Marine Aquarium Fish Guide

Why We Kayak Fish

    Why We Kayak Fish

By Capt. Pat Horrigan

When you think about fishing you realize that there are many forms of the sport. Sight fishing is by far the most challenging approach to be taken. In order to be successful in sight fishing, you must have a stealthy approach or you will do nothing more than spook your quarry. Wade fishing has its’ place for sure but it can be a long walk and as you tire, you are naturally noisier by default. Using a flats boat is very popular and always will be and kayak fishing may not be for everyone as it requires patience. To achieve the most in stealth a quality kayak makes the difference between a long walk and a very expensive flats boat. There are many different fishing kayaks on the market today and that’s great. I looked for a long time for the right kayak to sponsor the Kayak Fishing ClassicS national tournament series. The Freedom Hawk 12 by Freedom Hawk Kayaks packs everything a kayak fisherman needs into a very slick, quiet unit.  The biggest advantage yielding feature of the Freedom 12 is the easily deployable outriggers. This feature truly makes it the Stand -Up Kayak Fishing standard on the market. Why is that important? When seated low in a kayak it is difficult to sight fish. Great sunglasses like the Ocean Waves  Sunglasses really help however having the ability to stand on a mobile, stable platform is invaluable. The sunglasses are still a must have item and Ocean Waves Sunglasses are the best ,in my opinion.

So now you have a stealthy, stand- up fishing kayak to make the experience better and you can see thru the water like a hawk. That still doesn’t answer why we kayak fish. Before I do that, lets’ add another stealthy approach to the fastest growing water sport in North America. Fly Fishing! Talk about stealth. Fly fishing is so quiet and natural. Light Tackle fishing can be very stealthy as well if done correctly and both are popular ways to fish from a kayak. Albright Fishing Products is the maker of some very fine fly rods and conventional rods. To touch on their fly rods for a moment, we feel that they are the best fly rod on the market today for what we do. That is saying a great deal considering some of the other brands. Tom Brokaw once said “ if fishing is a religion, then fly fishing is high mass.” Fly fishing is a subject for another conversation. Now you are ready to sneak up on the fish. Simply put, Kayak Fishing is extremely challenging and incredibly beautiful. You are on the water surrounded by nature. The fish don’t even know you are there. You lay out a fly and a huge snook charges and takes. If you do that just once, the question will answer itself for you. Many kayak fishermen, and in that I include women of course, also enjoy wade fishing. There’s nothing like a good stretch after a good paddle to your favorite fishing spot. Lets’ talk about that for a minute;

Have you ever heard someone say ‘you have to think like a fish’? To me what that means is what am I doing that triggers a fishes strike or fear responses? I want the fish to strike or take my presentation so how do I trigger the strike response? Or what did I just do that spooked the fish or triggered its’ fear response? One huge factor often overlooked is Visual Quietness. Just what is that? Have you ever been in a swimming pool, underwater and looked up at someone walking around the pool? If not, try it sometime and it will make a believer out of you in what I am about to share with you. In order to better understand Visual Quietness you need to understand Visual Noise. Everything in nature is a blend of many things in nature surrounding it. Wait,..What? For example a bright color on a bird is muted by surrounding dull colors. There are very few birds of a solid, bright color and those that are have developed that for a specific reason in nature. If you look up at someone walking around the swimming pool wearing a bright white shirt you’ll realize just how much that stands out. Or a bright green shirt or black or any solid color just jumps out against the background. If you are in your kayak or doing some wade fishing and you are wearing solid colors, regardless of the color itself, you may as well just go home because every fish in casting distance can see you. Remember, the bigger the fish, the smarter or more experienced the fish is. I never wake up in the morning and say to myself, I think I will go out and catch a small fish today. We fish for big fish because they are more of a challenge and more fun to catch. So why make it harder on yourself. Wearing camouflage clothing that matches the background of where you are fishing makes a lot of sense to me. Let’s take it up a notch. Let’s wear camouflage clothing that matches the background the way a fish see it. Remember how that bright white shirt looked when you looked up form underwater in the pool? It was also distorted and wavy.  Here’s the notch; AQUA DESIGN has come up with a camouflage that mimics how the background looks to a fish. That is huge when you think about it.

