Fishing & Boating Safety

The thrill of landing a big fish in a sea kayak is worth the planning that goes into making your trip a safe one. Whether you're fishing river backwaters, inland lakes or an inshore kelp bed, being prepared means being able to concentrate on the pleasures at hand.

Start with a top-quality PFD in which you can paddle and fish comfortably. Add a compass, especially if you'll move out of sight of familiar shoreline objects. And bring a friend or two. Traveling with companions is always a good idea and adds to the paddling enjoyment.

An open deck kayak is ideal for the twisting required to cast and to land a fish. It's more stable than a standard kayak and offers anglers more freedom of movement.

The Caper Angler by Ocean Kayak™ provides a great example of a solo fishing vessel. Just 11 feet long, it weighs in at 45 pounds. Ocean Kayak™ designed it specifically for the angler, but the sit-on-top style is also comfortable for bigger people and those with limited flexibility. Getting on and off is easy, and there's no possibility of being trapped inside if you roll over while battling a really big fish.