I’m going to try and do some one-pole shrimping soon from my kayak. I’d like to head out after dark, but I’m unsure about how to meet the light requirements for night boating. Any ideas? I plan to do this only once, so I’m looking for cheap options. If I wear a headlamp, does that count as a light that can be seen 360 degrees? What if I wore one forward and one backward?
You’d probably benefit from some type of light-on-a-stick that would sit up high enough to be visible around you, no matter how you were turned. The visipole is a good example, but you can find materials to make your own light if you have the motivation.
–elgeebee–
WS Ride 135
You may get away wiht a head lamp but I second Elgeebee… get a Visi-Pole. Not only does it have the light requirement handled it also has a safety flag and reflective tape. If you are going to be out at night do everything you can to be seen… There are way too many powerboats out this time of year shrimpin as well and you are even more at risk in a yak. Make sure you ahve your baiting license and have everything else to make ya legal… Mr. Greenjeans doesn’t give slack because you are in a kayak…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
smoothdog,
sounds like you read my article in Coastal Angler. X2 on what these guys said. I won’t set out after dark without my Visipole. Take a mag light with you as well and have it on a leash so you can warn off anyone coming too close. My advice is to run as far away from the crazies as you can get. feel free to gimme a shout if you have questions that I didn’t cover in the article.
I won’t share any specific spots tho.
Who’s Ready for a Sleigh Ride? www.KayakFishSC.com
Too Busy: I didn’t see your article. Have a link you can share?
I hear you on being careful at night. I have a buddy with some water access close to (what I bet is) a good shrimping spot. I can stay in 1 ft of water most of the way and even in the grass sometimes. I’m hoping to stay far away from any boats.
Thanks for the tips everyone. I’ll check out your recommendations. Also, I’m fully licensed, etc. Already been out shrimping once and got skunked. Thought I’d slip out in the kayak so I can shorten my next dissapointing trip 
Article is on page 29.
http://www.coastalanglermag.com/magazines/2011/charleston/
Also, here is the original from last year.
http://kayakfishsc.com/2010/09/kayak-shrimping/
I eventually get around to hosting old articles on the blog page at Kayak Fish SC with pictures and links to instructional videos.
Catch em up.
Who’s Ready for a Sleigh Ride? www.KayakFishSC.com
Great advice and article. Thanks for the tips!
If you have a light colored yak you can crack a few chem-sticks and toss them in the hull of your boat. My boat is yellow and the chem sticks make me very visible to other boaters. Don’t forget your compass (gear heads will think they are ok with their gps which can lose power or fail). Everything looks completely different at night and you can easily pass your landing or lose your orientation.
p.s. keep an eye on the two little glowing dots you see occasionally. At night, on the water, you will move down a notch or two on the food chain.
El Pescador - I won’t find those eyes in the harbor or the tidal creeks that feed it, right? I know anything is possible, storms wash them out, etc, but I imagine it’s extremely rare. Hate those things.
I left God’s country in 82 back to Atlanta, but those red eyes are in salt, brackish, and fresh water all around Charleston, salt the least, but figure them everywhere. Then, there are those (**()ed sharks to worry about in the salt, brackish, and fresh water!
Like my Senior DI @ Parris Island in 66 told us " you planning on living forever? Do what you gotta do"!!!
If you are fishing in water around Charleston, ESPECIALLY the tidal creeks, you will see those eyes… if you don’t see those eyes you will have company under you that is toothy and has rough skin… Like he said, you go out in a kayak at night you take a step or two down the food chain…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
Go to PalmettoKayakFishing.com. They have a 5 led light with extendable pole for $28. Suprisingly lasts 60 hours on 4 AAA batteries.
Hide the food stamps under their working boots.
Manta Ray 14’