Friday 27 December 2013
Wednesday 25 September 2013
Night operations on a kayak
The safety guideline on kayaking provided by MPA do state that kayaking should be carried out during the day.
However there are increasing number of people trying out kayak fishing at night. So what do we need to pay attention to when kayak fishing at night?
1) LIGHTS
Propped up beacon lights (non-blinking white light only) placed on either ends of your kayak can reveal the length of your kayak and your location amidst the darkness. The further you paddle away from shore, the darker it gets so you need to be visible to other boats or ships & also to your fellow kaykers to avoid collision at sea. You will also need some light on board for you to tie your gear, unhook fish etc...
2) BUDDY
There is a Chinese saying that implies that "water found in a far away place cannot be of any help to put out the fire infront of you." It's always better to have a buddy to fish with you because of the many pertinent dangers when you fish at night.
3) SECURED GEAR
With poor lighting condition it is vital that every piece of equipment is properly kept within reach to avoid you having to search around the kayak. Its much harder to carry out a salvage & recovery operation if any of your equipment accidentally drop into the sea as compared to in the day. Even if it floats (like your slippers) you may want to secure it as well. Lastly, tangled lines are the worst nightmare on night fishing. Having to untangle your line in darkness on a moving kayak will take your attention off your surroundings and makes you vulnerable to possible dangers and of course cause you to be sea-sick in the process. So having said that, bring minimal fishing equipment so that you don't have to manage so many things at night. If you are on an inflatable kayak, best to keep all the sharp objects away.
4) COMMUNICATION
Have you encountered casting your rod at Bedok jetty at night only to realize that your line have crossed another person's line while casting or because the line drifted? Well, it's probably much worse out here. You can't see where the lines are and the kayak is moving at the same time. This can be avoided if you only start fishing after you have anchor off and you attached the kayaks together so that your buddy is beside you all the time.
5) TIDE, WEATHER, LOCATION
Only fish at a location where you are familiar with and that you have fished there regularly in the day. Check to ensure that it's a calm night before you launch your kayak. It will be great if you can remember the tide direction of the current flow during high & low tide so that you have an idea of the direction where your line & anchor line is drifting towards, where to return to should the weather take a turn for the worst. Avoid crossing the shipping channels at night and fish within the more sheltered waters.
6) UNEXPECTED SURPRISES
The weather isn't as unpredictable as wild animals. The kayaking committee has encountered close calls with crocodiles & snakes while fishing in Singapore waters. Bear in mind that these reptiles hunt in the night & will be much more active. You are probably intruding into their hunting territory & competing with them for food. Mangrove areas are definitely more dangerous as compared to the open shores in this aspect. Other wild animals include the fish at the end of the line! Poisonous fish or a huge ray have to be carefully handled if you are landing the fish on the kayak.
Although the chance of landing a big fish might be higher for night fishing, not to mention it's cooler and less tiring, the risks involved are profound. Hope this posting made you aware of how to take care of yourself if you decide to try night kayak fishing. Be safe, a fish ain't worth your life.
1) LIGHTS
Propped up beacon lights (non-blinking white light only) placed on either ends of your kayak can reveal the length of your kayak and your location amidst the darkness. The further you paddle away from shore, the darker it gets so you need to be visible to other boats or ships & also to your fellow kaykers to avoid collision at sea. You will also need some light on board for you to tie your gear, unhook fish etc...
2) BUDDY
There is a Chinese saying that implies that "water found in a far away place cannot be of any help to put out the fire infront of you." It's always better to have a buddy to fish with you because of the many pertinent dangers when you fish at night.
3) SECURED GEAR
With poor lighting condition it is vital that every piece of equipment is properly kept within reach to avoid you having to search around the kayak. Its much harder to carry out a salvage & recovery operation if any of your equipment accidentally drop into the sea as compared to in the day. Even if it floats (like your slippers) you may want to secure it as well. Lastly, tangled lines are the worst nightmare on night fishing. Having to untangle your line in darkness on a moving kayak will take your attention off your surroundings and makes you vulnerable to possible dangers and of course cause you to be sea-sick in the process. So having said that, bring minimal fishing equipment so that you don't have to manage so many things at night. If you are on an inflatable kayak, best to keep all the sharp objects away.
4) COMMUNICATION
Have you encountered casting your rod at Bedok jetty at night only to realize that your line have crossed another person's line while casting or because the line drifted? Well, it's probably much worse out here. You can't see where the lines are and the kayak is moving at the same time. This can be avoided if you only start fishing after you have anchor off and you attached the kayaks together so that your buddy is beside you all the time.
5) TIDE, WEATHER, LOCATION
Only fish at a location where you are familiar with and that you have fished there regularly in the day. Check to ensure that it's a calm night before you launch your kayak. It will be great if you can remember the tide direction of the current flow during high & low tide so that you have an idea of the direction where your line & anchor line is drifting towards, where to return to should the weather take a turn for the worst. Avoid crossing the shipping channels at night and fish within the more sheltered waters.
6) UNEXPECTED SURPRISES
The weather isn't as unpredictable as wild animals. The kayaking committee has encountered close calls with crocodiles & snakes while fishing in Singapore waters. Bear in mind that these reptiles hunt in the night & will be much more active. You are probably intruding into their hunting territory & competing with them for food. Mangrove areas are definitely more dangerous as compared to the open shores in this aspect. Other wild animals include the fish at the end of the line! Poisonous fish or a huge ray have to be carefully handled if you are landing the fish on the kayak.
Although the chance of landing a big fish might be higher for night fishing, not to mention it's cooler and less tiring, the risks involved are profound. Hope this posting made you aware of how to take care of yourself if you decide to try night kayak fishing. Be safe, a fish ain't worth your life.
Tuesday 20 August 2013
I remember doing all the wrong things on the kayak until i watched this video...
I particularly like the one about where your head goes, your body will follow. Hope that we can learn from the videos instead of doing things the wrong way. And on a kayak out at sea, you certainly don't want to make too many silly mistakes, especially falling off the kayak!
Sunday 11 August 2013
Transformers...more than meets the eye
The fact that it is extremely portable and fast to set up as compared to other inflatable kayak (without the pumping of air) makes this kayak an attractive buy.
The down side is that being a light kayak it may not be stable if you are paddling in rough waters where the waves might knock you over and capsize your kayak.
Monday 29 July 2013
Reef at Pulau Jong - southern island
Every weekend is an adventure...stop dreaming, start living it :)
It's a good way to exercise too!
Wednesday 17 July 2013
Transparent kayak anyone?
 | ||
| Transparent kayak anyone? |
 |
| Underwater world... |
Kayak fishing can be a relaxing sport that brings you up close to the fishing spot without spooking the fishes away (as compared to a boat with a motor) and allows you to fish in reefs where boats dare not enter.
During low tide at some of Singapore's reef, i have seen corals up close about 0.5m from the side of my kayak and i just enjoy the rich marine life that Singapore waters offer.
But of course IF i had a transparent kayak as featured here, it'll make kayak fishing alot more enjoyable, in my opinion :) But then again, i might be too distracted and keep looking downwards instead of fishing....
Oh well, no time for day dreaming....time to plan for my next kayak fishing trip!
Wednesday 10 July 2013
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!
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
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!
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