Offshore kayak gear

Wildyaks · **Joined:** Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:47 pm **Posts:** 45

I'm ready to start fishing offshore, and I want to know the best set up to fish offshore. I have been looking at different marine GPS's, compasses, and also was looking at a Hawkeye portable fishfinder. I want to get the best bang for my buck. Any recommendations?

Baronvonfatt · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:23 am

My 1st suggestion would be if you have never done a surf launch. You should just go out one day with just your yak, paddle and PFD and practice launching and landing in the surf until you feel comfortable in the surf.

Wildyaks · **Joined:** Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:47 pm **Posts:** 45

My buddy and I went out last Sunday and practiced at Vilano beach(I posted the video on here), and we are going to practice again on Sat. I researched it a lot, and feel pretty confident, now its the planning the first fishing voyage.

Databox · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:33 am

I'll never go offshore without a compass. Even a little cheapo one is better than nothing. Last summer I went out when it was real hazy from all the smoke from the brush fires. Ocean was real calm that day so no waves to really speak of. Then the wind changed and blew the smoke east. In less than 30 minutes visibility was down to about 1/4 mile and I didn't know which way the beach was. There were no waves so listening for the breakers didn't help. Obviously I made it in, but I was nervous for a bit.

Jizzo · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:40 am

Databox wrote:

I'll never go offshore without a compass. Even a little cheapo one is better than nothing. Last summer I went out when it was real hazy from all the smoke from the brush fires. Ocean was real calm that day so no waves to really speak of. Then the wind changed and blew the smoke east. In less than 30 minutes visibility was down to about 1/4 mile and I didn't know which way the beach was. There were no waves so listening for the breakers didn't help. Obviously I made it in, but I was nervous for a bit.

^^^THAT! is what a forum is about... sharing information. Thanks for posting that, GREAT point.

islandspeed2001 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:45 am

If I read this correctly, you are seeking info on GPS/Fish Finders????

I highly recommend spending the $$ on a GPS. Each time I go BTB I find myself trying to figure out at what point I launched at the beach. The blue 2-story house doesn't look quite the same 1 mile out as it did when launching:) I have also found out there are several blue houses along the beach

You don't need to spend lots of $$ on a GPS. All you really need is the ability to follow your "tracks" back to the launch. Of couse, waterproof is of utmost importance. No need for a compass... every gps I have ever seen has one. The one I got is a small handheld (Garmin Dakota). Very satisfied so far. PLUS.... If your secured (?) battery doesn't knock a hole in your kayak, a deck mounted FF will probably be torn off when your kayak is tumbling upside down through the surf :oops:

Fishfinders are over-rated in my mind. I only use mine to see the bottom contour and the depth. You might be able to see some schools of fish in water over 20 ft deep. The sonar cone really doesn't start showing fish until you get to that depth. When BTB fishing kicks into high gear, your not going to be looking for schools of fish on your FF. Your going to be holding your head high looking for busting pogies schools :thumbleft:

That's where the big fish are hanging out :cheers:

Also, try to figure out how your going to store you gear when going through the surf. I don't care how many times you have practiced. The surf is going to kick your butt sooner or later. Having your rods broken, reels full of sand, sunglasses/etc gone can get very expensive.

Can you store your rods/reels inside your kayak?
Do you have leashes on items your not able to store?
Take only the bare minimum of equipment!

Good Luck!

GLyncker · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:36 pm **Posts:** 132

A GPS is great, but I would never rely on it for a compass. Electronics fail, batteries die, if it's not mounted, it can fall out.....

Get an inexpensive compass and mount it securely to the kayak. A small one, attached to your PFD (that I know you'll be wearing at all times) would be a nice touch.

Let someone know that you went out.

Consider a marine radio.

This sounds like too much trouble, I'm staying inshore. :smoke:

BenPaddlin · **Joined:** Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:40 am **Posts:** 161

GLyncker wrote:

A GPS is great, but I would never rely on it for a compass. Electronics fail, batteries die, if it's not mounted, it can fall out.....

Get an inexpensive compass and mount it securely to the kayak. A small one, attached to your PFD (that I know you'll be wearing at all times) would be a nice touch.

Let someone know that you went out.

Consider a marine radio.

