Reviewed by Paul Lebowitz

Finally, a kayak fishing book in which the hard core shows right through to the spine. Complete Kayak Fisherman author Ric Burnley earned his bones hunting big stripers under the cold winter lights of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, or busting pell-mell through the surf of the Virginia Tidelands.

Hard-won experience is the foundation of Burnley's comprehensive book. Everything the novice needs to know for a successful start is here. Chapters cover selecting the right fishing kayak (a critical process where mistakes are costly), outfitting it, and paddling for fish. The section on safety is salted with lessons learned the hard way.

The author's East Coast roots are obvious but balanced with interviews of regional experts. The result is a must-have for any kayak angler's bookshelf, the spiritual successor to Ken Daubert's pioneering but now dated classic. www.burfordbooks.com