New to Rockfishing

[Donsail68]

Crazy talk! I wish I could afford 100 rods and reels!

Heh... Don't mean to imply I can afford 100 setups. What I meant was so tempting to buy a setup for each situation. We all want the best setup to maximize our chance of catching. Since I like to fish for anything that swims in water, I'm finding myself helplessly adding stuff to my arsenal.

[jmt1980]

Oh I hear you! I do the same... I'm partial to Medium Heavy rods for trolling but I've been resisting the urge to go get a 6'+ light rod for bass, perch, pickerel, ect...

[Dizz410]

Dizz410- you're getting some excellent advice from the resident pros here.

I am interested in how you did as I'll be heading to the Cambridge area next week 8/4-8/5. Not sure if I should launch at Madison Bay down in the Little Choptank, or try the area near Great Marsh Park right at the Rt 50 bridge and downriver. Depends on winds and your report. The weekly DNR fishing report says there's more striper action from the Choptank and north. We shall see.

Well i have to say for my first experience in a large body of water like that it was a BAD one! the boat traffic was insane and scary to say the least. i gave up trolling after about a hr of no hits. went to bottom rig. hooked into a few nice white pearch. but then almost got ran over by a guy not paying attention! i was anchored down fairly close to the shore maybe 30 ft away. he came out of no were and slammed into reverse about 6 ft from me!! after that i was afraid to anchor down anywhere and my day was pretty much over. i do not think i will be going back out anytime soon. honestly too risky for me. i am looking into getting a jon boat instead. kayaks are fun and i like the idea but to take them into larger bodies of water just does not work ( at least for me)

[Mark]

kayaks are fun and i like the idea but to take them into larger bodies of water just does not work ( at least for me)

I can understand your hesitancy. You have to be careful for sure on all bodies of water. But it would be a shame for you to lose the benefit of what kayaks are ideal for -- fishing shallow, structured water in Chesapeake tributaries in areas that cannot be reached by larger boats or more likely are ignored by their operators as they race out to bigger waters.

[buzz]

Well i have to say for my first experience in a large body of water like that it was a BAD one!

I fully understand. I felt the same way in the beginning. Power boats can be overwhelming and downright scary. I recommend PLO and Smith Creek. Maybe most peeps don't want to drive that far, but it never seems crowded on the water down there.

With time and experience you feel more confident and comfortable with both your yak and your abilities.



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[Dizz410]

I fully understand. I felt the same way in the beginning. Power boats can be overwhelming and downright scary. I recommend PLO and Smith Creek. Maybe most peeps don't want to drive that far, but it never seems crowded on the water down there.

With time and experience you feel more confident and comfortable with both your yak and your abilities.



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Thanks Buzz. i will deff be giving it another shot i was just overwhelmed as you said. I love my Kayak just need to get more comfortable.

[EMSer]

I agree with Buzz. Experience on the water will make things more comfortable. Have you done all you can to make yourself as visible as possible, i.e. Bright paddle blade, safety flag and / or loud PFD?

[Dizz410]

I agree with Buzz. Experience on the water will make things more comfortable. Have you done all you can to make yourself as visible as possible, i.e. Bright paddle blade, safety flag and / or loud PFD?

I have a wistle i bring out paddle is blue. other than that no. honestly dont have money to shell out on the safety portion of the kayak right now. i plan on sticking to the shore for a wile or more up river in choptank with less boat activity until i am able to get safety flag only one i have seen was 50 bucks! thanks for the advice as well.

[echo5oscar]

Going out with others will help build your confidence as well. It doesn't have to be big water from the start. Hit up some of the rivers and tributaries, they can provide good fishing and valuable knowledge about your kayak set up, knowing where you need different items and what you will actually use while out on the water.

Also, as an alternative to purchasing different types of equipment, there are numerous things that can be made at home. I think a safety flag is something that can definitely be made, and inexpensive too. Search YouTube and see if there is something there that fits your needs.

Just searched YouTube. There are a few different options for safety flags/lights. Just search "kayak safety flag" and take a pick.

[Romo]

I have my GPS set to speed over ground, my "2mph" is relative. If I'm going with the tide/current SOG is higher, going against is lower. I put in the effort needed to troll at ~2mph if it was dead calm slack tide.

Anyone have a quick tutorial on how to tell if my lowrance unit is set for speed over ground or otherwise? Never thought about this before

[Cowpokey]

I have a wistle i bring out paddle is blue. other than that no. honestly dont have money to shell out on the safety portion of the kayak right now. i plan on sticking to the shore for a wile or more up river in choptank with less boat activity until i am able to get safety flag only one i have seen was 50 bucks! thanks for the advice as well.

You can put a safety flag together for a little bit of nothing. I you have a fishing pole you no longer use, or one that has a broken off tip, just ziptie an piece of bright colored fabric to it and stick it in a rod holder. I added a flag mount to my rocket launcher with a couple pieces of PVC and made my flag pole out of a 4' driveway/mailbox marker that I picked up at Lowes or Home Depot, then just attached a 12" x 18" flag I picked up at BPS.

[Romo]

I know I'm in the VAST minority here but I never have and never will use a flag. I need a flat deck. I don't even like a rod standing up behind me! You just gotta think about where you'll be fishing, observe the channels that the powerboaters use, never turn your back to them and pretend like every boat doesn't see you. If you're scared to fish somewhere on the weekends that doesn't mean its not fishable in off peak hours i.e. weekdays and at night. Fish feed best at night anyway and you won't see many powerboaters out past dusk!

[Cowpokey]

Anyone have a quick tutorial on how to tell if my lowrance unit is set for speed over ground or otherwise? Never thought about this before

By default they are set up for speed over ground. You'd need a paddle wheel or some other kind of sensor to get speed to water/current.

[J.A. Veil]

I know I'm in the VAST minority here but I never have and never will use a flag. I need a flat deck. I don't even like a rod standing up behind me! You just gotta think about where you'll be fishing, observe the channels that the powerboaters use, never turn your back to them and pretend like every boat doesn't see you.

I agree fully. You and I are in the minority of kayak fisherman, but I do not like to have tall items sticking up vertically on my kayak.

[Mark]

From my low viewpoint in my kayak I do not see the flags of my kayaking friends when they are far away from me. Perhaps flags are visible to boaters who have a higher vantage point. But they are not visible to me especially in choppy water. My first glimpse of a far away kayaker is the movement of paddle blades. Kayakers who add fluorescent tape to their blades are easier to see. My pedaling friends are harder to see and must be much closer than paddlers before I can clearly identify them.

I believe Romo's cautions are good. It's wise to assume we are not seen. We should fish accordingly.