Summer 2016 | Sea Island Life Magazine Spring/Summer 2016 | Page 14

O U T WA R D B O U N D

PADDLE, ANGLE, CATCH
KAYAK FISHING IS ON THE RISE FOR OUTDOORSMEN
LOOKING FOR ACTION-PACKED CATCHES.
BY DAVINA VAN BUREN

14 SEA ISL AND LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2016

Fisherman and His Boat
While the small size of the kayak leads many
to think big catches are out of reach, one of the
main advantages to this type of fishing is accessibility. Simply put, kayakers can go where
boats cannot. “It only takes a few inches of
water to float my kayak, so I can put the boat
in skinny [very shallow] or congested water,”
Sammons explains.
With no loud engines or wakes to disperse the
water, kayaks offer a powerful tool to anglers:
stealth. Sammons says certain species of fish are
easily frightened by noise; therefore a motorized boat diminishes the chances of catching
these types of fish. For instance, flounder—an
easily startled species that is plentiful around

PHOTO COURTESY OF “THE KAYAK FISHING SHOW WITH JIM SAMMONS”

f

or some anglers, hitting the water in a
high-tech fishing boat and using modern
gear is part of the fun. But for fishermen seeking a more intimate brush with
Mother Nature, kayak fishing is an ideal
way to experience the water from an entirely
different perspective.
As the sport gains traction, its rising popularity can be seen in television programs such as
National Geographic Channel’s “King Fishers,”
the Discovery Channel’s “Pacific Warriors,”
and NBC Sports’ “The Extreme Kayak Fishing
Challenge.” Hosted by angler extraordinaire
Jim Sammons, the latter follows his quest
around the world to catch the biggest game fish
possible from his vessel.

World-renowned kayak fisherman Jim Sammons