Fishing from a stand up paddle board means going as light and Spartan as possible so you can balance, see, and reach the skinny no-motor water where the fish hold. For this How 2 Tuesday I share what I learned on a recent Everglades trip where a cold front pushed fish into inches-deep, no-motor water. A stand up paddle board got us in there, and it beats a canoe or kayak because you can see standing up. I cover safety gear, a minimal tackle kit, a paddle leash that changed the game, and how I carry the rod so I can drop the paddle and cast in one move.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
You keep everything as light and Spartan as possible and fish much like you would off the back of a poling skiff. Bring only a whistle, a life jacket, a waterproof container, and a minimal tackle kit, then stand up and sight fish. A paddle board lets you see far better than a canoe or kayak, and it gets you into the skinny no-motor water where the fish hold. The key is not loading it down so you can balance, see, and move quietly.
Because you can see standing up. A canoe is logistically easy since two anglers share one boat, and a kayak is similar, but both put you in a sitting position where it is very hard to sight fish in skinny water. On a stand up paddle board you get the elevated visibility you need to spot fish, and a durable roto-molded board like a Vibe shrugs off the rough rides and rocks. For sight fishing the no-motor zones, the paddle board is ideal.
As little as possible. Skip the tackle box and grab a handful of jig heads, five or six hooks, a couple of split shots, one or two bags of assorted baits like Gulp shrimp and jerk baits, a spool of leader, and pliers. That is it. Going Spartan keeps the board light so you can reach the skinniest water, and it makes the balancing act of standing, paddling, and fishing far easier. Use any small hatch the board has to stow it.
It is a light bungee leash with a carabiner on one end and a loop on the other that connects your paddle to your belt loop or waist. You measure it so that if you drop the paddle, it does not slam the board. When a fish appears, you simply drop the paddle, it dangles silently in the water, and you grab your rod and cast. You never lose the paddle and you make no noise, which matters when you see fish one second before they see you.
I carry it just like I do poling a skiff and fishing off the back. I stick the rod handle in the back of my pants facing off to my left, since I am right-handed and cast and paddle on my right. With the overhang worked out and a rod-and-a-half of line ready, I drop the paddle, reach back with my left hand, pull the rod, flip the bail, and go. I found dedicated rod holders did not work as well as just keeping it on my body.
At minimum a whistle and a life jacket, plus a waterproof or near-waterproof container for a communication device like your phone. I used a five-gallon bucket with a lid, which doubles as something to sit on, but a small dry box works too. Make sure you are safe on these crafts before you worry about anything else, then look for ways to make the fishing easier, like the paddle leash.
On that Everglades trip a cold front killed the offshore and inshore options, so we went into the no-motor zone where you need a self-propelled craft. We have tried canoes and kayaks, but both put you sitting down where you cannot see. The stand up paddle board lets you see standing up and reach inches-deep water, and a roto-molded board takes the abuse. I explain the whole decision in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The biggest mistake is trying to make a paddle board into your boat. I go bare bones, a handful of jig heads and hooks, a couple bags of bait, leader, and pliers, because it is a balancing act and because the point is reaching the skinniest water. Load it with a heavy cooler and you defeat the purpose. I break down my exact minimal kit in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The best thing I found was a light bungee leash from the paddle to my waist, measured so a dropped paddle never slaps the board. You see these fish one second before they see you, so I just drop the paddle, it dangles silently, and I grab the rod and cast. I never lose the paddle. I describe how I rig and carry the rod in the episode, so press play in the player above.
If you want to fish a paddle board, keep it simple, stay safe with a whistle and life jacket, and add small touches like that paddle leash. I can see better and I am more comfortable standing, so given the choice, that is what I will pick.
How 2 Tuesday is my weekly series where I break down one fishing skill at a time, from knots and casting to gear, tactics, and the habits that make you a better angler. Watch and listen to every How 2 Tuesday episode from Tom Rowland.
stand up paddle board · Everglades · no-motor zone · Florida Bay · Manta racks · Vibe paddle board · Yellowfin · sight fishing · redfish · paddle leash · How 2 Tuesday · Saltwater Experience
I'm Tom Rowland, a professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, and the longtime host of the Saltwater Experience television show. On the podcast's How 2 Tuesday series I break down one practical skill or lesson at a time, from fishing technique and gear to the habits that make you a better angler, in short, focused episodes you can put to use right away.
Subscribe to get the latest episodes, show notes, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.