Kayak Fishing Starter Kit

You have gotten your first kayak, now what?
Here are the BASIC ITEMS that you need to get started on your kayak fishing adventure!

1. Paddle 

(Unless you are using a leg-paddling kayak, you will definitely want to choose a light-weight paddle. Every stroke counts when you are paddling and a heavy paddle will only add to fatigue)

2.  PFD = Personal Flotation Device aka Life Vest

(Be sure to get the right size as you do not want to slip out of the PFD because it is too loose. There are many choices of PFD from the cheap $15 orange life vest available at beach road army market to the PFD fishing vest with a lot of pockets for your fishing tackle and the self-inflating PFD. Each has it's own pros & cons. The PFD fishing vest allows you to do away with a tackle box on board your kayak but it is bulky and hot while a self-inflating PFD is very light and cooling but is expensive and requires some maintenance.)

3. Cooler box / Cooler bag

(You certainly don't want your kayak to smell after your trip so you need a place to store your bait and your catches, keeping it clean on board. If you have space on your kayak to secure a cooler box that would be most ideal. If you can't afford the space then a cooler bag is an alternate choice. Cooler bags are available at DAISO for $2)

4. Carabiner

(It may seem weird at first why carabiner is a necessary item on board a kayak, but if i tell you that my rod and reel dropped into the sea while kayaking, then it is not weird anymore. Yes, please use the carabiner to secure ANYTHING that can drop into the sea, especially your fishing tackle box & rods. They are available at DAISO for $2 for a pair)

5. Kayak Trolley

(It all depends on the distance from where you parked your car to the beach. Some inflatable kayaks are light enough to be hand carried to the beach but other kayaks may be too heavy. Anyway it is a good investment to have one kayak trolley as you can use it for a long time, just be sure to SECURE it on your kayak when you reach the beach to prevent it from dropping into the sea when you are kayaking, and rinse it after your trip to prevent rusting. One trolley can cost between $120-$200 depending on the design. I personally recommend a trolley with large pneumatic (air-filled) wheels as they function better on the sandy beach)

6. Cloth / Rag

(Imagine this scenerio, on your maiden journey you hooked on to a fish that put up a good fight. Eventually you tired the fish out and you reel it in towards the kayak. Now, where are you going to put the fish and remove the hook? You wouldn't want to be caught unprepared when that happens right? The quick solution is to have a thick piece of rag on board. You can lay it across your lap and place the fish on it and take your time to unhook the bugger. The rag will be able to protect you and your inflatable kayak from the spikes on the fish and also prevent any fish droppings / slime / blood from dripping on your kayak.)

7. Pump (for inflatable kayak only)

(Always store the pump in the same bag as your kayak, without the pump your inflatable kayak won't float so your trip depends on it. Depending on your preference, either hand pumps or foot pumps are available. One important thing to note for the pump is that you MUST NOT over pressurize the kayak. It can result in the kayak inflatable tubes to burst and rupture. Pump slowly when the kayak looks inflated already and then test the firmness of the kayak before you decide to pump more air in)

8. Waterproof Hand Phone Pouch

(Handphone is definitely a necessity for your trip so that you can call for help when you need to. Always save the Police Coast Guard number in your phone and protect your phone using a waterproof pouch. You should test the pouch before using by putting a piece of tissue paper inside and then sealing it and submerge the pouch in water. If the tissue remains dry then the pouch is in good condition. Bare in mind that the pouch DOES NOT FLOAT so you better secure the phone to your PFD)

Well, these are the basic items you should have for a kayak fishing trip.
Of course along the way you might upgrade your kayak accessories to include things like a kayak anchor, bait table, rod holders or fish finder but for a start lets get the basics right and start fishing first!