Kayak Fishing Guide

Next time you find yourself trolling for stripers in your fishing kayak (read this for more info post about tandem kayaks) or sea kayaking down some lengthy stretch of coastline, fatigue pooling in your arms and shoulders, ask yourself whether you are kayaking from the core.

f:id:kayakfishing:20161113092545j:plain


If fatigue proves that you're not, add core power to your sea kayaking and kayak fishing with a few simple onwater drills. Chances are you'll find that same stretch of coast less tiring next time you head in your sea kayak or fishing kayak. By rotating your torso and paddling from the core, you'll find yourself paddling faster and further and with deeper reserves.

Try these three simple drills. Each ensures that you paddle your kayak with your core, not your arms and shoulders. Each drill helps you rotate your torso, improving your kayaking stroke.

First, paddle your kayak with a friend kayaking parallel. Have your friend repeat show me your back, show me your sternum. The verbal cue reminds you to rotate your torso so that your partner sees first your sternum, then your back, between each stroke.

If your coach cannot see each exclusively, you are not rotating your torso. Instead, you are rotating your shoulders, indulging what local Boston-area sea kayaking enthusiast David Lewis calls faux rotation. Rotating your shoulders doesn't engage your core in your kayaking stroke.

Next, wrap a colored piece of waterproof tape around your kayak paddle shaft at the ferrule, the fitting where the halves of your kayak paddle join. Place another piece of tape on your PFD, at your sternum. If the tape on your sternum does not stay lined up with the tape on your paddle shaft on each stroke, you are rotating your shoulders, not your torso.

Next, place your hands just a few inches apart at the center of your kayak paddle, and paddle this way for fifty yards or so. You'll find it impossible to make your sea kayak or fishing kayak move efficiently without rotating your torso.

 

f:id:kayakfishing:20170510151432j:plain

For one, hands too close together renders kayaking with bent elbows impossible, eliminating the easily identified kangaroo punch stroke typical of so many paddlers' kayaking strokes. Second, by removing your arms and shoulders from the bargain, the only way to place your kayak blade forward and draw it back is by rotating your torso.

Concentrate on what the stroke feels like (you will feel strain in your lats, obliques, and abs), and gradually move your hands further apart while maintaining those distinct abs, lats, and obliques sensations of torso rotation.

The technique forces you to rotate your torso as you place the kayak blade forward in the water and draw it back. The drill is most remarkable and vivid in that it forces an immediate activation of your lats, abs, obliques. You'll feel a definite pinch below each armpit, and at each hip, and tension in your abs on each kayak stroke. The muscles will be tender the next day, proof that you've used them.

Kayak Fishing for Bluefin Tuna: Cape Ann, Massachusetts

f:id:kayakfishing:20170614164621j:plain

 

East Coast kayak fishermen(for the best inflatable kayak visit this resource page) from Maine to the Carolinas interested in catching their first bluefin tuna will do well to take a long and careful look at the North Shore Massachusetts towns of Gloucester and Rockport.

 


Just an hour's drive from Boston, Gloucester and Rockport, set on the rocky granite outcropping known as Cape Ann, are a unique world unto themselves, not only for the variety of groundfish (pollock, cod, haddock) available in its nearshore waters, but also for the yearly arrival of three coveted pelagics: the heavily-targeted striped bass, the under-rated but truly delicious bluefish, and, finally, that perhaps most coveted of New England sportfish, bluefin tuna.

So-called football bluefin tuna arrive and feed in the nearshore waters of Cape Ann anytime between mid July and the end of October. Their arrival from distant corners and regions of the vast North Atlantic Ocean coincides with the arrival of bluefish and shoal-like schools of mackerel, two fish that migrate through these waters from late summer to late fall.

