As kayak fishing develops, more and more suitable models are springing up from manufacturers. Discover this booming market.
Sit on top preferably
For safety, a sea kayak must be unsinkable. With a double hull that is completely watertight, it must face the waves without risk. We talk about a "sit on top" kayak on which you sit (and not of which you are inside). They are made of rotomoulded polyethylene, a very strong material that can be pulled over the sand without risk and is very resistant to impact.
However, there are also kayaks in which you sit in and whose buoyancy is ensured by watertight compartments and a hatch in which you enter. These kayaks have the advantage of keeping the fisherman dry.
Also think about the comfort of the seat. A fishing trip often lasts a long time. You should therefore favour kayaks with comfortable seats
Which model to choose?
A kayak is chosen according to its use. It will not be the same size for a small person as it is for a larger fisherman. The hull should not have the same volume. Remember that the fisherman also likes the equipment. It is common to take with you more than ten kilos of accessories to go fishing (electronic equipment, battery, rods, lures, food...)
Although kayaks with taut, fairly narrow lines are known to glide better, it should not be forgotten that most of the fishing time is spent drifting to a stop. The kayak must therefore be stable and comfortable during these phases.
Very wide, a kayak can even allow you to fish standing up (in calm seas). We will then take a model with a flat surface in front of the seat to find its balance, well camped on its feet.
The length will depend on your size, but keep in mind that a sea kayak must be more than 3.50 m long to be allowed to sail more than 300 m from the shore. A short kayak will be more maneuverable, which is why they are found on rivers, but a longer model is better able to withstand the sea, waves and swells.
What kind of propulsion system?
Historically, the kayak is handled with a paddle. Kayak enthusiasts who later came to practice fishing still prefer this mode of propulsion. But in the last 10 years, "pedal" kayaks have appeared. They are the delight of fishermen who find here an intuitive and efficient propulsion that leaves their hands free. It's ideal when you want to hold a fishing rod!
The propulsion is manipulated with the feet (we are often stronger with our legs than with our arms). There are two kinds of propulsion: propellers and blades (invented by Hobie). For the propellers, you pedal like on a bicycle to make it turn (forwards or backwards), with the blades, you make a stepping movement (fore and aft) with an inverter (joystick) to change the direction. This type of kayak is equipped with a rudder that is operated with a joystick.
Both systems have identical power and allow speeds of around 5 to 6 km/h, or even more in calm seas. When drifting, during the fishing phase, foot propulsion allows you to compensate for the wind or current and to hold your kayak exactly on the fishing zone.
But beware, if your kayak is equipped with pedals, you will always be required to carry a paddle with you, it's regulation.
How to equip your kayak
Today, manufacturers offer models already designed for fishing with many accessories or solutions to adapt them to the kayak (fixing rail, net, elastic support, boxes ...). You can then choose a kayak "ready to fish" or prefer a "naked" kayak that you can complete with the accessories of your choice. The kayak fisherman likes to arrange his boat according to his habits: keep his scissors, knife, lures, etc. handy... In a kayak, you must also take into account the possibility of the gear turning over. So you tie up all your equipment. The rods, for example, will remain connected to the boat with a leach. Don't forget to provide launching wheels to make it easier to roll the kayak once ashore.
How much does a fishing kayak cost?
The price of a kayak varies less than 1000 euros for paddle models, and between 2000 euros and 5000 euros for pedal models. To this the fisherman will have to add electronics (depth sounder) to practice the fishing he likes.
