Getting started - buying your first 'yak (Part 1)

 

Today's kayak fisher is spoilt for choice when it comes to makes and models available

Kayak Fishing is experiencing an astounding growth in popularity. It is now the fastest growing water sport in New Zealand and certainly it’s making fishing far more accessible to Kiwis. Just think. Your initial outlay for a basic kayak for fishing starts around eight hundred dollars. With the essential equipment, buoyancy aid and paddle this could be an investment of well under one thousand dollars compared to the dollars required to purchase a boat. Once you have your kayak and basic gear your ongoing costs effectively end there. No fuel costs, no huge maintenance costs apart from fresh water and a sponge. No mooring fees, no trailer maintenance, warrant or registration, no boat ramp fees, this potential list of savings goes on. Then of course for all of us who lack time the availability of water access is the greatest asset. Any beach, river edge or lake side will do. Avoid the queue at the boat ramp or marina and pick a spot, any spot. Is there any wonder Kayak Fishing is so popular.

There are a number of really important questions you need to ask when getting yourself set up for kayak fishing and some fundamental traps to try and avoid. Here’s some advice that’s based on the questions asked everyday in our store and from our personal experience from many years in both the sports of kayaking and fishing.

The first fundamental is: go to a kayak specialist. Specialist does not mean expensive, it stands for knowledge, experience and selection. The same applies when you’re purchasing a vehicle for example, you look at many makes and models, you talk with a car sales department who will be able to answer your questions about performance, handling, efficiency etcetera and you test drive your potential purchase.

There are many good brands and styles of kayaks suitable for fishing on the market ranging from around eight hundred dollars up to two and a half thousand or more. All of these kayaks have different features and benefits, so checking them all out, and getting one to match your requirements is important. There are many questions you’ll want to ask about the kayaks performance and comfort. You’ll want to ask about how to paddle and what other equipment, experience you may require. A kayak specialist will be able to answer all of these questions with confidence that comes from personal experience and years in the kayaking sport. A kayak specialist will also encourage you to test drive a selection and will offer you kayaking instruction and safety knowledge.

What are you realistic intentions when it comes to kayak fishing? Ask yourself, how much time will I spend each week on the water fishing? How far do I think I’ll paddle on my fishing trip? Do I have family where my kayak needs to be multipurpose? What are my confidence levels? Is stability my primary concern? If the answer is I want to get out every weekend and I intend to head out to deep ocean, probably a 10k trip each way, my kayak will only be used by me for serious fishing and I’ll be targeting different fish so I’ll be carrying a number of rods and equipment suitable to open water fishing. Then we would suggest you need a longer, faster kayak, with a rudder, higher load capacity and good storage.

If the answer is, I hope I’ll get out after work every so often and maybe half a day on the odd weekend, but I ‘m happy to just paddle a wee way off shore, out by the rocky point or the local mussel farm. Then probably a smaller kayak would be best suited. Lighter weight for lifting and carrying on shorter trips, a rudder would be an unlikely necessity and potentially less gear would be carried so rather than purchasing a more expensive model built for speed and distance you could look at a shorter, more stable and more maneuverable design.

Body size. What weight am I? How tall am I? How strong am I? We are not being rude when we ask how much you weigh. All kayaks have a recommended load capacity. It’s no good purchasing a kayak with a load capacity of ninety kilo if your weight is eighty to ninety. Do the math. You’ll be carrying, rods, knives, bait, anchor, chain and rope and hopefully the weight of your catch. Estimate your combined gear weight with your personal weight and the weight of the fish and that’s where you need to start. If you are tall then don’t just consider longer kayaks. Make sure you sit in a good range of designs. The key to height is that the taller the trunk of your body, the higher the gravitational pull so a wide and stable boat may actually be the best option. Strength and fitness are also considerations, there’s no denying you’ll get fitter as you paddle more so that’s a definite positive, however strength will be a factor when it comes to loading your kayak onto your roof rack, carrying it to the beach or paddling any distance with a lot of equipment so being realistic about your strength is advisable. If it becomes too much of a burden to get the kayak onto the car then the likelihood is you’ll flag going out and that would be a shame. It is possible to get a kayak that handles well, suits your intentions and fits your capabilities so visit a store with a large selection and good knowledge so that you can be matched to the most suitable model. We will also advise you on lifting and loading technique and offer a range of trolleys suitable for wheeling your kayak to the water edge.

Storage and accessibility. Everything about purchasing a kayak for fishing comes back to your fishing intentions and your comfort. If you’ve never fished before then we can help you by advising on the key things you’ll need to carry and have close at hand in order to enjoy your fishing trip. If you are already experienced with fishing you’ll have some firm ideas about what you want close at hand and what you can store further away. You need to be able to reach your storage areas easily and safely so feeling stable on your kayak when moving about is important. The most useful features when assessing the design of different kayaks are; a small hatch just in front of the seat for items you want readily available, such as emergency communication i.e. mobile phone, VHF, flares. First aid kit, sunscreen, snacks, knife etcetera. Rod storage, rods are best stored whilst paddling too and from your spot, in flush mounted holders either side rear of your seat. A rear tank well with straps or cord to secure any gear you are carrying. A Running Rig for your anchor. A large second hatch to store less used and secondary gear, such as warm clothes, food, emergency repair kit, water. Paddle storage. The best option is to have paddle clips fitted at the point of purchase, paddle clips fold out from the side of the kayak for you to lock your paddle in whilst fishing. These hold your paddle rigid along the kayak ready to grab as needed but sitting firmly when stowed.

A small hatch in front of your feet is useful for storing essential items.	An adjustable seat enables people of various size and height to paddle in comfort.

