Florida’s Kayak Fishing Boom
By CAPT. MEL BERMAN, Florida Fishing Weekly

For as far back as he could remember, Gil’s fishing activities had been confined to bridges, beaches and banks. It was a case of pure economics. With his meager salary, he simply couldn’t afford even the most modest of power boats. And now, with gas prices at the pump climbing ever upward, the possibilities of ever owning one became even more remote. Yet, standing there on the shoreline of Tampa Bay, Gil would look longingly at that lush spoil island several hundred feet out.

He just knew that there were great bunches of gamefish that would never even think of running along the banks to which he was confined.

Then one day, his neighbor, being transferred north, was about the business of selling off some of his Florida possessions. “What will you take for that kayak?” asked Gil. “For you Gil – gimme three hundred and you got yourself a kayak,” replied the neighbor.

Gil couldn’t wait to “road test” that craft. One day after work, he launched his new kayak and paddled toward that spoil island he so coveted from the bank all these years. And as if prophesy had become reality, Gill began reeling and one huge snook after another – never to be a shorebound angler again.

Then there was Harry – a middle management employee at the local bank. For years his pride and joy was that 18-foot center console. There wasn’t a weekend that went by where Harry wasn’t out on the bay in search of snook and reds. His pal Jack had been an enthusiastic paddle fisherman and invited Harry to try his hand at fishing out of a kayak. “I bet once you give it a shot, you’ll be hooked,” promised Jack.

So out they went one early Saturday morning – Jack in his kayak, and one Harry rented from a nearby dealer. “Hey, this is not that difficult at all,” exclaimed Harry. “And look, were cruising right through a school of normally spooky big reds without them flinching.”

The very next day, Harry went kayak shopping and is now one of a growing legion of paddle-crazy enthusiasts. Most are those who enjoy being in harmony with nature – tend to own one of these most stealthful of vessels – a craft that requires no fossil fuel whatsoever – and even provides a bit of physical exercise that all of us could use.

Just look out cross our verdant Suncoast waters. What do you see that wasn’t there even five years ago? It’s the growing armada of kayaks. This revolution in watercraft has its roots in many an angler’s desire to get closer to and less obtrusive with nature. Paddlecraft are intrinsically quieter and less spooky to many gamefish species. But lately what’s really fueling (no pun intended) this growing interests in kayaks is the ever increasing prices at the pump.

Just as we all are figuring ways to pair down our driving, the average blue collar fisher simply can’t afford as many trips in their gas guzzling power boat. But they still need their fishing fix. And to many, just standing on a bridge or bank just doesn’t get it. That’s why so many have made what can only be considered a quite modest investment in a new or used kayak to keep them fishing.

Neil Taylor, a retired baseball umpire, is now one of a growing legion of kayak guides here on the Florida West Coast. He first became enamored with kayak fishing about 10 years ago – right around time that many began to consider the paddle craft as a good alternative to powerboat or shore fishing. “My first one got me out of the wade fishing scenario – made me a little mobile on the water. And Taylor added that since then, he’s owned about 11 kayaks. Now that is not really unusual when one considers how affordable ‘yaks are – and the excellent value they have as a used craft.

Buying a kayak can be very affordable for anyone wanting to get into it. According to Taylor, one can buy a good used kayak for about 400 or 500 dollars. “And even if it’s not rigged out for fishing, you can have it completely set up for fishing for only a couple hundred dollars more.

What has drawn Taylor to kayak fishing? He cites two major considerations – low profile and stealth. ”The fish can’t see you coming, and they can’t hear you coming – especially in those back water areas where there are not a lot of waves – the kayak doesn’t make any noise at all.” He adds that “it’s best to keep your rods in low profile, so there’s nothing really sticking up that can be seen from a distance.”

Most paddle-fishers will also tell you that they can make it into areas where you will never see other boats. “There are spots where I have to literally get out and drag my boat across dry land,” said Taylor. “So it opens up areas were you may not see another fisherman the whole time you’re back there.”

What about storage capacity and what can one carry on a kayak? “Most of my trips are with artificials, but sometimes I will net a few live baits and just keep them in one of those “flow-troll” bait buckets,” he said. “Now I’ll catch my bait in the areas I’m gonna fish and then when I’m traveling from place to place, I’ll pull my bait bucket up – and then every few minutes, I will stop to give the baits a fresh drink of water.”

There’s usually plenty of room for storage on most kayaks. Now Taylor said he could always take more stuff than he does but “I’ve learned that it’s best to minimize what you take in the way of lures and supplies. On most trips, I generally take two rods and what lures I can stuff in my two pockets.”

One of the major advantages of kayaks is that they also serve as a great wadefishing device – a sort of “mother ship” for those who like to get out in the water to fish. “I always use a tow line when I get out, which is clipped to the boat and the other end to my belt.”

Neil Taylor operates his kayak charters our of Tampa Bay, and can be reached by phone at 727-692-6345.