Bluefin tuna are fast-swimming and exciting to catch, and quite good to eat. Their caloric needs and demands are enormous. Thus they arrive in New England waters between Maine and the Stellwaggen Seamount waters of Cape Cod Bay not because they enjoy the balmy weather, uncongested waters and, relatively speaking, bath-like temperatures of the New England water column. They show up to feed on those previously mentioned mackerel and maligned bluefish.

Books, DVDs, TV shows have been written, produced broadcast and, with succeeding generations, fallen in and out of favor, on how to target, catch, fight, and land bluefin tuna. The key is where to find them. And when.

Enter the shorelines of Rockport and Gloucester, Massachusetts, from their nearshore waters off Milk and Thachers Islands, off Rockport, to the more open somewhat more intimidating waters off Rockport's northeastern Halibut Point and Gloucester's northwestern shores from Folly and Lanes Coves. And too the vast open stretch of water from Ipswich Bay to Newburyport and New Hampshire and the mouth of the fast-moving Merrimack River.f:id:kayakfishing:20170614164521j:plain

The kayak and inshore powerboat fisherman looking for bluefin tuna this in this worthy and relatively unknown but still-carefully target area need equipped with gear which is not so much different as a highly-exaggerated version of what they use when fishing for striped bass: trolling gear, leader, swimmer and popper lures.

Bait and lures needs to be bigger, as do hooks, rods and reels, terminal tackle, and, finally, the kayak fisherman's kayaking skills, physical endurance, and ability to land large, brutally powerful fish.

The kayak fisherman accustomed to slowly trolling shoreline structure 15 feet to 25 yards offshore and the mild physical needs this type of fishing demands -- essentially the ability to sit on your rear end for hours while trolling at molasses speeds -- need not apply. The angler in a kayak needs open water and rough water paddling skills plus the physical endurance and willingness to paddle further offshore, and at a much faster clip.

In essence, the typical kayak fisherman's 10 to 12 foot sit-on-top or sit-in kayak won't quite do the trick unless you happen across a school of bluefin tuna within a stone's throw of the shoreline or put in.

The kayak fisherman looking for bluefin will need to be delivered offshore via powerboat trailered in at Rockport's Granite Pier. Or he or she will need the skills and abilities to paddle a longer, faster kayak 14 feet long or longer, or, a 17 or 18 foot fiberglass sea kayak, from the handful of put-ins that service the area.

Here are put-ins in Gloucester and Rockport that yield access to Cape Ann's bluefin tuna waters. In Rockport, try Pebble Beach, a small rock- and boulder- covered beach with a steep firm and oftentimes intimidating launching conditions.

Also in Rockport, try Old Garden beach, a five to six minute drive from the quaint streets of downtown Rockport, where launching kayaks is informally allowed before after Labor Day weekend. Third put-in in Rockport is Back beach, also a five-minute drive from downtown Rockport, where you'll have to stuff the long-term parking meters with quarters.

Fourth on the list is Folly Cove off route 127, where the Gloucester villages of Lanesville and Bayview look across Ipswich Bay's open expanses. Parking in the tiny lot is restricted to Gloucester residents in June, July and August.

Finally, kayak fishermen looking for immediate access to Ipswich Bay, from the mouth of the Annisquam River to the open waters east of Coffins and Crane Beaches, can use the free public ramp and good-sized parking lot at Lanes Cove. Just be sure to use the ramp and avoid the temptation to plow through the eelgrass on foot (and thereby destroying baitfish hatching habitat).

For more information on sea kayaking and kayak fishing, see this online resources.

Kayaking in the Channel Islands

It was crisp (cold) morning in May when I decided to throw all caution to the wind and go Kayaking(for the best kayak within budget read this reference). I was in Oxnard, CA on a trip, and was scheduled to go, while the rest of my team went hiking.


"I can hike in Los Angeles", was my thought for choosing to go kayaking. As the day came closer, I grew apprehensive. I am overweight and did not want the embarrassment of the kayak tipping over. The water is cold in California, though you would not think so.

f:id:kayakfishing:20161113092545j:plain

Well, I mustered up all my courage and got on the boat, which was to take us out to the Island. The service is run by Island Packers. These guys are great, with a focus on safety. Before going on the boat, they made sure that the waters were tame enough to go on the hour-long trip.

