Tips for tandem kayak fishing

[Crazy davy]

Hi guys! I bought myself a seak 2 person (tandem) plastic kayak.

Can me and my buddy go out to sea with it?where would be the easiest place to launch? What would be needed to go out to sea? Like safety equipment/registrations etc etc...

Me and my buddy are really really commited fishermen and dreamed a long time to do this,so we don't mind reaching the nice/far spots.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated because I'm very new to the kayaking thing.

We have tested in on the vaal river on slight rapids,kayak is very stable.
And yes,I'm from gautengeleng so I'm not clued up with areas at the coast...looking to go around richards baye area ,also want to go explore the kosi lakes

 

[bassbug]

Crazy davy congrats on your purchase and hope you have countless happy hours on it. Before setting off into the big Blue make sure you have all of the safety requirements. Read thru this forum to have a better idea on all the aspects of this sport.
Richards bay harbour will be an easy launch unlike launching thru a surf. Familiarise yourself with harbour laws and fish this area before venturing out. Some good fishing and loads of fun to have. Being a beginner I would join a club to show the ropes. Good luck

 

[Malgas]

Hi Crazy Davy, good news, I fish with Fredster and his son, whom have a double and they have it down to a fine art so hopefully will contribute to this thread.
You can check out my post at the top of the forum for a site that is compiled to share the basics.
First stop is safety compliance and then- does your double have a rudder - if not I would not recommend offshore- until you have fitted one. Tight lines!

 

[Crazy davy]

Hi malgas,I have checked that site that you made earlier this morning,it is very well compiled and very helpful thank you!! And uhmmm no ot doesn't have a rudder...does it play a big role?and how so? Will a skeg work? I am planning to troll just past the backline and so on..

 

[Malgas]

Hi Crazy D, when a big wind hits you (especially a strong offshore wind) you will experience problems turning the kayak in order to paddle in.

I have been caught with a good kayak that had a skeg and rudder, and we battled to turn into a strong offshore wind -that went from 0 to 30 knots in no time! It took us 20 to 30 mins to get back 800m to shore and until we could turn our kayaks into the wind we were at best going parallel to the coast. The other thing you are managing in these conditions is the wind blown chop as well as opposing swell- so you are getting hammered from two directions- can get hairy if you are inexperienced!

So unless you can fit a rudder then I recommend that you don't risk venturing offshore - rather stick to estuaries and sheltered environments.

 

[Moztoppie]

Hi Crazy Davy

Welcome to a very exciting way of fishing

Excellent advice from Malgas...It is Nasty out there in a strong wind...
I was once caught 3 km away from launching point and took me three hours very hard paddling to get back and that was on a pinnacle with skeg and rudder...needless to say how stuffed I was and blistered my hands was...I didn't even tried to beach...I just let the waves wash me out...

But yes, there is places where you can venture offshore on a duo plastic weather permitting.