The Best Accessories For Kayak Tournament Fishing

1. Livewell

If you’re planning to enter the Hobie Kayak Fishing Series you must have a livewell or catch tank onboard. Hobie dictates that your catch is kept alive in an onboard tank for weigh-in and measurement with strict rules on providing a constant flow of oxygenated water to keep the fish healthy for eventual release. For tournaments that use a Catch Photo Release (CPR) format, where you snap a picture of your catch against a ruler, a tank is not needed and you’re better off using that space for a storage crate.

I’ve seen a variety of livewell setups, from modified Esky’s to custom fabrications. If you’re keen on the DIY route, you need to accommodate a minimum 23-litre capacity and ensure a means of continuous water flow. Be mindful of opening size, an open Esky makes an easy escape route that can ruin your day!

The Hobie Livewell V2 Kayak Bait Tank is not only the easiest but also the best solution to get the job done. Its 30-litre capacity is the sweet spot for ensuring enough space for your catch without overloading your kayak and affecting its performance. Hobie’s rounded design reduces internal refraction and aids water circulation, while the lid is the perfect size to ensure your catch won’t make an early escape. The Hobie’s Livewell comes with 3x vertical rod holders with the ability to add more if you need. The simplicity to set up and run, and designed-for-purpose compatibility with Hobie kayaks make the Hobie Livewell our top recommended accessory for Hobie fishing tournaments.

2. Cull Tags

You are allowed a maximum of three (3) fish in your livewell at any time while competing in a Hobie Fishing Series tournament. As you catch larger fish you will naturally want to swap out the smaller ones to ensure you keep only the biggest and best fish for the weigh-in – a process called an ‘upgrade’. Cull Tags are a helpful and cost-effective tool to help efficiently identify and release smaller catch when upgrading.

Cull tags are individually coloured and numbered to make identification simple. The coloured floats attach to the fish with a simple stainless steel clip and wire. When it comes time to make an upgrade, identifying and handling the fish is super simple, with no time wasted trying to retrieve the right fish from the tank.

3. Fish Finder + GPS

The benefits of a fish finder or sonar imaging for a fishing tournament go without saying. With that said, some anglers will still choose to go without, particularly in summer when bream hang out in the shallows. While it’s not a must-have, a fish finder with GPS combo is highly recommended for most tournament anglers.

It all comes back to efficiency. In a competitive setting, wasting time in a spot with no fish or where you don’t understand the bottom composition is something you can rarely afford. With modern sounder tech like side scan and live imaging, it’s easier than ever to quickly determine if a spot is firing or if it’s better to move on. Similarly, you’re less inclined to abandon a spot with active fish prematurely when the catch anxiety starts to kick in. For me, a fish finder provides the confidence to allow me to focus on and enjoy the fishing.

GPS and navigation can also be incredibly helpful for fishing unfamiliar territory. Andrew and I have both relied on our chart plotters to find our way back to base in tournaments on multiple occasions. GPS is great for marking waypoints for hot spots you find in the ‘pre-fish’ warm-up session to ensure you have a bank of options up your sleeve at the touch of a button.

There is a large range of fish finders from leading brands with options to suit most budgets. My recommendation for tournament fishing is a unit with at least 7 inches of screen size with traditional sonar, down scan and side scan. The Lowrance Elite 7 FS with Active Imaging 3-in-1 Transducer and CMAP is a great option for excellent capability at a reasonable price point.

4. PowerPole

The Powerpole is the biggest revolution in kayak fishing in the past decade and its benefits are only magnified in the tournament setting. Designed specifically for tournament angling, the PowerPole Micro Anchor is faster, easier to use and more stable than a traditional stake-out pole. At the touch of a button, you can instantly pin yourself in place with superior holding power and positioning control. 

It is the simplicity and efficiency of the PowerPole that makes it a must for most tournament anglers. Essentially hands-free, it will save you a ton of time and hassle every time you touch the button to raise or lower the 8ft spike. In my opinion, the PowerPole is one of the most useful tools on any fishing kayak. Yes, it is a significant investment, but I guarantee once you try it, you’ll be wondering why you ever fished the shallows without one.

You can power your PowerPole via your kayak’s battery system (see below) or pick up a dedicated PowerPole Battery Pack for a neat option that makes the PowerPole a self-contained unit. Keep in mind that this is another battery you’ll need to charge and if the power dies, you’ll have no redundancy using this set-up.

5. Battery System

You’ve probably noticed that our recommendations so far tend heavily towards electronics. If you’re planning to run a fish finder, livewell and PowerPole you’re going to need to consider how you power them.

There are two basic options for powering up your kayak for tournament use;

Centralised Power: All your systems run off one large FPV-Power 50AH Battery. This can simplify charging and maintenance BUT if you happen to lose power during a tournament you will be at a major disadvantage and may need to retire. You will also likely need to charge this system daily when fishing in multi-day tournaments.

Dual Batteries: I run dual battery systems for tournament fishing where we have an FPV-Power 50AH Battery for the fish finder and an FPV-Power 17.5 AH Battery to power the PowerPole and Livewell. With this combination, there is redundancy if either of the battery systems goes down that can save the day if/when needed. The increased capacity also means I get 2 days of use out of one charge which means one less thing to remember on tournament weekends away. Two 17.5 AH batteries will get the job done as far as capacity, just make sure to charge them daily. 

