From Marsh and Bayou February 2025
Kayak fishing has gained popularity over the last decade. Some will, some won’t, here’s why.
The number one reason people get into kayak fishing is the relatively low entry cost of the sport. In my case, I was road fishing on LA1 and could see feeding fish, but couldn’t reach them. Driving home in frustration, I called my wife and told her $1000 of a bonus I expected was going towards a kayak. That $1000 got me a pretty sweet used kayak and a roof rack to transport said plastic vessel. That was it, I was hooked. Comparatively, a drop in the bucket next to a powerboat. No trailer, no fuel, and little to no maintenance. A kayak doesn’t have to be registered like a powerboat. For me, the perfect solution to my fishing addiction.
Next, you can do it anywhere. Launching a kayak does not require a marina or “ramp”. With little practice, a kayak can be put in the water almost anywhere, like a pond, a canal, a lake, the Gulf of America, anywhere! Many kayak fish in farm ponds, numerous inland state parks, urban drainage canals……get it? Anywhere!
Kayak fishing accessories have multiplied beyond reasonable proportions, just as boating accessories have. Technology has taken boating beyond many of our dreams. A kayak may be simple or complex, paddle, pedal, motor, or all three. One can be purchased at the big national discount store, sporting goods store, outfitter, or even bought online and delivered to your front door. I’ll bet there’s a used one for sale within a few miles of your home, and they’ll drop it off for you.
Anywhere you can fish in a powerboat, you can fish in a kayak. Marinas charge kayaks to launch, just like their big motorized buddies. Most boaters are amused to some extent by kayaks. Inexperienced kayak fisherman tend to take a long time in the launch, kinda like inexperienced boaters. I fish Grand Isle a lot and launch about an hour before the onslaught of weekend warriors so that I’m out of the way, and in their spot before they even launch, invisible until they pull up. They usually ain’t happy to see me, but that’s all part of my fun. There are a group of kayakers that fish Navarre beach, regularly. It’s snuggled between passes and boaters just don’t target the area. Lots of blackfin tuna were boated by kayakers within a mile of the beach over the last two months. Lots!
Want to complete? There are kayak tournaments everywhere, every weekend. Bass, catfish, inshore, offshore, you name it! Where there’s a sport, contests will follow shortly. There’s a huge kayak fishing tournament community out there, mostly bass or inshore related. The kayak fishing community in general, is a much more friendly group, than the boating community. They’re much more helpful, open and welcoming. There’s no “mine’s bigger” or “mine’s faster” mentality, much more of a brotherhood community situation.
This leads to the reason lots of people stop kayak fishing. They enter the community believing they’re gods gift to kayak fishing, only to get stomped in a few tournaments, literally get their feelings hurt and leave. If it’s easy to get into, that makes it easy to get out, right. No great loss if you don’t like it, for whatever reason. It’s funny to watch Nascar drivers, professional athletes and politicians fight over their silly feelings, but no where near what fishermen do. You in my spot is one of my personal favorites. Fun varies by individual and is the key we all search for.
Lack of success is a major reason people gravitate to and from different activities. Fishing is not an easy activity to find success. I personally think about little else whenever possible. I’m constantly reading, watching or researching techniques, baits, habitat and other factors to become a better, more successful fisherman. In today’s world of credit card heroes and instant gratification, it’s a rare breed striving for improvement. Add the responsibilities of manually controlling your own vessel and safety. That puts a whole nother twist on the damn thing. Like successful motorboat fishing, it ain’t easy.
Launching a kayak repeatedly, is not a pleasant experience. It requires a lot more manual labor than a trailerable motorboat. One you pick up and load in the back or top of your vehicle, the other you drive onto a trailer. Easy. Some are looking for the party, group experience and kayak fishing is a very individual sport. I personally enjoy the solitude that many avoid.
Covid saw unprecedented buying in the sporting market from kayaks/boating, motorsports, bicycling, RV’s and anything else that would get one outside. The recent recession has brought the used outdoor toy market to incredible levels, with incredible deals available from those who bought high and have no choice but to get away from the debt it created. It seems like the same hard worker group enjoys the challenges of fishing and is swallowing up the deals.
Respect is key on the water. Boaters, be respectful to each other. No wake means idle speed, not 2000 rpm. I personally prefer a boater stay on plane to pass me in a kayak, less wake and disturbance. Whatever you’re fishing in, keep your distance. Twice your casting distance is respectful, you’ll generally get what you give.
Leave A Comment