Easy SUP Fishing Tips

Tips that will help you maximize your SUP experience while chasing fish.

Kayak fishing is a thing. It’s been a thing for a long time. It used to be my favorite thing to do on the water, until now. For me, SUP fishing has claimed the veritable throne when it comes to fishing from non-motorized water crafts. This isn’t the case in the industry as of yet. But generally speaking, this new idea of fishing from a stand up paddle board is gaining a lot of momentum! Awareness and education will absolutely help to strengthen the cause. Many of you who have experienced SUP fishing know that the key to success is simply being smart. But smarts aren’t always automatic. Through my own personal trials and tribulations, I’ve compiled a list of easy SUP fishing tips for those looking to get into this epic, new mode of fishing and take the easy path to success!

Skeptical? I know what you’re thinking: “Why challenge myself with something new when kayak fishing is just fine?” I hear ya. I was the same way… until I did it! That’s when I saw the light… and the fish. Here’s a few reasons to make the transition from seated to standing tall:

Take a bird’s eye view.

Sighting the fish is a whole lot easier when you get your eyeballs up to a higher vantage point. If you’re an angler that hasn’t experienced sight fishing, you’re in for a doozy of an epiphany my friend. Nothing is quite as exciting as being able to not only see an approaching permit on the salt water flats but to actually get a quality cast out to it. You may be wondering, “how can I effectively cast to fish when I’m standing on a moving platform and not lose my balance?” This is a conundrum felt by many anglers. Yes, many SUP boards aren’t the easiest to fish from due to their limited stability. However, there are some SUP boards that have been designed to be ultra-stable for not only anglers but also for first-time paddlers in general. We’ll talk about these boards later in the essay.

Cast away.

How many of you out there have a hard time casting from a kayak? Trolling… awesome! Actual casting… not so much. I do a lot of fly fishing. While kayaking I, more often than I would like, slap the water behind me during my back cast—especially when I get lazy or tired. I’ll even smack the kayak (and my back) with the fly once in a while. Not fun. Dangerous, in fact. Just imagine if there was a treble hook involved! And, when it comes to accuracy, success rates plummet when casting from a kayak. Weedy banks, trees, logs… these are common target zones where fish love to hide. Good luck casting from a kayak at these potential honey holes! Your success rate sky rockets while in a standing position… especially after you get some practice at it. One thing’s for sure: fly fishing has been a whole lot easier for me when I get vertical!

Say “goodbye” to the aches and pains!

If you’ve ever kayaked, there is no doubt that you’ve felt that aching, lower back pain that eventually happens (often even after you’ve purchased that overpriced seat that popped up on your Instagram feed). Well, you can say “adios” to that pain when you choose to stand tall out there in that watery bliss. In real life, any SUP fishing expedition becomes a mix-mash of sitting and standing—especially when the wind picks up. If you vary your paddling postures, your lower back will thank you. Many of us stare at pixels way too much in our lives, and our general posture suffers for it. It’s a fact, stand up paddle boarding can do wonders for your posture and will absolutely strengthen your core! And, there’s definitely a feeling of freedom when you’re SUP fishing. Breaking away from the kayak’s seated confines can be absolutely liberating.

Take a load off.

Inflatable SUP boards are so much easier to transport. There’s so much less material to lug around. Deflate it, roll it up and go! No need for a big ole truck to get you and your board to the water.

Let’s get to the tips…

Before I get to the tips (I know: get on with it already), let me give you some info on me. Basically, my skin is perpetually pruned. I’ve been a waterman my entire post-adolescent life. I dabbled as a tour boat captain, marine naturalist, expedition leader, kayak guide, white water raft guide, zodiac tour guide, surfer, scuba diver, yada, yada, yada. I know water. As such, I have learned a ton from my own experiences and the experiences of others over the years. I’m also minimalist. On any fishing trip less is more. More stuff (especially unnecessary stuff) means more to lose, not to mention more work and potential frustration. Because of this, my inflatable SUP board has been such a welcomed addition to my days on the water, whether fishing or just getting some exercise in. It’s a resource that has forced me to keep all the variables on a fishing expedition to a minimum. It all comes down to this: my SUP board has allowed me to focus on the most important thing: chasing fish!

#1 Use a SUP board that’s actually Stable

Believe it or not, not all stand up paddle boards are stable. Some are engineered for racing, ie. extra long, narrow and difficult to stand on (especially when you’re casting). Some are meant for mellow, leisurely paddling experiences. Even with the hard, drop stitch platform, these simple, standard SUP boards can be challenging to stand on. The solution is out there and has been for a long time: stabilizing pontoons. Oceanic cultures have built boats for millennia. Many of these cultures use extensions called “outriggers” for stability. Polynesians call this extension an “ama”. Catamarans utilize this same concept for added stability. Catamarans are basically twin hulls set wide apart with a bridge in between. Those aforementioned standard SUP boards lack these stabilizing characteristics. Now, larger, wider boards are out there. And yes, a more sizable platform helps… but more surface area will decrease hydrodynamics. Basically, more surface area means more drag. We at Bird Island Outfitters® have developed our new inflatable SUP board with supplemental pontoons to compliment the hard, drop stitch deck. With these added chambers, the stability and weight capacity of our board increased big time. These two pontoons also decrease drag (friction between the board and the water) by slightly elevating the main deck off the water. They also help with tracking: the ability of the board to move in a straight, efficient line. This exciting, new design lessens the impact of chop on the water and makes falling off the board a much less likely scenario. One downside of adding these pontoons is increased windage (the air resistance of a moving object). It’s a small price to pay for ultimate comfort and success. Click here If you’re interested in learning more about our new inflatable SUP+Kayak hybrid paddle board engineered with supplemental pontoons. I think you’ll like what you see and love how it can enhance your fishing life.

#2 Go with inflatable technology

Inflatable means portable. Transporting inflatable SUP boards is a piece of cake. As I stated earlier, just deflate it, roll it up and go! Getting on the water has never been easier. Inflatable also means light weight. No more struggling with a cumbersome paddle board or bribing a buddy to help you. Unfortunately, inflatable technology hasn’t quite figured out invincibility. Inflatable boards are vulnerable to sharp, nasty objects in nature, ie. barnacles, zebra muscles, lava rock, coral, cactus thorns, etc. The take-away here is: be mindful of objects that your board could come into contact with.

#3 Try a SUP+Kayak Hybrid

Hybrid? Sounds complex, but it’s not. On long trips, there’s a good chance the weather could turn on you, the wind might pick up and you’ll have to quickly transition from being a patient angler to a hasty paddler. When that welcomed tailwind early in the trip becomes a nasty headwind, standing will halt your progress. It’s is akin to a hoisting the main sail on a sail boat. Standing works great going when your paddling downwind, not so great against it. In these conditions, it’s imperative that you transition from a standing posture to a seated one that’s out of that wind. Keep in mind, these hybrid boards are not your standard, unsteady inflatable SUP boards. Hybrid boards incorporate supplemental pontoons. These additions not only add stability, they provide more freeboard (amount of hull above the water) which helps to prevent excessive splash and wind spray. Having a hybrid SUP+Kayak will make your paddle back to the car a much more comfortable and efficient one. Click here to learn more about these new, innovative hybrids.

Now, your paddle is a key element here. The T-grip style paddle doesn’t work too well when you’re sitting close to the water’s edge. You’ll need to have a separate kayak paddle. But having an extra paddle is not the minimalist approach to this problem. Here’s a better approach: use a 2-in-1 adjustable paddle. These “one-stop-shop” paddles are amazing and so simple! One end of the paddle is adjustable. When you’re ready to switch, simply detach the removable paddle blade section and replace it with the T-grip section. Easy peazy. Battling wind and covering lots of water becomes a lot easier when you’re set up for success.