A loss of power is one of the most common issues we see at kayak fishing tournaments. Keeping your terminals and connections clean and corrosion-free is crucial to an enjoyable weekend on the water. Thoroughly checking your electricals pre-tournament is strongly recommended. Battery mounts like the BerleyPro Mast Mount and/or Batterang Bro will keep your electronics out of the bilge, reduce stress on connections and help you keep your system tidy and in top working order.

6. Quality Cockpit Rod Holder

If you’ve made the effort to lug your kayak and gear away for a weekend of competitive fishing you’ve probably brought along your best rod and reel combos. Having somewhere secure and efficient close at hand to hold your rod while landing fish, rigging, running upgrades or pedalling between spots is a must. This not only ensures you look after your expensive gear and prevent it from taking a swim, but it will also keep you efficient and your cockpit working area free of obstructions.

We’ve created a detailed post on choosing the right rod holder for your fishing kayak, but our general recommendation is the Railblaza Rod Holder II. If your kayak has H-Rail, the Railblaza Starport HD Mount for Hobie H-Rail is the best mounting option. For track mounting, we recommend the Railblaza TracLoader StarPort Mount.

7. Tackle Organisation

Being able to adapt your set-up on the fly is a huge component of a successful day of tournament fishing. Personally, I’ve found I’m much more likely to persist with the incorrect lure choice if my tacklebox is buried away in one of the hatches. Ensuring your tackle is organised and accessible means there’s one less barrier to changing your lure or gear to suit the conditions.

Andrew and I both run Plano Waterproof Tackle Boxes for our fishing kayaks. The slim design makes them perfect for maximising storage spaces like underneath your seat on a PA or in the Outback’s side storage pockets. For tournaments, I will typically run 2 large-size Planos close at hand in the cockpit – one with my favourite primary lures and another with jigheads. I’ll also keep a couple of additional Planos in the front hatch to store and organise my less commonly used lures and tackle. 

8. Storage Bags

Tournament fishing means long days on the water. Being prepared with everything you need to be ready and able to quickly adapt to the fishing is key. The following storage bags are purposely designed to maximise the limited storage on a fishing kayak and are well worth considering for both tournament and recreational fishing.

The Hobie Vantage Seat Accessory Bag offers convenient and accessible storage for your gear on the back of the seat. Perfect for storing extra tackle, sunscreen, snacks and personal belongings, the seat bag creates out-of-the-way storage that is secure and easy to organise. While not strictly waterproof, the seat bag will resist spray and light rain to keep your gear dry and out of the elements.

If you are running a Pro Angler 12 or 14, Hobie has created The PA Soft Cooler Bag designed specifically for the bow hatch. This bag makes a great place to store food and cold drinks or extra gear while making the most of the tapered bow space. I use the cooler bag as permanent storage for all the gear I know I want to have on board for tournaments but don’t necessarily need close at hand. This makes it simple and convenient to convert my PA into tournament mode and ensures I don’t forget anything when packing the car.

Quality Wet Weather Gear

There are few things less appealing than spending 8 hours on a kayak soaked through in the rain – I’ve tried it, it’s not fun! A quality jacket and pants combo that actually keeps you relatively dry and protects from wind chill are must-haves for any tournament angler.

Pants: The Lovig Kayak Fishing Dry Pants V3 are my number one pick for pants to keep you warm and dry. It’s safe to say Lovig and his team know a thing or two about kayak fishing, and they have designed these pants to be uniquely suited to the job. Lovig Dry pants allow you to walk into the water when launching without getting wet feet, in a similar way to waders but far more comfortable. Great in summer for early morning tournament starts (6:30 am) and a must for wet weather. These can be paired with the Lovig Snuggy Thermal Liner for winter events.

Jacket: The Lovig Hooded Kayak Fishing Jacket or the Lovig Dry Jacket Hoodie are great value options for when you really want to stay dry. For consistent or heavy rain you can’t go wrong with either of these options. Where they fall a little short is in inclement weather where I typically prefer something lighter with better breathability.

The Simms Challenger Jacket is my recommendation for a light windbreaker, sporadic rain and spray. These jackets are great for keeping you dry in heavier/more consistent rain when they’re new, but as they wear and age you will start to notice that water resistance decrease. Lighter, softer and more comfortable than the Lovig jackets, the Challenger has great breathability so it’s not uncomfortable to wear even in the warmer months. 

Sun & UV Protection

When you’re on the water all day sun protection is a must. If you’re burnt to a crisp on Saturday, your Sunday session isn’t going to be a good one. There are plenty of options for sun protection and everyone will have their preferences but here are our suggestions;

Hat: Any old hat will do the job but if you need a new one, check out our HWS Snapback Hats 

Sunglasses: A good pair of polarised fishing sunglasses will not only protect your eyes but help you to see fish and structure in the water much more clearly.

Sungaiter: The Simms Sungaiter is super comfortable, breathable and has an adjustable fit. The back comes up high to go over your hat to keep the gaiter in place and ensure complete coverage.

Shirt: A long sleeve, quick drying and breathable shirt is a must. Our HWS fishing jerseys are SPF 50+ and have a convenient hood for extra protection. 

Pants: Your legs are the most exposed part of your body when sitting in a kayak so it’s important you cover up with a pair of long pants, especially in summer. Opt for something soft and quick drying like fishing or hiking pants.

PFD

Hobie enforces the wearing of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) in all of their tournaments in Australia. The rules for Hobie Kayak Fishing Series state that all competitors are required to wear an Australian Standards Level 100+ Lifejacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) at all times when on the water.

For freedom of movement and comfort, I recommend a quality inflatable PFD. The Hobie Yoke Manual Inflating PFD fits the bill nicely and is what I use for all tournament and recreational fishing.