Newcomers guide to the exciting world of kayak fishing

Fishing from a kayak is fun and exciting for newcomers and veterans alike.

Welcome to the thrilling and wonderful world of kayak fishing!


Newcomers will be amazed at the ease and productivity of fishing from a kayak. On average, even inexperienced anglers will catch more fish while fishing from a kayak than they will from a motorized vessel. The reason is kayaks are very stealthy – and the fish do not know you’re around.

I use Native Watercraft Ultimate 14½-foot kayaks, so there’s no need to fear capsizing. The kayaks are so stable that I often fish while standing up. I don’t allow clients to stand because of obvious liability issues, but the kayaks are very stable.

I supply kayaks, safety equipment, rods, reels and all lures. I also supply fly rods, flies and leaders for those who prefer to fly fish.

During warm weather, I suggest anglers wear a long-sleeve fishing shirt, cap or hat, shorts and footwear that you don’t mind getting wet. Most of the time, we do not wade. However, your feet will get wet getting in and out of the kayak.

If we choose to fish while wading, tennis shoes and sandals are not good choices. They will fill with sand and shell. In addition, they pull off when wading in soft mud.

Wading anglers should wear “flats boots.” They are similar to dive boots and are made for wading anglers. I use Orvis wading boots: http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=03JQ&dir_id=758&group_id=11059&cat_id=5421&subcat_id=6047.

Believe it or not, but it does get chilly in Florida. For winter fishing, I usually wear a long-sleeve shirt, fleece-lined vest, long fishing pants and wading boots. If it’s going to warm up by mid-morning, I wear shorts.

I supply sandwiches and drinks on all-day trips. Anglers supply their own food and snacks on shorter trips.

Rain gear often comes in handy. I carry an extra rain jacket and also have a few inexpensive ponchos for clients.

Sunscreen should be applied prior launching and should be reapplied a couple of times while out.

I use spinning tackle and braided line. I will show you how to cast and work with braided line.

I usually drift while fishing from the kayak. It’s important to make sure the bow of the kayak is pointing in the direction of your cast. When drift fishing, I rest the paddle on my lap in order to make quick bow adjustments.

We anchor and fish occasionally. I have anchor trolleys on the port (left) side of each kayak. Simply clip the anchor line to the O-ring on the trolley and position the anchor (I’ll tell you) at the proper place along the kayak. By using the anchor trolley, we can face the direction we need to cast at all times.

You may bring your own equipment, but I suggest you use mine. My tackle is rigged and ready to go for local conditions and species.

I tie my own flies and leaders. Flies are designed for area fish in a variety of conditions.

I use D.O.A. Lures for the most part. In addition, I use MirrOlure products, topwater plugs and a few spoons.

After you book your trip, I will call you the afternoon/evening prior to your trip to discuss time and place to meet. Clients often follow me to our launch site and are able to leave as soon as the trip is over.

I require a 50-percent deposit to guarantee your date. I will refund the deposit within two weeks of your scheduled trip – provided I can book another trip to replace it.

Although I have no control over the fish, I can assure you that I will make sure your trip is everything you expect. I place an emphasis on fun.

Thank you for your interest in Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing!