31 percent of 13 to 17 year olds said they fish because it is cool. However, kayak fishing bucks the trend. The number of teens who kayak fish has risen from 96,000 in 2010 to 220,000 in 2012. So, take a kid kayak fishing and find your inner youth. —Submitted by Dave Benoit
Livewell
KEEPING YOUR BAIT ALIVE
Many fish are too smart for artificial lures and cut bait. Yellowtail, sailfish, large striped bass and other alpha preda- tors can only be fooled with
live bait. But small, plastic kayaks were ill equipped to carry a livewell with recirculat- ing water and aeration to keep baits kicking. Once again, inventive kayak anglers stepped in with home-made livewells utilizing every- thing from recycled beer coolers to custom fiberglass bait tanks. Hobie and Shimano each produced portable livewells that run off a rechargeable 12-volt battery. Today, Malibu and Jackson offer kayak models that can be rigged with internal livewells that circulate water into the hull of the kayak. And RTM has a molded pod that can be turned into a removable livewell. For anglers on the go, a bait tube made out of a two-foot long piece of perforated two-inch PVC will keep livies alive long enough to feed them to hungry fish.
Money
KAYAK ANGLERS SAVE PLENTY
Though kayak fishing is undoubtbly cheaper than boating, as the sport grows and advanc- es so do the costs. The average fishing kayak goes for close to $1,200 and a carbon paddle, gel seat, inflatable PFD, cart, crate and elec- tronics can quickly add another grand to the price tag. At almost $5,000, the Hobie Island Revolution was the most expensive kayak in Kayak Angler’s “2013 Boat Buyer’s Guide.” In the same guide, Old Town’s Heron Angler was the least expensive, at under $500. No matter which way you look at it, money spent on kayaks, tackle, accessories, launch fees and travel expenses add up. A study by the National Oceanographic and Atmospher- ic Administration found that recreational fish- ing produced $70 billion and employed over 455,000 people in 2011, up from $50 billion and 360,000 workers in 2010. Even if kayak anglers fish on the cheap, they don’t ride for free. —Submitted by Robert Warkala
Paddles
HOW WE GET AROUND
Next time you get ready to launch, set your paddle on the beach next to your kayak. Compare the two.
One is a big, heavy piece of plastic. The other is a long, thin stick. The fact that the stick moves the plastic
—Continued on page 56 Outriggers
INVENTED BY THE POLYNESIANS, USED BY ANGLERS
Ever since early adventurers plied the Pacific in great kayaks, outriggers have been used to provide stability and main- tain performance. In an effort to stand and fish, kayak anglers have experiment- ed with inflatable, retractable and remov- able outrigger systems. One of the most creative applications is on the Freedom Hawk kayak. With the flip of a switch, the stern of the kayak separates like a Transformer and deploys two pontoons. “The idea came to me on a long drive
home from a kayak fishing trip at Sanibel Island,” says inventor David Cameron. While he was driving, Cameron kept asking himself how he could stand up and fish in a kayak. “A wide boat would be a barge,” he says. “To keep the boat streamlined, I settled on outriggers that retract.” After a few years at the drawing board and several prototypes carved in his woodshop, Cameron created a kayak that turns into a pontoon boat. Today, Freedom Hawk kayaks are built in Sparta, Tennes- see and sold all over the world. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” says Cameron.
Nantucket Sleigh Ride KAYAK FISHING’S INITIATION RIGHT
It all comes down to one moment, when the fish picks up the bait, feels the hook and runs for its life. Flight instinct meets fight instinct. The angler holds on, the kayak starts to move, and the sleigh ride begins. The term Nantucket Sleigh Ride orig-
inated in New England where bluefin tuna would often drag commercial fishermen working out of small dories. When Dave Lamoureux caught a 157-pound bluefin tuna in his sit-inside kayak, the fish towed him eight miles over three hours. “I only had to drag the fish three miles back to the beach,” he recalls, “because the fish was pulling me home.” But you don’t have to catch a bluefin tuna to take a ride; even a bass or trout will pull an angler surpris- ingly fast. Lamoureux recommends anglers keep the rod low and point the tip at the bow to keep the kayak moving with the fish. “Don’t let the fish pull you sideways,” he instructs. Lamoureux likes a longer stick that allows the line to pass around the bow and stern. He adds that the deck should be clear to protect the line from snags. “The fish will take any advantage to get free,” he says, “don’t give it the chance.” —Submitted by Chris Funk
www.kayakanglermag.com… 55
PHOTO: JOSE CHAVEZ PHOTO: COURTESY FREEDOM HAWK
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