How to Fish From a Sea Kayak- 5 Essential Tips

Being out on the sea itself is much challenging. Kayak fishing in oceans naturally needs huge hand-eye coordination to control the kayak. Easily you can be cast far away from the shore. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize the proper gears for navigating the water and being safe. 

In this article, we have elaborated on all the points on how to fish from a sea kayak with essential tips to turn your adventure successful.

What is Sea Kayak Fishing?

Paddling overseas with a kayak for fishing is called sea kayaking. Sea kayakers usually paddle through their destination when catching fish. The system is different from regular kayak fishing because anglers move around the sea. They are generally on a multi-day tour. Kayaks used in the ocean are longer and have pointier bows and stern.

Sea Kayak’s Length, Material, and Shape

Sea kayaks must be 14-18 feet long, but they can be longer with a sharp bow and stern. It makes the kayak faster and holds direction better. Anglers can cut through the water and cover great distances easily. They have better storage space for gears due to extra length. Sea kayaks are lightweight because they use polyethylene, ABS Plastic, Glass, or composite materials.

Fishing Gear

Sea kayakers apply a trolling method using lures to draw a fishing line in the water body behind the kayak. Anglers need to have a moving kayak and certain gears. The fishing line winding board carries the line when not in use. Materials used for such boards are- wood, foam, or Styrofoam to keep them afloat. Anglers must have two fishing lines with height and thickness differences. The thicker line can be 66-82 feet and the thinner one can be 16 feet in length. The thickness of the line relates to bait size and fish size. The standard thickness range is 0.25-0.4. The bait size is under 10cm for catching smaller fishes.

Mapping the Trip

Anglers must map out the entire fishing trip before the journey. Plan the location of beaches, launch points, and the final destination. You can use Google maps, measure the distance and divide it by the number of touring days to calculate the paddling amount. This way, you can find a proper landing spot and mark the map in sea kayaking.

Catching Fish When Paddling

Anglers have to carefully put the fishing line behind the sea kayak without tangling the lure hooks. Strap the winding board with the kayak after unwinding all. It offers less chance of unhooked fish. The paddling speed for trolling is between 2 and 4 km per hour. The best time for catching fish from the sea is morning. Under the sun, use silver lures and visible bright one in a cloudy atmosphere.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What is the standard length of the paddle? 

A. Paddles should be lightweight and depend on your physical height along with the kayak’s width. It is needful to consider the shape of a blade. 

Q. Is Sea kayak fishing challenging or safe? 

A. Obviously challenging for the beginners. Extra caution and safety preparation are needed. 

Final Remarks 

There are many other equipment and accessories that you can carry in sea kayaking. PFD and GPS are a must. You can also pack fish finders, power bank, lights, safety leash, clothing, food and water, sunscreen, first aid kit, and so on in a waterproof bag. Having a bilge pump, spray skirt, and repair kit can come in handy. So, fishing from sea kayak needs comparatively much attention and care.