Kayak Fishing Conduct and Etiquette
Written by the Lost Anchovy Feb, 24, 2023
One of the blessings that I count in my life is witnessing the kayak fishing community and sport grow from its infancy. With the rise of youTubers (me included), Blogs, Magazines, social media and Internet forums the sport caught fire like a hot bite and soon the word got out – Kayak fishing was trending.
Over the past decade the sport has seen tremendous growth with trendy products and innovative kayaks coming out every year to capture the attention and market share of the growing community.
The exponential growth has not been without its challenges. Our community has seen an increase in: rescues from the coast guard; shark attacks, poaching, to unfortunately fatalities. What was once a tight knit community is now breaking into tribes and protectionism is starting to trend.
I think the envy of Central and Northern California Kayak fishing is that we work together to solve problems. We innovate and stay ahead of problems. With the growing number of Kayak anglers it is only a matter of time before one unfortunate trendy headline spurs talks of new regulations. – Let’s get ahead of the game.
I often state in my seminars and public speaking engagements – We are kayaker’s first and fisherman second. Over the past month, I have gone to great lengths to speak with fellow anglers, reached out to Internet forums, FB groups, and youTubers to find a consensus on how we can conduct ourselves.
These are my recommended standard of conduct guidelines for the kayak fishing community from the feedback I received. It can be used as a guideline to help promote safety, camaraderie and respect for the sport and others.
Radio Check & Hailing
It is my opinion that every angler should do a radio check before getting on the water as part of his or her routine. A radio checks is a necessity to make sure the marine radio is charged and functioning correctly. As a common courtesy make sure to respond with “loud and clear” or state the potential problem. Others will extend the courtesy and it will keep us all safe.
Launch Ramp Etiquette
Keeping the peace with boaters and other mariners is important to the longevity of the sport and builds good will all. The boat ramp is a sensitive area when there is a potential for a hot bite. If possible allow a direct path for boats to launch their vessel without impeding the flow. Many recreational boaters may be waiting hours to launch and seeing a kayak angler jump the line or worst imped the launch flow is a recipe for disaster, frustration and misunderstanding. Move the kayak to the side, away from the direct launch path or launch from a nearby beach if possible.
Keeping it Quiet
One of the advantages of Kayak fishing is the versatility of our vessels. We are not tethered to boat launches and marinas to get out on the water. Many of the popular kayak launches can be found adjacent to residential areas, parks and state beaches where people reside. Staying quiet and conscientious of our surrounding, especially during early morning hours can got a long way maintaining the peace with local residents. No one enjoys being woken up in the early morning so let’s stay mindful of our surroundings and the people who reside in them.
Responding to Distress Signal
In the extreme case of a distress signal make every effort to assist if you are in the vicinity. Do what you can without putting yourself in jeopardy. If the situation is beyond your capability assist by relaying communication to the coast guard via channel 16, with as much detail as possible.
If there is a party already assisting make sure to stay clear and provide additional support if needed. Keep off the main communication channel to allow emergency communication to flow uninterrupted.
Hook ups, Communication and Reliability
I am a strong advocate for the buddy system when it comes to kayak fishing. We are each others safety net and acting accordingly can and will save lives. Communicate clearly with your friend when, where, and the time you will arrive. Let them know if there is a delay getting there so they are not left hanging and wondering about you. If you are unable to make the fishing trip make sure to allow 24-hour notice to your friend so they can plan accordingly, find another buddy, or not go. At a minimum provide your friend adequate notice. NEVER BAIL without a bonefide emergency( i.e, medical, car or transportation issues). This behavior puts your fishing partner at unnecessary risk.
Cleaning up after yourself & the Environment
We have one planet and we are temporary guest on it. Ultimately we will leave the planet to the next generation. I have a simple creed that I try live by – leave the world a little better place then when I came in. This goes for the locations that I frequent for fishing.
I recommend bringing a dedicated bag to pack up any used fishing gear and pick up garbage that frequents the ocean and bays. Kayak fishermen are a large contingent and if we each do a little good the impact can be large. Here is a trade secret: When you do good with good intent the fish gods will ultimately reward your good will.
Properly release and descend undersize fish.
Having good fishing etiquette means taking care for the longevity of our fishery.
Certain rockfish such as Chinas, Vermilions, Yellow eyes have a long life span, and protecting them, if we do not plan to keep them, tends to the welfare of our oceans. Use a descender or a barbless hook to send fish back safely and do not leave floaters.
Try using a meshed net to limit tail splitting on undersized halibut or other game fish. Use a lip gripper to minimize handling of undersized fish, and shake them off at the boat if you do not intend to keep them. These simple methods can help ensure the longevity of our fishery for the next generation.
Conclusion
The kayak fishing community has grown and is continuing to grow at an exponential rate. We have a substantial presence and with it a collective responsibility to try and work towards an amicable co-existence with other mariners, the environment and government entities. The future is bright for our eco-friendly sport, and I hope these guidelines help to move us all in the right direction.
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Right on bro. I’ve seen kayak anglers pull up on the ramp at Miller, unload, and spend 20 minutes or more rigging up right there on the ramp, then drive the truck to a parking spot, come back and launch, all while powerboats are trying to launch and land off the one ramp still open. Not a great way to build good will with the boaters.
As a Powerboat owner/operator My MAIN Compliant with a certain % of kayakers is their being seemingly Oblivious to their small visual footprint on the water to other boaters!!!…
On the ocean on poor visibility day/s & during Ocean swell conditions, your kayaks are virtually INVISIBLE!!!…or at Best…Difficult to SEE!!!…
It should be at the very least MANDATORY that ALL kayakers at the bare minimum fly a Brightly Colored flag at Least 6 feet above their kayaks & Ocean going kayaks should have a radar reflector also mounted at least 6 feet above their kayak/s.
Your safety on the water is YOUR Responsibilty!!…Take Ownership of it!!!….Queegueg
Thanks for the recommendations. Agree on the radio check but maybe add which usual channels to do so. When I started I asked for radio check on 16 and that was frowned upon by CG.
Radio check/s should ALWAYS INCLUDE you knowing the location/distance of the person/s responding to your radio check!…
Knowing the distance your radio is coming in “Loud & Clear” is essential as opposed to the person responding being a few hundred yards away from you!…Queequeg
Well done. Thoughtful ideas. Thanks.