Tackle Cove Guide Column
By Capt. CD Dollar
Getting Starting Kayak Fishing
Over the past decade, kayak fishing has been one of the fastest growing segments of saltwater fishing. I’d wager you’ve seen a yak fisherman plugging the Choptank River shoreline, casting to breaking bluefish in Eastern Bay or even working the Bay Bridge pilings for rock or perch. Kayak fishing has exploded, and with good reason. It offers an exciting challenge while saving you the pain of the gas pump. Also, fishing from a kayak allows you to reach beautifully secluded waters even some flats skiffs can’t get to.
It’s pretty amazing the kayak choices anglers have today; especially impressive is the speed at which the industry has moved to meet the growing demands of yak anglers nationwide, adding many fishing features as standard equipment. Relative to the makeshift yaks we fished from years ago, manufacturers have taken ideas from innovative anglers to create stellar fishing platforms.
Finding the “perfect” kayak, however, is a tall order, so let’s get something straight: it doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a 60-foot custom Carolina-built battle wagon or a 15-foot kayak, all boats are compromises. Anyone who tells you that “this yak does it all” is, in my humble opinion, full of bunk(er). No such animal exists, though several modern kayaks come pretty darn close. Your best bet is to pick the boat that’s best suits your body type and style of fishing.
Picking A Boat
Sit-In vs. Sit-on-Top
There are two basic kayak models: sit-in boats, in which the paddler sits in a cockpit (SIT); and the sit-on-top (SOT) yaks that feature an open cockpit with scuppers to allow the water to drain. The latter boats are generally favored by yak fishermen because they’re much easier fish from, get out of, and move around in. Many yak anglers anchor up or drift fish, so when fighting fish they need to have space to operate. Also, SOT generally have more flat deck area on which to mount accessories (electronics, rod holders, ect.).
A relatively new kind of kayak features “peddle power.” For example, the Hobie series of angling kayaks give fishermen another choice of propulsion in addition to the standard paddle. Twin fins carve the water, you steer via a hand control, thus giving you hands operation. You still need a paddle, of course, for reverse operations and tricky turns such you’d find in marsh guts. A paddle is also a required backup should the peddle mechanism break.
Another aspect of picking a proper kayak is determining your body shape – height, weight, and wingspan. This is often overlooked but plays a pivotal role in choosing the best boat for you. You need a boat that has the weight capacity to carry you and your gear.
I’m 5’6 on my best day but broad shouldered. I like to sit up close to the top of the gunwale of my yak. Long and lanky paddlers might want a boat with a deeper cockpit than I prefer but the only way to really tell is to actually paddle a boat. Just because your “dream yak” has eight rod holders, rigged with a sweet electronics package and comes with an insulated bait well doesn’t make it the right kayak for you.
Tandem kayaks might be a good choice if you have young children or you and your significant other get along well. And I’m talkin’ really well. However, if you all have issues deciding on the color of the living room or scrap over simple driving directions, do yourself a big favor and buy separate yaks.
And perhaps most importantly, you must make safety paramount when picking a new yak, especially if you plan to fish when water temperatures are chilly or down right cold. A sit-in boat is much harder to right and re-enter should you capsize. That said, all beginning yakkers should take a kayak safety course from a certified American Canoe Association (ACA) instructor. (CD Dollar is certified by the ASA to teach safety courses.)
What Waters Will You Fish?
Before you plunk down serious cash on a new yak, first determine which waters you’ll fish the most ¬ tidal creeks and rivers? Coastal bays or freshwater lakes? If you plan to spend a lot of time casting in shallow water (Susky Flats or in the grass beds of Tangier Sound, for example) a longer boat (13-16 feet) is a good choice.
But if you need a nimbler boat to negotiate the narrow reaches of the upper tributaries (Pocomoke or Chester River for example) then consider a shorter boat in the 9-12 foot range.
Speed or Maneuverability?
Sure, it’d be great to have these two features in equal parts. In a parallel universe I’d also like to be Warren Buffet rich and an Olympic champion, but that wasn’t in the cards. The rule of thumb is the longer and narrower the boat the faster it usually is through the water. Less hull surface area carving though the water equates to less friction, and greater speed.
It’s also a fact that longer boats are typically less responsive, especially when trying to make tight turns quickly. Also keep in mind that the more narrow the boat the more tender – and less stable – it is. And some kayaks have hard chines to reduce frictional drag and deflect spray.
The predominate factor that makes one kayak more stable that another is the hull width. When I first began fishing from a kayak more than ten years ago, I paddled a tandem sit-in. It was a very stable boat, stowed a lot of gear and was a breeze to customize with angler friendly tweaks. I also hunted out it as it was large enough to handle decoys and my Chesapeake Bay retriever. But it was heavy and sluggish, and despite its versatility couldn’t hold a candle to today’s fishing yak.
In terms of fishability, today’s kayaks are hard to beat, offering numerous standard features to make your fishing easier. Most boats are easy to add the custom touches every kayak angler loves to make. Luckily, your choices are numerous and each season new models are introduced. The hardest part might be picking a color.
In upcoming articles I’ll address other aspects of kayak fishing, such as rod choice, installing accessories, storage and hatches. Also look for information on techniques like anchoring and fighting fish, as well as hotspots.
Chesapeake native Capt. C. D. Dollar owns and operates CD Outdoors, which specializes in light tackle, fly and kayak fishing. He also provides kayak instruction and nature tours. C.D. has more than 15 years experience as an outdoor professional and is certified by the American Canoe Association, in First-Aid, holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master’s License and is active in numerous conservation organizations. His passion for fishing is only matched by his passion to share his knowledge of the natural world with anglers of all skill levels. Contact him by email or call 410.991.8468.