I am new to kayak fishing and I was wondering if yall had any insight, or tricks of the trade to pass down to me.
Tie everything down on your yak and dress to swim. Check out sckayakfishing.com for tips and tricks.
Always, always, always wear your lifejacket and let people know where you are going.
Fishless is right on. Get a paddle strap, tie down your tackle, fix your GPS tight to the boat if you have one. I keep a WATERPROOF camera on a float. Cellphone is inside thickest ziplock I can find and inside a velcroed pocket in my vest.
I’ve been lucky enough to never have to swim, but I have lost some expensive electronics due to cheap ziplocks or not using waterproof versions. The strangest things can happen to knock stuff out of your boat (like some guy in a houseboat casting his bait into my GPS and knocking it off the suction mount and into the water!), so it is best to just assume that eventually everything will be (1) wet and (2) flopping around in the water. If it’s attached to your boat and protected from water, you will be much happier.
Fishing? Same locations and techniques as in a boat, except you can get exceptionally skinny and even park and walk in places you’d never get to in a short Whaler.
Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115
Pungo 120Thanks for the suggestions. and, Jim Islander how did you know that I have a same Whaler?
Three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn.
Just a coincidence on the Whaler! I have a 15 foot Rage and love how shallow I can get, but the kayak makes it look like a tuna boat when it comes to skinny water. 
Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115
Pungo 120dry bag for your phone and camera… grubs, DOA shrimps, and possibly mudders, “big-enuf-landing net”. I use #4,6 kahle hooks with split-shots on 8-10lb test. Keep the PFD in boat for DNR and enjoy.
keep it simple.
are you required to carry a whistle too?
Three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn.
Rig to flip, dress to swim.
If it can rust or short out it will get wet
If it bites, stings, stinks, or sticks, it will fall in your lap
If it’s expensive and doesn’t float, it will fall overboard
If the fish aren’t biting the gnats are
If the fish are biting the gnats are too, you just don’t notice as much
Not all paddles float, check yours in shallow water boefore you venture into deep water
Come see us at southcarolinakayakfishing.com
There is nothing - absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Kenneth Grahame
come see me tonight at the angler in Mt. P… I’ll teach you everything you need to know… 
seminar starts at 6:30… for those who are interested…
Mad Mike
Yes to whistle
DNR requirement is a PFD onboard (not necessarily worn) with a whistle.
Myself I wear the PFD if at a busy launch, in any kind of traffic, in anyplace with fast tide or waves, or if it just feels sketchy to me.
Now i do go without it when im where I wanted to go so long as the above dont apply. I just take it off and shove it in the front hatch. I also always go out with a handheld vfh, and my cellphone in a drybag. I dont go looking for trouble, but often it still finds your when your not, so why not be prepared to some extent.
When I do the 2NM run from Sully beach I make sure everything is tight, working well, take spare parts for my mirage drive, extra water, snacks, and check the weather and wave period right up to before I leave the house.
I don’t fear the Ocean, but it sure as hell has earned my respect!
2007 Regal 2120 Destiny (270hp Volvo I/O)
http://www.regalboats.com/2007/SportBoats/Destiny/2120/Features
2007 and 2008 Hobie Revolution Kayaks
http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models_revolution.html
And a light if out at night or limited visibility.
From the Coast Guard Boating Website:
http://www.uscgboating.org/SAFETY/fedreqs/equ_nav.htm
Vessel Under Oars
If your vessel is under oars, then it should display lights for a sailboat (Figures 3 or 4), if practicle. As an option, your vessel your vessel may carry a flashlight or lighted lantern that can show a white light in sufficient time to prevent collision.
Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115
Pungo 120