Fishing is a very popular activity in Spain. But the sea is increasingly a wasteland where catches are more difficult. It is normal that many fishermen want to get away from the coast in search of catches. And if an inflatable fishing kayak is cheap, it is very possible that you are a fisherman looking for this info to be a future kayaker. I have fished little, but I have been a kayaker all my life.
REASONS NOT TO RECOMMEND AN INFLATABLE KAYAK FOR FISHING
If you want to know more about the advantages and disadvantages of inflatable kayaks, read this blog. But if you want a great summary, they are cheap, you store them at home and move them easily. But they navigate terribly, and you need to be careful so that it does not break and last.
THEY GET PUNCTURED
Modern inflatable kayaks are made to last. There are also many qualities (and resistance). There are good ones, and bad ones. And they are repaired with relative ease. But of course, they are not prepared for an activity such as fishing where there are sharp elements such as tackle and hooks.
Its resistance is in withstanding the sun, friction and impacts. It is a possibility that when picking up a hook we can puncture the kayak. In any case, the vast majority have three floats. We puncture one, okay. But we have two left to return to shore. What I’m not clear about is how the floats will handle the friction with fishing lines over time.
If you are still determined to fish with an inflatable, you could look at a kayak that is made entirely with drop stitch or high-pressure panels. These panels are very hard, they are like stand up paddle boards, and they are more difficult to puncture. Of course, prepare your wallet. Those fishing kayaks are worth money.
ROD HOLDERS ARE a PROBLEM
I would say that rod holders are essential when fishing in a kayak. And we are talking about
Brands use several solutions, and none are 100% cool. Some kayaks opt for aluminum structures to mount normal rod holders such as the Intex Excursion . This Intex model is the most reasonable to try fishing in an inflatable kayak.
Railblaza has bases to stick to inflatables. Then there are homemade solutions with PVC pipe, from a plumber. But no rod holder solution is as good as on a rigid kayak.
TROLLING FISHING
If we solve the above of how to carry the rods, we will find that an inflatable fishing kayak is very stable, but slow (summarized in a crude way). I who have dragged a lure with a sea kayak, which runs twice as fast, know what I’m talking about.
That bomb-proof stability is cool for picking up or lifting a piece. You can’t have everything 😉 . Despite being stable, you can’t stand on it due to lack of rigidity.
SENSITIVE TO WIND
If you say, “I’m going to fish anchored” then you’re going to find a problem and that is that inflatable kayaks have a lot of volume, out of the water. That makes them very sensitive to the wind. To the point of being dangerous if the wind takes us away from land. Okay, in an inflatable you can use a kayak anchor . But forget about carrying an anchor trolley. What is that? The system that is mounted on the side of the kayak to move the point where we hold the anchor.
This sensitivity to the wind influences speed and maintaining course. Keep in mind that a fishing trip usually lasts hours, so it will be difficult for you not to have a thermal wind at some point during the day.
NO CAMOUFLAGE AVAILABLE
It is very rare to find an inflatable fishing kayak with a camouflage finish. I have not seen any inflatable kayak like that. They are usually bright colors and the background is black or gray. If it is camouflage color, it will be more invisible to potential catches.
ADVANTAGES OF AN INFLATABLE KAYAK FOR FISHING
In addition to the well-known advantages of the ease of storing and transporting the kayak, you should know that with an inflatable kayak….
YOU CAN CARRY MANY THINGS
The vast majority of inflatable kayaks are open, and that is good for fishing because you tend to carry many things. Of course, the available space does not allow you to organize things well. But at least it is not a problem to go and get the cooler bag, or the anchor (for example).
TO ENTER THE FISHING LINE
Another function that the inflatable fishing kayak can do for you is, with your rods placed on the shore, you take your kayak and drag the baits and the fishing line. This way you take it to a distance where you can find catches and where you would never reach by throwing it normally. An inflatable kayak can be useful for this type of fishing.
ALTERNATIVES TO THE INFLATABLE FISHING KAYAK
If money is a limitation, look for a second-hand open fishing kayak . There are many. And with adjusted prices. A kayak has almost no wear, and fishing kayaks, being made of plastic, withstand the passage of time better. Of course, you are going to have to go and look for it, and if you don’t have a car, this route is closed.
If your problem is space and not money, there are modular kayaks . They are rigid kayaks made of pieces that are assembled. They have their defects, and they cost more than one-piece kayaks. But it is an option that is gaining ground.
In short, an inflatable fishing kayak works worse than any rigid one. If you still want to try it, there are few models that solve all the negative things I have told you. The most basic for fishing is the Intex Excursion. Brands like Hobie, Advanced Elements, or Gumotex have specific fishing models, but they cost a fortune.
I hope you liked my contribution about the inflatable fishing kayak, in any case you can send me an email if you have any questions to clarify.
