New To Kayak Fishing

[FarrellX]

As some probably saw, i just got my first kayak for fishing. i surf all winter, so i have the cold water stuff, so im gunna start heading out whenever i can to get myself in some more shape and get used to it and what not. just got some dumb questions maybe you guys can help with...

obviously smaller fish can go in a bucket, small cooler, or stringer or something...but for you guys that have cought something pretty big...do you kill it then just plop it up on the yak? string it off the back? i know it can be done however i want, just curious

spinning or conventional? what does everyone prefer? i already have some rods picked out i plan to use...already planned ahead for fluke as well, but what do you guys think is easier to use on a kayak? do you go with the lightest gear possible?

other the lures and tackle, what might some of you guys bring on the yak? my tackle boxes are FULL of stuff, but im gunna be bringing as little as possible on the kayak. im thinking just necessary lures and rigs, pair of needle nose pliers, and a decent knife. is there anything specific you like to have on the kayak?

how far out do you go? wherever the fish are? draw the line at about a mile out? stay in close? i have a buddy that would go out in a group of 5 kayaks or so up to a mile out...but i dont think id want to do that alone.

thats all for now..i appreciate the help, thanks in advance. im sure ill think of more questions

[Cobol dude]

First thing I would do is leave my fishing stuff home and just paddle the yak. You need to get used to how it handles. It will also give you an idea on how to rig it up. If you want to get out now, I would launch in the Manasquan river on nice days. Gull island is an easy put in.

The rest is all a matter of preferance.

[waterbug]

For me a mesh bag works well,easy to dunk the fish and keep them fresh(not a big problem at night). For the rod I use a Spinner and a Med. Lite Fast Action rod. Of all the tackel I carry I have caught 90% of my fish on a 1/2oz. jig with plastic of your choice.

[FarrellX]

cobol, i will be practicing, as i stated in my original post where i said getting more in shape and getting used to it. im 2 seconds from the manasquan inlet, so ill probably head to the bay beach, AKA dog beach, etc and launch from there.

[akozols]

As some probably saw, i just got my first kayak for fishing. i surf all winter, so i have the cold water stuff, so im gunna start heading out whenever i can to get myself in some more shape and get used to it and what not. just got some dumb questions maybe you guys can help with...

obviously smaller fish can go in a bucket, small cooler, or stringer or something...but for you guys that have cought something pretty big...do you kill it then just plop it up on the yak? string it off the back? i know it can be done however i want, just curious

I have a cooler bag that's pretty big that fits into the front hatch. I usually leave the fish under my legs and paddle the closest land to put the fish in the bag and in the hatch. I've never caught anything big yet on the yak, but if it was too big to fit into the bag, I'd probably paddle back to the van and put the catch in my cooler.

spinning or conventional? what does everyone prefer? i already have some rods picked out i plan to use...already planned ahead for fluke as well, but what do you guys think is easier to use on a kayak? do you go with the lightest gear possible?

I've used both. During the days when I'm drifting for fluke, I use a baitcasting outfit on a medium/light rod. At night when I'm casting jigs around the bridges, I use a medium spinning outfit.

other the lures and tackle, what might some of you guys bring on the yak? my tackle boxes are FULL of stuff, but im gunna be bringing as little as possible on the kayak. im thinking just necessary lures and rigs, pair of needle nose pliers, and a decent knife. is there anything specific you like to have on the kayak?

When I first started, I carried my whole tackle bag with me and put it in the back compartment. It was a real hassle just to pull out what I needed. Now I anticipate what I'm going to need for the trip and put it all into a 3700 Plano box. It's quick and easy to get to.

how far out do you go? wherever the fish are? draw the line at about a mile out? stay in close? i have a buddy that would go out in a group of 5 kayaks or so up to a mile out...but i dont think id want to do that alone.

I've yet to do the surf yet. I usually launch at a spot next to a lit bridge and hang around there. This year I ventured away from the lights of the bridge and cruised around the sods where it was totally dark. It's suprising how much you can see after the night vision kicks in.

thats all for now..i appreciate the help, thanks in advance. im sure ill think of more questions

Keep em coming.

[FarrellX]

thanks. soon as this COLD front passes, ill be getting out on it to practice. fluke arent much of a concern yet cause their a ways away. first fish will be spring stripers. i just wanna get as much info and be as prepared as possible before then. i don't want to get in over my head. anyone head out of manasquan area to fish on their yak? if you wouldn't mind me joining...i could use some tips out in the water.

[Cobol dude]

I'd send Barrell an email about wetsuits and yaks. Seems I remember hearing that they are really effective while in the water but not so warm when out of it??? Not positive but you might want to make sure. Most guys use breathable waders/dry top or a drysuit.

