There is little doubt about how quickly kayak fishing is growing. It’s a cheap alternative to owning a boat and you can load your kayak onto the roof racks of your car and be on the water in a very short time.
Paddle power rules! Okay, maybe it doesn’t rule totally, so don’t sell the boat just yet as it also serves a purpose. Let’s go kayak fishing today though and forget about power boats for the time being.
PICKING YOUR KAYAK DESIGN
There are a number of different types of fishing kayaks available and the jury is out which are the best. Parties on the fibreglass kayak side swear by their kayaks, as do those who have plastic kayaks. At the end of the day, it’s down to personal preference.
If you are undecided about which kayak suits you, take both types of kayaks for a sea trial. You’ll quickly gauge which is the most suitable.
CHOOSING THE KAYAK FOR YOU
Kayaks are made in a variety of different sizes and configurations. Ask your kayak dealer for advice when purchasing a kayak. Most important is that the kayak suits your body weight.
The bigger you are, the more buoyant your kayak needs to be. Kayaks are generally split into different weight classes, making purchasing the correct fishing kayak, either a single or double seater, that much easier.
WHAT LENGTH?
Kayaks typically fall in the four- to five metre range. It must also be considered that shorter kayaks will have better maneouvrability and shorter turning circles, whereas longer kayaks enjoy greater momentum to take you through the surf but offer less maneouvrability.
Longer kayaks do require a bit more muscle power to get them going in the water.