This sounds like too much trouble, I'm staying inshore. :smoke:

This is a great point. Electronics fail at the worst time. A compass is a foolproof way to know which way is home. The best thing is to go with at least one other person. Hand held VHF is a great idea too. When the fish are here (kings tarpon ect) you'll know it. The bait will be impossible to miss and that's where the predators hangout. Post up on the let's go fishing tab and you'll get a response most of the time for someone else wanting to get offshore. It might be me most of the time :mrgreen:

Wildyaks · **Joined:** Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:47 pm **Posts:** 45

I'm not sure if my rods can fit into my front hatch, I'd course I haven't tried either. Most of everything I have is strastrapped down, gotta figure out best way for my rods and the contents of my crate. I thinking of getting a dry bag to hold the portable FF(its handheld), and the GPS. I'm not to good with using a compass to get back at my exact launch location, but I do want to get one mounted in the event the GPS goes out.

GLyncker · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:36 pm **Posts:** 132

If you cannot put your rods inside, consider not rigging them until you get BTB. I watched your video from your other post and there is an evil jig head waiting to stick into your thigh if you roll the kayak. It would suck even more with treble hooks or lead weights added. Look hard at your setup for things that could be a hazard if you go over.

BenPaddlin · **Joined:** Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:40 am **Posts:** 161

I found out that I can fit two 7 fit combos in my front hatch. The rods slide in along side the rails of the kayak. You might have to take your reels off but I didn't. You should only bring the bare minimum. PDF, whistle, compass, waterproof case for phone/wallet, waterproof tackle box, two rod/reel combos, bottles of drinking water. I keep a knife clipped to me and a light making device (signal mirror).

Sent from my LG-MS910 using Tapatalk 2

islandspeed2001 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:28 pm

Try by all means to get your rods/reels inside your kayak. I had mine strapped down when I did the turtle. End result was that the reels needed to be completely broken down as there was sand inside each of them. The surf sand is very fine sand and gets into everything... not just your shorts :smoke:

You might also wish to consider putting a plastic bag around your reels if you do strap them down. Also remember that if your wearing an expensive pair of sun glasses or perscription glasses, they will be the very first thing to go when you tumble. The Chum retainer I had on my $400 perscription sunglasses didn't do the job you would expect :smoke:

Sunglasses $400
Reel repair $70
Pliers $20

Lesson Learned - Priceless :smoke:

keastman · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:37 pm

My suggestion is have a back up, not one, but two compasses, perhaps one of those small ones attached to your life vest as a last resort if you happen to loose the main one or it malfunctions. This way, if your GPS craps out ( it happened to me way back in the Mosquito Lagoon islands) you'll at least be able to head west to the shore.

Also a trip to the dollar store to get enough pool noodles to fill up the inside of your kayak could save your life in the event of a leak or waves breaching your hatches.

You might also want to keep your body parts in the kayak as much as possible. On one trip I took I had my feet hanging over the sides of my kayak and decided to put them back in the kayak. As soon as I got them in, a very large shark swam right under, my kayak, nearly hitting it where my feet were a second before. Not sure if it was coincidence or the shark though my feet were a easy snack.

Lastly a large bag of common sense is essential on an off shore kayak trip.

BenPaddlin · **Joined:** Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:40 am **Posts:** 161

keastman wrote:

Also a trip to the dollar store to get enough pool noodles to fill up the inside of your kayak could save your life in the event of a leak or waves breaching your hatches.

Forgot to mention that! I stuffed about 10 in my hull. They were a slight problem when trying to stuff my rods in there but I made them fit. A solution to that might be running a couple pieces of PVC large enough to fit the rods guides through that would act as a guide through the mess of pool noodles in there. I might try that this weekend.

fishesfromtupperware · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:38 pm

BenPaddlin wrote:

You should only bring the bare minimum. PDF, whistle, compass, waterproof case for phone/wallet, waterproof tackle box, two rod/reel combos, bottles of drinking water. I keep a knife clipped to me and a light making device (signal mirror).

Yep, what he said with extra emphasis on PFD, Knife, Whistle, and Compass.

Electronics fail. :roll:

topic27626.html?hilit=lhr

But it's still better to have them than not.

Stowing your rods is a really good idea and HECKA easier if you put a sock on them.

http://www.stickjacket.com/Web/Home.php

Offshore kayak gear

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