What is (CPR) method?

My first fishing tournament experience was a kayak fishing tournament hosted by a local Marina. While reading the rules of this tournament, I came across this term (CPR) and had no idea what it meant.  After asking a buddy what it stood for I felt dumb for asking.  So to avoid any of you feeling that way, I'll explain it.

(CPR) stands for Catch, Photo & Release.  This is a very common method of "weighing in" your catch to be tallied.  It is the preferred method for kayak fishing tournaments all over the country.  You will need a measuring device, some tournaments require you to have a specific one so check first. You also need a camera obviously, you may be able to use your phone for this. Finally, you will more than likely need a "Photo Token" which will be designated by the tournament director.  This method works extremely well and promotes Catch & Release which we, as responsible anglers, should be following. The most common measuring device is a Hawg Trough which can be purchased at HOOK1 here http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/

Now get out there, fish some tournaments and have fun.  

D.S

#HOOK1KFG
#PowerTeamLures

Choosing a kayak

So you have decided to get into kayak fishing, welcome to the sport. Now you need to select a kayak to fish from. The choices seem endless and can be a bit overwhelming. The type of fishing you plan to do and any transportation limitations you may have will dictate what kayak you should buy.  

So we'll start with the first decision that must be made, sit-in or sit-on-top (SOT). Most kayak anglers choose the SOT. This type offers a better fishing platform than the sit-in. Not saying you can't fish from a sit-in kayak, but a SOT is better in my opinion.  

So lets assume that you decide on a SOT. The next important choice is length and width. These two are very important for function and performance. Generally the shorter and wider the kayak the slower, but more stable it will be. The longer and narrower the faster, but less stable it will be. My kayak is a Malibu Mini X. At 9'3" and 33" wide, it's a very stable kayak, but you wont win any races in it. I am able to use this kayak everywhere from lakes, rivers, bays, bayous and even the Gulf of Mexico. A very common size that works for most situations is 12', that will give you decent speed and agility and still be easily transported.  Most kayaks that are designed for standing will be at least 30" wide and some are 33". 

I fish in all sorts of water so I needed a very versatile boat, but I needed a kayak that could be easily transported on my Jeep Cherokee. The Malibu Mini X was great for that, at only 40lbs it was very easy to load and unload on my Jeep. Basically you just need to figure out what you plan to use it for and select the best option that works for you. I highly recommend testing several different kayaks out before you purchase. Most dealers have demo days for that reason. Any kayak can get you out on the water, and that's the important part.

D.S   
#HOOK1KFG

Family Fishing Fun

Is there anything better than watching your children apply things that you have taught them? I didn't think so! Here's my two future Pro Anglers fishing at the lake.

The only thing we caught all day was this tiny Bass.

Red Snapper

I had the chance to go Snapper fishing again, and since the first trip was so awesome, of course I went. It was another short trip, but we limited out. The conditions were just phenomenal.

My First Red Snapper Trip

My first Florida offshore fishing experience was awesome. My boss took me out with another co-worker and we limited out on Snapper in less than an hour. I had never been so far out from shore before, 17 miles. Absolutely incredible experience.

Alaska "Combat Fishing"

May in Alaska is a wonderful time. Not only does it signify the end of Winter, finally, but that's when the Salmon start moving up through the rivers and streams to spawn.

Summer in Alaska only lasts for a short time, so all the locals wake up from their hibernation and head outdoors. Couple that with the 1.9 million tourists who visit each year, and it can get a little crowded. Alaska is the largest state in America, consisting of 586,412 square miles. it's twice the size of Texas, and has 12,000 rivers and more than 3 million lakes. The best Salmon fishing, however is primarily on the Kenai Peninsula.

Salmon fishing is serious business in Alaska. Most of the locals fish for sustenance, while visitors fish for sport. Techniques range from spoons or flies, to nothing more than a hook to "Snag" the fish. I had never encountered "Snag" fishing before, but it was some easy fishing. Basically, you cast your hook up stream and let it drift down stream, lifting your rod tip up every so often. There are so many Salmon in the water, it doesn't take long to snag one.

The "Combat" part of all this is, you are fishing within a few feet of other anglers. Dozens of fishermen along the same stretch of shoreline, all casting sharp hooks within inches of each other. If you're not paying attention, someone could get a hook in the face, and no one wants that. Not to mention the possibility of a bear stopping by to do a little fishing right next to you. This is Alaska after all. I have to admit, I really didn't enjoy that type of fishing very much. Personally, I would rather be on a lake, with no other anglers in sight, fishing from my kayak. So why do so many anglers flock to "The Last Frontier" to fish like this? Huge Salmon and the beauty, I suppose. It wasn't uncommon to see 80 pound King Salmon or 12 pound Sockeyes being hauled out of the river. That could be reason enough for some to fight through the crowds. Mine however, were not that big.

I have been all over the world, to many awesome places, but Alaska is my favorite. The best hunting, fishing, hiking and camping I have ever done was in Alaska and I hope to make it back there one day. Maybe I'll give "Combat Fishing" another try, who knows. If you get a chance, I highly recommend visiting Alaska, if not for the fishing, just for the sheer beauty.

D.S