The Truth about Kayak Fishing: - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

dsafety · 03-23-2011, 08:59 PM

Sure, you can spend a lot of money going high end feeding your kayak fishing addiction. You can also get by with a very modest investment. I have a fishing buddy whose gear looks like it was picked up in the Craig's list free section. No bait tank, no fish finder, stuff is held together with duct tape and spit. Still, the guy usually catches more fish than I do. Go figure.

Regardless of the entrance fee cost, there are many things that make kayak fishing a low budget way to feed the addiction. Here is a partial list.

No slip fees

No launch fees

No registration fees

No insurance

Minimal maintenance costs

The only fuel burned is breakfast, (unless fishing with Josh when lunch and sometimes dinner is also required).

A day of fishing burns more calories than a day at the gym.

Free live bait

A twice daily opportunity to make a fool of yourself during launches and landings.

The freshest fish on the planet, (except for last summer)

Free whale watching tours

Camaraderie with a wonderful cast of characters

BWE

Being a frugal guy by nature, kayak fishing is the perfect fit for me. On the other hand, I am also an old guy who should be forgiven for forgetting some of the minor expenses that I may have failed to mention to my wife.

I am headed to the Fred Hall show on Friday and will probably come back with a few necessities that I can't live without. Regardless of the cost, they will surely be worth it. Nope, I won't be telling my wife about those purchases either.

Feel free to add to the list.

Bob

Amish Ed · 03-23-2011, 09:44 PM

Losing my good paying job, I'm definitely back to KISS. yak, paddle, FF, 2 flushmounts, 2 bass setups and a variety of plastics and lead.

tagyak · 03-24-2011, 07:33 AM

when i first started out, matt told me that it would only cost $750 and we would be set.

i tell my wife this and go ahead purchase my $750 kayak.

since then i have gone thru four kayaks, several fish finders, four "new" reels, four new rods, tons of weights, hooks, beads, line, a bait tank, wheels, rack, turbo fins, pdf, paddle, and probably some other items that i have forgotten about.

and i still have a few other items that i am about to get. so in the end yes, this sport is not as "cheap" as you may originally think. it is a hobby and like all hobbies it usually cost more than we would really like. but it is also relative; what one may say is expensive another guy says it is reasonable. but even so, i have enjoyed it and will continue to.

for my wife hers is shopping and eating. i don't get mad at her when she spends her dough, and in return she shouldn't either.

onetriphudson · 03-24-2011, 08:08 AM

Don't forget to figure in the money you earn back by fishing...

Seabass / Halibut / Yellowtail $8 a lb.

Gas not used $4 a gallon.

Gym membership $50 a month.

Psychatrist $200 an hour.

It's cheaper than golf!

BT · 03-24-2011, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsafety

Being a frugal guy by nature, kayak fishing is the perfect fit for me. On the other hand, I am also an old guy who should be forgiven for forgetting some of the minor expenses that I may have failed to mention to my wife.

I am headed to the Fred Hall show on Friday and will probably come back with a few necessities that I can't live without. Regardless of the cost, they will surely be worth it. Nope, I won't be telling my wife about those purchases either.

I have won SOOOOO many rod and reel setups on fishing trips I have taken with co-workers on a charter....I AM SOOOOOOO LUCKY!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tagyak

since then i have gone thru four kayaks, several fish finders, four "new" reels, four new rods, tons of weights, hooks, beads, line, a bait tank, wheels, rack, turbo fins, pdf, paddle, and probably some other items that i have forgotten about.

Ditto! I think the hardest item to convince my wife I needed was a $400 carbon fiber paddle. But after I got it I couldnt have lived without it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by onetriphudson

Don't forget to figure in the money you earn back by fishing...

Seabass / Halibut / Yellowtail $8 a lb.

Gas not used $4 a gallon.

Gym membership $50 a month.

Psychatrist $200 an hour.

It's cheaper than golf!

Dont forget lobster @ $20 a pound! And some of the halibut prices I have seen lately are ridiculous!

I do get hit up a lot too about the OEX and Squidco charges on our credit card, especially during lobster season. I have solved that problem as I have told my wife I will take over paying the billls and doing our budget!

03-23-2011, 09:44 PM	#2
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,906	Losing my good paying job, I'm definitely back to KISS. yak, paddle, FF, 2 flushmounts, 2 bass setups and a variety of plastics and lead. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

03-23-2011, 08:59 PM	#1
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,122	Sure, you can spend a lot of money going high end feeding your kayak fishing addiction. You can also get by with a very modest investment. I have a fishing buddy whose gear looks like it was picked up in the Craig's list free section. No bait tank, no fish finder, stuff is held together with duct tape and spit. Still, the guy usually catches more fish than I do. Go figure. Regardless of the entrance fee cost, there are many things that make kayak fishing a low budget way to feed the addiction. Here is a partial list. No slip fees No launch fees No registration fees No insurance Minimal maintenance costs The only fuel burned is breakfast, (unless fishing with Josh when lunch and sometimes dinner is also required). A day of fishing burns more calories than a day at the gym. Free live bait A twice daily opportunity to make a fool of yourself during launches and landings. The freshest fish on the planet, (except for last summer) Free whale watching tours Camaraderie with a wonderful cast of characters BWE Being a frugal guy by nature, kayak fishing is the perfect fit for me. On the other hand, I am also an old guy who should be forgiven for forgetting some of the minor expenses that I may have failed to mention to my wife. I am headed to the Fred Hall show on Friday and will probably come back with a few necessities that I can't live without. Regardless of the cost, they will surely be worth it. Nope, I won't be telling my wife about those purchases either. Feel free to add to the list. Bob

03-24-2011, 07:33 AM	#3
tagyak Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Alhambra Posts: 506	when i first started out, matt told me that it would only cost $750 and we would be set. i tell my wife this and go ahead purchase my $750 kayak. since then i have gone thru four kayaks, several fish finders, four "new" reels, four new rods, tons of weights, hooks, beads, line, a bait tank, wheels, rack, turbo fins, pdf, paddle, and probably some other items that i have forgotten about. and i still have a few other items that i am about to get. so in the end yes, this sport is not as "cheap" as you may originally think. it is a hobby and like all hobbies it usually cost more than we would really like. but it is also relative; what one may say is expensive another guy says it is reasonable. but even so, i have enjoyed it and will continue to. for my wife hers is shopping and eating. i don't get mad at her when she spends her dough, and in return she shouldn't either.

03-24-2011, 08:08 AM	#4
onetriphudson Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 143	Don't forget to figure in the money you earn back by fishing... Seabass / Halibut / Yellowtail $8 a lb. Gas not used $4 a gallon. Gym membership $50 a month. Psychatrist $200 an hour. It's cheaper than golf!