By Paul Lebowitz

August 2006

Score one for the little guy. Or little boat, in this case a sit-on-top fishing kayak. The small but seaworthy craft are now a common sight in coastal waters. Not too long ago these areas were the exclusive province of sportfishing charters, also known as head boats in the east or partyboats along the west coast. A lot of the guys bobbing around on the kayaks are former customers.

“No doubt the SoCal landings have lost a fortune to the kayak makers,” said Larry Lauman. The hardcore angler once rode a sportboat out to the fishing grounds up to four times a week. These days he patrols the rich kelp beds of La Jolla on his kayak.

PHOTO COURTESY ANDREW ALLEN

Kurt Schindler got his first glimpse of a kayak angler from the deck of a partyboat. “I recall thinking that guy is crazy, being on the open ocean in such a little thing. But I also thought he could get to some cool spots that the big boats couldn't,” said Schindler, who purchased a fishing kayak of his own just weeks later.

Anglers who’ve made the switch cite crowded sportboats and lost fish as the chief reasons.

“I basically got sick of fighting for bait when the foaming started, always having to watch for walkers when I wanted to throw my iron, and getting my line crossed by newbie anglers,” said west coast angler Lang Armean.

Cost is another factor. “I used to spend anywhere from 45 to 60 dollars per outing, for the price of the ride, food and cleaning,” said Southern Californian Sergio Montoya.

Some of the sportboat skippers seem to resent sharing the water with kayaks.

”Almost every boat I have been on would tell everyone to deter kayakers by lobbing 2-oz. torpedo sinkers at them. The sporties always referred to kayakers as the ‘Tupperware Brigade.’ I thought it was cool that these ‘yakkers looked peaceful in their paddling freedom out in the big blue,” said Armean.

Kayak converts enjoy the serenity of paddle-powered fishing.

“Watching a fish coming to the surface as you crank with your belly against a rail shared by 50 other people is much different than having a largemouth bass jump and stare you eyeball to eyeball. There is no turning back. It’s you, nature, and the fish and that’s it,” said Roger Gossett.

Not all kayak anglers have permanently given up on sportboats like New England resident Gossett. Some fish are too far from shore to chase without the advantage of a motor. San Diegan Dave Easton used tuna as one example, “If the bluefin go off I don’t think I can get there on my kayak.”

 There’s also no galley on a kayak. “I do kind of miss the messy burgers!” said Lauman.