{"id":19163,"date":"2019-03-19T10:00:37","date_gmt":"2019-03-19T17:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=19163"},"modified":"2019-03-15T08:31:33","modified_gmt":"2019-03-15T15:31:33","slug":"kayak-fishing-tournament-circuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2019\/03\/19\/kayak-fishing-tournament-circuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Prep to Podium: The Kayak Fishing Tournament Circuit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tournament season is upon us and if you\u2019re planning on getting into tournament fishing your plans need to be extensive to even consider placing in the top ten, let alone win. Tournament fishing is not for everyone. It\u2019s extremely competitive, maybe even considered cutthroat (no pun intended).<\/p>\n

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Bill Sikora with a 6th place fish at the Extreme Kayak Tournament.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition, the media has recently shed some light on the darker side to tournament angling. Most specifically highlighting the exclusivity and unwelcome divide between the novice and the advanced anglers and the cheating. But hey, that happens in all sports. As for the cheating, tournament directors are not only banning anglers they catch cheating, but also arresting them for fraud.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t mention this to dissuade you from fishing tournaments. I only want you to be aware of the possibility. Ignoring cheaters only perpetuates the problems. Awareness and an effort toward correcting the problem are the goals of every tournament director or committee. However, having fished both sides (boat and kayak) I will say this, the overall brotherhood in the kayak angling world makes for a far more enjoyable platform to fish live tournaments.<\/p>\n

But while we\u2019re on the subject, lets touch on etiquette. I am going to let NRS Fishing Team member Chad Hoover, founder of the KBF, do the talking here as his \u201celoquence\u201d is always appreciated. Chad\u2019s suggestions on how to not be \u201cThat Guy\u201d<\/a> are not just for tournaments but hold true any time on the water.<\/p>\n

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I enjoy tournament angling for a host of reasons. Proving to the other top anglers that you have what it takes to win brings out the competitor in even the most passive anglers. The camaraderie and celebration at day\u2019s end remind us why we fish in the first place. But to me, overcoming the unexpected challenges of tournament fishing pushes me to evolve into a better angler, and that\u2019s the best part.<\/p>\n

My first tournaments were local B.A.S.S. events in central Florida during my early teens. From 2001-2003, I fished under Captain Ron Mitchel of Team Bandit in the Southern Kingfish Association. The first kayak tournament I entered was on Lake Lanier for striper in 2008. I\u2019m not a tournament trail fisherman although in the SKA that was the case. Today, I fish three-four tournaments a year, some of those being online tournaments through Kayak Bass Fishing (KBF) Tourney X.<\/p>\n

I base my tournament selection on three key criteria: location, format, and how it\u2019s run. My personal favorites are the Extreme Kayak Fishing out of Pompano, Florida<\/a> put on by Joe Hector and the Inshore Extreme Challenge<\/a> out of Jacksonville, Florida hosted by Tony Hart.<\/p>\n

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Launching at the Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The online Tourney X<\/a> events are a more laid-back approach to tournament angling. These month-long fishing competitions allow you to compete on your time and are one of the ways to qualify for the KBF Championship. They even have an app, so you can log your catches directly from your phone. Kayak Wars<\/a> is another online event based on a team concept that lasts for almost the entire year. It allows for both salt and freshwater multi-species (just about anything that has fins) entries with team totals in overall inches deciding the winners. It\u2019s a unique and fun tournament.<\/p>\n

The online tournaments are a great way to work out your growing pains. With a 30-day (or longer) window of opportunities available, mistakes can be overcome. I felt these pains personally by having three fish disqualified (rightfully so) because the fish grips were still in the bass\u2019s mouth while on the measuring board, which was against the rules. I didn\u2019t pay enough attention to the fine print, and it cost me first place, as all three measured more than 20 inches. But because I had the 30 days, I recovered and landed in third place.<\/p>\n