When I started kayak fishing, I had a ridiculous amount of questions. Unfortunately, the internet didn’t offer a lot of guidance. That’s why I decided to start this blog. My goal is to share everything I have learned and continue to learn about ocean kayak fishing to help others navigate these complicated waters. I hope to provide a thorough and useful resource to answer all the novice’s questions, but I also aim to provide a central resource hub for all kayak fishermen of every experience level.
I started kayak fishing off the windward side of Oahu. It’s not the kayak fishing mecca most kayak fisherman are striving for due to the unrelenting prevalent onshore tradewinds and more frequent exposure to weather, but being a surfer, swimmer, and ex-lifeguard, I couldn’t stand to be a fisherman bound to the shorelines. There are several practical reasons that drew me to kayak fishing. I couldn’t afford a proper boat, and even if I could, I didn’t have the space to store one. I loved the idea of having a manpowered vessel and the sort of brute, indigenous nature it implies. The only problem was that, as my old man often reminds me, I couldn’t tell the difference between my bum and my elbow, as the saying goes, with regards to this newly-budding sport.
When I was starting off, I was overwhelmed with questions. Where do you find a quality fishing kayak on the islands? What is the best fishing kayak model for the Hawaiian waters? Where can you find a good guide to help you get started? What’s the best way to mount a kayak to the roof of your car if you’re by yourself? Where’s the best place to launch from in my area? What’s the best rod and reel setup for a kayak fisherman, and is it any different than regular boat fishing? If I make it out to the deep blue, will I be gobbled up by a whale? What if I actually catch a fish? What do I do with it? Do I bring a cooler or a fish bag or both? How do I strap down all my gear? How long will ice
last out on a kayak, on a sunny day, with no shade?
I started kayak fishing in a used, late model Hobie. It had only a paddle for power and steering (no pedals and rudder), a used wine cork for a drain plug, and absolutely no accessories. The previous owner had left a ratty t-shirt in the hull, which had disintegrated into threads over time. It took me months to properly clean it out. I used a 10 foot surf-casting pole, which I was too ignorant to be embarrassed about at the time. During my first year kayak fishing, I added accessories one at a time before ultimately upgrading to a proper fishing kayak. The locals would often chuckle at me as I launched my kayak in insane conditions to aimlessly drift around the windward side’s various bays. Now, it’s not uncommon for them to come check out my setup and inspect my catch when I return.
This site’s aim is to share all the tricks and tips about kayak fishing that every angler needs to know. Some of the information will be specific to kayak fishing in Hawaii, but much of the information should be useful to anglers everywhere. But don’t take my word for it; check out the blog page to see for yourself. And signup for the newsletter to stay up to date with the latest posts.