KAYAK FISHING COMES OF AGE
When moving to St. James a couple of years ago, I brought fantasies of how I would rekindle the joys of
fishing that I experienced in my boyhood. Initially, I envisioned owning a power boat to fish the creeks
and marshes near St. James but grew interested in exploring a fishing kayak as an alternative. In May
2012, I attended a fishing kayak clinic taught by Jerry Dilsaver, our local fishing columnist. Jerry
convinced me that kayak fishing had “come of age” and that the kayak was the boat of choice for me.
December 6th was the first of about 50 launches I’ve made since purchasing my kayak and I am happy to
share with others my experience to date.
So, why did I choose the kayak over the power boat? First, I was
impressed with the advancements make in kayak fishing over the past
decade. Not many years ago, the fishing kayak consisted of a simple
rod holder clamped on a kayak. Today’s fishing kayak has many if not
most of features one would expect of a power boat. For example, one
can be outfitted with an electronic GPS/fish finder, a battery-operated
live well, a comfortable seat (including lumbar support), a safety flag
and night running light, several types of anchor systems, rod holders,
camera holders, and hatches for storing tackle, first aid, and
emergency kits. My favorite feature is the pedal drive which allows
you to pedal your kayak while freeing your arms to fish. The latest
accessories include a battery-powered propeller and anchor stick.
Today's Modern Fishing Kayak
Some additional reasons to own a fishing kayak are the cost savings
and simplicity of ownership. One does not incur the gas, oil, and
maintenance costs of outboard engines; one can store the kayak in
one’s garage, thus avoiding slip charges; kayaks can be transported on
top of one’s vehicle or towed on a small trailer. Obvious fishing
benefits of the kayak are the capability to access shallow areas not
reachable by power boats, and to access them quietly, not spooking
the fish as often happens with larger, noisier boats.
Perhaps the most important benefit of kayak fishing is the bond one feels with nature while on the
water; for example, observing a sea turtle, manatee, or porpoise from a few feet away, and retrieving
your catch at just an arms-length away. There is the added pleasure of fishing with and sharing fishing
tales with the growing number of other kayak fishermen in our area.
Most of the “disadvantages” of a fishing kayak can be addressed. It takes longer to reach your
destinations but the numerous access points in our area put you close to most prime fishing areas (see
Resources Box for access sites). Local boat ramps can be congested at times but most ramps have small
beach areas that permit one to launch a kayak without being a nuisance to the power boat owners. Yes,
space is limited on a kayak but over time one finds just the right spot for each item of equipment, and
you learn to bring only the equipment you need for what you want to catch.
As for the danger of tipping over, today’s fishing kayaks are more stable than those of the past - I have
yet to fear being toppled over by the wake of a large power boat on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) –
one can also add attachments that provide yet more stability, allowing one to stand while fishing.
Owning a fishing kayak opens vast new fishing areas to the St. James angler. I have several favorite
launch areas. The 55th St. public ramp on Oak Island provides easy access to Beaverdam Creek and to
the ICW from Beaverdam Creek to the older Oak Island Bridge. The Wildlife Creek public boat ramp on
Fish Factory Road offers easy access to Wildlife Creek, Dutchman Creek, and the Elizabeth River – and to
the ICW from Wildlife Creek to the older Oak Island Bridge.
If you wish to venture beyond Oak Island, take
the Southport-Ft. Fisher ferry to the Federal
Point boat ramp which is around the corner from
the Ft. Fisher ferry dock. From there, one can
launch into a series of three large basins
protected by a large rock wall that is ideal for
kayak fishing. One can use other access points
beyond these three, but you will find more than
ample productive areas to fish from these three
launch areas alone.
If you are pondering the purchase of a fishing
kayak, I am happy to chat with you further about
my experience. You can phone me at 910-2535065 or send me an e-mail at
Armand Desjardins Catches Dinner on Wildlife Creek
[email protected]. I am also including
a few resources below that I found particularly useful when I was contemplating the purchase of a
kayak. With the modernization and rising popularity of kayak fishing, one can expect to see more
fishing kayaks on the water around St. James in the years ahead.
Kayak Fishing Resources

Jerry Dilsaver Kayak Fishing Clinic – usually in May at Bill Smith Park, Oak Island; see
www.captjerry.com for dates and other valuable local fishing information.
•
North Carolina Kayak Fishing Association – informative website for NC kayak fishermen; Coastal
Chapter holds meetings monthly; see http://www.nckfa.com/ .

Kayak Fishing, The Complete Guide, Second Edition, Cory Routh – excellent introduction to
world of kayak fishing; buy at your local bookstore or order online.

Kayak Angler Magazine – buy at your local bookstore or order online – keep up-to-date on the
latest fishing kayak gear and techniques.

Brunswick County Public Boating Access and Marinas; handy guide to local boat ramps and
marinas; see http://www.ncbrunswick.com/fun_and_adventure/public_boating_access
Author with Recent Redfish Caught on Wildlife Creek
By Forest Duncan