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Stand Up Paddle Board Fishing

By Justin Willmer

Anglers are renowned for driving innovations in techniques and gear for targeting fish, while also utilising whatever craft is available to access and catch them. Over the years we have fished from banks, trees, bridges, blow up boats, kayaks, boats, canoes, float tubes and more, just to get to the fish and get the bite. About four years ago I borrowed a Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) from a friend of mine, slid it into the water for a fish and a few weeks later I owned my own. I loved fishing from the SUP, even though my first session wasn’t all smooth sailing… or paddling. In this article I want to introduce you to the sport of SUP fishing and break down my fishing kit and paddle kit for fishing from the SUP.

That first session I learnt one of the limitations of this craft, weather conditions. I launched in windy conditions and within minutes was well on my way to the next coastal town. I remembered some paddle advice I had been given, dug in and half an hour later I was cruising and fishing plastics, sheltered by the mangroves. I had learnt my first SUP fishing lesson, the SUP is definitely a smooth water craft, unless you want to surf them, and so I tend to stick to fishing days with little wind.

I have a boat, kayak, and other craft, so why would I want to fish from a SUP. This was my exact thought until I went SUP fishing and now when I speak to other SUP anglers there are two words that commonly come up in conversation, freedom, and simplicity. I carry a bit of gear on my SUP, however if you want to keep it super simple, you could grab a rod and go, which brings fishing back into the equation when holidaying with family as the SUP can be for family fun and then a sneaky fishing session.

The feeling of cruising flat water on a SUP is relaxing, you have excellent visibility into the water from your elevated position, incredible stealth and you almost just feel like you are standing on top of the water. The other great feeling is stepping onto the SUP, fishing for a session, then simply cruising back in and just stepping off… no wet butt or stiffness standing up. Since fishing from the SUP, I have landed bream, grunter, flathead, trevally and more, with plenty of future adventures coming together in the back of my mind.

SUP Selection

Like with most vessels you can spend a few hundred dollars up to thousands and I guess it comes down to available budget and how much you plan on using the craft. A great option is to hire or borrow a SUP first and see if you enjoy it. You will need to select a SUP that can carry you and your gear, so larger paddlers or more gear requires a larger vessel, that may also be thicker to increase buoyancy. You will also find that general paddle SUPs have a flat and rounded bow that is ideal in smooth water, while adding any chop can see water breaking over the board. Some of the more specialised fishing and touring SUPs will have a bow more like a boat, that is designed to cut through small waves and keep the gear on the deck drier.

Inflatable SUPs are an option, allowing you to pack and take them almost anywhere with you. The downside is that they are often slower and more difficult to paddle, while also being impacted more by wind. I would suggest borrowing or hiring one first to see how you go, and you may decide that they are perfect for the short-range fishing sessions that you plan on undertaking.

Fishing Kit

Straight up, you’re not going to find my high-end fishing combos on my SUP. In fact, I have a three-tier system whereby my best gear is in the boat, the next level of gear is in the kayak and my basic combos are reserved for the SUP. Occasionally the mission may call for the high-end gear to be in the kayak or mid-range gear to be on the SUP, however I generally stick with this system of managing gear. With that in mind I am still potentially chasing trevally, snapper, good flathead and other river and estuary species, so I want reliable gear that I can trust.

I generally carry two combos on the SUP, stowed in rod holders mounted on each side of the icebox, that is also utilised as a seat as required. If I am fishing the shallow flats and will also be fishing the Ned Rig System, I carry a 1-3kg and 2-4kg combo and if I am fishing deeper edges and flats, I run a 2-4kg and 3-6kg combo. My rod of choice on the SUP is an Okuma Helios SX spin rod and I would also happily fish it in the kayak or boat. These rods have quality components, great actions and they are excellent value for money.

As there is more risk of wetting or potentially losing combos when fishing from the SUP, I keep the reel basic but reliable. In the boat I run Okuma ITX spinning reels and in the kayak it’s Okuma Epixor XT or ITX reels. These reels are both excellent and incredible value for money, however I wind it back a little in the SUP and fish either the Epixor XT or more commonly a reel that I have found punches well above its price point, the Okuma JAW. This reel also looks cool on the Helios SX spin rod as they both feature orange highlights. I generally run the 20 and 30 sizes and have landed some solid flathead, grunter, bream, and trevally on these reels.

