By Paul Lebowitz

You’ve seen the photos. The ones in which some lucky guy is hoisting a fat yellowtail or slug of a white seabass – and the fish is nearly as large as the kayak he’s sitting in. Must be something to this kayak fishing craze, hmm? You’re itching to give it a try.

As tempting as it is, don’t just buy the first kayak you see, quickly bolt on a couple of rod holders, and then charge offshore with a brace of untethered Trinidads or other pricey gear. More than a few who’ve taken this route have paid a heavy price in gear dropped overboard or lost in the uncaring surf, seasoned with a big dose of no-fish frustration.

Kayak fishing is something nearly anyone can do, but fishing from a small, human powered craft takes some getting used to. Start slow, particularly if you’ve never paddled a kayak.

Take the time to familiarize yourself with your new steed. In fact, for the first trip or two, it’s not a bad idea to leave the fishing tackle at home. Use the time to become accustomed to paddling and learn the limits of the boat. One of the first things you should do is double the power of your paddle stroke by figuring how to push with one arm at the same time as you pull on the other. There’s a lot more to an efficient paddle stroke, but that’ll get you started right.

Go somewhere sheltered and safe and get comfortable with the kayak – and your PFD, which won’t be any help if it’s stashed below decks when you need it. Sit side-saddle, straddle the kayak and slither up to the bow, even turn around to sit facing backwards. Today’s popular sit-on-top fishing kayaks are stable and forgiving, so you’ll be able to pull hard on fish, but they still have their limits. It’s better to learn them ahead of time. See how far you can push your boat before it turns turtle. It’s a great excuse to practice climbing back on once you’ve fallen off, otherwise known as self-rescue.

When you are ready to go fishing, keep things simple at first. Limit yourself to one or two outfits and a handful of tackle. If you hadn’t already noticed, these boats don’t come with acres of deck space. The trick to managing your gear is everything must have its place. And if you can’t bear to lose a piece of gear, tether it to the kayak.

Pull on a fish from the deck of a sportboat or from shore and it comes to you. On a kayak, hook a good fish and you’re off on a thrilling ride. You reel yourself to the fish. When it comes time to land it, there’s nowhere for it to go but your lap.

Since fighting and handling fish is so different from a kayak, it’s a good idea to get some practice on smaller models before you set your sights on bigger game. Southern California’s many bays are excellent for making those first casts and paddle strokes. Catch some fish, learn how to survive boat wakes and other turbulence, and soon enough you and your kayak will be one. Then it’ll be time to head out on the big water.  

Want to get there faster? Book a trip with a kayak fishing guide. Instead of learning the hard way, by trial and error, you’ll get expert instruction on how to kayak fish safely and effectively.

LOOKS EASY – There are so many photos of kayakers posing with big fish, it must be easy. It is, but fishing from a 14-foot length of plastic isn’t quite the same as going after fish from a boat. It’s a good idea to learn the differences before charging offshore after your own homeguard yellowtail.

LOOK MA, NO FISHING GEAR – Most sit-on-top fishing kayaks are extremely stable, but they still have their limits. Make it your business to find them on your first few trips. Leave the fishing gear at home, grab a PFD and a friend, hit some sheltered water, and see how far you can push the kayak.