Thursday, 02 September 2010
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Getting Started with Kayak Fishing
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Getting started in the sport of kayak fishing can seem overwhelming at first.  There are so many kayaks, websites and so much information it’s hard to know where to begin. I got started a decade ago and when we began it was just the opposite.  There wasn’t much information available.
 
Basically we had one website and two southern California based forums.  The one website had forums that divided the country into regional forums and I met several people through the Northeast one. Articles were extremely rare and basically we read all the forums so we could extract the nuggets of information that we needed.  Finding gear, ascertaining equipment and such seemed like one needed to develop the skills of a detective as info wasn’t readily available.  The article that started me on my journey was written by a gentleman who used a SIK (sit inside kayak) to launch through the surf and fish the ocean even though then as now SOTs (sit on top) kayaks dominate the sport.  That’s how challenging the sport was in gathering useful info.

A wide array of kayaks can be seen here at the 6th J-Bay Tournament

 
Now a decade later the opposite is true, there’s a wealth of information.  A search on the Internet will turn up dozens upon dozens of websites, a bunch of books, a couple magazines, magazine articles in most fishing publications and an almost overwhelming amount of info.  Just this site alone has much more info in one place then was available everywhere when we got started.  So this article is to help you get started by pointing you to the things we feel will be most beneficial to you.  Just hit the link and it’ll direct you to the appropriate article.

I’ve organized the appropriate links to articles and other resources on the site to better help you get started in the sport and navigating about the site.  The first thing you’re going to need to become a kayak fisherman is a kayak. In the following article many things are discussed in making a choice that the novice wouldn’t normally think about or even consider.  However they are things you’ll learn once you enter the sport.

  • Learn what you need to know to choose a fishing kayak. Choosing a Fishing Kayak
  • Next you’ll need to pick a model.  We’ve got descriptions of all of the most popular models being used for fishing.  So check out our Kayak Guide
  • You’re going to need more to fish from a kayak then the vessel itself.  There’s a lot of gear associated with the sport and the following articles will help you understand the gear and narrow down your choices to what best suits you in the beginning.  Gear Guide
  • Gear choices can seem overwhelming and put a significant dent in the wallet.  Check out this article on how to get everything you need to get started without taking out a second mortgage. Kayak Fishing on a Budget 
  • Should you have any questions on making a choice we have a forum dedicated to this. Kayak Fishing Forums
  • If there is a kayak fishing club in your area its one of the best resources for local information, fishing buddies, outings, etc. Kayak Fishing Clubs
  • If there aren’t any clubs in your area there are probably other kayak fishermen.  Our member map will show registered members in your area.  Kayak fishermen tend to be a friendly group and many are more than willing to fish with someone new and show them the ropes. Member Map
  • Going fishing for the first time from a kayak with a guide is a terrific way to get an accelerated education about the sport.  Guides have all the necessary gear to fish an area including the kayak.  You’ll not only catch fish but you’ll learn a lot about fishing in the area.  On our resources map we have guides, launch points and shops that specialize in kayak fishing. Resources Map 
  • Last if there is a major event like a tournament within a reasonable distance you might wish to attend. For instance the J-Bay Tournament held each May encompasses a few days and the opportunity to meet a lot of kayak fishermen and accelerate your learning curve is terrific. Tournament Calendar 
  • One of the best ways to stay informed about the sport of kayak fishing is to subscribe to our FREE online magazine. Sign up for Kayak Fishing Magazine
 
To reiterate should you have any questions after reviewing the above articles just jump over to the forums and post a question.  We’ll be happy to answer your questions.
 





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