When it comes to tackle, I carry a dry bag that just sits on the deck in front of me. The dry bag is rolled and clipped with enough air inside that it will float, should it somehow end up in the water. For basic river and estuary fishing I will carry a couple of Pro-Cure Super Gel Scents, a spool of 10lb leader, a couple of small trays of jigheads and a TT / ZMan binder with a dozen packets of plastics. This has me covered for virtually every scenario that I will encounter, including mangrove edges and flats, to channel drop offs and even structure in 6-9 metres of water. Below is a breakdown of my tackle kit.

Rods / Reels / Line / Leader

Okuma Helios SX Spin Rods – 702L 7’ 1-3kg / 702ML 7’ 2-4kg / 702M 7’ 3-6kg
Okuma JAW Spin Reels – JAW-20 / JAW-30
Platypus Pulse X8 Braid – 8lb / 10lb
Platypus Stealth FC Fluorocarbon Leader – 10lb
Platypus Hard Armour Supple Leader – 10lb

Soft Plastics

Colours may vary over time / season, however here’s a few I carry –
ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ – Midnight Oil / Motor Oil / Greasy Prawn
ZMan 3” MinnowZ – Opening Night / Purple Death / Gold Rush
ZMan 2.75” TRD BugZ – Hot Snakes / The Deal
ZMan 2.5” TRD CrawZ – Drew’s Craw / Greasy Prawn / The Deal
ZMan 3” Baby GOAT – Hot Snakes / The Deal
ZMan 4” Scented Jerk ShadZ – Shiner

Pro-Cure Super Gel Scent – Pilchard / Mullet / Saltwater Yabby Nipper

Jigheads

A couple of handfuls of jigheads will get you started, then you can refine your kit over time to suit your needs. These are the jigheads that you will commonly find in my kit.

Standard ‘J’ Hook

TT HeadlockZ Finesse – 1/8oz 1/0 & 1/4oz 1/0
TT DemonZ Jigheads – 1/4oz 1/0

TT HeadlockZ HD – 1/4oz 3/0, 3/8oz 3/0 & 1/2oz 4/0
TT Big EyeZ – 1/4oz 3/0 & 3/8oz 3/0

TT NedlockZ – 1/10oz #1 & 1/6oz #1

Weedless Jigheads

TT SnakelockZ Finesse – 1/8oz #2 & 1/6oz #1/0

TT SnakelockZ – 1/4oz 3/0 & 3/8oz 3/0
TT Snake EyeZ – 1/4oz 3/0 & 3/8oz 3/0

TT NedlockZ EWG – 1/10oz #1

So that’s my basic fishing kit and to give you an idea of how I utilise it. The 1/0 jigheads are for my go-to ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ, which is a great allrounder for the river and estuaries, hopped across the bottom or slow rolled over the flats. This plastic can then also be rigged on the NedlockZ jigheads for Ned Rig fishing and on the SnakelockZ Finesse #2 for weedless fishing.

The 3/0 jigheads are for the 3” MinnowZ and you may choose HeadlockZ or Big EyeZ, painted jigheads with eyes. The 3” MinnowZ is a go-to when purely targeting flathead and when fishing deeper edges for flathead, mulloway, snapper, etc. where I will step from the 1/4oz to 3/8oz. Again, you can select between the SnakelockZ or Snake EyeZ (painted head) in a 3/0 weedless option to suit the MinnowZ.

The NedlockZ jigheads are to go with the TRD BugZ and TRD CrawZ. Fishing this Ned Rig System can really fire up the bite when the fishing is tough and when concentrating in a specific area and slowing things down to try and make the fish bite. The Ned Rig is based around the mushroom style jighead that encourages a rapid stand up from the buoyant ZMan plastic when paused, meaning the plastic is always working as it flees or stands up rapidly in a defensive pose, attracting fish and triggering strikes.

The ZMan 4” Scented Jerk ShadZ is thrown in for flicking deeper structure that I sometimes fish, rigged on the 1/2oz 4/0 HeadlockZ. This presentation gets down quick due to minimal built-in action and it has accounted for quality snapper, trevally, flathead, sweetlip and more. Finally, the ZMan 3” Baby GOAT on a TT SnakelockZ Finesse 1/0 is one of the most weedless presentations I have fished, and the flathead love it.

