Whether you fish for passion, sport or hobby, there is no greater feeling in the world than catching a big monster fish. And to do this aboard a tiny craft is even more impressive. Let’s just say you deserve more than a year or two of bragging rights if you ever caught a monster fish in your little kayak. Back when people thought it was ridiculous to even fish on a kayak, these people proved them wrong. In this article, we’re going over some of the best documented stories about the biggest fishes ever caught in a fishing kayak. 

Swedish angler, journalist, and big-fish fanatic Joel Abrahamsson currently holds the record for catching the biggest monster fish in a solo kayak: the elusive Greenland shark. Greenland Sharks also known as the grey shark are known for their impressive size. They can grow to as long as 8ft-15ft and around 800-2000lbs. Joel’s catch was a 1,247-pound Greenland Shark.

A lover of the cold, extreme, and freezing weather, Joel loves to fish the waters of Sweden, Norway, and Russia.  Catching a Greenland shark wasn’t easy, in fact, he encountered many challenges and risked a lot to make the expedition happen. From more than a year of planning, finding sponsors and funding a film crew to document his adventure, it sure was tough for Joel. But his love for fishing and aching desire to catch one of the colossal predators in Northern Norway got the best of him. Known as the record breaker, Joel now works as a self-employed angling journalist and is always on the move to find the best fishing spots in the world. 

“Most of the world is covered by water. A fisherman's job is simple: Pick out the best parts.”

A man named John Black from Cape Coral, Florida caught a Giant Grouper while fishing in his kayak. His video which went viral and was viewed online more than 9.2M times on YouTube. John Black fought with the giant fish for around six minutes before it gave up and surfaced. The grouper was estimated to be around 552 pounds in weight, 83 inches long and over 73 inches in girth. Grouper experts believe that it is so far “the largest bottom fish ever caught from a kayak”. 

Giant Groupers are big and strong fishes that like to swim in warm, shallow waters. Black’s caught Giant Grouper was so big it was almost as big as his kayak. According to the reports, the fisherman was able to guide the fish to shore to get its measurements before releasing it back to the wild. Goliath Groupers are one of the many endangered species in the marine environment of Florida, as such the catching and selling of them for profit are prohibited by law.

The record for the largest marlin ever caught in a kayak was made by Andy Cho, a two-time Makahiki Tournament champion from Hawaii. Andy Cho is a well-known local angler who loves to fish on his kayak. Known to his friends by his alias F.B.I which essentially means (From Big Island), Cho always loved fishing and the sea. 

Cho who was aboard his Ocean Kayak Prowler Big Game (the largest fishing kayak during that year 2008) when he caught the marlin. He then called his brother as soon as he figured he had a large marlin swimming under his kayak. The two wedged the marlin between their kayaks and each paddled to one side like a canoe.  They took the fish home and had it scaled. Later they cut it up, smoked, and shared to everyone.

Back in 2003, an angler known as Howard Mckim decided to fish in his kayak. He was a newcomer in Ketchikan as he was from southern California. Locals would often tease him about his choice of fishing platform, since back then nobody fished on a kayak. And that’s when he decided he’s tired of it and want to prove them all wrong. 

A few hours later while fishing in his kayak, he felt a tugging and knew that the fish he caught was too big for his kayak, nevertheless, he wanted to know what it was, so he kept fighting. It wasn’t an easy fight, the currents have already pulled him far out in the sea in an unpredictable area. But still, McKim persisted and with all his might paddled his kayak with the fish towards the shore.

The year was 2008 when friend Allen Bushnell, Christopher Mautino, and Allen Sansano decided to load their kayaks onto their charter boat for a once in a lifetime adventure. They were going fishing during the pink salmon migration, also known as the time when salmon sharks come to the shallows to feed. It was an extreme kayaking moment, fishing in the shark-infested cold waters of Alaska. 

The team of four started paddling wildly behind the sharks that were on average around 300-500 pounds. They baited their Avet 50 reels with salmons and managed to catch not one or two but four salmon sharks! The sharks were estimated to have weighed around 350-375 pounds and were around 7 ft in length. 

If you were given a whole year of free travel tickets to enjoy the best kayaking sites in the world where would you go? With hundreds and thousands of amazing kayaking destination around the world, it can be hard to choose the best spots to go on a spontaneous water adventure. In this article, we’re going to explore the top 10 most beautiful places to go kayaking.

