Inshore Saltwater Kayak Fishing vs Freshwater Fishing - Basic Inshore Fishing Tips

[@redladyfish4201]

I love inshore fishing, it is so challenging and rewarding at the same time, where I fish in South Padre Island the winds are hardly ever below 12 mph, so when I get a calm day of kayak fishing, I celebrate and enjoy every moment of it. Loved your video, happy fishing!😁

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Wow! Do you do anything special to handle the wind? Any gear or kayak mods that make fishing in that environment better? I would love to see a video on your perspective! BTW - love your channel and recommend it to others.

[@redladyfish4201]

Kayak Hacks Fishing thank you I love your channel as well, I have learned so much, I will be doing a video on my kayak set up soon, I have some gear and kayak modifications that I would like to share.

[@SP-ud2yk]

Kayak Hacks, good video once again and great pointers, thanks....

[@leoramirez7583]

I think you nailed them all thanks for the video

[@KayakhacksFishing]

thanks!

[@Underfighter73]

Very informative! Thank you.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

You bet

[@msueirro]

I started inshore kayak fishing in 2004 when i moved to the Gulfport, MS area. I had a sit-on 14' Heritage yak. Excellent boat in big water. I still fish from a yak, but since I just turned 71, I've downsized to a 9.5' boat. Just couldn't manage loading/unloading the bigger boat anymore. Regarding wind, I have two comments. First, get an anchor and put together an anchor trolley. Always anchor either bow or stern into the weather/seas. If you can keep from drifting all over the place, fishing becomes better. And make up a hook on the boat side that you can use to just hook the anchor to while you move from place to place. Just someplace to hang it while you move. Second, learn to paddle efficiently and effectively. If you're one of those that just sits there and paddles solely with your arms you will tire quickly, and the wind will make movement very difficult. You must learn to use your back and legs more than your arms. Read books on long distance paddling to see how it should be done. Paddling into the wind is hard enough even when you know how to paddle well.

[@zkinnard]

Mike S very informative Mr S.thank you.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Excellent, excellent points! The anchor trolley is very important for positioning. Like you, I try and paddle with my torso, not my arms and focus on keeping my paddle low. I wish my paddle was a bit longer - when I transitioned from a canoe (freshwater) to kayak (inshore), I did not understand the math (person's height and kayak width) on paddle length. If my paddle were a bit longer, it would be easier to paddle more efficiently. I need to suck it up and spend the money for the correct size.

[@22veteranflyfishing]

Nice video. I just made a fly rod holder with PVC. It works very weel got the idea from the May Fly. Works the same way.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

If you have a link, please add it! I don't mind.

[@22veteranflyfishing]

made it last week, need to make a video on it. but here is the review I did in the Ascend 12T. I'm working on navigation light set up right now for it.

[@MrStukid]

As a kid in Maine, we would use handlines for Pollack and Flounder. Now, I live in Tampa FL, and I have an 11' Pelican kayak. I fish the south shore of Tampa Bay. Reds, Trout, Snook are the target. I love the peace and solitude of the small bays, creeks, and islands. No jet skiers, no power boats. There may be the occasional commercial fisherman, who I call "Mulletman." Some of those guys are real jerks, power circling the schools of mullet, stirring up gobs of mud, and ruining the sea grass, while others are very aware of what they do. I have never really fresh water fished, so it's hard for me to compare. I've fished the inlets on the Atlantic side, which is amazing. I've gone offshore for pelagic and bottom fish. I fished a bridge in St.Pete by sneaking through a condo parking lot. Yea, I'm a salt water guy.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

You captured the best aspect of inshore - many times, the inshore area is so vast, you enjoy "private water."

[@olebiker]

The biggest difference I have found is dealing with tides. The first time I went out on the flats in my kayak I came back in at low tide and found that I had to take a long hike through some nasty mud.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

And that is a BIG, painful lesson learned by all of us!

[@raybuck4285]

Great videos...!!!! Are you checking the daily forecasts for tide and wind?? Or surveying in low tide conditions....and how far out going?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

You bet and everyone should - glad you brought it up. My favorite tide table is tides4fishing.com and I use windalert.com for the wind forecast. As you point out, doing that low tide recon is important to see all the hidden holes and channels.

[@racerx12003r]

I, like you have mainly fished inland fresh water but LOVE salt water fishing. Can't wait to get back out to your area this spring. Nothing like hanging into something with a good fight.

[@walbinruiz4969]

good vid, actually like the longer vids, thanks

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks for that feedback. I'll act on it.

[@davidmagnuson1428]

Steve thanks for the video. I agree with you on the difference in live bait inshore versus artificial bait on lakes. Others are currents are stronger in bays versus lakes (might have to face wind and current on the sound) and of course more toothy critters.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Great point on the current. Toothy... my marshes are full of gators - saw a 10 footer the other day who had swum across the intracoastal into the marsh. I don't bother them... and hope they don't bother me :-)

[@SniperPhotography]

Great video ,well done.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

thanks!

