Kayak Fishing can often lead to great catches of fine table fare. From Redfish to Halibut to Perch most types of fish found on the dinner table can be caught from a fishing kayak, but what is an angler to do with the fish once caught? Traditionally there are two options on how to treat a landed fish for an angler, a stringer or a cooler.
Both stringers and coolers have their pros and cons when fishing from a kayak and here they are:
Stringer
Pros:
- No additional weight before fish are caught
- Very easy to stow when not in use
- Some fish may stay alive for an entire fishing trip on a cooler
Cons:
- Larger fish add a fair amount of drag when paddling
- Fish on a string can attract predators (sharks are a good example)
- Can be difficult to use with certain fish (small or toothy mouthed fish)
Cooler
Pros:
- Can perserve fish for multiple days
- Very simple use, open cooler, place fish in and close
- Can keep drinks and food cold while on the water
Cons:
- Takes up a fair amount of deck space
- Adds a fair amount of weight to Kayak when filled with ice
- Some larger fish may not fit
Some kayak fishermen use soft collapsible coolers that take up less space before a fish is added to the cooler, but most of these coolers are less efficient than traditional coolers.
So while both Coolers and Stringers have their Pros and Cons, most kayakers will find a solution that works for them.
Comment here