Hi guys , I have been wanting to get into kayak fishing for years . I just bought 5 of them for the family . But only 3 are for fishing myself my wife and 19 yr old son will be fishing on the field & stream eagle talon 12.6 . The other two are for my girls the will do just pleasure trips. I have been fishing the first coast for 35 yrs. mostly fresh water and a lot of bottom off shore fishing. But sold bass boat and salt water boat. My question is I am sitting up my tackle box. I need suggestions. Like line and leader size. A hand full of must have lures. And techniques . I will plan on hitting the creeks for reds trout flares etc... PPLEASE HEALP!!!! Looking forward to getting out there and paddling with y'all .

I have 7' rods with 2500 reels. Each has about 150 yards of 10lb power pro, with 20lb seaguar fluro leader.
There's a ton of baits/lures you can try. I have a few topwater mirrolure, rapala, badonkadonk.
Mostly fish with 1/8 oz jigheads or weedless hooks and plastics. I like DOA, saltwater assassin, and the new Slayer SSTs are great. Hope that helps. I'm sure you will get some more info from the others here. This is just what I like.

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Jackson Cuda 14 - Urban Camo

YAKANGLER.COM

you have a pm bro

Welcome aboard. I think keeping it simple, especially early is the way to go. I would load your rods with a 10lb test braided line and 20lb test leaders. I like fluorocarbon for my subsurface setups
and mono leaders for my topwaters because the mono floats. Pick up some 1/8 and 1/4 ounce jig heads and pair them up with white and chicken on a chain colored Saltwater Assassin paddle tails. For a few other choices I think the Heddon Spook Junior is the easiest topwater lure to start with and I would pick it up in a mullet colored pattern. Grab some DOA shrimp or a Mirrolure 17mr suspending lure and you now have the entire water column covered. Good luck and I hope this helps......

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Hobie Pro Angler 12
Hobie Outback

Blaze:
All of the above is good advice. About the only thing nobody mentioned yet is what my buddy Chappy calls a "tourist rig" . A popping cork or cajun thunder with a 1/8 oz jighead about 18" to 24" below it. (what he often forgets to mention is that some of his biggest trout came on a so called tourist rig) Hang a mud minnow or a live shrimp on that, cast it near an oyster bar with a bit of tide moving through it and hang on. Works great with a 3" gulp shrimp too. Your bass gear is perfect for most inshore work as long as you rinse it when you're done.

The other thing nobody mentioned is that you need a way to stop the boat. A Stake Out Pole (SOP) is what most folk use as most places inshore are MUCH less that 8' deep, or have a shallow spot to stake out on within casting distance. You can also back your bum up into the grass, but a SOP with an anchor trolley gives you a lot more flexibility. Search "SOP" and "anchor trolley" on this site to learn waaaaay more than you want to know.

Also try to pack as little gear as possible. That means bringing what you need and not the giant Plano box. There's just not enuf real estate available. And WEAR your pfd! As important, HAVE FUN!

Wali

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"For when sleeping I dream of big fish and strong fights."

Guys I can't thank y'all enough . I will take all of the tips I can get. I can't wait to get out there. The family are taking the kayaks out tomorrow for our first official trip going down the ichatutnee river . Thanks again looking forward to running into y'all on the water.