Kayak fishing accessories to trick-out your ride

July 15, 2015

Here in the Tampa Bay area we are blessed with calm gulf waters and miles of shoreline for great inshore fishing. Many anglers are choosing to fish from kayaks because these shallow-running vessels put them in “skinny” water, where a good caster can work the tight spaces of a mangrove shoreline for a bounty of redfish, snook, seatrout and more.

But before you paddle off in search of the big ones, there are some important kayak fishing accessories you should consider. Here at the Bill Jackson Shop for Adventure we have all the accessories an angler could want to trick-out a kayak for fishing, much of it on display on one of our floor models.

The kayak

Native’s Slayer Propel 13 ($2,459) is 13 feet long, weighs about 85 pounds, and boasts a Propel drive system that allows you to stow the paddle and move the kayak forward or backward like you’re peddling a bike.

You’ll still want to have a paddle, and the Shuna Paddle ($275) from Werner has the right balance of weight, stiffness and durability, so it holds up against impact in case you run across an oyster bar. And then there’s safety.

The Visi Pole II ($60) from Yak Attack will signal your presence to boaters and others if you’re out in low-light conditions, getting out early or staying out after dark.

Storage accessories

Native’s Ultimate 12 Bow Bag ($119) fits snugly up front. It’s insulated and waterproof, with noncorrosive zippers and bungee on the top. Use it for storage or as a cooler.

In the back, the Native Fish Bag Cooler ($109) is insulated, waterproof and ready for icing down the day’s catch. It’s also tearproof and outfitted with bungee for locking down a tackle box or other gear.

Put that Native Seat Pack to work and tuck in a set of Danco Pliers ($40) for hook removal, and a Plano Waterproof Stow ($14) for your fishing tackle. Under the seat there’s room for a larger tackle box like the Tuff Tainer ($30) for your lures, rigs and tackle.

No fishing kayak setup is complete without a solid rod and rod holders. The Daiwa fishing rod ($70) or the Spinfisher combo ($160) sets in a Yak Attack Zooka Tube ($40) that can be set up just about anywhere using Yak Attack’s GearTrac channel system.

Add-ons

Finally, you might want to document your catches and adventures. The Ram Mounts X-Grip ($42) can safely secure your cellphone or a GPS unit, and the Aryca Waterproof phone case ($45) will protect your phone and the photographic evidence of the big ones you caught and released.  And if you’re really into documenting, take your GoPro camera along and mount it using the Camera Ball ($8) in combination with the Double Socket Connector ($9) and Suction Cup Mount ($19), all from Yak Attack.

Come in to Bill Jackson’s and talk to one of our kayak or fishing experts to accessorize your kayak with the right gear. Then take a test paddle out on the lake behind our shop to familiarize yourself with how it would all work together.