 

It was an interesting journey. Think turbulence in the water. It is a good thing that I love water, and never get seasick. The ride was a great opportunity to meet other people setting out for the island adventure. The couple that I was to go kayaking with was from out of the county. They were celebrating a birthday.

 

The water seemed to be throwing the boat around for a little while. We had to hold onto each other if we wanted to go anyplace. I needed to go to the bathroom, but there was no way I was going to attempt to move from the top floor to the bottom while the wave was so strong. Eventually, it did calm down, and we even saw a couple of whales and sea lions.

When we reached Anacapa, we dropped our bags and the hikers off on the Island, while we changed into our gear. I thought we were going to be in the type of kayak that you had to sit in like on TV, but our guide prefers the sit on top kind. He says it is easier for beginners and does not tip over as easily. I was sold on that point alone.

 

Our guide was Mike Lamm, who is well known on the surfing circuit. He is a coach, competitor, and all around great guy. I could not think of a better person to take me kayaking for the first time.

 

The boat went out a little into the water, and each person climbed down the stairs to get in the boat. You feel the cold water because you have to go one or two rungs under water to sit in the boat.

 

Since I was the least experienced of the group, I got in last. Lamm gave me the basics of how to row. It was sort of easy since I had been canoeing before, but it had been years.

 

We then embarked on a three-hour journey around the Channel Islands. I saw all kinds of wildlife, like the protected brown pelicans, tons of sea lions, and gorgeous starfish.

In the beginning, I was little unsteady, so Lamm hooked my boat to him, but that got old and I dug in and found my inner kayaker. It was great. I went in a wonderful cave, and close enough to the sea lions that you could smell them.

f:id:kayakfishing:20170612162143j:plain

I was also hampered by the fact that somehow the seat cushion had come loose, so my back was killing me, and I was leaning further and further back. I thought it was normal, but when I mentioned it to Mike Lamm, we paddled over to a small island and switched out boats.

The water was so clear that you could see the plant life below. I wanted to stay longer, but we had a boat to catch. In the end, there was no rush since the rest of my party was running late.

You hear most often of Catalina, but Anacapa is the Island that is a must see. It is not developed, so you see nature at its best. It was unspoiled by development. There were no vendors, restaurants, or hotels.

If you want to sleep on the island it runs about $15 per night. The boat to the Island runs about $42 for adults,, and kayaking with Mike Lamm runs from $79-$179 depending on how many hours you are out there.

I had a blast kayaking on that chilly day. It was made great through my wonderful guide, Mike Lamm. I wonder if he gives surfing lessons.

Tandem kayaking Guide

f:id:kayakfishing:20170527002232j:plain

Kayaking is an ever popular experience for adventure sports enthusiasts. Previously, kayaking was a singles endeavor, one person per boat. Now, pairs and even families can take advantage of tandem kayaks. Together, you can travel gorgeous oceans, still fresh-water lakes, roaring rapids or hidden tributaries in a tandem kayak.

A tandem kayak is also referred to as a double obviously because it can accommodate two people. This style of kayak is perfect for beginners that are reluctant about going it alone on the water. Grab a buddy and travel together in a tandem kayak.

There aren't any regulations about who can be in a tandem kayak. In fact, kayakers take children, parents, friends and even family pets in the tandem kayak. One of the interesting things about a double is that the second passenger doesn't have to raise a finger if they don't want to. Maybe your second passenger is too young, too old or just not physically capable of paddling. That's alright because they can just sit and enjoy the ride.