There are many great areas to kayak in New Zealand but Fiordland is the best if you want an unforgettable river or lake kayaking experience. Fiordland is a paradise filled with numerous lakes and rivers. Tours around Fiordland often consist of a 4-hour paddling adventure on a 15km water journey. Some of the popular destinations will allow you to see the breathtaking scenery and explore the vast wilderness. Overall, Fiordland has all the best spots for the experienced, recreational and adventurous kayaker to experience rough lakes and challenging sea kayak trips.

Experience your arctic dream while kayaking in Norway’s most unique and untouched arctic island: The Svalbard Island. Here you can go kayaking in the winter and enjoy great cabin accommodations complete with amazing glacial views, private jacuzzis, and sauna. You can also go on fun kayak trips with a group of fellow travelers and visit Svalbard’s most historical fjords, ghost towns, and see the elusive arctic wildlife.

Kayak in Slovenia’s 138-kilometre Soca River located in the mouth of the Adriatic sea. Highly praised for its amazing waters that have the most vibrant color variations, the Soca River Valley is the perfect place to see nature in its most beautiful form. Often the subject of photographs for its beautiful turquoise waters and clear pool, Soca is an amazing kayak location for photographers and nature lovers. Aside from kayaking, there are also lots of fun activities you can do in the area. You can fish, swim and go rafting.

Pictured Rocks in Michigan is the perfect place to go kayaking with its mesmerizing formation of sandstone cliffs and its beautiful marine environment. You can start your adventure by hiking along the 100-mile trail and exploring the pristine beach before taking your kayak out to the sea.

Experience a different kayak experience in the crystalline Ichetucknee River. If you’re looking for a great kayak spot that’s available all throughout the year, this is it. In addition to kayaking, there are plenty more things to do including tubing, canoeing, diving, swimming, and wildlife viewing. It’s one of the best kayak spots for family and friends going in group kayaking adventures.

Kayaking along Storm bay, the largest bay in the south-east region of Tasmania is the best way to take in the picturesque marine views of the area. One of the favorite hangout spots among locals, Storm Bay is a great spot for tourist travelers, explorers, and families wanting to relax and enjoy their weekends.

Kayaking offers a unique way to explore the breathtaking Galapagos Island. Galapagos is a volcanic archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean. Because of lack of natural predators, lots of friendly wildlife live free and unharmed in Galapagos. Aside from kayaking, other interesting activities include snorkeling, hiking, and exploring the beach.

A deep and clear lake located in Nagano, Lake Aoki is one of the most underrated kayak spots in the world. Lake Aoki is unlike any other like, it is made by snow-melt rain and natural spring water from below. During spring, cherry blossoms are abundant around the lake’s vicinity and in summer the lake is shrouded with an ethereal greenery.

There’s arguably no better spot for kayaking than the beautiful Phi Phi Island in Krabi, Thailand. Named after the fiery tree or the grey mangroves found all throughout the island, Phi Phi is one of the largest and most visited islands in Thailand. Here you can go kayaking for days and enjoy the quiet beach life.

White sandy beaches, beautiful coral reefs, and wondrous cliff formations will make your kayak experience unforgettable in El Nido Palawan, Philippines. Named after the edible bird’s nest found throughout the immense limestone cliffs in the area, El Nido is becoming one of the emerging top tourist destinations in the country.

No matter if you’re an experienced paddler, beginner, have a guide or not it’s still very important to bring safety equipment wherever you go kayaking. Here’s a handy checklist of the most important equipment to bring in your kayaking adventures:

Fishing gets interesting if the sight is picturesque enough to hold your gaze and make you feel close to the nature. Boring lake with no scenic landscape makes a trip tiresome, and there are no laudable memories that you can bring back home with you. To assist you with the best places in America for kayak fishing, we have gathered a list of places that are full of fishery spots for anglers.

Let us start our list with a spot that is heaven for experienced paddlers and fishers. People who like to be adventurous by going out in the wild and spend time in an isolated spot should give this site a try. Those, who are inexperienced and need premium accommodation, should not put Devils River in their wish list, as the Texas Parks and Wildlife itself suggested this place as a “strenuous” one, which can be enjoyed by skilled paddlers only who are brave and skilled enough to survive out in the wild.

Covering almost 4,500 square miles of water, which is even bigger than the Rhode Island, Chesapeake Bay provides tremendous kayak angling spots for fishers almost every day. Shoreline is spread 11,684 miles with three Bay areas that are crammed with fishes like togs (hard to catch fish found in rock piles and wrecks), bull reds, stripers and many more species flocked around the bay.  

Going for saltwater kayak fishing is always fun as it is tough and need uphill struggle. Fishers who are living near Florida should probably visit Indiana River Lagoon to get an experience of a lifetime. On the east coast of Florida, fishes like speckled trout, redfish, and tarpon are always there to welcome you. All year around, you can find campsites with beautiful attractions surrounding the sea, which are signs that this place is always open for everyone.

