If you’re like us, you always wear your PFD when you’re on the water. That makes it an ideal nerve center for items you want close at hand, whether they are used in the interest of safety or are fishing essentials.
Let’s look at a well-equipped open ocean angler’s PFD, starting from the right and finishing on the left.
Handheld submersible floating marine VHF radio: Kayak anglers have a habit of scattering across the water as they hunt up a bite. Keep in touch with your fishing buddies with a marine band VHF radio. The best ones for kayakers are waterproof and float. During an emergency, you can dial up channel 16 and hail the US Coast Guard or other boaters for help.
Needle nose pliers: A fishing mainstay, they come in handy for removing stubborn hooks. Really, what is there to say? We all need a pair.
Boomerang Snips: There’s no better way to trim line, especially braid, than using a retractable pair of snips. They’ll cleanly cut mono and fluoro too. And if it’s attached to your PFD, there’s no chance of losing it.
Safety whistle: Per US Coast Guard regulations, carrying a sound producing device is mandatory. A kayaker’s safety whistle is the most practical type. Look for a pea less model for improved reliability. Break it out for fog or to signal other traffic.
Safety knife: Although rare, entanglements caused by a capsize are serious business. Also, there inevitably comes a time when an unwanted large fish such as a large shark must be released expeditiously. For those instances, we like the Gerber River Shorty. This twin-edged knife with serrated and non-serrated sides has a blunt safety tip. The sheath is made for mounting on a PFD.
Mobile phone: If you can live without your smartphone you’re more disciplined than us. We use it for mapping, prime times and tide table apps. And for the occasional call or text. In a pinch you can use it to summon help, but it should be a secondary option, behind the marine VHF.
What do you keep in your PFD?