[FarrellX]

it depends on air temp and wind and stuff about the wetsuit. ive been surfing since i was a kid, and through out the dead of winter for the past 6-7 years, so i think ill be ok. i planned on wearing light, but wind resistant clothes on top of it to help with the wind and what not. im not planing to dump myself off, of course no one ever does though, but i think just paddling around ill be ok. 5/4/3 hooded wetsuit, 5 mil hardsole boots, and 7 mil lobster claw gloves should keep me plenty warm.

if it doesnt work out though, i do have my surf stuff... neoprene waders and stuff that i guess i could use.

i appreciate the concern, any tips/opinions are appreciated. thanks

[445 supermag]

Farrellx,

I got my Hobie Outback last year from Barrell and I just love it. When I took my test ride with Barrel he gave me some hints and tips.

1. Keep things simple
a, you really only need a few rigs such as some soft plastics, jig heads of different weights, dependant on current and depth and a couple of lures.

2. I got from Barrel a mesh bag for fish that can easily handle a 20 lb striper. I would love to test that :o. I can be tied off to a side cleat for easy access.

3. Another great tip I get from someone here was to always have a rod in a holder so when you are going from one place to another you can troll. He stated that he caught just as many fish doing this as he did fishing the places he was going to. I plan on doing more of this, this year.

4. I like spinning outfits for the yack. All my outfits are light tackle as I enjoy it more than bringing out heavier stuff.

5. As far as to going out far I have not done it yet out on the ocean but I would like to try this year. But not without some other yackers though.
The nice thing about the yack is that you can usually drive very close to where you are going to fish so you don't have to go miles UNLESS you want to. I usually go find a bridge and I can find a launching spot pretty close to it.

Well just so ramblings

Best of luck and oh what kind of yac you get?

Brian

[FarrellX]

thanks

its a riot kayak. not 100% sure of the model. i posted another thread about it on here.

i dont really PLAN to go far out, especially not in the beginning, and especially not alone...but the time may come for it, that's why i asked. i know a friend of a friend of mine goes out in a group of 3 or 4 about a mile out for stripers. i gotta get in contact with him about it

i think i decided to get a water proof tackle bag that will fit in my little front storage area for any rigs i want to bring. ill tether pliers and a lip grip to my pfd or something. speaking of which, i need to get a lip grip...would you belive i have never owned or used one? and ive been fishing since before i could remember. on a kayak though, i feel thats a much safer approach to handling fish with any type of teeth. especially after reading the tandem yak bluefish story a few pages back :eek:


i need to head to lowes or home depot today for some bolts for my jeep...i think im gunna pick up some SS clips to make some rod tethers and a paddle leash.

[445 supermag]

funny you stated about a lip gripper. I have never owned one either till I got my Yac. Well I got one and the first fish I caught off my yac was a
1 lb bluefish but I just had to try it and did. Was kind of funny looking but I tried it out. :D Cracked me up using it for that tiny fish. Made my day.

Looking at trying it out for a much bigger fish. Come on april.

Oh the fly rod WILL be broken in too. can't wait. I used it in florida when I live there on Cobia and stuff but not used it up here. Now that I have a yac I will put it to good use. Oh When I got some keeper stripers most of what was in his belly was shrimp. I should be able to find a good shrimp fly for sure

Brian

[FarrellX]

yea i cant wait to use my fly rod. ive used it like once in the few years ive had it. but i tied TONS of flies..including a nice shrimp fly that bob popovics showed me when i was like 14 and a member of atlantic saltwater fly rodders.

and i too, would use the lip grip for a 1 pound fish just to use it..haha

[barrell]

it depends on air temp and wind and stuff about the wetsuit. ive been surfing since i was a kid, and through out the dead of winter for the past 6-7 years, so i think ill be ok. i planned on wearing light, but wind resistant clothes on top of it to help with the wind and what not. im not planing to dump myself off, of course no one ever does though, but i think just paddling around ill be ok. 5/4/3 hooded wetsuit, 5 mil hardsole boots, and 7 mil lobster claw gloves should keep me plenty warm.

if it doesnt work out though, i do have my surf stuff... neoprene waders and stuff that i guess i could use.

i appreciate the concern, any tips/opinions are appreciated. thanks
You wont be able to paddle with the lobster claws. Unlike surfing you need to keep your hands tightly gripped around the paddle shaft. This would be dificult if not impossible with lobster claws and even with 5 or 7 mm five finger gloves. A brand new pair of Oneil 3mm smoothskins 5 fingers might be abetter choice. I dont go out through breaking waves in cold water so I wear a pair of Cabelas flexible gor-tex thinsulate hunting gloves in the springtime. They are waterproof, easy to grip the paddle and give you better dexterity then wetsuit gloves as long as you dont dip your hands below the wrists. Suprisingly play-tex dishwashing gloves are pretty nice in cool weather.

[FarrellX]

i have 3 mil gloves as well. i guess they would be good enough in cold water if i fell in, came right out, then headed in to land. its hard to do anything with the 7 mil claws. they have a pretty grippy material on the palms/fingers so i thought they would be ok...but i probably couldnt even begin to paddle with em...never thought about that really.