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Kayak Fishing

One of the fastest growing areas of fishing throughout the world is fishing from kayaks. Although it maybe appears to be a relatively new form of fishing it is, in fact, one of the oldest methods of targeting fish on the planet. The dug out canoe is the forefather of these ultra high tech vessels that allow the angler to quietly explore areas that even some boats cannot reach. Many are manufactured using Super Linear Polyethylene. This is very light, abrasive resistant and recyclable. They also differ as you sit on top rather than in the normal kayak seating position where you are inside the hull with a gaiter around your waist. The sit on top position allows the angler to move around and be able to play and land fish with ease. The design makes the kayaks so stable that some anglers sit side saddle when fishing calm waters and if you do capsize it is just a matter of jumping over the centre of the kayak and twisting around to slide back in the seat. The kayaks are unsinkable and weigh around 25 kilograms with a load carrying capacity of up to 270 kilograms so all the tackle you need can be carried safely.

The kayaks come fitted with flush mount rod holders and large holds for tackle storage. Accessories such as fish finder, GPS, compasses and  two way radio’s can all be fitted and make the fishing experience similar to fishing from a boat but without the hassle of mooring fees and expensive running costs. They can be launched from many different locations and after a little practice become very manoeuvrable enabling the angler to drop anchor and enjoy the tranquillity and the surroundings. I have purchased seven kayaks for my business and already enquiries are flooding in from anglers wishing to visit and enjoy fishing in this way. Some are newbies and some are experienced kayak anglers who want to enjoy the fantastic weather and scenery only available from this type of craft. The pleasure derived from paddling out five hundred metres or so to go fishing and enjoy the views, surroundings and wildlife has to be experienced. Recently I have been out for many hours and have had as much pleasure from observing the sea life through the crystal clear waters as actual fishing. The pleasure derived from paddling out five hundred metres or so and enjoying the views and surroundings has to be experienced. Nearly as good as snorkelling. This is something else these kayaks are good for, drop anchor and explore the bays and rock formations that are usually inaccessible. Over the next year I hope to bring you some fantastic reports and photos from the differing perspective of kayak fishing. A licence is required to fish from a boat or kayak as with any other form of fishing. We as a company insist on pre booking for our clients so the licences can be obtained beforehand. My friends from the fishing club in Puerto De Mazarron are viewing my antics with growing excitement and there may even be a kayak sea fishing tournament held this year as part of the clubs activities which would certainly be a first for the area and maybe Spain. The sport is one of the fastest growing areas of fishing in the world and large tournaments are now being held in Australia, Canada, America and Britain. It is so popular that already professionals have evolved with backing from some of the major manufacturers, Ocean Kayaks, Malibu, Rotomod and Wilderness. Apart from the Mediterranean the other obvious place to use the kayaks is on the freshwater reservoirs but a permit is required from the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura in the Murcian Region. If a business such as myself wants to take clients fishing on the reservoirs a proposal has to be submitted and then special permissions have to be granted by the river authority. As a legally registered company we have applied for all this but it may take some time if - granted at all. I will keep you posted because the thought of being able to access some of the near unexplored areas of the reservoirs is tantalizing. Pike comes to mind for starters. As these craft are ecologically friendly then maybe, just maybe, there is a chance of  it coming to fruition.

Fishing Kayaks Explained

The angling kayaks have evolved from the standard sit on top kayak. The sit on top kayak is mainly a pleasure craft and are usually available as one or two seaters enabling families to enjoy the water and be relatively safe in doing so. They were never designed for racing or white water so were usually wider in design from the race kayaks we are all familiar with. The race kayak is narrower and built to cut through the water when being paddled at speed. You are also sat in the hull and the water is prevented from entering by means of a gator around your waist which seals you to the kayak. This is when danger can occur if you capsize and the roll over has to be practised to right yourself and the kayak. The sit on tops were quickly used by anglers, realising the potential of being able to explore places even a small boat could not reach. There was also the fact that an angler could travel waters with the minimum disturbance so as not to frighten the fish away. Inshore trolling is also something that the kayaks are perfect for, the paddling speed is just right to troll lures behind the craft and tempt those predator fish. Trolling is when lines, usually with artificial lures, are pulled behind a fishing vessel at slow speed to attract fish to lunge at what appears, mostly, to be an injured fish weaving through the water near the surface. The manufacturers quickly took on board, so to speak, these ideas that angling enthusiasts were coming along with and the first purpose built kayaks started to appear on the market. The boat fishing accessory companies also soon switched onto what has become a big market producing specially made rod holders, GPS and two way radio mounts plus battery mounts, compasses and light anchor in fact everything you would find on a boat has been adapted for a kayak. The kayaks I use have been chosen for several special qualities. The Malibu Company based in Paramount, California was formed in 1999 by Sean Caples a keen windsurfer and kayaker with over 20 years experience in the watersports business. Malibu Kayaks are now the leading manufacturer of roto moulded, linear polyethylene sit on top kayaks. The Malibu X Factor is, out of the seven kayaks in the range, the most suited to my needs. At fourteen feet four inches long and thirty three inches wide it is very stable. Weighing sixty five pounds and carrying a maximum load of six hundred pounds it is perfect for fishing the Mediterranean shores being adaptable to many varying size of angler and being more than capable of carrying all the equipment used for differing fishing methods. It is also one of the driest rides, as the seating position is higher than most kayaks. You are not sat in a puddle, which on a long fishing trip is important when cooler weather is with us. It has four flush mounted rod holders, a flat area behind the seat to carry a crate or bucket of equipment and a massive gator hatch at the bow to store items in the hull. This is the without doubt one of the most spacious kayaks available and will lend itself to all forms of fishing. Fly fishing is something I want to pursue from the craft and it is important to have a stable platform to practice this from. My own personal kayak will carry such items as a tow rope, spare paddle and flares. It will also be equipped with fish finder, GPS and two way radio to shore. This will ensure my clients are covered for any eventuality. Losing a paddle for instance can be a major problem when out on your own, even though all mine are attached, as are all the fishing rods, by leashes in case they are dropped in the water. Everyone of course will be supplied with a life jacket to wear at all times out on the water. Fishing in groups is far safer and having all the proper equipment is vital especially at sea. It has been a pleasure over the past days just paddling about observing the marine life just off shore in flat calm waters, a whole new world only a few metres from land. Obviously the aid of global positioning satellite information is invaluable. Knowing water depth, shelves, wrecks and under water rock formation enlightens the fishing experience from a kayak. The Tango Pesca is the other kayak I have chosen and at around three feet shorter than the X Factor it is better suited to freshwater activities. Again it is very wide at thirty one inches and very stable. It will be a little more manoeuvrable in a tight corner. I am still waiting to see if permissions will be granted to explore the Murcian freshwater delights so have been using the French built Tango at sea and it is more than happy with the Mediterranean. A slight hull slap when choppy but apart from that a very capable craft. My purpose built trailer is being prepared and should be ready next week at the very helpful Cofisa trailer company in La Guia just outside Cartagena. Then I can transport all the kayaks together to the shore. As a relatively new way of fishing it is, to me anyway, very exciting to be involved and only yesterday Rui Aguiar from Diverkayaks in Portugal the Malibu dealer I have dealt with e-mailed me a picture of a shark landed by a kayak angler aboard his X Factor. New adventures for anglers and personally I cannot wait to see what it is possible to catch here in the Mediterranean from the yaks! My first overseas clients arrive at the beginning of February and are also very excited at the prospect.

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