By Capt. Mike McNamara
I always have to start my kayak rigging advice with the fact that a kayak is an extension of the owner’s personality. Some folks like all of the bells and whistles, and others keep it simple. Whichever road taken is fine. My advice is to rig your kayak for your fishing style or need.
The idea of better to have and not need, than to need and not have, can be counterproductive in a small boat. Here is a list of must have items that I always carry: lifejacket, whistle, sunscreen, rods and reels, tackle, paddle, paddle leash, pliers, anchor, net, dry box/bag, cooler bag. Outside of these basic necessities, everything else could be considered ballast.
For example, anchor trolleys are a brilliant invention, and I have to admit most of my rental fleet is equipped with trolleys. They do give you a place to clip your anchor, but outside of that, they really do not serve a purpose for most days fishing the flats.
Taking a look at my list, two items are safety related, and required to have on board: lifejacket and whistle. There are also a few safety related items that are not required, but you should never leave shore without: sunscreen, paddle leash, anchor, and dry box. I will not include paddle in this list, let’s just say, if you forgot your paddle, you need to find another hobby. The other four are serious safety items.
Sunscreen is a kayaker’s best friend. There is no shade in a floating piece of plastic, and within a matter of hours, serious burns can occur. Make sure you always have sunscreen on your kayak, and reapply, even when the fish are biting.
The second is a paddle leash. The leash attaches your paddle to your kayak, and when fishing alone or separate from the group, a leash is necessary. If your paddle floats away in the tide or current, you could be in trouble.
The third is an anchor. Sometimes anchoring helps catch fish, but for safety purposes it also lets you stop in the wind, current, or tide, take a break if needed, or stop you in an emergency.
Fourth, is a dry box or bag that can store your cell phone. I know it sounds very 21st century, but a cell phone is a safety device. Leave it off, if you must, but it could save your life one day. So, keep it dry and clipped to your boat.
All of these items can be stored in your cooler bag, along with your tackle box. When you are ready to fish, grab your cooler, do a quick inspection and go. As for all of that other really cool kayak fishing stuff for sale— buy what you need for your fishing style, and remember, even having no style, is still a style.
Kayak safe this month, and enjoy!