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It's not a Canoe, It's not a Kayak, It's a NuCanoe
Kayak Fishing - Getting Started
BY Capt. Jason Sine
Bumbling Boatsman, you deserve kudos on the positive end to your kayak fishing experiment. We see lots of speckled trout here in the Everglades, but rarely do they get that large. Most Everglades kayak fishermen have one thing in mind... snook... big snook. Some even go as far as to call redfish and trout "by catch."
When chasing these ambush monsters in the mangrove jungles around here, one has to be pretty much in-tune with their equipment, rigging and fish landing techniques. If not, a "spanking" by a lost fish could be the least of your concerns. Things have a habit of going south quickly on the water. Knowledge of your gear, the area and presiding weather conditions can be your saving grace.
Kayak Selection
Let's start with the basics - selecting a kayak. First and foremost, you need to answer a very simple question before going to your local kayak shop and swiping the card. Ask yourself, "Where do I plan to fish in my kayak?" The flats and inland bays, open water with wind and current, or backwater creeks and tunnels? This first question is crucial to get you into the kayak that works best for you.
There are many boat styles out there and each one has its pros and cons. The kayak you select will depend on many things. But, where you plan to fish is one of the biggest factors. Kayakers fishing Gulf and Atlantic coastal waters favor the sit-on-top style kayaks, so these types will be our focus here.
For inland bay and flats fishing, a comfortable, steady platform is a must. In this zone, a 14 to 15-foot boat seems to be ideal. The flats are the realm of the sight fisherman. Eventually, the flats kayak angler is going to want to see his catch and transition to an upright stance. In order for this to take place, a boat must be wide enough to support a shoulder's width stance. This specification will allow the angler to stand comfortably for long periods of time. With the proper kayak and a bit of practice, you will soon be landing and releasing smaller fish easily while standing in your kayak.
Most seasoned Florida kayak fishermen "swear by" the Heritage Redfish series. It is 31-inches wide, with a strong, flat-bottom, plenty of storage space and comes with a very comfortable, high, back seat. This is the perfect combination when making the transition to pole and sight fish from a kayak.
Staying Dry
It is impossible to keep all water out of the cockpit of a kayak. However, some do a much better job than others. The Redfish kayaks are self-bailing and one of the driest fishing kayaks available. The cockpit floor is above the waterline for all but the heaviest anglers. Any water that gets inside simply runs right out. (Those holes in the bottom aren't rod and net holders, Bumbling Boatsman. They're called scupper holes.)
The scuppers serve two purposes. One, they allow water to run out, or in, on some kayaks. Two, they provide structural strength between the top and bottom halves of the kayak. Typically, the scuppers are the seam locations in a two-part boat being assembled at the factory. Regardless of what boat builder you go with, be wary of jamming anything into the scuppers - they are tough to repair and can quickly render a decent boat worthless.
Comfort is Key
There is a new breed of boat out, now, that deserves attention... the Native Watercraft Ultimate series. This series of boats gives the flats fisherman a great option in its craft design. It is a hybrid canoe/kayak with a tunnel hull, and a comfortable, lawnchair-type seat you'll have no problem sitting in for hours on end. The seat even comes out of the boat to serve as an equally comfortable beach chair. The secret is a breathable seat that positions your feet slightly below your bottom, which increases blood flow to your legs. In a traditional sit-on-top, your legs are in line with your hindquarters and tend to get uncomfortable after a while.The tunnel hull also allows for a lower center of gravity, which is the key to standing with ease. We have had many kayak anglers who have never even thought about standing to fish. But, in their first chartered trip, they are fishing with ease while standing up. We use the 16-foot version of this boat for our fly fishermen. The angler stands in the bow while the guide in the rear maneuvers and positions the boat.
Open Water
This brings us to the next zone of kayak fishing; open water. If you are interested in fishing open water, a 14-foot kayak is the minimum. Open water kayakers need to constantly consider some very important issues in their search for fish... wind and current. Together they are a recipe for chop. Chop can be safely fished in a kayak, but that water coming over your gunwales needs to go somewhere, and fast.
Sit-on-tops are still the preferred style, but because of the potential distances traveled, sit-inside models are fairly popular for open water. However, to be safely fished, they must be "skirted" to prevent water from entering the kayak. Once in, water does not leave a sit-in kayak by itself. It has to be physically removed by pumping or sponging.
The Native Watercraft Ultimate again is a good example. Being a hybrid kayak, it has no self-bailing scuppers. Though, this company figured that into the equation. They offer a set of skirts that seals the cockpit from all outside water intrusion.
Tracking
Wind and current also present another issue to work around... tracking. A flat bottom boat will not track nearly as well as one with a pronounced keel. This can be overridden by adding a rudder to your boat. The rudder will either be foot, or hand operated - depending on the boat builder. With this simple device you can steer your boat while paddling. Thus, greatly eliminating the need to perform corrective strokes; like paddling on just one side to compensate for the wind or current. The rudder, for the most part, is a must for drift fishing. While the current moves you along, the rudder is used for positioning the boat to a desired casting angle.Propulsion
The current here in the Everglades can move pretty fast on strong tides in the passes, or even in the open, which brings us to our last option in this fishing zone... propulsion. Traditionally, kayakers and canoeist have used double or single bladed paddles to get around. The times have changed and so have the trends. It looks like peddle drives are the latest and greatest. Peddle drives are operated by your feet and legs, freeing your hands up for fishing.
A couple of companies have addressed this market. Hobie Kayaks has had a drive system out for a while, and held a lion's share of this market, until recently. Their drive system is good for trolling and holding position in a strong flow, but it only allows you to go forward.
Native Watercraft has addressed this issue by producing a bicycle sprocket and propeller drive system, which peddles in forward and reverse. We have found this to be a tremendous feature for pulling lunkers out from under the mangroves or putting the brakes on an "Everglades Sleigh Ride." Both systems require about 18-inches of water to operate and will hinder you in the shallowest fisheries, unless the drive is retracted.
The Short Advantage
Another zone for the kayak fisherman and particularly popular here in the Everglades is - the backwater creeks and confined, tree-lined waterways. Here, the mangrove creeks interconnect remote, brackish water lakes. The dense mangroves cover the creeks entirely in a canopy of vegetation. These "tunnels" can be excellent fishing for snook and small tarpon. But, you have to have a kayak, canoe or helicopter to get at them
This zone calls for a very short and maneuverable boat. One offering the ability to stand up and sight fish is also an advantage. Short is the major requirement here. There is nothing worse than getting a mile into a tunnel, and realizing a 16-foot boat will not turn around in a10-foot space. Paddling out backwards, that far, is just not going to happen.
Ideally, most creekers like a boat in the 10 to 12-foot range. These boats can turn on a dime and easily be lifted and turned around in a tight spot, should the need arise. Creeks give you the option to select either a sit-on-top, or a sit-inside, because they are usually protected from the wind.
The fishing kayak is really about several important things. Economical fishing, access to areas unreachable by other means, and lastly, it is simply a different platform to enjoy what we all love to do.
One old-timer here has been fishing these creeks for over 50 years in what looks like the very first 12-foot canoe ever made. He's also an avid fly fisherman, which is why his preferred paddle-craft is a canoe. However, in the big picture of things, fish do not care what you are in, so borrow your neighbor's kayak - the one sitting in the back yard covered in mildew - and get out on the water!
Future articles will focus more on rigging, techniques and boat types for fly, bait, and artificial styles of fishing. Until then, we will probably be paddling and fishing. Tight lines and good times.
Website by Pat Weston
St. Louis MO