The Pros Weigh In On Four Reasons Why Pedal Power Is Driving The Kayak Market
Now, if you’ve never kayaked, much less fished from one, your head is surely asking for more clarification, like, “Kayaking in the sea with a big, long fishing rod?” And if you are visualizing a kayak as one of those short boats resembling a cocoon that’s pointed at both ends and not much wider than the half a human body sticking up from the middle, working a double-ended paddle with total abandon, well, think again, sea pilgrim!
It took the kayak makers about 50 years to figure out that there is a huge market of novices beyond their hardcore white water challengers and long distance paddlers. To reach this vast new market, research revealed, a more user friendly design was needed. Thus began a collaboration of their brightest design and marketing engineers to revolutionize usability and handling of the old standard kayak.
First, they came up with a more stable, easy on, easy off, sit-on-top design that expanded their market beyond expectations. Then they introduced pedals with the paddles and made the kayak so slacker-friendly that any mortal taller than about four feet can now enjoy a memorable kayaking experience with age hardly entering the picture. Serious sea kayak fishing was one of the secondary explosions in growth from these new lighter weight, better handling designs and has been increasingly accepted by avid fisherpersons around the world.
One of the great sea kayak fishing locales on our planet is in the northern part of the Sea of Cortez, right off the sandy beaches of Puerto Peñasco (aka Rocky Point) about an hour south of the Arizona border in the state of Sonora, Mexico. The sea here is famously calm and hosts a variety of fish that always seem to be waiting for a bated hook or lure to pass by. These photos are from our most recent fishing trip in a two person pedal kayak. Can you believe the gear we loaded on this sleek pedal powered vessel? We launched from “Pelican Point” off Cholla Bay just around the bend northwest from Puerto Peñasco. In less than two hours we caught three trigger fish (a favorite for homemade Ceviche) and three spotted bass, throwing back at least half dozen others weighing less than two pounds.
According to Roland Mondragon (featured in the photos), my kayak fishing mentor, an experienced kayaker, sailor and fisherman who owns the Hobie franchise and local kayak rental company in Puerto Peñasco, many experienced kayakers and fishermen appreciate the advantages of pedals on a kayak as well as the sit-on-top design. Here are just a few of the advantages noted by pros:
- For fishing, the pedals make it much easier to maintain a position, thus allowing the angler to get in more casts where the fish are biting, especially on a windy day.
- Propelling the kayak with your feet leaves both hands free to handle your catch and bait your hook without loosing position.
- Successfully maneuvering the vessel against waves or tidal currents is much easier with the pedal models as well.
- And, certainly not least, for the exercise conscious among us, with pedals and paddles on board, you can choose upper, lower and core body work outs on every outing. Or you can just leisurely pedal your kayak for miles through the smooth sea with surprisingly little effort.
If you’d like to take a kayak fishing break to Puerto Peñasco and get to know the Sea of Cortez personally, you don’t even need to bring a kayak. Just visit Roland and Tammy Mondragon’s web site at www.kayakrockypoint.com for full information on rentals, lessons, estuary wild life adventures and ecotours.
This blog brought to you by Sonoran Resorts Sales Group, Jim Ringquist, Director of Sales