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TopKayaker.Net'S Guide To Kayak Fishing
THE DENNIS SPIKE STORY - A pioneer of sit-on-top kayak fishing, Dennis Spike is the founder of the most popular kayak fishing internet resource on the web. KayakFishing.com is now host to five bulliten boards serving thousands of kayak fishing enthusiast accross America: West Coast, East Coast, Gulf Coast, Florida, New England, and Fresh Water. In this article Spike shares his beginnings along with TIPS to help you get started.
The Ease of Kayak Fishing by Dennis Spike
I started
fishing the California inshore in 1964 at the age of 5. I've fished from
the Mexican Border to Santa Cruz since then.
Several years ago, after experimenting with various inflatables and beach
launches, on a hunch, I picked up a cheap, used plastic kayak and paddle.
After packing a small box with tackle, I grabbed a short rod with a Penn
Squidder, and headed for the beach.
That day, 15 minutes after launching, I caught and released a respectable calico bass that hit while I was paddling. Five minutes later, a 20 pound halibut gobbled a brown rubber twin tail that had been dropped at the edge of the kelp.
A light shined from the heavens and suddenly after 25 years of hit-and-miss fishing I realized that every body of water, from coast to coast, was open and available to fish anytime I want to put in.
In the time since I purchased that first kayak, I've caught more bass, trout, barracuda, and bonito, white sea bass, great sea bass, and a menagerie of other fish, rays, and sharks, than I had ever caught fishing on private boats, party boats, and the rest. All on my kayak. Consequently, I'm in better physical shape than when I started.What
impresses me most about fishing from my kayak is the ease of fishing.
From leaving home, until my return, it is the fastest and easiest way
to fish the coast. I pick the day, the time, and the waters to fish. I've
cut out the middleman, (private landings) eliminated the expense, (my
own boat, landing fees, etc.) and get more time actually fishing than
driving to landings and motoring to fishing spots. With the exception
of boat, paddle, and rods, everything I need for a days fishing packs
into a large plastic tub and a sports duffel bag. The tub is also nice
at the end of the day for wet garments and towels.
The bottom line is that fishing from my kayak has allowed me to go from
fishing 20 days on a good year, to fishing over 100 days every year. All
this time on the water with, a fraction of the "non-productive"
motoring time, more trophy size fish, and an understanding and anticipation
of the coastal fishery and its environment that I never knew possible.
Let me add that after your initial outlay for boat, paddle, and gear,
expenses can be kept to under $10 for a days fishing!
Accessorizing your boat is inexpensive and furthers your fishing capabilities. For experienced sea kayakers, the use of electronics, seats, anchors, bait tanks, etc. gets you out of the kelp forests and off the sand flats, expanding your potential for excellent fishing all year.
A few things I recommend from the start are: 1)
Bowline-First and foremost a safety line; bowlines used to come
standard on all the SOT's. Also utilized by anglers as a tow rope
and for drift sock and anchoring applications. |
Books / Video / DVD are available at Tom's TopKaker Shop:
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This is famed kayak fisherman Dennis Spike's instruction video. Filmed on the Sea of Cortez and California's Eastern Pacific. |
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