|
Why Kayak Fishing?
PaddleAsia offers kayak fishing
in Phang Nga Bay in southern Thailand. Why use a kayak to go fishing?
It’s simple: kayaks allow fishermen to get into areas of mangrove
that are inaccessible to larger boats and kayak fishing is quiet and peaceful.
If you’re an active person, you can appreciate the workout.
As a side benefit, kayaks are unobtrusive to wildlife. You can paddle
close to birds, monitor lizards and monkeys. You can’t do that in
a motorboat. At lower tide levels, you can paddle up to the rock and admire
Mother Nature’s bounty of small crabs, soft corals, encrusting sponges,
shellfish, etc. At low tide, the mudflats are full of Mudskippers and
loads of many colorful crabs. Some of these crabs are very small, so you
simply wouldn’t see them otherwise.
One of the easier fish to catch in Phang Nga Bay is the Barracuda.
The easiest way to locate and catch them is by trolling. Once you catch
one, you can stop and cast around to see if there is a school. The larger
ones tend to travel alone, but the small to medium size barracudas often
travel in schools.
Jack Trevally
often come into the bay. During the summer months, big trevally come
into the bay more frequently. You can see their dorsal fins break the
surface. There’s nothing more exciting than seeing a trevally
fin, then casting to it and setting the hook!
When the wind is blowing hard, the mangrove channels offer a nice retreat.
The best time to fish in the mangrove is on an incoming (flood) tide.
High tide is second best and falling tide can still produce some catches.
The many mangrove channels and tidal rivers (especially in the northern
reaches of Phang Nga Bay) offer Barramundi (Lates calcarifer),
Crocodile Longtom (Tylosurus crocodilus), Barracuda,
some species of grouper (mostly smaller specimen),
a couple of shark species and the Grey Mullet, which
is very common.
Out in the deeper water of the bay and outside of the mouth of the bay,
you can catch Sea Bass, Red Snapper,
Barracuda, shark, mackerel,
Rainbow Runners, Queenfish (croaker
family), Dorado (Mahi Mahi, Dolphin) and other fish.
Further out you can catch some pelagic species, including small tuna!
Catching a tuna, even a small one, from the seat of a kayak is a real
thrill… especially if you like being towed around for a long time.
Speaking of bieng towed around, this is one of the big benefits of kayak
fishing. You can catch fish on lighter tackle than you would on a typical
'charter' type fishing trip. Your kayak is nimble and it's easy to chase
down a big fish once hooked.
Fishing Methods in Phang
Nga Bay
 Trolling
is a fun way to locate fish. Your kayak is outfitted with rod holders
so you are free to paddle and enjoy the surroundings. You’ll know
when a big fish hits. We mainly use sit-on-top kayaks for kayak fishing
as they are the most popular and as you can rapidly switch from sitting
in the seat to sitting with your legs in the water, you are a bit less
likely to be both capsized and to loose a fish. In the unlikely event
of a capsize, you merely climb back on your sit-on-top, knock the water
out of your ears, ask you guide to stop laughing and continue fishing.
In certain areas in
the bay and in mangrove, you’ll cast to fish.
You can also do fly
fishing in Phang Nga Bay.
You will be supplied with a wide array of imported and domestically-purchased
lures that are proven to be very popular with the local fish. Yes, Thai
fish love imported lures for some reason.
Drift fishing with live bait/cut
bait and drift fishing with jigs and grubs can be very productive.
If you are targeting a certain species, your guide will be able to help
you with the lure
selection, the trolling speed, the best method
and of course, the area that’s most productive. Many of the lures
utilizes work well in both freshwater and saltwater. We use an Eagle
Cuda 128 fish finder to locate fish and underwater structure.
Fishing without one in the bay is nowhere hear as productive... period.
If you prefer freshwater
fishing, PaddleAsia offer that too.
Prices:
Day trip in Phang Nga Bay - US$80
per person (2 person minimum. US$120 for a single-person trip)
2 Day trip in Phang Nga Bay - US$220
(including motorboat transfer to Ko Yao Noi and back to Phuket, accommodations,
meals, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, insurance and a free PaddleAsia
shirt. All fishing gear is included, but you are welcomed to bring your
own.
2
Day trip in Phang Nga Bay camping trip - US$180
(including motorboat transfer to Ko Yao Noi and back to Phuket, all
camping gear, meals, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, insurance and a free
PaddleAsia shirt.
Longer trips
are available as are custom kayak fishing trips.
Discounts
are available for group bookings.
| 
