'YAKKING IT UP - Kayaks Go Mainstream Among Anglers

By FRANK SARGEANT The Tampa Tribune

Published: Apr 11, 2008

I guess you could say kayaks are the ships that launched a thousand faces.

These tiny, inexpensive boats, sired by Inuit skin boats centuries ago, are taking the modern waterfront by storm. Where the 'yak was once an oddity, there are now fleets of flyweights, and nowhere are they more recently evident than on the saltwater shorelines of Florida.

That will become even more obvious next month when the Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic, billed as the world's largest kayak fishing tournament, will have some 400 kayak fans launch in pursuit of more than $60,000 in prizes, according to organizer Mike Kogan.

"This is an all-release event, but it's got an amazing assortment of prizes, including $15,000 worth of kayaks and gear we will give away by raffle at the captain's meeting," Kogan said.

A major part of the kayaking craze is the advantage the little boats have in inshore waters, where depths might sometimes be only a few inches, and where very large fish can sometimes be reached only by those who kayak or wade, or both. In fact, many kayakers use the boat primarily to cross deeper sloughs and to carry their gear. When they arrive at their fishing spots, they step over the side and wade to the best spots. The combination of a very quiet approach with the easy access provided by the paddle boat often brings results that are hard to match from larger powerboats.

Kayaks also benefit because they are "green" vessels; they don't burn carbon-based fuels, are at no risk of spilling fuel, don't scar seagrasses, are no danger to manatees and don't make noise. With many anglers, those are important factors.

And it doesn't hurt that you can get into a kayak, completely rigged, for less than $1,000. That's about a tenth of the cost of the least expensive powerboat, motor and trailer suitable for coastal use. You don't need a trailer with a 'yak; transport is easy on the top of a car or in the back of a pickup. And storage problems are minimal; the boats are barely 30 inches wide and typically 10 to 13 feet long, with weights of 50 to 70 pounds.

Finding a launch ramp - a growing problem for powerboaters - is not an issue for a kayaker. Anywhere there's a path to the water, the angler can carry his boat and go fishing.

Not to say 'yaks are for everyone, or that it's always a lot of fun. For one thing, most kayaks are one-person boats. If your family or friends want to go along, you'll need more kayaks.

Kayaks are not built for speed. They travel at about walking speed when propelled by the average angler, which means you'll cover no more than three miles in an hour of steady paddling. Visiting locations remote from launching sites takes a long time, and if your arms are not in good shape, it can become an endurance contest.

It also seems that just when you get ready to go home, the wind and the tide start working against you - every time. You can't carry a lot of gear, either. Though kayaks rigged for fishing do have specialized rod holders, tackle boxes and bait wells, the amount of tackle you carry has to be minimal. There just isn't a lot of space.

And you get wet in kayaks. That's all there is to it. Many wet you the minute you plop into the seat. In others, it might take a while, but you will get wet. Thus, you either limit your kayaking to temperate weather, or you wear waders or a wet suit to keep off the chill. The stuff you take with you also gets wet; cell phones, cameras and car keys must have the protection of sealing bags or boxes.

And kayaks are prone to tipping, particularly in inexperienced hands. Most anglers buy sit-on-top models, which are easier to get in and out of than the closed-deck models that are like the original Eskimo boats, but which also can be tippy, particularly in the narrower (and therefore faster) models.

All things considered, many anglers don't want a kayak as their only boat, but they realize the advantages of owning one as part of their stable.

TOURNEY INFO

Proceeds from the Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic go to children's services at Daniel Memorial Hospital, according to tournament organizer Mike Kogan.

The captain's meeting is May 2 at the Morocco Shrine in Jacksonville, and fishing is May 3 on waters throughout the Jacksonville area, with trout, redfish and flounder the target species.

The entry fee is $75. For more information, visit www.JacksonvilleKayak

FishingClassic.com.

WANT TO KAYAK?

•One of the best-known kayak shops on our coast is Osprey Bay Kayaks, with locations in Town 'N Country and Clearwater; visit

www.ospreybay.com.

•For kayak rentals, check Canoe Escape in Thonotosassa; visit

www.canoeescape.com.

•The American Littoral Society conducts frequent kayak outings, in which you can rent a kayak and get basic instruction, for $25-$35; (941) 966-7308.