TeamYakFish Blog

Labels: photo contest

This has been a very exciting year for the kayak fishing movement. With kayak fishing tournaments, kayak fishing clubs,websites, events popping up all over the U.S.A. and around the world. Redfish Nation and several other major organizations courting the kayak fishing community. Jacksonville Kayak Fishing hosting the largest kayak fishing tournament in the world and growing their membership to over 1,000 members in two years. To say the least 2006 has been a banner year for our sport.

There are new products targeting the kayak fishermen hitting the market each week. One of the exciting new products is the hybrid kayak/canoe. Pictured above is the NuCanoe Adventurer a hybrid built with the tournament angler in mind. This new breed of kayaks offers more room, stability, and a slightly higher sitting position. Also included in this particular model is a cooler/live well which will prove to be a must for tournament anglers in the future. TeamYakFish promotes catch and release tournaments. One of the only methods that assures the mortality of a catch is the catch - photo - release method. At this point in time it is the only good way for a kayak fishing tournament to promote catch and release. There is nothing wrong with these tournaments but there are so many variables that come into play and if you are wanting to attract a crowd back at the check-in station there must be a way to let the people see the fish and to get the fish back in the water alive. These new hybrids may be the ticket to growing the sport of kayak fishing.

For more info on the Adventurer you can visit www.NuCanoe.com and we hope to give you a complete review in early 2007. We are looking forward to 2007 and all the new products in the kayak fishing industry.

Until then.....take a kid fishing

This past Sunday rescue workers found the body of a Decatur, AL man floating in the Tennessee River about 10 feet from the riverbank and his kayak about 150 yards away.
Thursday night was the coldest night of the year with the temperature dropping to 14 degrees with strong winds.
He reportedly would go out with a flashlight and hunt the riverbanks for arrowheads. Apparently once he flipped he could not overcome the cold water and frigid air temperature.
While having the proper gear for the elements is essential it also important to always take a buddy on the water with you. Fifty degree water can kill you in less than an hour. I have flipped a hundred yards from shore and in full clothing it is a feat to make that hundred yards. In cold water it is nearly impossible even for someone in the best shape. This is when having a buddy with you could save your life. My experience caused me to always have a PFD on while I'm on the water and to secure my equipment so I do not have to worry about losing it if a mishap occurs.
The right PFD is the difference between wearing it or having it tucked away in the rear well.Pictured above are products from Mustang Survival. On the left is the front and rear view of the MD3183 Inflatable PFD with HIT. Very comfortable, durable, and lightweight. This translates into a PFD that is worn at all times. Pictured on the right is the Mustang Survival MJ6224 Integrity Jacket. A warm,comfortable jacket designed for total mobility that is also a PFD. This also translates into a PFD being worn at all times while on the water.
Most of us think we are so careful and it could never happen to us but it does happen. So be prepared, have the proper equipment and by all means take a buddy with you. Especially when fishing cold water.
Be safe and tight lines,
Bucky@teamyakfish.com

FYI - U.S. Fishing Facts

• Estimated 50 million U.S. residents fish each year.
• Since 1980 the number of Americans who fished increase by more than 16 percent. In this same period residents of the South provided the biggest increase in fishing (21 percent).
• More Americans fish than play golf and tennis combined.

More Americans fish than play soccer and basketball.

Fishing ranks as the 2nd most popular water-related outdoor sport in the United States. Swimming ranks 1st.

Fishing is the No. 1 participation sport in MN, FL, NJ, and NC.

26.8 percent of all anglers are female with 43 percent of female anglers living in the South.

39 percent of all U.S. anglers live in the South.

Anglers spent $2.07 billion on fishing tackle in 2001.

Florida anglers spend more than $4 billion annually on fishing and fishing related equipment.

Just thought I'd throw a few tidbits of information out there for you to think about. Remember to send us your email address and name if you would like to enter the tackle drawing for the end of December.

Keep what you can eat but please release the rest to fight another day.

Bucky@teamyakfish.com

Some friends of mine have a vacation house in SW FL not far from the Everglades National Park and the 10,000 Islands region. When they return from a trip with stories of a 100+ snook days and of catching reds until they have to call it quits because their arms hurt I have to wipe the drool off of my chin. I instantly have pictures in my head of taking my kayak down there and after a short paddle catching fish in this beautiful tropical paradise. To make a long story short...they purchased a big bay boat to leave down there and when I questioned them about how they liked it the reply was "we very rarely take it out." Now picture me with this astonished, stupid look on my face when I ask "Why not!" The Mrs. says "Well we leave our dock make two turns,cruise for about three minute and we are lost. We just hire a guide for the week and we are done with being lost. He takes us so far back in the islands we could never find our way out by ourselves." Okay you can picture a sad look on my face with the dreams of a kayak trip quickly fading.
Here is where the sad look becomes a smile and a dream again....Captain Charles Wright with EvergladesAreaTours.com has the means to keep my dream alive. Captain Wright owns a charter service and one of the services he offers is kayak fishing trips. Captain Wright offers paddle-in trips where you launch from land and paddle directly to the fishing grounds, however, his most popular trip is the guided mother ship kayak fishing trip. Captain Wright will transport you, kayaks, all tackle and gear deep into the core of the area for a day's fishing and have you back in time for dinner. Some of these places would take a day or two to paddle into. Now the dream is alive again, the smile is back on my face and I'm trying to figure out when I'll be able to visit Captain Wright.
For more information please go to our links page and check out Captain Wright's services.

bucky@teamyakfish.com

P.S. This would make a wonderful Christmas present

Welcome to TeamYakFish.com a site devoted to all things related to kayak fishing. This is our first day on the web so please be patient as we iron out the wrinkles and tweak the site. We encourage you to check back with us on a regular basis as we will be adding new posts daily.
Kayak fishing is the fastest growing segment in the fishing industry and is obtainable by all. Kayak, fishing rod and reel, lure or live bait and you are in business. One can make it as simple or as high-tech as you wish. Wherever or however you like to go fishing we hope you will join us in sharing our passion for kayak fishing.

TeamYakFish.com will bring you information on latest gear, techniques, fishing lures, destinations, kayak clubs, kayak fishing tournaments and much more. We also welcome your comments and look forward to making new friends.

We will have a drawing for a box full of assorted fishing lures on Saturday December 30. To enter send us an email with the word drawing in the subject line. Please include your name and method in which you would like to be contacted.
Stay tuned and good fishn’,


Bucky@teamyakfish.com