I really like the idea of paddleboard fishing, especially with some propulsion involved. However, I'm a bit short on boating knowledge.
What I am wondering is - what are the limitations of a trolling motor on a paddlecraft? How much wind or current can you maneuver in effectively.
For example, could you launch from the sand and troll along the second bar off a typical beach in panhandle as long as the surf wasn't rough?
I am very seriously considering making a purchase in the next couple weeks but I haven't really gotten a good idea of what the best application of a set-up like that is. Or, at what point would the weather or conditions dictate that I shouldn't launch such a craft. Do any experienced kayak/paddleboard fisherman have a good rule of thumb to go by?
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Fishing beautiful Destin / Ft Walton Beach area!
I have been warned away from them by 2 highly reliable sources, one of them being a dealer! The other source was a charter operator who had several of them on tenders. They were very unreliable as of 2 years ago. I have no current knowledge as to whether they have improved the product.
I know they come unadorned, by design. But I'd rather be off the deck and out of the bucket to the extent possible.
Those old kayak seats especially felt constrictive.
It's also what I've got - a Hobie revo 13 with AI outrigger and a 2.5HP Suzuki. It stores and transports easily. It's a very stable,reliable and versatile craft. I've round-tripped over 30 miles in a day and ALL my energy went into fishing/snorkeling and none into paddling or pedaling....It's got some drawbacks - for one I could buy a decent little skiff for that I paid to put mine together - but if you need a cartopper (or truck bed) that can handle rough water and has a great operating range,this is a great option.
I have toyed with the idea of propulsion for calm conditions, but my board is a poor choice for that. A Live2Fish or BOTE would be a much better choice. But by the time they are tricked out for motorized fishing, they start looking a lot like that Solo Skiff except you sit on a cooler. I think at that point I would rather have the Solo Skiff.
My point here is why get a SUP and then turn it into something else?
Yaks, OTOH, are much more amenable to adding motors. A few of the guys I paddle with have motors they use inshore, through a nearby "inlet" (very large river) or on really calm days off the beach. The mostly pedal when not using motors and can move a lot faster than me. I am lucky they like me; one or two will peel off and do a loop to loop on the way out to an artificial reef around 1.5 miles out or just troll slower to hang with me.
Point here is that if you get a SUP, IMO it should be because you like paddling while standing and/or enjoy the challenge. Anther reason I do it is shoulder issues and choice of vehicle; I can load/unload a 32# SUP on a rooftop rack alone.
The point to my ramblings is that if you want a motor, get a yak or something designed to motor. I love my SUP, but it's not a good candidate for a motor. BOTE makes one specifically for motoring, but it's kind of a stretch to call it a SUP.
The key to fishing is adaptability. The more flexibility that you have in your gear and your mentality, the better off your success.
But to be very specific, with a motor, without a motor, you aren't going to catch anything unless you learn how to catch. What you sit or stand on makes no difference to the fish.
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All About The Bait Store - http://www.allaboutthebait.com/