Gear up to catch fish on all kinds of waters aboard today's high-tech fishing kayaks. From simple "throw-and-go" paddle kayaks to advanced, electric-motor powered mini-battlewagons, there's a kayak for every angler and every budget.
What’s the best way to run a boat at night? boat light bar
“Don’t.”
That’s the advice I usually give to new boaters or persons fishing unfamiliar waters. If you’re out there after dark, go slow. Walk, don’t run, in other words.
For all the technology that we have—from light sources to chartplotters to night-vision cameras—the consequences of the slightest mishap while running in darkness are too great to justify the time-savings. Lighted navigational markers may fail. Other boaters may not heed lighting requirements for their vessel. I could go on for pages about incidents I’ve chronicled, some resulting in boats totaled, lives lost. In short, strike a piling or vessel at planing speed and the damage will be catastrophic.
That said, there are portions of the Intracoastal Waterway and other areas where many of us safely pick up the pace—a little—on the way to and from fishing spots.
My own advice? Even on home waters that I’ve fished for decades, I reference my chartplotter (updated charts!) to remind myself of the position of upcoming markers—long before I reach them. However, I always visually confirm their position—with my own eyes—before passing.
Some I can see against the ambient background light; others may require a quick burst of a light source, like a handheld spotlight, but don’t overdo it. Running with a spotlight or light bar switched on all the time is distracting to other boaters. Coast Guard navigation rules stipulate that any lights “displayed” which aren’t part of the specific pattern required of your vessel class must not impair the visibility or distinctive character of the required lights. The familiar red/green bow lights of your powerboat, and the white all-around light, tell other boaters very important information about your status.
Bring a spotlight, but if you can’t get from point A to B without it, go slow.
Another thing: I’m exercising particular humility these days as my vision isn’t what it was in my youth. I know my waters intimately, but I’m also respecting my own limitations. In my safe speed calculus I take into account not only the progress of my own vessel in relation to navigational markers, shoals, and other features, but the potential for the unexpected: the unlit boat, the kayaker, floating debris (particularly worrisome in tropical storm season).
To me, it’s a pleasure to be out there. No need to hurry.
It’s easy to lose track of safety equipment rule updates, and to let some required equipment expire (such as nav lights, fire extinguishers, flares, batteries for handheld personal locator beacons). Put your mind at ease: Contact your local Coast Guard Auxiliary (cgaux.org) or United States Power Squadron (americasboating club.org) for a free vessel safety inspection. Get your boat and engine serviced by a trusted mechanic. Don’t neglect trailer lights!
The “Boating” tab at myfwc.com reveals a treasure trove of boating safety advice—plus links to valuable boating safety education courses.
Tell someone where you’re embarking from, where you plan to go, how long you will be on the water, and where you will return. Provide details about your vessel if the other party is not familiar with your boat.
According to FWC, operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal on all bodies of water and can lead to series injuries and consequences. In Florida, it is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, the same as in a vehicle.
Have a designated sober driver. Really, it’s best to leave all decision-impairing substances off the boat—especially at night. Keep yourself and your crew alert out there. Get your thrills from fishing adventures and Florida’s clean tropical air.
A marine-grade spotlight is a should-have on a boat. After years of watching corded, cigarette-lighter spotlights deteriorate in the hold, I’ve settled on a small, rechargeable light which I take on as “as-needed” basis.
I currently use the Streamlight Waypoint 400, which is a pistol-grip spotlight that delivers three levels of illumination: High, 1,400 lumens with 1,265 meters of beam distance; Medium (600 lumens/812 meters); and Low (38 lumens/120 meters). It has a couple of neat features including a built-in folding stand for stationary needs, and a mounting bracket that protects the switch from accidental operation. The light floats and is fully waterproof to IPX8 standards. Charge time at home on AC charger is about 4 hours and the run time is literally days.
In my experience, the lower levels of illumination are suitable for picking up reflective markers along the Intracoastal waters, and are better for preserving your night vision. But, it’s nice to know you have the option of a very powerful light if needed. Elastic strap LED headlamps, like thr Streamlight Enduro Pro, are a great option for yourself and crew, while fishing or attending to basic chores on the boat.
Discover the game-changing versatility of the K-Craft, reviewed by none other than Michael Carney, President and CEO of Outdoor Sportsman Group, for Kayak Fishing Fun!
Mustang Survival introduces UPF shirts and hoodies that are cut just right for active kayak fishermen. Enjoy your time in the sunshine while minimizing the risk of UV harm to your skin.
Great solution for kayak anglers looking for a lightweight, wear-it-all-day Personal Flotation Device. Mustang's Convertible A/M PFD offers unique features that make it an easy choice for kayak fishing in comfort and confidence.
Learn how to convert between automatic and manual modes on the Mustang A/M Convertible series PFD. Also see how to re-arm and re-pack the PFD after use or during annual testing.
As kayaks and kayaking gear have rapidly evolved, so has the demand for on-board rod storage. And as kayaking gear has taken up most of the available gunnel space on standard fishing kayaks, YakAttack has found a way to take advantage of unused real estate on the outside of the kayak—perfect for a collection of rods to suit your technique-specific demands. Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen elaborates.
As kayaks have evolved and anglers have added tremendous amounts of tackle and accessories, the weight factor must be considered. It's not easy to get your kayak to the water's edge if it's loaded down and hard to move—especially by yourself. YakAttack has engineered several transportation options to help you get your kayak from the bed of your pickup to the boat ramp with ease. There are numbers of intuitive carts that carry the load on a reliable chassis system that virtually fits any style hull. Kayak Fishing Fun's Senior Editor Thomas Allen demonstrates the options in this video.
YakAttack already raised the bar with their durable BlackPak Pro series of tackle crates, but they didn't stop there. The company added a kit to increase storage options on top of the BlackPak crates with the ShortStak Upgrade Kit. Plus, when you incorporate the YakAttack TracPak kit, you have the ability to increase tackle storage vertically. Talk about cool innovations. Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen shows you all the cool add-ons and bells and whistles to take your kayak gear storage game up a notch.
There's no doubt that anglers and kayakers love their accessories, now when both those worlds come together, you have a potentially complicated organizational task at hand. Outdoor Crates makes that process simple with durable compartmentalized storage options a plenty to fit any kayaking anglers demands. In this video, Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen demonstrates the Outdoor Crates assortment of sizes, shapes and colors. Kayak fishing organization just got easier!
YakRods is a new company displaying for the first time at the ICAST show in Orlando. They have a unique set of kayak fishing rods, each with a 12-pound magnet that can be mated to a tether cord or affixed to a T-bolt mounted base. This design keeps your rod connected in case it goes overboard, and lets you set up endless options for stowing upright along gear tracks.
Tackle bags have revolutionized our lure and gear storage, and each year there are new innovations. At ICAST 2024, Plano revealed its budget-priced, feature-rich Weekender bags and backpacks. For a level up, Plano also offers the Atlas series bags and packs. See how they compare.
Discover the noteworthy features of the NuCanoe U10 “Unlimited” in this video demonstration. Featured in the 2024 edition of Kayak Fishing Fun magazine, this stable and versatile fishing kayak includes innovative design elements such as a modular electronics pod, transducer deployment, 360 Fusion seat, foot-pedal steering, and a universal transom motor mount system.
Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-nymphing, half-frame and full-cage advantages, disc drags and more. Plus, a new 6000 model in the saltwater-sturdy Fortuna Regent series.
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