Last Updated on April 26, 2022 by Eric Bonneman
Kayak fishing is one of the best ways to learn how to catch more fish inshore.
Kayak Fishing Gear For St. Augustine Inshore Fishing
While kayak fishing you are much more in touch with the marine environment. Having a limited range forces you to pay attention to smaller details in the ecosystem that can pay off big time on your hunt for trophy inshore fish. Here are the basics on the fishing gear you will need to outfit your kayak for fishing.
Rod And Reel
To start off with you need a suitable size rod and reel. This can be a lighter setup when compared to a setup for a boat because the kayak moves freely when fighting a fish – allowing you to have some of the strain taken off your setup.
There are plenty of budget rod and reel combos available, including the Shimano Symetre combo. If you want to step it up a little for a combo that will last many years, we recommend a Daiwa BG 2500 reel paired with a Star Stellar rod, in a 7-foot medium configuration.
Of course, you only need one rod and reel, but having two or more will provide a quick backup if you get a wind knot or want to change lures quickly.
Line And Leader
Once you have your rod/reel picked out, make sure to spool it with a high-quality braided fishing line, such as Berkley Power Pro, 10 to 20lb, depending on how much structure you will be fishing near. Then pick out some fluorocarbon leader material (20-30lb) to create a 12-24 inch leader to give added stealth to your lure. A double uni knot is commonly used to attach your braid and leader.
Lure Choices
Picking lures can be overwhelming. Generally speaking, you want a selection of lures that work the entire water column.
For the deeper part of the water column, try Slayer paddle tails, the SST XL in white with a chartreuse tail has great action. Rig these paddle tails on an Owner twist lock hook, weighted from ⅛-¼ ounce depending on depth.
For the upper part of the water column, few lures are better than a Mirrolure Mirrodine slow suspending twitch bait. We recommend the 17MR or 27MR, of which there are a huge variety of colors to choose from. One dark and one lighter color is a good start. These lures sink one foot per second, so cast pause for a second or two, then give the rod tip a couple solid jerks, then pause.
For topwater, no lure is more well known than a Heddon Super Spook Jr. in bone color. Learn to “walk the dog” with this lure and it will produce some of the most exciting fishing you will experience.
Bait Fishing
For live bait fishing, try some Owner jig heads 2/0 or 3/0, which are great for shrimp or fiddler crabs. If you want to soak bait while working a lure with another rig, try a Gamakatsu circle hook, 2/0 or 3/0, with a chunk of cut mullet or ladyfish.
Organization
To organize your tackle, a waterproof 3600 Plano box fits in most fishing kayak gear storage trays. You will want a decent set of pliers, such as Danco, with a good line cutter. Additionally, a set of locking fish grips will help you control bigger fish that you catch and want to keep or take a picture of.
A floating kayak fishing net will also be very helpful. Lastly, a tall and narrow soft sided cooler will work well to store your keeper fish for dinner.
When you are rigging your kayak for the spring season come check out the selection at Avid Angler in St. Augustine.