Packing a removable seat is a step often skipped by minimalist SUP anglers. It’ll become a welcomed resource when the time comes for you to hunker down. Unfortunately the removable soft seats aren’t the most comfortable. You can, however, stow them out of the way… unlike those rigid, more expensive ones. Whichever seat you choose, you’ll be happy you brought it. Kayak strokes are much easier when you have a seat for leverage and comfort.

#4 Removable Center Fin

If you haven’t tried SUP fishing on a small river, you’re missing out. It’s a blast. It can also be treacherous if you’re not prepared. Rivers are dynamic. They have varied depths and lots of hidden obstacles. In fact, there are lot of dynamic waters to explore with your SUP board. I love me some tidal salt water lagoons! They have some of the same challenges that rivers have. No matter where your adventures take you, constant adjustment of your rig will, more than likely, be a thing. Having a large center fin will slow and even stop your momentum, often abruptly and unexpectedly. Being able to remove that fin is crucial. On the flats, I’ll detach the center fin when the tide drops. On small, boney rivers I will rarely even attach the center fin and utilize only the two smaller, permanent fins for tracking. On reservoirs and lakes, I usually never even have to mess with the fins at all!

#5 D-rings are D-lightful

If your board doesn’t have many D-rings, I recommend purchasing a bunch of them. They’re often sold with the patch included (see image below). I recommend adhering them along the outer edge of your board at 1-ft intervals from nose to tail. Adding these will afford you the freedom to attach a whole bunch of fun accessories. That brings me to #6…

#6 Bungee cords. Use em!

Get creative with those bungees. Stretch the cord through the D-rings in whatever way you want. You’ll be happy to have the extra storage potential, especially on those longer paddles. Keep in mind that bungee cordage will lose elasticity over time, especially when it’s constantly exposed to the elements. One way to preserve the strength and resiliency of your bungees is to remove all stowed objects when you’re storing your board between uses. I learned this the hard way. I don’t often deflate my paddle board between uses, keeping my PFD secured in the bungees. I found that the bungee cord weakens over time due to it being perpetually stretched. Needless to say I had to buy more cordage sooner than I wanted.

#7 Attach a Bow Line

There will be times when the water gets too shallow to navigate. Being able to pull your board with an attached line will make those transition moments on the water a lot smoother. You can also use it to tie off your boat to branches along the water’s edge when you want to get off and do some wading. I learned another use for a bow line while wade fishing on salt water flats over the years. I’ll use a line to attach the board to my waste allowing me to be hand-free for casting. When you’re out there in it, far from civilization, it’s comforting to have my life line (aka my SUP board) connected to me at all times.

#8 Bring a Small Anchor

We’ve all been there… you find a honey hole… you get yourself into the perfect position for a cast only to have the wind or current either pull you away from it or right over it effectively spooking the fish. An anchor will not only give you the freedom to maximize the potential of catching fish from those sweet spots, it’ll prevent unnecessary frustration of constantly repositioning. When it comes to anchors, I’m gonna be honest—I usually just fasten a rock to a line and attach that line to a D-ring. I do a lot of traveling by plane to remote waters abroad. (I guess I’m not a fan of crowds). Anchors are, by nature, heavy. They’re not practical for travel via airplanes. Another option is, of course, buying an actual anchor. There’s a ton of them out there. The small ones go for around $20 to $30. They work great.

#9 The Luxury of a Rod Holder

Fish have a bad habit of pulling your unsecured fishing rod right off the deck and right into the drink when you’re trolling your line behind you. It’s fun to hook a pig… not fun if you lose your rod! The answer? A rod holder. And whether you’re conventional fishing or fly fishing, there are rod holders made for you. Make sure you get the right one. They’re even starting to develop universal rod holders, although I’m a little skeptical on the functionality.

Where to mount a rod holder is the biggest question. One option is to buy a mount system (rod holder manufacturers offer these) and adhere it, DIY style, to your board. Make sure you use the right adhesive in a controlled setting (cool, dry, ventilated and clean). The problem with this option is that the adhesive may degrade and detach over time, especially when it’s regularly under stress. I’ve solved this problem by using the milk crate method. I get a square milk crate and, using bungees, secure it to the board just behind where I stand. Then, I attach my Scotty rod holder to one side of the crate with the standard (screw-in) base mount. I’ll add an extension to this system so that I can grab the rod quickly from my standing position. Bonus: a crate is light weight and great for storage (ie. my camera gear!). These are just two methods for adding a rod holder. I’m sure there are others. Please note: be mindful not to put the rod holder in a spot that impedes your SUP and kayak paddle strokes!