[@markymark3075]

Thanks for sharing.

[@cliff4715]

You should make a video on how to make a stabilizer with out drilling into your kayak

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I really do not need one given the stability of my yak. There are a bunch of other videos out there showing how to do that and I encourage you to review them.

[@SHInvesting]

Great video!! Good way to think of learning inshore fishing thank you. Im going to start tracking my fish i catch do you suggest anyway to do this?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I have two ways. I have a handheld GPS that I use and I mark a waypoint for every fish. In addition, I can do the same on my Helix fishfinder.

[@cscsharks]

I've been fishing Saltwater my whole life down here in Charleston SC. The biggest misconception with Inshore fishing is people think you need to use cut/live bait, this is simply not true! There is a fantastic Inshore lure market that works great! Same thing as bass fishing... Saltwater fish orient to structure. Fishing docks, bridges, and oysters. Zman makes a great line of soft plastics that work amazing. I've been fishing right next to people throwing live bait and out fished them. The idea that live bait is the best bait for saltwater is just not true. Especially with Trout and Redfish. I've caught door mat flounder on paddletail jigs bouncing the bottom. Sightcasting tailing redfish at lowtide with lures is a blast. Go to your local tackle shop and get yourself a nice tackle bag full of lures and go fishing. Topwater, Swimbaits, crankbaits, etc. All made for saltwater. Leave the stinky bait or cast net at home. Ever had a redfish hit a topwater?!? Nothing beats it! Everything you know bout bass fishing you can apply to Saltwater.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I agree - I know a lot of people who only use artificials. I switch to them on the shoulders of the season. Many times, I will fish the live bait on one rod and an artificial on the other to stay busy!

[@curtismccoy3540]

Been a subscriber for awhile now and I really enjoy your videos. I am from North East Ohio and fish Lake Erie bays and rivers and I am just like you about the wind.... lol. thanks for all your hacks

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I used to fish Eire for walleye - it is just like fishing in the ocean!

[@zkinnard]

I'm new to kayak fishing. do I need a rudder?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Some kayaks have a rudder to help them track better, others (like mine) do not. It depends on the model. You can research the particular model you are interested in to see. Kayak dealers are also a good source for the models they sell.

[@zkinnard]

Kayak Hacks Fishing thnx

[@Gabesafish]

There's a big difference in terms of safety equipment, practices and planning.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

You bet. It's a whole new world

[@junderhillmac]

This is my favorite channel. Thanks. What gloves are you wearing? They look like good fish grips.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Got them from the Dollar Store and cut off the fingers. They work great and can be thrown out when the smell or dirt gets overwhelming :-) Thanks for your kind words on the channel!

[@jaonajackson7579]

Love to go fishing in honeymoon island in Florida

[@KayakhacksFishing]

lol! Anywhere in Florida

[@Robloscream]

Yeah I always travel by bridge or search any fishing areas. As long as they’re not trespassing areas. Both salt and freshwater for me.

[@Robloscream]

It’s good living in Florida

[@ratherbfishing455]

Do you have a video on paddling in currents? Also dealing with wind? I have had a difficult time with the wind. One time I was paddling into the wind, and was being pushed back. I try not to go out if it's more 8 to 10 mph.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I do not have a video on that. I need to make one. Thanks for the idea! Let me consult with a few experts.

[@Jammer0825]

I am in Charlotte and new to kayak fishing. Really want to go to Wilmington and oak island for some inshore action. Any recommendations on where to try for a begginer. Do you have meet ups? Clubs etc

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I do not fish over on the Southport side - it is over an hour to get there. I can send you some recommended places that my fly fishing club likes. Send me an email... the email is on my About tab on the channel page. I have not had a meetup over here since we have monthly meetings of the NC Kayak Fishing Assn (NCKFA.com) - they have chapters where you are as well.

[@ratherbfishing455]

I think kayak fishing at the coast is more enjoyable. However, the last couple of years, there has been a problem with speeding charter boats and airboats. Also, in some areas you have to cross a channel to get to the fish. The Lighthouse Paddling Trail is good, but it's dangerous paddling to get to it. They need speed limits. In addition, there are a lot of fishing tournaments. It's going to get worse, with so many people moving to the coast.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Understand about the powerboats! Many of them do not understand about the distance they need to maintain. Thankfully, once I get across a 100 yard channel, I am back in shallow water where they cannot come.

[@thomasgillespie1983]

Great vid but you definetly can out fish live bait with plugs. It’s just a big learning curve

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I agree. I need to have more discipline and vary my techniques

[@lumbeejerk]

when you going to have a local meet up I'm hour from u

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I had never thought of doing that. My deal with my wife is that the weekends belong to her and I can fish all I want during the week without guilt. If you want to come down on a weekday, we can go out. Best to wait until July when the finger mullet are back. Send me an email via the "About" page on the channel and we can coordinate.