Kayak Fishing On Florida’s Paradise Coast

For anglers visiting Florida’s Paradise Coast, kayak fishing has emerged as an efficient, inexpensive way to get out on the water and fish to your heart’s content. You can easily bring your own kayak if you’re traveling by automobile. If not, these lightweight crafts are convenient to rent, and far cheaper than chartering a powerboat.

Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades also has an array of outfitters that offer guided excursions. Expert anglers take you out to the hot spots, help you fight (and catch) an array of sportfish — and get you back safely.

Kayak fishing is also fabulous fun for inexperienced anglers, even newbies.

Cheap, Easy, Accessible: The Benefits of Kayak Fishing

Kayak fishing is simple, stable and quiet — with little or no impact on the environment. (Kayaking is also extremely easy to learn.) The sleek boats provide fishing access to areas that you simply cannot get to by other means.

A fishing kayak requires no fuel, no trailer, no tow vehicle and basically no maintenance. You don't even need a boat ramp. You just drop in wherever there’s an appropriate spot — and there are a multitude on Florida’s Paradise Coast.

Weighing about 50 pounds, these crafts can sit atop a compact car and be launched by one person just about anywhere there’s water. Completely outfitted for fishing, including paddles and safety gear, the typical fishing kayak will cost about $1,000. But you can also go big and spend more, depending on your needs and budget.

As for guided kayak fishing tours on Florida’s Paradise Coast, here’s one example: Naples Fishing Adventures charges $350 for a five-hour excursion. Renting an outfitted kayak and going out on your own can run less than $100 for four hours.

FISHING THE DEEP — OR BETTER YET, FISHING THE SHALLOWS

Kayaks are used in both deep and shallow water fisheries. Deep-water kayakers are generally looking to catch sailfish, stripers, sharks and giant tarpon. In other words, the big ones. Just so you know, this mode of fishing is more common on the Atlantic side of Florida, where deep water can be just a mile from shore. On the Gulf side, however, you might have to go 50 or 60 miles out to reach those depths. So if you’re hankering to catch large game fish here, your best bet is to opt for one of the many powerboat charters available on Florida’s Paradise Coast.

That said, it’s in the shallow waters of Southwest Florida where kayak fishing has really caught on.

Success in the shallows depends largely on stealth. One slam of a hatch, a dropped tool on the deck or a push-pole banged into a rock, and it’s probably game over. You might as well move on. Remember, stealth is king.
In a kayak, you’re able to slip quietly into your fishing area virtually undetected, gliding with minimal effort. The only sound is that of the paddles dipping into the water.

Where to Kayak Fish in the Naples Area

Rookery Bay, located between Naples and Marco Island, is renowned for redfish, mangrove snapper, tarpon and snook. These lively fish love to hide in the mangroves — and that’s perfect for a kayak, where you can nudge up close to the roots.

In the grass flats, try your hand at snagging snook (an extremely popular local sportfish that is seasonal), along with trout and redfish.

In the backcountry of the Ten Thousand Islands, tarpon actually seem to be attracted to the sound of the paddles. Snook, redfish, sea trout, pompano, grouper and almost too many more to mention make for an excellent day on the water amid the islands and clusters of mangrove.

Another prime area is in the western Everglades and off of Chokoloskee Island, where you can catch bass, tarpon, snook, redfish, trout, cobia, shark, grouper, snapper, pompano, sheepshead, triple tail, mackerel and kingfish. It’s not unusual to catch a dozen or more species in a single trip.

A major bonus to fishing in these areas is that they are strikingly beautiful. You may find yourself putting aside your rod to just soak up your surroundings.

Here are some other outfitters that provide guided kayak fishing tours and kayak rentals:

Experience the unforgettable fishing that you’ll only find on Florida’s Paradise Coast. Plan your kayak fishing outing soon!