Neil Taylor, Strike Three Kayak Fishing
Safety is always priority 1. The personal flotation device is required safety equipment. By kayak, in Florida, you do not have to wear it but you must have one with you. For many situations it is best to wear your vest. High wind, heavy current and deep water, better to wear the vest. My own rule is if it’s not being worn it’s in “immediate reach.”
There aren’t that many situations where you get in a jam where you need it but wouldn’t you want it accessible when you do? The last time I had the need for mine was about twelve years ago when a sailboat hit me. Before I even went over the side of the boat I had my hand on the vest.
Another time about then, I had a big yacht wake turn my boat sideways and I dove over the side rather than having the gear go to the bottom with the boat flipping. That was on a cold January day and I was glad to have the vest in my hand before I went over given how cold the water was and how much clothing I had on.
I’m happy to see a lot of the members wearing their vests as regular practice. Look at what happened to a past client of mine: He had nausea come on fast and ended up unconscious and in the water. Unconscious, the vest kept his head above water. It was a big bonus that he had fishing pals there but what would have happened if he was alone and had his vest somewhere inaccessible? It could have been a disaster for him and his family.
Another piece of required equipment: A signaling device. A whistle works for this. If you attach a whistle to every PFD you are legal when you throw the vest on your kayak.
There are “auto inflate” options. If you go this route, you have to be wearing it to be legal
Have fun, be safe. Make good choices. If there is anything precarious going on, put your vest on.
Neil Taylor, Strike Three Kayak Fishing
Safety is always priority 1. The personal flotation device is required safety equipment. By kayak, in Florida, you do not have to wear it but you must have one with you. For many situations it is best to wear your vest. High wind, heavy current and deep water, better to wear the vest. My own rule is if it’s not being worn it’s in “immediate reach.”
There aren’t that many situations where you get in a jam where you need it but wouldn’t you want it accessible when you do? The last time I had the need for mine was about twelve years ago when a sailboat hit me. Before I even went over the side of the boat I had my hand on the vest.
Another time about then, I had a big yacht wake turn my boat sideways and I dove over the side rather than having the gear go to the bottom with the boat flipping. That was on a cold January day and I was glad to have the vest in my hand before I went over given how cold the water was and how much clothing I had on.
I’m happy to see a lot of the members wearing their vests as regular practice. Look at what happened to a past client of mine: He had nausea come on fast and ended up unconscious and in the water. Unconscious, the vest kept his head above water. It was a big bonus that he had fishing pals there but what would have happened if he was alone and had his vest somewhere inaccessible? It could have been a disaster for him and his family.
Another piece of required equipment: A signaling device. A whistle works for this. If you attach a whistle to every PFD you are legal when you throw the vest on your kayak.
There are “auto inflate” options. If you go this route, you have to be wearing it to be legal
Have fun, be safe. Make good choices. If there is anything precarious going on, put your vest on.
Neil Taylor
Kayak Fishing Specialist- Strike Three Kayak Fishing
727-692-6345
www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
LivelyBaits@aol.com
- The Neil Blog… - July 26, 2023
- The Catfish - July 26, 2023
- update - July 22, 2023
