Setting Up Your Stand Up Paddleboard For Fishing
Stand Up Paddling is an incredibly diverse platform for exploring water. At Badfish SUP we are paddlers, surfers and fishermen. I got my first inflatable SUP in 2007 and almost immediately saw the potential for inflatable stand up paddleboards as a tool for fishing. In early 2008 I took the board with me when my family traveled to Tulum, Mexico. I wanted to do some bone fishing but couldn’t afford to pay for guided fishing. I put in with the board at Boca Paila, with my then 6 year old son Miles on board, to go hunt some Bonefish. I caught several bones, cast at some permit and got warned off by a local because apparently I was paddling around in an area where salt water crocs were active with a six year old…my wife is still unimpressed with that one.
Speaking of fishing in Mexico here is a great video from our friend Trapper Rudd fishing off the Badfisher for Tarpon and Bonefish in a remote spot in Mexico.
In any case the hook was set….SUP fishing is a truly unique platform for fishing. Standing up tall stand up paddlers can spot fish from a much greater distance than fishermen seated in a kayak. A stand up paddleboard is a very stealthy craft to sneak into casting range and playing a landing fish off a SUP is just downright fun.
The Badfisher inflatable stand up paddleboard was designed specifically for fishing and makes a great option for travel. With multiple Scotty Paddlesports mounting plates and a ton of D rings the Badfisher gives you a lot of options for carrying your gear. There are plenty of options for rigging up your board but here's the way we set up our boards most of the time:
Badfisher Inflatable Fishing SUP: I take the bungee cord off for most days of fishing and strap directly to the d rings. Remember the the screws for mounting your Scotty mounts are located in the orange repair kit tube when you first get your Badfisher.
Scotty Paddlesports Mounts: Scotty makes a ton of mounts. There are all sorts of options for your three mounting plates. I always go with an anchor mount up front so I can hold my position, a rod holder in the rear (in this case its a fly rod holder, they make rod holders for whatever tackle you prefer) and the Scotty Anchor Kit. There are also good anchor options from NRS if you want a lighter weight anchor for travel that you can then fill with rocks or sand when you get to the water.
Small Cooler: I like the Igloo Marine Ultra 54 Quart. I use this cooler for a seat when I am re-tying a fly or rigging something on the board. It’s also handy for carrying your favorite cold beverage ;). When I am flying somewhere to fish I leave the cooler at home.
Boardfisher Safari Pack from Boardworks Surf: The Safari pack is a very cleverly designed fishing basket. It’s internal PVC frame breaks down and the whole thing fits into a carrying bag so it’s easy to take with you on a trip. The Safari pack has multiple integrated rod holders, a paddle pocket that you can stick the blade into to keep track of your paddle while casting and a big internal basket for your tackle.
Small Dry Bag: The Boardfisher Safari Pack is made of heavy duty mesh so I like to bring a small dry bag for items I want to keep dry inside the basket.
Cam Straps: The variety of D-Rings on the Badfisher give you a lot of options for tying down your gear. In general you need a variety of 1', 2' & 3' long cam straps. These are available at your local paddling store. I would buy more than you think you need to have options for figuring out how you like to strap on your gear.
The Safari Pack has sturdy d-rings to strap your basket to your Badfisher.
Remember to share your photos, videos and ideas about SUP fishing on our Facebook Page, Instagram @badfishsup and on the SUP Fishing Group Page on Facebook. Tight lines! -Mike Harvey, Salida, CO
Badfishing from Badfish on Vimeo.