East Coast Kayak Fishing (ECKF) the premier website on the East Coast
Welcome to East Coast Kayak Fishing (ECKF) the premier website on the East Coast for everything kayaking and fishing. ECKF was created in 2002 to help promote kayaking and fishing, but to find kayak fisherman on the east coast to kayak and fishing with. Over the years ECKF has collected a ton of information.
ECKF is dedicated to becoming the fuel that connects us all and is built for kayak anglers! We do not share your information with anyone and you will never receive an unsolicited email from ECKF unless you register to recieve them on this site only. We welcome everyone to register for the site, its free, as a member of the ECKF Community you have access to the entire site.
Kayak Fishing is Bigger than you think, did you know…?
- Between 90,000 and 105,000 canoes and 350,000 kayaks are sold annually, according to the Chicago-based National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).
- The NMMA says canoe sales in the U.S. have been dropping in recent years, and that more than 70 percent of the kayaks sold in the U.S. are sit-in or sit-on plastic recreational craft.
- Fishing from a Kayak has become prevalent in the state of Florida. Kayak fishing tournaments have become more popular each and every year. Many of the Kayak manufactures have started sponsoring anglers in efforts to increase sales. This was all started when Team Pro Bass hit the scene. They have nailed down virtually all honors and awards over the past several years and have started a local phenomenon. Peter Goesinya from Team Wilderness reports kayak sales from all brands have gone up 10 fold since Team Pro Bass started. Team Pro Bass donates all winnings to charity.
- The following is a list of kayak fishing forum active members; the data was supplied by the owners of these sites. There are many, many other sites and forums not accounted for.
SAVE THE DATE 6th Annual NJ Fluke Kayak Fishing Tournament
SAVE THE DATE
6th Annual NJ Fluke Kayak Fishing Tournament
The largest single port Fluke Tournament on the East Coast. Over 300 boats and dozens of kayak angler’s.
This years event is sponsored by Jersey Paddler. This years event is geared for both, the serious kayak angler and the kayak angler that wants to learn more about this fast growing and exciting sport. This tournament has become the premiere kayak fishing fluke event on the East Coast with more anglers and sponsors each year, thank you for your support.
ALL PRODUCT DONATED TO THE EVENT WILL BE RAFFLED OFF TO ALL REGISTERED KAYAK ANGLERS ONLY!!
Tournament Date: July 26-27, 2013
Rain Date: July 28, 2013
Thursday July 25th
• NJ Fluke Tournament setup and placment of the RVs and campers
Friday July 26th - official first day 2013 NJ Fluke Kayak Fishing Tournament
• 5am offical start time of day 1 of fishing, remeber to take a picture of you and your boat at your choosen launch location
• 7pm first day of fishing ends
• 7:30pm Capts Meeting
Saturday July 27th - official 2nd day of tournament
• 5am offical start time of day 2 of fishing
• 3:30 ends the 2013 NJ Fluke Kayak Fishing Tournament
• 4:30 awards ceremony
• 3:30 - 9:30 enjoy the all you can drink and eat BBQ, don't forget to bring your family
CAPTS MEETINGS ARE NOT MANDATORY AND ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT, FISHING LOCATIONS AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
East Coast Kayak Fishing - Mission Statement
"We have a unique and important role to play in the collective lives of those whom we support and connect with through our very own passion, the Kayak Angler. With this role comes a core responsibility to bridge and maintain the life lines that are in place to unconditionally support them and, as a result, we become a force of credible distinction that the industry (Innovators & manufacturers) rely upon to help cross that bridge simply because of the alliances and allegiance we have earned through the trust of our own community.
"Team ECKF is a seasoned group of kayak fisherman chosen from various states throughout the east coast committed to foster the growth and development of the sport of Kayak Fishing. This geographical diversity within the team gives us strength as a unit and high visibility within the kayak fishing community. Together we commit to fishing all major kayak fishing tournaments, attending and supporting as many events local and abroad.
Team ECKF has been formed to seek out “pro-staff-like” sponsorships from manufacturers and companies which we believe we can work with and assist in driving our mission. It is our goal to evolve our sport, and more importantly have impact upon the kayak fishing equipment that we use regularly. We have a solid working history with manufacturers we've partnered both presently and within the past. Our reviews have assisted the evolution of products and helped to cultivate funtional,higher quality kayak fishing equipment.
When Team ECKF makes a commitment to fish, attend events, write articles or host seminars, it provides us all an opportunity to work together as a team. We exchange ideas and provide our sponsors with visibility and critical “industry specific” feedback.
Al Stillman aka YAKMAN
I started East Coast Kayak in 2004, as a means to meet other people interested in kayak fishing. Over the years ECKF has developed into professional sponsored kayak fishing team, where we try to fish as many tournaments on the East Coast. Over the years we have been asked to run kayak fishing seminar’s and instructional on the water workshops. East Coast Kayak Fishing Team is currently a group of hard core kayak anglers who try and fish as many tournaments as possible together, promote safety in our sport and commit to fishing together up and down the east coast.
I have been a Pro Staffer for St Croix Rods for 5 years. I still love the question that I get asked all the time "When is St Croix Rods going to come out with a Kayak Fishing Specific Rod?" The official St Croix answer is that they make hundreds of rods that are perfect for kayak fishing. If you want a shorter butt, then just take a few inches off.
I have worked closely with Skwoosh as there Kayak Fishing Product Manager where I help develop new specific kayak fishing products. Over the last 4 years we have seen Skwoosh become a leading role in the performance gel seats for kayak fishing. Anyone that has been sitting in a kayak for more than a few hours can appreciate the Skwoosh Gel Seat. Skwoosh and ECKF have been working together for many years.
John Mortensen aka JAM
John “JAM” Mortensen currently employed by The Roost Bait and Tackle in Hatteras, North Carolina where he is a Custom Fishing Rod Builder, with over 10 years experience Building Custom Fishing Rods for all applications. The Roost is located inside of Teach’s Lair Marina, which is one of the premier Marina’s in the world. JAM is currently on the Pro Staff for DAIWA, and Aqua-Bound Paddles.
JAM started KAYAK Fishing in 2002, in an area commonly known as The Grave Yard of the Atlantic. He spent the first 4 years of his Kayak fishing, right off of Cape Point, in Buxton North Carolina. After 4 years of Gear Destruction on Diamond Shoals, he switched gears to explore what the backwaters of Hatteras Island had to offer, where he spends about 80 percent of his time.
Matt Trucks aka YAKCHUM
Name is Matt. Was born and raised in NJ. YAKCHUM has been his screen screen name since 1998. He is an unemployed Architectural Draftsman and Designer. I have been fishing since he was 5 years old.
Matt was 1st mate on his pops fishing boat for over 15 years. He owned and operated his own 20' Wellcraft power boat for 5 years. Once he sold his boat he needed a new way to go fishing and decided in the winter of 2009 – 2010 to go purchase a kayak and use it as he new fishing platform. In april he purchased his first kayak used Perception Caster 12.5. Over the past season he has fished a wide variety of targets ranging from freshwater large mouth bass to summer fl9ounder (fluke). Also rigging his kayak as the pros have rigged theirs suiting his preferences. Matt looks forward as being a pro staffer for ECKF and shareing his knowledge and experiances with the team and fellow kayakers.