Fishing is one of the best ways to enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of the water. When you fish from the shore, you probably often think of how you could be catching more fish from the water and dream of buying a boat. That will certainly get you onto more fish, but it isn’t always the best way to enjoy the peace of being on the water fishing. For that, you need a kayak.
Kayak fishing has been exploding in popularity over the last few years. There are a number of reasons and everybody has their own ideas on why they buy a kayak. There are clubs sprouting up all over the world that are dedicated to this exciting sport. There are tournaments and other events that show what kayaks can do when it comes to fishing.
As long as you focus on safety and the proper rules for being on the water, kayak fishing is safe and a great way to catch fish, in this article, we will go over several of the benefits.
1 – You’ll catch a lot of fish
You have a massive advantage in a kayak over a boat in that you can get into places where a boat can’t reach. There are areas that would be far too close to rocks or the water too shallow to allow a boat to safely be there. A kayak can easily get into these areas and they are usually full of fish.
There isn’t much that a kayak can’t do to get equipped with the same gear as a boat to be able to fish. Trolling is easy and the speed is ideal which is not easy for many boats. Usually, trolling is reserved for big prey like tuna or other big sports fish. A kayaker can easily troll for things like striped bass, bluefish, and even salmon since you will be going at around the same pace that a fish can swim.
You are able to hook up fish finders on the kayak and see the bottom and where the fish are the same as a boat. You could even hook up electric downriggers for fishing to get down into the depths that would be hard to do with just a weight on your line.
Since a kayak is so quiet you can easily sneak up on any fish around without spooking them. If you are fishing the flats then you will be able to sight fish if you have a kayak that you can stand upon. This is far more effective than going by boat.
2 – It is great exercise
One of the best exercises for core strength is rowing. Paddling a kayak is similar and works a lot of the same muscles. The proper technique is to use the torso and not much work should be done with the arms. This will improve your overall fitness and strength while you are also doing things like casting and reeling in lots of fish.
It’s a fantastic total body workout that will keep you strong and fit and is much more fun and challenging than going to the gym or doing spin classes. Just about every part of the experience has you using a lot of different muscle groups. From when you are loading the kayak at the beginning of the trip to when you are unloading it and storing it after the day is done is packed with a lot of movements.
There are even pedal kayaks that work with foot power to keep your hands free to cast and catch. This works out your leg muscles and not much of your core. It is very good cardio and is a way to keep the blood flowing.
3 – It’s a stress release
It takes a lot to be able to decompress from the stresses of everyday life. Being out on the water is one of the best medicines to the ails that modern living brings. when you are out on a kayak instead of a boat, there is no sound of the engine. There is only the sound of the waves lapping against the hull and the paddles going in and out of the water.
A day spent in such quiet and solitude is something that can become quite addictive and is the reason many people get hooked on kayak fishing as opposed to fishing on a boat. It’s also a lot less fussy and takes less time to prepare which also gives you peace of mind when you are planning a trip.
