How To Properly Launch Your Kayak In The Surf Without Flipping Over [VIDEO]

It’s kayak fishing tip time again!

In particular, how to launch your kayak from the beach without flipping over (or breaking your rods, losing your gear, etc).

Note: We’ll also cover how to come back into the beach without flipping over as well with a second video below.

And this week we have a special guest who spends more time on a kayak than he does in his bed… the owner of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters, Brandon Barton.

Let’s cover leaving the beach and making it through the surf first.

Here are Brandon’s best tips for surf launching your yak for offshore or beach fishing:

• The surf doesn’t have to be really big for you to get flipped, so watching the waves for a bit and timing the sets is a big importance to busting through the surf.
• The next step is to make sure ALL of your gear is leashed or strapped down to your kayak. Even a small wave can wash pretty much anything that is loose on your kayak (and ALWAYS wear a PFD – Personal Flotation Device when kayak fishing)
• Once you have the timing down, hop in your kayak where the water is shallow in between wave sets.
• Then, give it all you got and head straight out. Do NOT zigzag or try to hit the waves at an angle.
• The most important tip is to keep your kayak heading straight into the wave. Goes as fast as you can straight into the breaking waves, and keep pushing through (regardless if you are paddling or peddling).
• If you do get turned sideways and a wave breaks you will get flipped regardless if it is knee high or head high surf.
• If you happen to fall out of your kayak, flip the kayak back over (if applicable), and make sure to hold on to your kayak tightly until you can get back in.
• Know your kayaks limits and your physical limits.
• Finally, it is always best to go out with a buddy!

How To Launch Your Kayak From The Beach [Video]

So now that you know how to get through the waves, now it’s time to focus on heading back in without flipping over.

Here are Brandon’s tips for bringing your kayak safely back to shore without damaging your gear or flipping over:

• Coming back in with surf can be a different story than launching, and it can also be a little more tricky.
• Timing is very important when coming in since the breaking waves will be coming from behind you.
• Use your paddle to keep your kayak straight works way better than trying to rely on your rudder.
• If the surf is too big just jump out and swim the kayak in past the breakers.
• I would much rather swim my kayak in than getting flipped, lose gear, dunk reels, or even getting hurt.
• It is also a great idea to cut all hooks off you rods before launching and returning in.

Check out the video below of Brandon safely bringing his kayaks in below.

How To Get Back To The Beach Without Flipping Your Yak [Video]

Conclusion

Kayak fishing from the beach rocks!

It’s always an adrenaline rush heading out (even with small waves), and regardless of whether you are staying close to shore and catching tarpon during the Florida mullet run or heading offshore for kingfish and sailfish, it never gets old.

But the one thing that can completely ruin a fun day of kayak fishing is a flipped yak in the surf.

You can break rods, you can ruin gear, and you can get seriously hurt if the waves are big enough and you aren’t careful.

Hopefully these tips from Brandon help and don’t hesitate to ask questions below on this topic (or any other fishing topics as well).

And if you are ever anywhere near Pensacola or Perdido Key, FL look up Brandon for an amazing day out on the water kayak fishing. Here is his business Facebook page: Emerald Waters Kayak Charters

Fish On.

P.S. – If you think your angler friends or fishing networks would like to see this, please Tag them or Share this with them. You Rock! Pa-POW!

Related Video: “How To Get Back In Your Kayak After It Flips Over” (click here to see it now)