Kayak essential gear

Discussion in 'Kayak and Paddle Board Fishing' started by old_rookie, May 10, 2017.

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  1. old_rookie

    old_rookie
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    Since I didn't see a sticky in this forum, and from a request of one of the members of the site, lets use this to compile a list of essential gear for fishing and safety when on a kayak. The fish gear is not necessarily essential, well, it might be to catch fish, but that part will be negotiable.

    Please add to the list, but keep it on topic.
     
    #1 old_rookie, May 10, 2017
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  2. old_rookie

    old_rookie
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    from Fomen :
    MUST HAVE KAYAK GEAR!

    1. PFD (Personal flotation devise). Must be for kayaks. Regular life vest will be too bulky. I was a rescue swimmer in the NAVY, and I ALWAYS wear mine.... ALWAYS!
    2. Portable VHF Radio. Channels 9 and 16 are the emergency channels. Ch 72 is typically the recreational fisherman's channel. Ch 18 is the sportboat channel.
    3. Dry Bag. Have a dry bag to put your keys and phone into. I also carry an extra set of clothes in mine. If you roll your kayak (even wearing paddling pants and waterproof gear) you're going to get wet. If you get wet, and the wind picks up, you're going to get COLD! Cold = hypothermia. Clothes weigh nothing. It's worth it.
    4. Let someone know. If you're launching solo, let someone know beforehand where you'll be launching. Give them an approximate time you'll be off the water. Give them an absolute time that if they don't hear from you to contact the authorities.
    5. Paddling leashes are a MUST! If you like your gear (i.e. your rods, reels, gaff, etc...) then have them leashed to your kayak at all times. ESPECIALLY when landing in the surf. I even have my Hobie Mirage drive leashed to my kayak. Leashes are very flexible and uninhibiting. They WILL NOT get in your way when fishing or paddling.
     
    #2 old_rookie, May 10, 2017
  3. old_rookie

    old_rookie
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    Hand powered bilge pump.
    In case you develop a leak, or happen to take on a lot of water at a surf launch, this is important.
     
    #3 old_rookie, May 10, 2017
  4. TheCuban1040

    TheCuban1040
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    I would add these to the list of things that I need on my yak at all times:

    Whistle
    Compass
    Sunglasses
    Sunblock
     
    #4 TheCuban1040, May 10, 2017
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  5. Cyborgstarfish

    Cyborgstarfish Catcherman
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    Boat:
    Ascend FS10 kayak
    Paddle
    Seat
    Hat
    Anchor
    Buddy
    Light
    Sunglasses
    Sunscreen
    Extra clothes
    Rag
    Knife
    Tackle
    Rods and reels
    Rope for tieing up
    Bilge pump
    Gaff or net
     
    #5 Cyborgstarfish, May 10, 2017
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  6. Larry M

    Larry M
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    Saw this at Costco today, hope this fits in for safety for transportation of your yak.
    $40.00

    20170510_105716.jpg
     
    #6 Larry M, May 10, 2017
  7. Werfless

    Werfless The Coach
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    Boat:
    One too many
    Throwable pfd
    Signal device (mirror, strobe etc)
    Spare cheapie paddle
     
    #7 Werfless, May 10, 2017
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  8. old_rookie

    old_rookie
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    What is a throwable PFD? Or I should say what makes it throwable?
     
    #8 old_rookie, May 10, 2017
  9. Fomen

    Fomen
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    Oh... Almost forgot. MEASURING TAPE! Not only to measure your catch for photo ops, but to avoid being hassled by the DFG in the event you are asked to show your catch.
     
    #9 Fomen, May 10, 2017
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  10. Werfless

    Werfless The Coach
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    Was looking for the uscg rules and definitions.. Apparently they are changing the wording and definitions in the regs, but essentially a pfd designed to be thrown by human hand, like flotation seats, life rings etc with 12lb of lift (I think).. The old regs were super confusing and now I cant remember what the wording was. I do remember throwing one to a paddleboarder that fell off outside the surf line in mission beach while I retrieved his board for him, he was looking tired and it was almost dark..
     
    #10 Werfless, May 10, 2017
  11. old_rookie

    old_rookie
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    I have markings on my kayak - it isn't official in the eyes of the DFG, but it helps to get an idea if you are not sure if to keep or throw back.
     
    #11 old_rookie, May 10, 2017
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  12. Carterantebi

    Carterantebi The Skunk Magnet
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    Boat:
    Hobie Revo
    Airhorn, whistle, bailing sponge, Zinka, livewell if you want to get fancy, a dolly of some sort for easy transportation on land, vhf, lots of spare rope, battery, drift chute, if in shallow water I'll bring an 8-12 foot pvc pipe to use as a stake-out pole, Swiss Army knife, maybe some spare clothes in a dry bag as Fomen said.
    This summer I'm gonna really deck out my kayak and make it look nice and fancy. I'm looking at doing bow lights, LED courtesy lights in various spots, and I'm going to rig up some kind of GoPro arm to film. Maybe even some underwater lights if I'm feeling fancy. I'm going to really try to maximize on the night night this year. Anyone else have any customization ideas? I'm thinking about maybe installing an H-rail but not sure if it will get in the way.
     
    #12 Carterantebi, May 10, 2017
  13. Fomen

    Fomen
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    Scupper lights are AWESOME! I want these:
    amazon" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:120px">
     
    #13 Fomen, May 10, 2017
  14. Carterantebi

    Carterantebi The Skunk Magnet
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    Those are pretty dang cool. Do they still allow the scuppers to bail?
     
    #14 Carterantebi, May 10, 2017
  15. Cyborgstarfish

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    Boat:
    Ascend FS10 kayak
    I want to see the lights! Best part of the hobie that I'm looking at is the customization possibilities and no paddle needed.
    The only kayak I have is a freshwater sit-in-kayak (bass pro shops 10ft ascend fs-10)
    It's been a while silence I have taken it out but I couldn't fit much in it but one thing I really wanted was to reach live bait easier, stand up for artificials, and a bigger live well. I felt when I was sitting down I couldn't feel anything.
     
    #15 Cyborgstarfish, May 10, 2017
    Last edited: May 10, 2017
  16. Carterantebi

    Carterantebi The Skunk Magnet
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    I'm really looking forward to it and I already know it's gonna look dope. I have the Revolution, so I haven't really tried standing up in it out of fear of flipping, but I'm sure I'm light enough that it would work in glassy conditions. I love all the options Hobies have as far as customization.
     
    #16 Carterantebi, May 10, 2017
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  17. geofish

    geofish
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    I'm thinking about taking out the bait tank on my Big Tuna and make it a glass bottom boat! Also a periscope like in Waterworld so I can better spot target my feeesh! The underwater light idea will make my glass bottom boat idea a 24 hour a day reality!
     
    #17 geofish, May 10, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2018
  18. Werfless

    Werfless The Coach
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    I want pix of this yak.. I do have a crate for you and one for Leoffensive .. First in line gets the better one... Lol
     
    #18 Werfless, May 10, 2017
  19. Fat Spottie

    Fat Spottie Evolved Pinhead
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    The reasonable things Fomen originally mentioned and a gallon of water with a subway...

    Big hats to prevent sunburn as well.
     
    #19 Fat Spottie, May 10, 2017
  20. geofish

    geofish
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    Me, me, me!
     
    #20 geofish, May 10, 2017
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