What do you wish you knew when you started?

[tacmik]

How addicting it became. How the experience of being on the ocean seeing whales , sharks, and other sea creatures up close while on a little piece of plastic could be so soothing, and that is before catching your dinner.

[TJones]

Safely through surf. .

[Mahigeer]

Consider the weight of the kayak you are buying.

Cheaper, heavier kayaks are no bargain.

It is addictive and expenses can add up.

[Tandem Assassin]

Buy a skiff..

[Daniel Chambers]

Originally Posted by Tandem Assassin

Buy a skiff..

New guy question...can you explain your response, please?

[Daniel Chambers]

Originally Posted by Mahigeer

Consider the weight of the kayak you are buying.

Cheaper, heavier kayaks are no bargain.

It is addictive and expenses can add up.

What's the best way to figure out whether the boat you're considering will be a good fit for the type of fishing you want to do?

[Mahigeer]

Originally Posted by Daniel Chambers

What's the best way to figure out whether the boat you're considering will be a good fit for the type of fishing you want to do?

I will let the more experience kayakers here to answer the above question.

My first kayak was a used 14' Malibu. Paddle only. Very stable.

During the first trip in Baja, it was clear that the Hobie Mirage Drive kayaks were the better choice. Although there are different Hobie Mirage Drive kayaks.

PA 14' being the heaviest one for single person if I am not mistaken.

[FISH11]

After having learned all about how to choose the kayaks (for surf launching and LJ) in the post here on BWE in early 2013, about starting in the bays, how to rig it for catching Yellowtail. Since finding all this info and then getting to put it into use and build on that from all the time on the water. I found used early model Malibu X Factor at Fast Lane with all but a bait tank, so I built one. Loved the super stability and storage space, caught a lot of Yellow on it after 5 or 6 month of getting to know exactly what fishing line to use, knot to tie and hook to use. After 3 years I started using a Jackson Cuda 14 and sold it after using it and catching Yellows on it for 8 months (it never had anything close to the stability and for going over or incoming the surf at LJ as the Malibu X Factor. I June of 2016 I got a Hobie Revo 13 and I sold the older Malibu and have enjoyed the Mirage drive and landed Yellows, etc. on it but can't master how to get it to respond in the surf like my 2016 Malibu X Factor 14.4 . I November 2016 I bought slightly used 2016 Malibu X Factor because I found a super deal and had all the gear to set it up already. I enjoy using it also. What the bottom line is, is that all good kayaks that can handle the Surf and distances at LJ are both fun, wether it's Mirage Drive or Paddle. I can choose which, to take based on weather reports for size of surf , wind speeds and currents. If you visit this site and read a lot posts, then there isn't too much you couldn't have learned. Also watched Jim Sammons youtube videos on how to launch and land in the surf. I almost exclusively fish in LJ for Yellowtail. I LOVE BWE!

[_Obed]

During the first trip in Baja, it was clear that the Hobie Mirage Drive kayaks were the better choice.

comments like these always crack me the fuck up. especially since most of my buddies who live and fish down there dont even have one. the first hobbie i ever seen in MX is in Campeche, Merida.

but anyways i wish i new more knots then using swivels. it has saved me alot of money sitting on the couch learning knots.

[GregAndrew]

1) If you feel like you are trying to reinvent the wheel, there are probably 15 other guys that had the same idea (it didn't work for them either).

2) There is no "all-around good" anything. Get what you need the first time or rent a storage space for everything else.

3) You get what you pay for (see #1 & 2 above).

4) Kayak fishing is an endless number of Nat Geo Moments.

[Baja_Traveler]

Originally Posted by Mahigeer

Consider the weight of the kayak you are buying.

Cheaper, heavier kayaks are no bargain.

As opposed to Expensive, Heavy Kayaks....

[makobob]

Originally Posted by Baja_Traveler

As opposed to Expensive, Heavy Kayaks....