Tandem kayaks are more wide that the one-man version which simply makes a double boat more stable allowing both passengers a safe day on the water.

f:id:kayakfishing:20170510151432j:plain



Tandem kayaking is a good opportunity for families. Very young children can always be seated in Mom or Dad's lap, or if old enough, the kids can be seated between parents where you can keep tabs on them, ensuring a safe trip.

The most important question you need to ask before heading out is "Who is sitting where?" To ensure a smooth and safe journey, seating arrangement must be considered.

Size and weight of individuals, gear and even paddles must be accounted for when dividing into teams. The kayaker with more experience should be seated in the back of the kayak for each boat. Also, the greatest weight should be at the rear as of the boat.

Each pair of tandem boaters need to work together. If both partners are able to paddle, the tandem kayak will make great speed through the water. It's important to unify your strokes to avoid clashing the paddles which results in slowing down the boat and is much less efficient.

Trolling Motor Battery - Proper Care For Good Service

Much the same as all other equipment, you're trolling motor battery must get appropriate care to guarantee long life. It is not difficult to do and just takes a little time and consideration.

f:id:kayakfishing:20170527002232j:plain



Overheating is the main foe of all batteries. It causes the plates to clasp and separate from interior connectors. If you make a propensity for running your trolling motor battery the distance down, or if you charge it at too quick pace, the battery will overheat and bomb rashly.

Lead-acid batteries are intended to suit the development and contraction that happen in typical operation. Interior cells contain a gathering of exchanging positive and negative plates. Higher amp-hour batteries have a more prominent number of plates. These plates are protected from each other by dielectric separators and are submerged in an answer of sulfuric acid and water. The arrangement is for the most part sulfuric acid at full-charge, and water when the battery is in the discharged state. This arrangement of cells works fine for a long time the length of the battery is not subjected to extreme discharge and charge rates.

It is typical for warmth to be produced amid battery use. You can feel this by touching the links that lead to your trolling motor. Be that as it may, issues emerge when the warmth winds up noticeably unnecessary. As expressed before, overabundance warmth will clasp the inside plates. This causes the battery to either flop by and large or works with lessened capacity. It is this second case can find you napping. The battery appears to be fine after charging yet keeps running down speedier than foreseen. This is a bother with a trolling motor, however, can abandon you stranded if it happens to the battery that begins your watercraft motor.

Undercharging is a typical cause of battery disappointment. Weaker cells end up plainly depleted speedier than more grounded cells and this leads to harmed plates. This harm keeps the cell from continually achieving a condition of ordinary charge. Rehashed undercharging will inevitably devastate the battery.

Charging your trolling motor battery at too quick a rate will likewise annihilate the cells & for the best Trolling Motor Battery visit this page. A quick charging rate causes high warmth and will assuredly harm the plates and separators. The sulfuric acid arrangement can bubble to the point where a lot of oxygen and hydrogen are delivered. This causes erosion of the plates.

Appropriate operation of a profound cycle trolling motor battery requires a half discharge of appraised capacity before charging. Rehashed discharging past this point causes abundance extension of the cells. This is the reason a great many people purchase battery packs intended for double the expected use.

An exact charge rate will guarantee long battery life. Amazing chargers have a moderate cycle charge rate, and a complete rate to avoid overcharging. This complete rate is critical to forestall harm. It must be recently enough to hold the charge without going above battery capacity.

Five Fishing Gps Tips You Need To Learn Now

Sea traveling is more stressing than any other means of transport such as land. The sea is very wide to travel on it without any navigation assistance. The GPS fishing which uses a GPS device is more efficient as it has all the locations on earth.

f:id:kayakfishing:20170527001837j:plain

This is possible as it uses navigations submitted to them from the satellites. Unlike other GPS devices, the GPS fishing has a battery, which marks it as an advantage. Similarly, to automobiles GPS, which can track a jam the GPS fishing, can locate areas with large rocks, shallow water, and wreckages. In addition, mariners can also locate their ships exact location, entrance and their anchorage place.

