Q&A KAYAK FISHING
Q I am new to kayak fishing and think that safety is paramount as I will be fishing alone most of the time. What are the top five items I need when venturing out to sea that could potentially save my life? JOHN DANSIE, ESSEX
MC says: Here are my top 5...
1 No matter what, you should always wear a good quality paddling personal floatation device (PFD). I am a fan of Palm equipment and have been using the Kaikoura for years. This is a quality PFD designed by a kayaking brand that has plenty of stowage and attachment points inbuilt for the other necessary safety equipment. Most importantly, there are large pockets which can take a handheld VHF radio so it is secure and protected from the elements. Whatever PFD you choose make sure it is worn and done up!
2 Secondly, you need decent clothing to protect you from the elements, both on the kayak and in the water, should you end up where the fish are. For most of the year this is ideally a full, breathable, drysuit (with suitable undergarments to regulate your temperature). In the middle of summer a wetsuit or paddle pants, bib, and brace may be sufficient but you do need to bear in mind that should you end up in the water, and separated from your kayak, you could be waiting a while before rescue services arrive on the scene to haul you out; so ensure that you dress for immersion.
3 Third in the list has to be the means of calling for help. There is no real alternative to a quality waterproof VHF radio, which requires an OFCOM licence and a RYA Short Range certificate to operate without supervision. This is a vital tool for all sea users and mine sits securely into the large right-hand pocket of my PFD, with the aerial tucked away in a clip just above. While it is there as my first response to an emergency rescue scenario it is useful for weather forecasts and in constant use for general on the water radio traffic, both for calling and receiving. Channel 16, the emergency and calling channel, is constantly monitored with Channel 8 on dual watch in my own waters as the locally preferred shipto-ship working channel for small commercial, charter, and leisure boats. Channels 12 and 14 are my two local harbour calling channels and in other locations alternates are used. It is always best to check what is in use in the area you are paddling. Be mindful that operating a touch screen mobile phone with wet hands is unlikely to be effective, especially through a pouch.
4 A serrated rescue knife and/or a line cutter are massively important too. There’s nothing worse than being tangled up or snagged, either in the water or above it. Having them on either shoulder where you can access them easily, while being out of the way, is my preference. From cutting quickly through fishing lines and deck rigging, to freeing a snagged anchor; they are absolutely vital. I had a bouncing anchor in three knots and 80ft of water on one occasion where the kayak was swinging wildly and vibrating whenever the anchor caught. The stretch was pulling out of the warp and would accelerate every time it pulled. Not knowing if it was going to ultimately snag on a piece of wreckage, I had no choice but to cut it away, one handed, as I was gripping the sides of the kayak. The anchor reel was already shuttled to the rear so the only option was to cut through both cords from the anchor trolley, which parted with a hell of a twang. Had I not had suitable blades easily to hand I would have had even bigger issues. So that’s number four.
5 Number five? Well, there are a few to choose from which you can tailor to your situation: warm headgear in winter; a suitable hat in summer; deck lights for night fishing; a strobe light mounted on your shoulder if you are out in darkness; a heliograph (a tip I got from an air-sea rescue pilot, on a good day this can be seen for miles); a personal locator beacon (PLB) is potentially a lifesaver, especially in remote areas; a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch can be used for a myriad of things, from communication to location and providing light; a spare paddle if you are not confident in the strength of your main one (or even if you are – I snapped the shaft on my surf paddle in Cornwall summer while catching a good wave).
This kit should keep you safe against the main hazards but never forget the importance of local knowledge, paddling, and self-rescue sklls, all of which are the best lifesavers. ■