Top Tips For Open Water Re-Entry On A Fishing Kayak

This video demonstrates effective methods for catching live bait and sizable lingcod on a kayak. More importantly, it serves as a great reminder of the importance of understanding how to re-enter your kayak when you capsize or fall over in open water. Below is a list of the top takeaways from the video.

1. Stay With Your Kayak

When you fall into the water or capsize your paddling vessel, it’s crucial you find the surface and immediately swim towards your paddling vessel. If there are waves or currents, your boat can drift away from you quickly. The longer you wait to swim towards your kayak, the harder it becomes to reach it. So think quickly and don’t waste any time.

2. Catch Your Breath And Check Your Surroundings

Once you reach the paddling vessel, take a moment to catch your breath and scan the surroundings. It takes a lot of physical exertion to pull your body back into a kayak in open water, so take a moment to regain your strength.

Check the surroundings to ensure there are no nearby hazards, big swells, or other dangers that might make re-entry dangerous.

3. Get Your Body Parallel To The Water’s Surface

It’s a lot easier to pull yourself onto your kayak if your body is parallel with the surface. If your feet are below the vessel, it takes more upper body strength, and there’s a greater risk of re-capsizing while trying to pull yourself up.

4. Pull Yourself Onto The Kayak Lying Flat

When re-entering your vessel, your first priority is getting your entire body into the kayak. To keep the vessel balanced, try to get the bulk of your weight in the center of the boat. Don’t immediately try to re-seat yourself.

5. Find Your Balance And Slowly Re-Seat Yourself

Once your entire body is back in the boat, slowly adjust your position and return to a seated position. Don’t rush the process, as it’s very easy to tip over, especially when you are in shock and fatigued.

6. Practice In Safe Shallow Water

Practicing kayak re-entry and self rescue after capsizing multiple times makes it easier to successfully execute this task in an emergency. Practice capsizing and re-entering your paddling vessel in shallow, protected waters multiple times until you are comfortable with it.

Pro Tip: Bring a paddling buddy along so he or she can assist in case of emergency.

7. Always Wear Your PFD

This video is a friendly reminder of the importance of always wearing a PFD. Without a PFD, capsizing or falling off your boat in open water is potentially life-threatening. Don’t gamble with your life - always wear a PFD.

8. Have An Attached Kill Switch On Motorized Kayaks

Motorized fishing kayaks are becoming more popular year after year. While they help conserve energy, they also pose unique safety risks. One major risk is the potential that your boat can motor away from you if you fall in.

To avoid this, have a kill switch or line attached securely to your body, just like the kind you see in this video. If you fall in, the motor will stop, and your boat will stay within reach.