Kayak fishing

[PeteyHD]

Thanks a ton Dave, Gerry, and Jon! I have been fishing since I was 4 so it's been 20 years now and this will be my first fishing season kayak fishing both local lakes and bays so I can definately appreciate the advice on safety. My revo is papaya yellow and I will always be wearing my pfd and vhf. I would definitely be interested in fishing with you guys if you will be doing any group events just let me know. Any advice and experience is much appreciated.

[JonDevin]

I forgot maybe the 2nd most important thing next to the PFD. When the whether permits, get out there without any of your fishing gear and practice a self rescue. Paddle out a bit and then purposely flip it and make sure you know how to get back in it so you are prepared if and when the real thing happens. For example, I know that my PFD is too bulky for me to be able to get into my kayak without unzipping it first.

By the way, I also have a yellow Revo 13. Great fishing machine!

[howarda780]

Jon, Rayman, Sean - Clam Strings, Brian McCutcheon and I regularly fish through the surf. I feel the thing that sometimes we even forget about is taking safety for granted.

Wear your PFD BUT, try to go with a buddy. You never know what may happen. If someone is with you and you get into a pickle, its great to have someone with you.

Wear PFD
Buddy system
Radio

[PeteyHD]

Great advice. I am currently setting up my kayak and safety/first aid equipment since I am not doing much fishing and already caught a ton of biscuits this winter on the voyager. Trying to make the time go by because I'm itching to get out on the water. I think I'm going to start out in the fresh to get used to the yak bassing and self rescue then work my way to the bays for fluke and hopefully surf to get on some blitz blues and bass later on as I progress.

[torchee]

All good advice above - especially respect the cold water. It takes 20 minutes to get in and out of drysuit/ dry gear but it is only way to survive the cold water.


The water in the bays will be dangerous right through april - even though you may want to really get out.


Also - avoid high traffic areas - manasquan inlet, shark river inlet and barnegat light.

I'd say forget about about them all together - it's not worth being run over.
You'll find that there a few guys who have boats but don't respect the no wake zones.

[torchee]

We should have an njfishing yak mini-tourney one day.

Maybe Raritan Bay fluke in June. I love to take belford channel all the way out to the end of Earl and back on a calm day.

[PeteyHD]

Originally Posted by torchee

We should have an njfishing yak mini-tourney one day.

Maybe Raritan Bay fluke in June. I love to take belford channel all the way out to the end of Earl and back on a calm day.

I am in! Bucktailing all day!