When you put all of the gear together with a little practice, you have a very Visually Quiet, Stealthy, Stand-Up Kayak Fishing package. In my pursuit of putting together a World Class national kayak fishing tournament series, I searched many equipment manufactures to provide product and expertise for our fishermen. It quickly became evident who made the best gear and why they made it the way that they do. I then pursued those companies as series sponsors. The sponsors that you see involved in the Kayak Fishing ClassicS are not just sponsors. They are the best at what they do and the most qualified in the world to call themselves sponsors of the Kayak Fishing ClassicS. If you take the time to learn about these fantastic people and the products that they make you will walk away with more knowledge of how and why the game is played the way it is. The book is being written on kayak fishing and we want you to be a part of it. Please visit  us at http://www.KayakFishingClassicS.com to be a part of it.    FishGreen        

About the Author

Kayak Fishing ClassicS utilizes college journalism students as staff journalist. Each article will begin with the authors’ name.

Stand N Fish Stand and Fish Intro. Kayak Pontoon System intro HD final version

Aqua Blue Fish Umbrella Stand $60 -Metal umbrella stand decorated in schools of fish. -Please note umbrella is not included.

Smiling Boys Stand on Beach with Fish They Caught with Spears $39.99 Howell Walker Smiling Boys Stand on Beach with Fish They Caught with Spears – Photographic Print

Sport Fishermen Stand in a Line at Troughs to Clean their Fish $39.99 B. Anthony Stewart Sport Fishermen Stand in a Line at Troughs to Clean their Fish – Photographic Print

Multi-Colored Metal Fish Decoration on Stand – Height 30 Inches $82 - Multi-Colored Metal Fish Decoration on Stand – Size 6.5″Dx18″H – Size 6.5″Dx18″H

Multi-Colored Resin Star Fish on the Stand Copper – Height 16.5 Inches $62 - Multi-Colored Resin Star Fish on the Stand Copper – Size 6.5″Dx18″H – Size 6.5″Dx18″H

Fish $849.99 Fish

Barbequed Fish Stand, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Honshu, Japan $19.99 Christian Kober Barbequed Fish Stand, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Honshu, Japan – Photographic Print

Open Air Food Stand Selling Bread, Fish and Plates of Cooked Beans $79.99 Open Air Food Stand Selling Bread, Fish and Plates of Cooked Beans – Premium Photographic Print

Boys Fish from a Village’s Old Stone Bridge, Others Stand and Watch $39.99 Melville Grosvenor Boys Fish from a Village’s Old Stone Bridge, Others Stand and Watch – Photographic Print

Priests Dressed as Fish Stand Beside Bed of a Sick Boy $49.99 H.M. Herget Priests Dressed as Fish Stand Beside Bed of a Sick Boy – Giclee Print

Barbequed Fish Stand, Autumn Festival, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan $19.99 Christian Kober Barbequed Fish Stand, Autumn Festival, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan – Photographic Print

Fish! $11.89 Fish!

Hawaiian Fish Red Stand Up 3D Lunch Napkins (12) $3.19 “Includes (12) unique Hawaiian Fish Red Stand Up 3D Lunch Napkins. Napkins measure approximately 6.5″” x 6.25″”.”

Hawaiian Fish Blue Stand Up 3D Lunch Napkins (12) $3.99 “Includes (12) unique Hawaiian Fish Blue Stand Up 3D Lunch Napkins. Napkins measure approximately 6.5″” x 6.25″”.”

Gold and Titanium Pipe Fish with Stand $671 -Hand blown glass

Gold and Titanium Clown Fish with Stand $481 -Hand blown glass

Green Scale Fish with Gray Stand $956 -Hand blown glass

Scale Amber Fish with Gray Stand $956 -Hand blown glass

Boys Stand on Hill, Many Gulls Float on Sea Near Fish-Packing Plant $39.99 B. Anthony Stewart Boys Stand on Hill, Many Gulls Float on Sea Near Fish-Packing Plant – Photographic Print

Fish-Bone Patterned Universal Hot Shoe Stand $8.39 HighlightsAllows the mounting of any accessory that uses a shoe-mount onto a light stand, tripod or other mounting system with a 1/4-20threadHandy locking design keeps the mounted accessory firmly locked in place without the need to tighten down a locking ring or leverA slot on the front to hang a remote flash triggerSpecificationsWeight Approx: 15gSize Approx: 6.5 x 3.5 x 1.7 cmPackage Contents1 Cold shoe Mount Universal Hot shoe Tripod Adapter

Light Blue and Gold Pipe Fish with Stand $671 -Hand blown glass

Textured Gold and Titanium Pipe Fish with Stand $671 -Hand blown glass

Light Blue and White Clown Fish with Stand $481 -Hand blown glass

Ceramic figurine, ‘Standing Fish’ (Peru) $37.95 Crafted of ceramic, a fish seems to stand on its graceful tail. Elizabeth Garcia depicts the delightful creature in a vase. The color is derived from the smoke of mango leaves that impart their fragrance to the piece.

