LIP GRIPPER
Disembarkation distress. PHOTO: KEVIN WHITLEY
[S K I L LS]
FAILURE TO LAUNCH M
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO KAYAK MOTHERSHIPPING BY RIC BURNLEY
othershipping your kayak to a distant fishing destination can take months of planning, weeks of preparation, days of waiting and hours of travel. Then the moment of truth: you
step out of the boat and into the kayak. Miss that step, and you end up in the drink. At best, you get wet. At worst, you lose your gear and sustain a trip-ending injury. With all the work that goes into a kayak mothership trip, it’s worth a few minutes to consider how you are going to get in and out of the kayak. It doesn’t have to be graceful, just safe and dry.
LOAD
1] Remove crates, seats and rod holders. 2] Stack the kayaks on a rack or secure together with a strap—the combined weight will keep kayaks from flying out of the boat.
LAUNCH
1] Prepare crate/livewell, tackle, rods, paddle and seat ahead of time.
2] Re-install seat and crate/livewell. 3] Attach a 20-foot length of 5mm rope to forward anchor trolley or handle.
4] Set kayak on boat gunwale, then lower into water stern first while holding bowline.
5] Secure bowline, pull kayak parallel to boat.
6] With paddle in hand, swing feet over gunwale, stand in kayak, facing boat, with both hands on boat rail.
7] Quickly sit/fall into kayak. 8] Receive rods, electronics and tackle.
RECOVERY
1] Pass rope to partner in boat. 2] Pass rods, electronics and tackle. Keep paddle.
3] Quickly stand in kayak and hold onto boat gunwale.
4] On crest of wave, jump from kayak into boat.
5] Stand and take a bow.
YAK ATTACK: Hitch a ride with Captain Charles Wright deep into the Everglades aboard one of three mothership skiffs. Tangle with reds, snook, tarpon, permit, pompano and more, miles off the beaten path. There’s plenty of fish for six.
www.evergladeskayakfishing.com
www.kayakanglermag.com… 21
SKI LL S | R IGGING | G EAR | F OOD | T AC T I CS MARVELOUS
MOTHERSHIPS PLACES TO PRACTICE YOUR LAUNCH AND RECOVERY SKILLS
THE BIG TAHUNA: Captain Scott Warren runs mothership trips from Hatteras Island to the nearby Gulf Stream for tuna, dolphin, marlin, amberjack, kings and wahoo. Bring up to three of your buddies for help. These fish pull hard.
www.bigtahuna.com
THE ISLANDER: 88 feet of battle taxi, the unparalleled Islander carries up to 22 kayakers to California’s Channel Islands and remote corners of Baja’s Pacific coast. The main game is matching up against powerful yellowtail, although halibut, white seabass and calicos also get into the act.
www.islander-charters.com
PHOTO: EVERGLADES KAYAK FISHING
PHOTO: PAUL LEBOWITZ
PHOTO: COURTESY RIC BURNLEY
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