Choice of Kayak for Sea Fishing

[Steinbeisser]

Hello

 

I am looking for some advice on what type of kayak people recommend for sea fishing. I live in Germany so I would want to use in in the Baltic Sea (no tides, so no tide based currents, only wind driven currents). I may also wish to use if for fishing around islands off the west coast of Germany (North Sea), south of Denmark, where there would be tidal currents.

 

I was contemplating a Float Tube/Belly Boat but they may be completely unsuitable for open sea (even if I only venture 500m off shore) especially if the wind turns off shore - due to the limited propulsion obtainable via swim fins.

 

Previously, I have done some slalom canoeing and learnt sculling, Eskimo rolls, etc.

 

I am 6'4"/193cm and about 97-98kg.

 

From what I have seen, people seem to use an open top 'sit on' kayak for fishing (i.e. not enclosed with spray deck or a Canadian Canoe).

 

Is this the recommended type of canoe/kayak for sea fishing? (I see on another forum someone called 'Spanner' using one of these on Loch Etive, Scottish West Coast, etc. Otherwise pros and cons of alternative sit in sea canoes.

 

Can some of you knowledgeable folks give me a few pointers as to what models are recommended. I would possibly buy in UK or Germany. Freight/Taxes from USA likely to be too expensive - though there would presumably be a bigger choice if buying from the USA? I did look in my local outdoors shop in Hamburg and although it is an excellent shop, they did not have sit on type kayaks.

 

Also, how much should I expect to pay for a reasonable paddle (I understand you get what you pay for!) and what other gear is required (anchor, flares, GPS, compass, etc). What do you wear when in/on these kayaks (wetsuit or floatation suit with buoyancy aid/life jacket)?

 

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

Steinbeisser

[phooey]

Welcome to Kayak fishing,

Try search facility as there is LOADS of good advice on here to the questions you asked. ( Yep, same stuff I asked when I started ).

 

Ocean Kayaks range is pretty comprehensive and the Prowler 13 is a good boat for most of the conditions we fish in. Different models have different attributes and I'd try a few to see which feels just right.

 

They MUST have a retailer somewhere near you - Try googling Johnson Outdoors.

 

Good luck.

[musket]

Also have a look at :

http://www.anglersafloat.co.uk/

 

Jon.

[richi]

Hi Steinbiesser,used to live in Hamburg myself for 8 years at Eppendorf,Wandsbek and Borgefelde.The other half still lives at Farmsen-----wonderful place to live!

 

as has been said before you can't go wrong with a Prowler

 

reasonable paddle £100

good paddle £200

 

most of us wear either drysuit or cag and pants always with a PFD

 

you didn't mention VHF,you'll need one of them

[Simon Everett]

You haven't said what kind of fishing you are going to be doing.

 

Lure fishing, fly fishing, or bait fishing for big fish?

 

Have a look at the reviews section on Anglers Afloat (www.anglersafloat.co.uk) and that might help you decide, or at least shorten your list!

[Steinbeisser]

You haven't said what kind of fishing you are going to be doing.

 

Lure fishing, fly fishing, or bait fishing for big fish?

 

Have a look at the reviews section on Anglers Afloat (www.anglersafloat.co.uk) and that might help you decide, or at least shorten your list!

 

Thanks everyone for your replies and the links to other websites. Most useful for a starting point.

 

Simon

 

I live on the other side of Hamburg (near Reinbek). The reason I am thinking of some form of becoming water borne so to speak, is that I went to Wiessenhaus last week looking for sea trout (local tackle shop recommended this as the best place). However, it would seem that the wind was in the wrong direction. There were a couple of guys in float tubes (probably rather cold!!) and although I believe most shore anglers blanked (I did see one sea trout landed, but there were about 30 folks fishing!!) the two in the float tubes did catch 3 good sized cod between themselves. Also, I will have a week in Sylt in June (my wife wants to go there for horse riding!) but the local tackle shop reckons that you need to be in a boat (500m off shore) to catch anything other than flatties. My last July's experience in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Ostsee was similarly fish less, though the water was really quite warm! But again I was told about the need for a boat.

 

So for sea trout it would be lures (Falkfish Spoket or similar) or Salt Water Fly Fishing. But if I have the option, then I would go for the cod, turbot and any other salt water fish available from the kayak - bait fishing on the bottom, etc. Don't think trolling is allowed in some of the German States (certainly not in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). Naturally would also use it on largish fresh water bodies for pike, etc.

 

Was not thinking of anything really large (like Spanner's common skate or a tope, etc!!).

 

The shop I was referring to earlier was Globetrotter - lots of nice outdoor gear and a few canoes/kayaks in the basement but not the Prowler, etc. Possibly they could get me one, but I think it would be better if I find a specialist shop that stocks this locally, so I can get first hand advice and see the differences in the flesh! Did you have a 'local kayak shop' when you were in Hamburg?

 

 

Richi

 

I had thought about the VHF and that is sensible. Sounds like another exam!! Just did one for fishing in Germany last year!

 

Thanks also to Phooey and Musket for the advice.

 

Cheers

 

Steinbeisser