 

Benefits Of GPS Fishing

People on boat fishing sometimes may have a lot of work that they can even find themselves lost their track. However, they do not have to get stressed anymore, as the boats are designed with a GPS-tracking device to keep them on track. The GPS for fishing works with the satellites in the sky, which rotates twice a day to give the boat user his exact location at any moment. Therefore, if one goes to buy a boat, he should ask the seller to install for him the GPS-fishing gadget,read this guide https://fishingpicks.com/best-handheld-gps-for-fishing/

.

f:id:kayakfishing:20170527001906j:plain

 

Uses Of GPS Fishing

  • GPS is a very important tool for getting the locations of different thing in the world today. As a result, the Mariners made things easy for fisheries as they installed this device on the boats. This ensures one a safe sail while on any water body. Below are five tips on how the GPS fishing can be useful:
  • Every time a fisher sails and catches a fish he should make a save the location on his GPS device so that it can mark it as a waypoint. This will enable him to locate the areas that he can catch as many fishes as he wishes.
  • If a fisher catches a fish while on the boat, he should set his GPS to locate the specific place. Later on, he should do his fishing at that point at he catches no more fish out of that place.
  • The other tip is that if a fisher is sailing around a location where he sees other fishers catching fishes. He should save the location so that on his return he makes use of the place. This also applies to circumstances when his bites are over, and he finds an area to be real potential.
  • Interesting is that one can also share the coordinates of a location with many fishes. This is only possible with the GPS fishing. If it were not there, fishers then would have been left with so many guesses while directing their fellows.
  • The world of fishing is now more interesting than ever with the GPS fishing. Now that an angler has all the coordinates for potential fishing areas, the next time he sails he will only launch in those areas rather than having to start over.

 

From this piece, I hope you now understand the importance of GPS for fishing. I believe you will get one when planning for your next fishing trip so that you can you can enjoy the whole experience and bring home fish.

Walleye Fishing Tips

f:id:kayakfishing:20170526144328j:plain

Walleye are considered by many to be the best tasting fish in the water. While not yet as popular as largemouth bass fishing, walleye has a devoted core of fisherman who pursue the walleye above all other fish. One reason that walleye fishing is so popular is that walleye produces a very tasty meal. While bass used to be commonly eaten, it is largely a catch and release fish now. Walleye is still seen by many fishermen as a meal at the end of the line!

 

Walleye is easy to clean and produces a meat that is not oily and has little fat, making it a delectable fish meal.

 


The most important tip to fishing for walleye is to fish where the walleye are. While this may seem obvious, too few fishermen seek out proper walleye habitat when fishing. In the spring look for spawning walleye to be in more shallow water with rocky bottoms. Small tributaries with gravel bottoms are a great place to look for walleye in the spring.

 

Fish for walleye where the smaller stream comes into the larger river or lake. At other times of the year fish for walleye near structure at dusk when the sharp eyed walleye may be seeking food. Daytime fishing for walleye can be rough outside of the spawn. Fish for walleye deep with a small fish imitating lure. Walleye stay in loose schools so where you catch one you should present the chance of catching more walleye.

f:id:kayakfishing:20170526144345j:plain

When selecting bait or lures for walleyes here are some tips. Brightly colored lures seem to work best in the spring for walleye. Outside of spring use lures that are more natural in appearance to fish for walleyes.

 

Deep running crankbaits, jigs, and spoons are all great producers of walleye. Fish them deep and fairly slowly. Don't set the hook too quickly. If available a fish finder is great for determining walleye depth when suspended in lakes during the summer months. Casting into deep drop offs around a river or lake is another good tip. when going out for fishing for a outdoor trip you need to use best inflatable kayak for safety,visit this page.

 

If you know of weed beds near the bottom of a lake this is a great place to bounce lures as walleye will seek shelter from the hot sun under the weeds. Regardless of the targeted species, I like to cast into the rocks and let the lure fall into the water more naturally than straight casting into the water.