This is just a simple kit and system that works for me, and you may change it up to suit your target species, location and even just your go-to plastics. If you prefer curl tails to paddle tails, sub out the 2.5” Slim SwimZ for a 2.5” GrubZ and 3” MinnowZ / 4” Scented Jerk ShadZ for a 4” StreakZ Curly TailZ. You might even throw in a ZMan 3.5” EZ ShrimpZ or 4” DieZel MinnowZ. The key thing to remember is to cover your water depths with your jighead weights and your presentation sizes / models to match the hatch (what the fish are eating).

When fishing from the SUP I will generally drift and flick lures, casting ahead of the drift and fanning casts around the SUP. I also utilise a stake out pole when I wish to hold position on the flats, to focus my attention on structure, such as a weed edge, drop off, drain or timber. Remember that the SUP may also purely allow you access to another bank that looks fishier or is less pressured, where you can walk the bank and fish landbased.

My Paddle Kit

So that’s my fishing kit, which basically packs down to a couple of combos and a dry bag of gear. So, what other gear do I carry on the SUP with me when fishing? Here’s the basic kit and how it is utilised, starting from the back, and working to the front.

Fins – My SUP has a large fin that assists with tracking when paddling and when drifting in wind. Just one to think about when test paddling and fishing from a variety of SUPs.

Trolley – I store the trolley on the rear deck of my SUP when fishing. I use a C-Tug trolley and use the straps that hold the SUP on the trolley to strap the trolley to the bungy cord that is fitted on the SUP rear deck. I also pass this strap through each wheel and top resting pad of the trolley so that no pieces of this trolley go missing. The ability to pull this trolley apart is handy when stowing it in kayak hatches, etc.

Icebox – I utilise an icebox as a seat, strapped to mounting points on the deck of the SUP. I selected an icebox that is a comfortable height for sitting and standing, which has a rod holder mounted on each side. This icebox is also used for taking a feed out or bringing a feed home.

Drink Bottle – Between my feet and against the icebox I position a drink bottle with double wall insulation to ensure it stays cool. This bottle floats, should it end up in the water and I also carry additional water in the icebox, just in case.

Landing Net – I carry a small landing net, with an accessory float attached to keep it floating, should it end up in the water. This means one less leash for things to be tangled in, especially if it’s me and gear falling into the water. I simply tuck the net into the strap that holds the icebox on or lay it on the deck.

Lip Grips – A quality set of lip grips is leashed to the deck attachment points. The landing net and lip grips make landing and handling fish quicker, safer, and simpler on this platform.

Ruler – I carry a basic fish ruler, leashed to the deck, just in case I want to bring a fish or two home for a feed.

Carry Handle – Many boards have a recessed carry handle in the centre of the deck, which makes a great place to store your Pro-Cure Scent while fishing, especially if you don’t have any pockets in your clothing.

Front Bungy Cord – Some boards have bungy cord on the front deck that can be handy for storing a dry bag with other gear you may require on your journey or a set of dry clothes, just in case.

Paddle Holder – The board I have has a paddle holder (sheath) built into the front deck, which is handy if you need to stow the paddle briefly, however when fishing I generally lay the paddle on the deck or tuck it into the front bungy to keep it out of the way. The paddle is generally leashed to a forward attachment point on the deck.

Safety – I always wear a PFD, it’s no good to me tucked in a hatch or under the bungy cord. I also carry a selection of safety gear in a dry bag, such as a basic first aid and simple survival equipment. Don’t forget your sun protection gear and especially your feet as you may be standing for extended periods with the sun shining directly on your feet. I generally wear a pair of breathable water shoes when SUP fishing.

That’s a quick wrap on my SUP fishing and paddle kit. If you are interested in giving SUP fishing a go it may pay to borrow or hire a SUP first, to ensure you enjoy the SUP experience and stay above the water. Spend some time learning to paddle and climb back onto the board, then give it a try with a rod in hand. I was surprised how quickly I got the hang of it and to this point I have not fallen into the water… notice I said until this point. The craft I have is extremely stable and built for fishing and a tip that has stuck with me is to relax when you are on the board and let the board move under you. If you are rigid and try to fight the movement of the board, this will make you less stable.

Another piece of advice that I was given was that when paddling, place the paddle blade upright in the water and then pull yourself toward the paddle, rather than trying to paddle the craft. The paddle gives you an anchor point to pull yourself toward and this advice was priceless on that fateful day when I first launched the SUP and was rapidly being blown toward another post code. There’s plenty of how to paddle videos out there, take some time to learn to control the craft, pick your weather and who knows, I might see you out there on these upcoming glassy winter days.

See you on the water…
Justin Willmer