Some of the obvious pitfalls to try and avoid with design are hatch openings that are too small. It might look great to have three or four hatches along the boat but are they all useful? On a four metre and upwards kayak consider how far forward from your seat you need to reach, make sure that you can slide forward to the front hatch without impaling yourself on your deck mounted Scotty or your fish finder. Once at the forward hatch, is it easy to open? How big is the opening? Most forward deck areas are large so it makes sense to have a large opening. A small round hatch really defeats the purpose. Can you reach all the way into the storage area from the hatch opening without becoming unstable? Can you easily store larger items and easily remove larger items? Another consideration is the size of the tank well area. How deep is it? If it’s shallow then gear can be easily washed away with a rogue wave or wake, is there enough room to carry your anchor, chain and rope as well as other gear? Is it suitable to cover with an insulated cover or install an insulated bag for your catch? Is your kayak stable enough for you to comfortable reach around to your tank well area?

Additional features to look for or have added are things like deck bungee’s and eyelets. These are great for stowing extra bits under or securing things too. The seat is often optional but may be pivotal in your comfort. The best seats are adjustable, they should have a high back for good support, and they should be able to be tensioned up to mold to your most comfortable position, strong enough to hold you in that position and easily folded down or removed when transporting your kayak on the car. Rudders are features that a lot of people think they need, but they do bump the cost of your kayak up considerably. Again consider your intentions. If you are not heading off to open water for a ten kilometer trip then there’s every possibility the rudder would be surplus. Deck mounted rod holders are nice but again, consider your intentions. If you’re only heading out for a couple of hours to catch dinner then the likelihood is you’ll use one rod at a time and you’ll be holding it. If you are going to be sitting for a long time and would like your rod just in front of you then a central rod holder is ideal, but invest in either a flush mounted one or a removable one. Remember if you need to move forward to your front hatch you want to do so without painful obstacles. Finally Fish Finders – again consider your intentions, consider your movements on the kayak and consider transportation. Great fun though.

Clothing is also important for the all round comfort of kayak fishing. Because you sit on top of your kayak exposed to the elements it’s sensible to consider what you choose to wear. Liberal use of sunscreen is advisable and cover up. In summer it’s tempting to virtually strip off but the sun and water reflection can do some serious harm so wearing a light weight UV protect top is a good option. Neoprene shorts are also far more comfortable than board shorts and swim shorts. They don’t soak up the water, they dry quickly and they are slightly padded for sitting. The great thing is the kayak fishing doesn’t have to stop in winter. Clothing has developed a long way so it’s no longer necessary to wear a restricting full length wet suit to keep warm. You can purchase long paddle pants and tops that are fleecy lined or made from neoprene coated with an insulation surface. These are of lighter weight and allow more movement whilst still keeping you cosy and dry. Paddle jackets are also a great investment, wind proof, water proof and machine washable. Great.

Safety Safety Safety. Call me a killjoy but seriously, this must be a priority consideration. You don’t drive without a licence, or safety features such as seatbelts, headlights, and brakes so why kayak without similar responsibility? Learn some skills, learn about getting back on your kayak if you come off, and learn about how to brace if a wave hits you or the wake from a passing ferry. Learn how to paddle efficiently so that exhaustion doesn’t put you in danger. You’d be surprised how much more fun the fishing is if you are confident in your kayaking technique and your safety skills. Granted the traditional fishing kayak is a sit on top stable vessel but when you think about it what are the most likely reasons for you to fall off? Adverse weather, exhaustion, boat wakes. In all of these situations you will be attempting to get back on your kayak in less than ideal conditions and with the added challenge of rods, knives, hooks and other potentially uncomfortable obstacles. Knowing what to do could save you. An approved Buoyancy Aid is not really negotiable and in a kayak specialist store there is a large selection of kayak specific Buoyancy Aids to choose from. We will ensure it’s fitted properly and that you are comfortable. Do not use a boat life jacket when kayaking. The padded support behind the neck will force you into poor paddling position and you could end up with strains and injuries. Visibility is a sensible safety precaution and is a personal responsibility. The best way to achieve this when kayaking and particularly when kayak fishing as you may not be in a large group, is to wear brightly coloured clothing and buoyancy aid and ensure the highest point is most visible so a hi-vis hat is a great start. Better still get the kayak fitted with a flag. We do this easily enough by fitting a flat screw base to the stern of your kayak and then you screw on your flag when heading out and remove it for transportation. If you are intending to paddle at dusk, dawn or night then invest in the flag and light combination. Communication. Maritime law requires you to carry at least two forms of emergency communication. These could be any combination of mobile phone, VHF, EPIRB, GPS Tracker, Flares. Store these in a suitable dry bag close to hand. Join a club; it’s never wise to kayak alone so join a club so that you have a network of people to go out with. This is also a great way to learn more or to pass on your knowledge.

I certainly don’t profess to be an experienced fisherman but I do enjoy going out with my partner or our club whenever I can. My strength is that I do have well over twenty years of kayaking experience and truly believe that getting the right kayak for you, the right paddle length, the right buoyancy aid etcetera and some lessons in kayaking will make the fishing so much more enjoyable. It’s really worth considering all of this and no doubt more that I haven’t touched on in order to get the most value for your investment in your sport.

Consider what obstacles (such as the sounder) may be between you and the front hatch	Most forward deck areas are large, so it makes sense to have a large, easily opened hatch.
A good sized entry to the bow storage.	There are many different models of kayak with a variety of designs and features. Think carefully about what you need.
Additional features to look for or add include deck bungees and eyelets	A kayak behind a swell is hard for boaties to see, so a chopper flag makes a lot of sense.