Needed: All the answers

What's up guys?

I've been looking into all this gear, the different fish species, locations and recipes with baited breath!

From what I've gathered, Hobie is the way to go. Are Outbacks pretty much the most versatile kayaks? The most tested and proven?

What's a good complement of rods/tackle to carry? Should I use vastly different rods for lingcod versus salmon?

Dry suit: absolute must or a nice set of rain gear will do?

I saw a post referencing "charts" as they pertain to finding muddy areas and thus the best places to set crab pots. What are these charts called and where can I find them?

This isn't the first time I've looked into kayaks. Before I found some attachments for kayaks which you could attach a trampoline to to get more space. What are those called?

I want to get on the Sound, around the islands, and up to the strait. I plan on sticking close to the shore for now. What will I be hooking up to there?



Sure glad this site exists!

Welcome to the forums 

Yes... Welcome! Those trampoline-thingys are called outriggers.

True

My answers and thoughts...


From what I've gathered, Hobie is the way to go. Are Outbacks pretty much the most versatile kayaks? The most tested and proven?

This is all in who you talk to... outbacks or revo is the usual arguement... then the adventure guys chime in... what it really comes down to is what works for you.  You may like the idea and not like the application.  Demo them before you buy them.  You may determine you would prefer to paddle... or the expense may just make you decide you would rather save the money and paddle.  There isn't a "for sure" answer on this one.

What's a good complement of rods/tackle to carry? Should I use vastly different rods for lingcod versus salmon?
Depends on what you like... a good friend of mine liked to fish from his kayak with his trout gear to catch lings.  I tend to use similar gear to what I would fish for salmon with to fish for lings.  For me it isn't so much about the fish as about the weight I will have on the end of the line.  At the end of the day jigging a 4oz jig is far different then casting and retrieving a 2oz jig.  I have a tendency to carry 2 poles when fishing for lings, cabs, and rockfish... one has a 2oz jig and is a lighter rod, the other has a 4oz and is a bit heavier.  I use my tiger ugly stik is I am gonna troll for salmon using a big flasher or if I am gonna fish for halibut.

Dry suit: absolute must or a nice set of rain gear will do?
I can't imagine you NOT getting wet in rain gear.  Some type of immersion gear is suggested.  Consider this... is you go in 45 degree water with rain gear you will be wicked cold immediately.  If you end up in the drink with immersion gear (and appropriate base layer) you will likely be able to continue fishing.  For me a dry suit with a relief zipper became a must after a couple of trips out.  Before that I used waders... if you do that, to make it immersion gear, you need a dry top.

I saw a post referencing "charts" as they pertain to finding muddy areas and thus the best places to set crab pots. What are these charts called and where can I find them?
I don't know on this one.  I find you can just ask around and most people are pretty good with telling you decent areas to drop pots... just cause the "ground" is right, doesn't mean the crab are there.

This isn't the first time I've looked into kayaks. Before I found some attachments for kayaks which you could attach a trampoline to to get more space. What are those called?
I don't know the name - but what was suggested above sounds right.  My thoughts... worry less about attachments and make sure you have a kayak you will enjoy paddling or pedalling... the accessories have a way of fitting your fishing style and available space.

I want to get on the Sound, around the islands, and up to the strait. I plan on sticking close to the shore for now. What will I be hooking up to there?
Yes.. that is the answer to your question.  Really too much water... Perhaps narrow your questions down to the specific marine areas.  I fish 2 and 4A and B and 12 and 13... but I fish those areas for different things.  Halibut, sea bass, lings, cabs, kings, silvers, chum, pinks, flounder, sea run cut throat, crabs.  As you are new... and, it sounds like, without a kayak... learn about the place you are most likely to fish, that is always a great place to begin.

A word about safety in general... we seem to have the "safety police"... I admit to having offered safety police thoughts in the past, and probably will again... but hopefully not right now.  That being said, I would suggest you take time to learn about safety equipment - some things that seem and are optional, have great value. (ie VHF radio)  Somethings that you might take for granted may become absolutely necessary. (ie a good pfd and the ability to reboard your kayak)  You have to decide what is important to you.

I hope you enjoy learning the stuff I enjoyed learning so much.  My stoke is still strong.

Welcome to the cure.

42 ....

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Also, Hitting one of the many lakes in the area is a good way to get your feet (paddles, flippers...) wet and to experiment with all of the bells and whistles.

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the correct answer is fortyt... oh dammed, someone beat me to it.

What was the question again?



To try to add some modicum of relevant information: Less is better

The right reverend jcp pretty much nailed every point. The only thing I might add is you really don't want much more space to put stuff, or you'll end up with a Hobie PA14 with ama's and tramps. Might as well add the 4-stroke merc with that package.

Think about it before you leave home and take what you need. Leave everything else or it'll likely be in the way, get ruined, and/or lost.

Finally at the risk of being banned as safety police, raingear for kayak fishing for your neck of the Pacific is wholly inadequate. A drytop and neoprene waders will get you going, but a breathable drysuit is the wtg. The question to ask yourself is: "Can I swim in what I have on and continue to fish comfortably for the rest of the day?"

Start simple.  Get some experience before you start gearing up with all but the essentials.  I'd spend more money on less gear to start.

I'll admit to some bouts of safety policing, to which some others seem to object.  However, you being a newb it seems appropriate.  Caveat is, this is all my opinion, based on being a newb at one time, not so long ago. 

I didn't get the right kayak until I bought my second boat, an Hobie Revo13.  YMMV.

For fishing in the GPNW salt I think a drysuit/paddling suit is a must.  YMMV.  You mentioned staying close to shore.  The shore only 1/4 mile away will not help you in 45F water with your waders full of water and unable to remount your yak because you now weigh 300 lbs.  Likewise, most drownings occur VERY close to shore.  Dress for immersion.

For fishing in the GPNW I think a PFD is a must.  YMMV.

A good kayak cart is a must.  You will want to go places you can't carry your yak.  I didn't get the right cart until my first one broke (less than a season) and I bought my second one, a Wheelez Beach Cart. Again, YMMV.

An 8'-9' heavy salmon rod and an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur make a good combination for salmon and bottom fish (rockfish and ling).  Might be light for halibut and sturgeon.

You can view and download digital charts for free from NOAA. http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/PacificCoastViewerTable.shtml   Check the charts in the 18000 series for WA and OR.  If you download some of the charts you will need a viewer to display them.  Memory-Map has a free version which does fine.  http://www.memory-map.com/

Forget the ama and trampoline for now.  They are something you can add later.  If you want more room you should buy a small boat, motor, and trailer for what you are going to spend on everything I listed.  YMMV.

I think the bigger concern, (safety police unite) is your physical ability and your comfort level. I have been on the ocean with guys with waders to drysuits, to wetsuits, to a pair of shorts. I would recommend a good life jacket. Now it comes to ability. If you can swim like horny dolphin, then waders keep you dry at launch and landing. If you go in the water with waders you better practice self arrest with waders on. if you can't swim or are in poor physical shape, then all of the items listed above plus a two way radio and a buddy to go with is positively needed.

In my personal experience physical endurance has overcome tide and wind. That being said I would never try to fish without knowing how strong the wind or tide are.

If you go in the water with waders you better practice self arrest with waders on.

Just leave the ice axe on the beach

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