If you are a starter and looking for a spot where you can enjoy fishing as well as relax among the serene water, then Deer Creek conservation area is the best choice for you. Streaming with fishes like largemouth bass, trout, and other common species, this clear water experience is risk-free and can be achieved on kayaks. 

Being the largest lake in the state, covering 69,000 acres of water and, Lake Guntersville is what they call as the “big bass” fishery in the state of Alabama. It is a part of Tennessee Valley Authority, therefore it is always a plus if you check lake level and its release before heading out on a trip of fishing. This area provides camping, launch sites, and many other facilities, but trained fishers can always find better range of fishes in areas that have fewer travelers.

Another spot which is productive for experienced paddlers is Kona Coast in Hawaii, which is packed with beautiful sights. Enjoy Grey snappers and huge tuna in this area, but always come prepared as it is surrounded by tiger sharks that are hard to get away with. That is why this spot can be more enjoyed by skilled paddlers than beginners.

Hosting the Gimme Shelter Tournament every May, Shelter Cove is claimed to be one of the excellent fishing destinations in California. The rip currents, cold water, and sneaker waves might add a little struggle to your fishing day out, but it nonetheless provides great experience. Salmon, Albacore, halibut, and ling and rock cod are few of the delicious fishes that can be found in this region.

Found in between Northern Oregon and Southern Washington, Columbia River is spread across 300,000 acres with staggering sceneries surrounding it. To visit this spot, you need to get Columbia River Basin endorsement on your fishing license to enjoy a day out full of amazing fishing experiences. Salmon, Sockeye, Steelhead, Coho, and Chinook are few of the many species that are scattered under the water of Columbia River. This is a place that can be enjoyed by both skilled and newbie paddlers.

A Kayak is a small boat, which has a double-bladed paddle. Kayaks are also known as canoes, mainly in the UK. It has a deck, which is usually covered, one or more than one cockpits, and seating for paddlers. There are different types of kayak and to choose the best one, you need to know about the different kayaks and their functions.

Those who love to fish, have to choose between sit-on top or sit in kayaks. There are pros and cons of sit on top kayaks.

Initially, inflatable fishing kayaks were assumed to be pool toys, but now times have changed. Technology has advanced and these inflatable kayaks are now used as recreational boats. Inflatable kayaks are better as compared to the hard shell kayaks on the market, in terms of performance. The best thing about an inflatable kayak is its light weight. Moreover, they are:

Tandem fishing kayaks are also called double kayaks; it is called so because it has space for two people to sit in. This means that two people would be driving the same kayaks, at the same time, which would shed the load of work.

There are paddle kayaks and pedal powered kayaks.

Aluminum Fishing Kayaks as the name suggests, are made up of aluminum and they can bear any weather, like snow and heat. This is the reason why most people who do not have a place to keep their kayaks, buy aluminum kayaks as they can be left outside. They last for a long time and are economical. They also have a high initial stability. However, an aluminum kayak is heavier than other types of kayaks.

A major advantage of an aluminum kayak is that it can carry a lot of load, as compared to other modern kayaks. Another advantage is that it does not draw a lot of water inside keeping the paddlers dry.

In addition to fishing kayaks there are also several other types of kayaks including recreational kayaks; while not specially made for fishing these types of kayaks can be perfect for the person who wants a dual purpose kayak. This is also helpful if you want/need a two-person kayak but only one person wants to fish.

The cockpits of recreational kayaks are large and they are different from sit-on-top kayaks. The cockpits have soft-chinned hulls and they are manufactured using rotationally-molded polyethylene plastic.

However, they are not good when the currents are strong. They also have a small storage area, which means you cannot store a large amount of fishing tackle or fish when you catch them if keeping them.

The physical description of a touring kayak is that it is between 12 to 17 feet long and the hulls of the kayak are shaped in a way, that it increases the kayak’s lift during the waves and rough water. There is also a tracking system attached to the kayak.

Pros of touring kayaks:

The special thing about modular kayaks is the fact that it can split into different sections. These sections would ensure easy transportation and this modular kayak can even fit in the back of your SUV. They are mainly used in day tours and you can even buy a second cockpit, so that the kayak would turn into a tandem.

As the name suggests, folding kayaks can be disassembled, folded and would fit into a carry bag. This kayak has a stiff frame, which is quite useful as it gives it a rigid structure. The performance of a hard-shell kayak and a folding kayak are similar. It might take longer to assemble the kayak in the beginning, but after you become familiar with the process, it would not take a long time.