Kayak Venice

We’ve been making it down to Venice, LA, the last two years the day after Thanksgiving, and while last year I was promised fishing and ended up sitting on an airboat 300 yards from a duck blind at 3:30am in the morning because I didn’t want to shoot Daffy… needless to say, I wasn’t going down without the promise of fishing this time around to make a trip down to Venice worthwhile for me.
Not only was I promised fishing, I was promised kayak fishing! Yes, I can kayak, and yes, I can fish… but I had never done these things at the same time. But, again, I love fishing so I was down for the ride. My dad’s friend set up a trip with the guys from Kayak Venice, a family-​run business including Brian, and his son, Nolan. You can check their site out for pricing.
Nolan set 6 of us up with kayak, lifejacket, paddle, bait, and rigged pole. Some of us received nets if we had a spot for them, and some of us also got comfier chairs. If you have a bad back, let them know, and they’ll make sure you get one of these comfier chairs.
The kayak is more of a sit-​on-​top-​of type, than the skinny kind with the skirt. I felt very stable on mine, and I’m a total klutz so that’s saying something. You do have to get used to the paddle and pole situation but it wasn’t bothersome enough to be a burden though I was quite envious of some kayakers with the peddle mechanisms. I never dropped my pole or paddle into the water. #winning
Semi-​pro Tip: I developed a technique of putting my pole in the holster with slack line once I reeled the fish all the way in to allow for me to use both hands to jimmy the hook out. I must’ve unhooked at least 15 fish, and became quite good at it, even saving my bait a few times.
Nolan took us down this little canal where we could cast at our leisure. At first you’re kind being taken along by the current, so my suggestion is to post up in the brush a little to set yourself in a spot and fish across the current. I found a sweet spot for a while, and was comfortable hanging back picking off rat reds, and throwing them back. Pro-​Tip: Bring bug spray because the gnats come out around sunset.
You’ve got to be a little self-​sufficient with removing fish from hooks, putting them in your net, sizing them if you have the marks on the side of your kayak, and pulling your line off a snag though Nolan was more than happy to help me get a hook out of a flounder’s mouth (ew) and size a couple of my almost-​there fishies. If you’re not okay with dumping a fish in your lap, holding its squishy body, and getting a hook out of it’s mouth; this probably is not the trip for you.
While we were catching the smaller fish for a while, it turned on closer to sunset, when Nolan’s father, Brian, met up with us. I really enjoyed them both being there and talking fish stories, and catching alongside us. The most exhilarating part of the whole trip was when I hooked a big red and it pulled me around like a pony, no joke. Brian helped me net this bad boy. They also hold onto the fish for you, and then later help you clean them. Ending up with a boatload of fish, that’s über-​helpful.
Pro-​Tip: Like I said, I was dumping fishing practically into my lap, so absolutely wear some waterproof pants or rain paints. The weather was great, so I just had a tshirt and sweatshirt on, sunglasses and a cap. Definitely stay covered because of the gnats, and if you burn easy, wear sunscreen because you don’t realize how long you are out there.
I thought I’d be a lot more sore from the kayaking but not really at all. AND the fish were delish that night and the next day. Thank you again, Brian and Nolan, for the unique experience, that I would definitely do again!