Tropical Fish Casting Mold $37.95 Colour de Verre Molds are the Simple Way to Cast Glass Merge the age-old art of pate de verre glass casting with modern technology and contemporary design. Create pieces that are beautiful enough to stand alone or to incorporate into larger projects. The open, hollow design promotes even heating and cooling. Molds can be filled with glass frit, powder, or sheet glass. Reusable mold casts 4 fish from 2-1/4 to 3 in one firing, for the ultimate in convenience. With each firing, this molds creates four, assorted tropical fish. Create a whole lagoon by varying frit colors. The fill weights are 32 to 36 grams for the large fish and 12 to 15 for the smaller fish. The mold measures 8-1/4 x 4-3/4 x 1. We suggest a cooler than usual firing temperature of about 1290-1310ºF (700-710ºC) for COE 96 and 25ºF (10ºC) hotter for COE 90. Click on View User Manual to download a free, helpful technique sheet. Images courtesy of Colour de Verre.

Fish On $59.99 Philip R. Goodwin Fish On – Wall Decal

Fish Hotel Fishbowl in White by Umbra® $39.99 Add life to any space with our Fish Hotel Fishbowl by Umbra®. This unique fishbowl can be stacked to create a hotel effect for your fish or can stand alone as a unique conversation piece. Fish not included.Features: • Outer Material: ABS Plastic Outer Shell • Inside Square: Glass • Design by Teddy Luong • Fishbowl can be stacked to create a hotel effect • Inner square is removable for cleaning • Can also be used for plants, candles, or storing small accessoriesSize: 7 1/2”square x 8”deep

Garmin Fish Finder 160C 010-00403-00 $161.99 The Fish Finder 160C is an affordable color sonar option for recreational fishermen who primarily fish freshwater lakes. Fish returns and bottom information are clearly shown on the units bright, sunlight-readable color display, making it easier for you to scope out your fishing grounds. The Fishfinder 160C offers dual-beam transducer operation for improved shallow water performance. Like all Garmin fishfinders, the 160C is rugged, waterproof, and able to stand up to the elements. The Fishfinder 160C also offers Ultrascroll which allows boaters to get a much faster refresh rate on their sonar display. AutoGain, as well as user adjustable gain, is also standard on all of Garmins new fishfinders.

Women Solid PU Fish Head Sandals $39.99 Now pay attention to this pair of light Fish Head sandals? High quality welt construction adds support to extremely durable, full-grain leather with contrast stitching for emphasis. The anti-slipping outsole of the women Fish Head sandals offers durable traction and resistance to different kinds of dirty. You can depart the beaten path in this pair of fashionable women wedge sandals, a pair of Fish Head Sandals equally at home on city streets. These unique sandals will surely make you stand out from the crowd!

Sexy Naughty Nem-oh Adult Fish Costume $64.99 Sexy Naughty Nem-oh Adult Fish Costume Give a whole new grown up meaning to the sweet little fish from the movies. There are millions of fish in the sea so if you want to stand out from the rest wear The Sexy Naughty Nem-Oh Adult Fish Costume this Halloween. The Naughty Nem-Oh costume features a strapless tube dress with a black tutu skirt. The costume is accessorized with matching arm bands that have fins on the elbow and thigh high stockings too. All you need to accessorize your Nem-Oh costume is a pair of sexy black heels. Then you’ll look like a great catch.

CELTIC FISH PORCELAIN BRACELET TAB $7.09 This glazed porcelain Celtic fish tab will give your bracelets and anklets a fun, timeless touch. Simply run your favorite stringing material through its holes and clasp or tie it closed! Though the consistency is amazing, there will be slight variations due to the handmade nature. Make your jewelry designs stand out with handmade porcelain components from Artbeads.com.

