What are the basics needed?

It looks like my new boat will be here tomorrow! Now I have to figure out what I need to get going. Paddling wise I have a ton of gear so I think I am good there. Fishing wise all I have is a light weight spinner rod and a few MEPS. Safety gear wise I am not sure what the basics even are?

The first opportunity to fish will probably be for salmon on the sound.

Can anyone recommend what basic gear I should get for both fishing and safety?

Thanks!

It looks like my new boat will be here tomorrow! Now I have to figure out what I need to get going. Paddling wise I have a ton of gear so I think I am good there. Fishing wise all I have is a light weight spinner rod and a few MEPS. Safety gear wise I am not sure what the basics even are?

The first opportunity to fish will probably be for salmon on the sound.

Can anyone recommend what basic gear I should get for both fishing and safety?

Thanks!

Immersion protection and a good PFD is the biggest thing.  Most of us use drysuits (Kokatat Supernova Angler is the most popular) but some use wetsuits.  Depends on your comfort levels and wallet.  If you go with a drysuit you must layer underneath it as it isn't very insulating on its own (all it does is keep you dry).  Any Type II PFD will work, but some are more geared for fishing than others.  After that, look strongly at a VHF radio with GPS and DSC.  That gives an "Oh shit" button to call for help if you really need it.  A good knife to cut your way out of a dangerous tangle. 

After that it's mostly nice to have stuff.

Here are some fishing basics it will be nice to have on your kayak:

1. A box with lures, leader, etc., so you can change lures while you are on the water.

2. A big net.  You really don't want a big irritated fish with big sharp hooks hanging off its lip break dancing on your lap.  A folding net is nice because it catches less wind. A net with rubberized mesh is nice because hooks don't get caught as badly in rubberized mesh.

3. A fish lipper, which is an alternative method for getting fish under control.

4. A pair of needle-nose fishing pliers, forceps, or some other tool for removing hooks from fish.

5.  A club for bonking fish, if you are into eating fish rather than catch-and-release.

6.  A fish stringer, so you can attach your fish to your kayak after you catch it.  Remember, fish are slippery.

7. A small pair of scissors, for cutting line and bait.

8. A knife, in case you want to gut fish while you are out on the water.

9.  A cooler containing a garbage bag full of ice cubes, so you can keep your fish cool and fresh while you're on the water.  Most kayak fishermen don't do this, but I like to keep my fish cool and fresh.  Because I am likely to catch fish which are more than 30" long, and too big to fit in my cooler, I've insulated the area under the front hatch of my kayaks, and keep a bag of Ice up there as well.  For example, I speared a 43-inch 24-pound pike a week and a half ago, and I caught a 30" lake trout last Sunday.

All of this gear should be attached to your kayak, either by a clip, by a cord leash, or by a retractor, so you don't lose it.  I use retractors for the small items of gear listed above.

Here's the typical sequence of events when I catch a big fish:  As I play the fish close to my kayak, I reach back, grab my net, and unfold it with one hand.  I net the fish, and then bonk it on the head while it's in the net.  Leaving the fish in the water in my net, I reach back and grab my stringer, the end of which is clipped to my kayak, and clip the fish to the stringer.  I grab my pliers and get the lure out of the fish and out of my net.  I dump the fish (hanging on the stringer) into the water, fold up my net, and put it away.  Then I gut the fish, and leave it hanging in the water for 10 minutes to bleed out.  Then I lift the fish into the bag of ice in my cooler or the nose of my kayak, and detach the stringer.  Then I'm ready to try to do it again.

Safety flag - you definitely want to be as visible to power boaters as possible

Don't forget the sunscreen!

We really need a sticky on this topic. Perhaps a downloadable document...

No one wants to be THAT guy (or gal).

One thing you need is a "to do"
1.KEEP IT SIMPLE.
2.keep your deck clear of any unnecessary tangles waiting to happen.fishing line, snelled leaders,loose hooks.
3.take only what you WILL use.I still have a hard time with this.
4.stay organized.

Thanks for all the great advice. A lot of it I wouldn't have ever considered and really appreciate the emphasis on safety.

Looking forward to getting out on the water.

I agree that simple is the key.  Make sure you have all the safety gear, its most important, if you get into trouble and drown, no more fishing and those who love you will be sad at your loss.  I suggest adding one item at a time to your deck and keep the "stick-ups" like camera stands, rod holders, fish finder, etc. to a workable minimum.   Give yourself some time to get used to the habits of you craft in all types of conditions before you add too much deck equipment. Practice reentry techniques and make sure you are able to self-rescue adequately.  Remember, you must to be able to get back into the yak if you get dumped and trying to crawl aboard over a bunch of obstructions can be difficult.  The primary basic to have aboard is good common sense, the ability to avoid panic. This ability comes with confidence in your ability to deal with emergencies learned from practice and experience.  Good luck.   

Yes sunscreen.. I'm a dark skinned fella, work out side all day everyday. I was burned from my upper thigh all the way down between my toes. If you have never had a sunburn between your toes, I recommend not getting it. I had a hard time walking...  This was on my second trip out, welcome to kayaking I told myself.