PICTURE taken at San Quintin Baja Norte.

[Daniel Chambers]

Originally Posted by TJones

Safely through surf. .

Any techniques you'd like to share? Or is it something only learned by practice?

[TJones]

Originally Posted by Daniel Chambers

Any techniques you'd like to share? Or is it something only learned by practice?

But, the best thing you could do is go to lj when there is a good onshore wind and a high surf like 2-3 foot minimum and practice in the surf with unladen kayak. You confidence will skyrocket. Practice bracing and punching through surf.

[FullFlavorPike]

How to properly work a lever drag

[jorluivil]

Personally, there really isn't anything I wish I knew, as with other things that have happened to me in life most of what I know now was gained from my own experiences. Yes, there are some things that I learned from talking with others but the reality is that not until you live that experience will you learn from it. How many times have you heard someone say, "I TOLD YOU SO"

I'll give you some basic kayak fishing examples that I knew but didn't bother learning from them until I experienced it:

carrying a change of clothes: I knew I would get wet one day but not until the day that I took a dip did I realize how important it is to carry a dry set of clothes and a towel

water bucket: I'd always see Tony and Greg with small water buckets/jugs/cups on their kayaks and always knew how useful they were while on the water but not until I realized that I was constantly dumping the fresh water from my only bottle of water to make a bucket/jug/cup did I decide to get my own and save my drinking water for drinking.

bait dehooker: who needs one of those stupid things? ummmmmmmm, everyone. Here's another things I knew about but because I was OK with just using my pliers to get bait off of my sabiki I didn't bother getting one. I can still here Tony's voice in the back gound, "Jorge, when are you going to quit being a dumbshit and get yourself a dehooker"? Again, as with the other items that I listed I knew about the dehooker but not until the day that I lost a pair of pliers did I realize how helpful it would have been to have a floating dehooker.


Knowing is one thing but experiencing it first hand will change how you do things in the future. Hope that helps and good luck on your report.

[Daniel Chambers]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

Personally, there really isn't anything I wish I knew, as with other things that have happened to me in life most of what I know now was gained from my own experiences. Yes, there are some things that I learned from talking with others but the reality is that not until you live that experience will you learn from it. How many times have you heard someone say, "I TOLD YOU SO"

I'll give you some basic kayak fishing examples that I knew but didn't bother learning from them until I experienced it:

carrying a change of clothes: I knew I would get wet one day but not until the day that I took a dip did I realize how important it is to carry a dry set of clothes and a towel

water bucket: I'd always see Tony and Greg with small water buckets/jugs/cups on their kayaks and always knew how useful they were while on the water but not until I realized that I was constantly dumping the fresh water from my only bottle of water to make a bucket/jug/cup did I decide to get my own and save my drinking water for drinking.

bait dehooker: who needs one of those stupid things? ummmmmmmm, everyone. Here's another things I knew about but because I was OK with just using my pliers to get bait off of my sabiki I didn't bother getting one. I can still here Tony's voice in the back gound, "Jorge, when are you going to quit being a dumbshit and get yourself a dehooker"? Again, as with the other items that I listed I knew about the dehooker but not until the day that I lost a pair of pliers did I realize how helpful it would have been to have a floating dehooker.


Knowing is one thing but experiencing it first hand will change how you do things in the future. Hope that helps and good luck on your report.

Tru Dat! Thanks, Jorge!

[Hunters Pa]

That I was going to need a lot more space in the garage

[makobob]

A heavy pair of cutters or linesman plyers to cut that trebble out of yourself or a friend. They do not cut very easily.

[Daniel Chambers]

Originally Posted by tacmik

How addicting it became. How the experience of being on the ocean seeing whales , sharks, and other sea creatures up close while on a little piece of plastic could be so soothing, and that is before catching your dinner.

Just wondering...in your experience, do most saltwater kayak anglers also fresh water kayak fish or do most focus exclusively on one or the other type of fishing?