing I have never had a negative encounter with a shark. I have caught quite a few Threshers, hooked a few Makos’ and seen a few others but that is it. If you are in a sharky area you certainly do not want to have fish hanging off the side of your kayak and I would think twice about bleeding my catch. I don’t think you will find me kayak fishing near Guadalupe or the Farralon Islands either. Can you fly fish from the kayak? People fly fish out of float tubes all the time; a kayak is an even better platform. Fly-fishing off the kayaks has become a large part of the sport in many parts of the country. Where do you keep the beer? There is room for everything including the kitchen sink on most of the fishing kayak on the market, so I am sure you will find room for your beverage of choice. Do remember this, in a kayak you do have to paddle back from where ever you are, and alcohol is a depressant which can make you tired and a bit lazy. I prefer to have my cold ones as I am cleaning my gear at home. Is it hard to sit in a kayak all day if you have a bad back? After the kayak and paddle, your next important purchase is a good seat. The better seats provide that much needed support and some even come with an air cushion for extra comfort. If you can sit in a lounge chair next to the pool, you can sit in a kayak. You should not feel like you are trapped in one place, on a sit on top kayak you can move all over the deck and even sit sideways when you need a change of position. Start with short days on the water and build up to the all day excursions, so that your muscles have a chance to get in shape for this activity. What if you have to go to the bathroom? Lets just say, yes you can, and let you figure it out from there. Can I put a motor on my kayak? Not if you are fishing with me, but if you must, search the web and you will find directions on how to do it. |
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