Fish Eating Fish $39.99 Fish Eating Fish – Giclee Print

Too Fat To Fish $6.19 Outrageous, raw, and painfully funny true stories straight from the life of the actor, comedian, and much-loved cast member of The Howard Stern Show with a foreword by Howard Stern. When Artie Lange joined the permanent cast of The Howard Stern Show in 2001, it was possibly the greatest thing ever to happen in the Stern universe, second only to the show’s move to the wild, uncensored frontier of satellite radio. Lange provided what Stern had yet to find all in the same place: a wit quick enough to keep pace with his own, a pathetic self-image to dwarf his own, a personal history both heartbreaking and hilarious, and an ingrained sense of self-sabotage that continually keeps things interesting. A natural storyteller with a bottomless pit of material, Lange grew up in a close-knit, working-class Italian family in Union, New Jersey, a maniacal Yankees fan who pursued the two things his father said he was cut out for sports and comedy. Tragically, Artie Lange Sr. never saw the truth in that prediction: He became a quadriplegic in an accident when Artie was eighteen and died soon after. But as with every trial in his life, from his drug addiction to his obesity to his fights with his mother, Artie mines the humor, pathos, and humanity in these events and turns them into comedy classics. True fans of the Stern Show will find Artie gold in these pages: hilarious tales that couldn’t have happened to anyone else. There are stories from his days driving a Jersey cab, working as a longshoreman in Port Newark, and navigating the dark circuit of stand-up comedy. There are outrageous episodes from the frenzied heights of his coked-up days at MADtv , surprisingly moving stories from his childhood, and an account of his recent U.S.O. tour that is equally stirring and irreverent. But also in this volume are stories Artie’s never told before, including some that he deemed too revealing for radio. Wild, shocking, and drop-dead hilarious, TOO FAT TO FISH is Artie Lange giving everything he’s got to give. And like a true pro, the man never disappoints.

Nine Li Fish Silk Screen $182 The Nine Li Fish motif is colorful and very auspicious, attracting good fortune to the home. Large (3ft. x 6ft.), hand painted ink and watercolor silk screen. Song dynasty (10th century China) brush art style. Crafted from silk covered paper, glued over four side-by-side lacquered wood frames. Matted with a fine Chinese silk brocade border. Comes with lacquered brass geometric hangers for easy mounting. Can be displayed as a privacy screen, partly folded to stand upright on a table or floor. Note that no two renderings are exactly the same. Subtle, beautiful hand painted wall art for a fraction of the cost of a comparable print.

18-Inch The Five Fish Silk Screen $102 The Five Fish is a good luck motif, and this one is rendered with great colors and composition. Small (1.5ft. x 3ft.), hand painted ink and watercolor silk screen. Song dynasty (10th century China) brush art style. Crafted from silk covered paper, glued over four side-by-side lacquered wood frames. Matted with a fine Chinese silk brocade border. Comes with lacquered brass geometric hangers for easy mounting. Can be displayed as a privacy screen, partly folded to stand upright on a table or floor. Note that no two renderings are exactly the same. Subtle, beautiful hand painted wall art for a fraction of the cost of a comparable print.

24-Inch The Five Fish Silk Screen $142 The Five Fish is a good luck motif, and this one is rendered with great colors and composition. Medium (2ft. x 4ft.), hand painted ink and watercolor silk screen. Song dynasty (10th century China) brush art style. Crafted from silk covered paper, glued over four side-by-side lacquered wood frames. Matted with a fine Chinese silk brocade border. Comes with lacquered brass geometric hangers for easy mounting. Can be displayed as a privacy screen, partly folded to stand upright on a table or floor. Note that no two renderings are exactly the same. Subtle, beautiful hand painted wall art for a fraction of the cost of a comparable print.

36-Inch The Five Fish Silk Screen $182 The Five Fish is a good luck motif, and this one is rendered with great colors and composition. Large (3ft. x 6ft.), hand painted ink and watercolor silk screen. Song dynasty (10th century China) brush art style. Crafted from silk covered paper, glued over four side-by-side lacquered wood frames. Matted with a fine Chinese silk brocade border. Comes with lacquered brass geometric hangers for easy mounting. Can be displayed as a privacy screen, partly folded to stand upright on a table or floor. Note that no two renderings are exactly the same. Subtle, beautiful hand painted wall art for a fraction of the cost of a comparable print.

Kritter Keeper For Small Animals/Fish – Green – Medium $5.1 The Kritter Keeper is perfect for keeping small animals or fish. To use, Place What You Would Need For Your Pet In Kritter Keeper. Then Place In Your Critter Or Fish. Product has a Vented Lid, a Hinged Viewer Or Feeder, and an Air Line Tubing Access Hole. Diameter = 7.25. Height = 8. 5. It is Round with a Little Base Stand. Product is made with Hard Plastic.Color: GreenSize:  Medium