#10 Bring a Net

If you’re fishing for fat lunkers like carp or toothy beasts like pike, hoisting a big fish from the water can be challenging from SUP board. An easily accessible net may come in handy on a fishy day on the water.

#11 Bring Light Weight Wading Boots

I’ll admit, it’s nice to be able to “grip” the board with your toes for balance. Really, it’s just nice being barefooted, especially during the warmer months. However, there’ll be times when you’ll need to get off the board… maybe you hooked a monster and you need to land it on shore… maybe you need to portage over sharp, slippery terrain… maybe you just need to pee. That’s when things get tricky. Walking around questionable and often unseen substrate can become the most challenging part of a fishing expedition. Muck happens! Oyster beds slice and dice. Bottom line, you’ll be able to handle hazards much easier and safer when you wear wading boots. I always bring neoprene booties. And, felt soles help with those slippery rocks. Neoprene is light weight, compact and make the booties super-easy to put on in a pinch. Big ole wading boots are heavy and cumbersome, not to mention it’s an absolute struggle to put on those wading socks!

#12 Use a Hydration Water Bladder

Staying hydrated while you’re out on the water is important, yet often forgotten. I used to be horrible at hydrating as I’m always preoccupied with chasing fish. I find that water bottles pose a challenge for me: A) they hold a limited amount of water, and B) they’re hard to reach for while standing. You literally have to stop what your doing in order to take a drink. And we all know, your time is valuable when fishing. These days I use a bladder on my back with a reservoir hose hoisted over my shoulder for easy sipping. Long distance runners often use this method for hydration because they don’t have to stop. Being able to regularly and seamlessly sip on water has solved my problem of dehydration!

#13 Bring a Pump (cause you just never know)

Inflatable boards aren’t indestructible. Accidents happen out there. Luckily, hybrids have multiple chambers as opposed to their counterpart – standard inflatable SUP boards which only have one chamber. While it takes a little more time to inflate hybrid boards, the extra chambers might prove to be your saving grace. If one of the pontoons happens to get punctured, not to worry—your hybrid SUP board will still get you back home safe because you have two more chambers holding air. Let’s be honest—there are a ton of sharp, little things out there in nature. It’s smart to bring a pump. Today’s pumps are generally light weight and fairly easy to stow on board. When one of your chambers becomes “inflatedly challenged,” here’s what to do: First, before you pump up the deflating chamber, do your best to stop the leak. Make sure the surface is dry and clean. Firmly apply a large, rounded piece of duct tape (you should bring some of this too) onto the puncture as a temporary patch. Inflate to 2/3 of max pressure allowed, ie. if the chamber calls for 15 psi, inflate the damaged chamber to no more than 10. That should keep you fishing with your buds and ultimately allow you to get back home where you can do a more permanent patch job.

So, I’ve eluded to “sharp objects” but haven’t expounded upon them. I’m talking about rocks, thorns, hooks, etc. They have a knack for causing chaos. Luckily, the drop stitch deck is pretty tough. The top and bottom sheets have two layers of fabric that are permanently bonded to each other. On the outside of this double-ply fabric is a layer of PVC coating. The drop stitch deck is rigid and puncture-resistant, for the most part at least. But the pontoons aren’t quite as tough. As you know, hybrid boards have those extra supplemental pontoons on the outer edges. These pontoons are made with military grade PVC material. However, since they’re exposed to collision they’re the most vulnerable part of the board. Playing bumper boats with foreign objects like barnacles, lava rock and cactus thorns could spell disaster. And take heed when you’re casting that lure or fly! You’ve been warned.

Happy paddling and tight lines!

Brock Munson | Contributor
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