Stand Up Paddle Boards Are Great for Anglers on a Budget

Call me crazy, but I’m starting to believe that SUPs or Stand Up Paddle Boards are some of the most versatile fishing craft the average angler can afford and take to destination fishing locations. I know some might disagree with me, but I’m guessing they don’t have the wherewithal to balance on one–or perhaps even know how to paddle.

You get height on your side, get to stand to cast, and draft almost nothing when using one. Not to mention they cost quite a bit less than a decked out fishing kayak. I’ve used mine at my home for bass, trout and carp. I’ve brought it to upstate New York for smallies and recently targeted redfish in South Carolina.

No, you can’t go off-shore or super long distances on it, but the inflatable SUPs are packable, don’t require any gas and can be used for a number of applications. Case in point, much to my wife’s chagrin, I insisted on bringing my inflatable NRS SUP with us on vacation not knowing what type of water we’d be near. We were staying outside Beaufort, SC, with friends and family. I put the SUP, my daughter’s stroller, car seat, my fishing gear, and luggage in the car. It really wasn’t that much more to bring. I didn’t need a trailer and I checked the SUP in with ease at the airport.

Once there, I pumped it up, slid it in on a high tide, and paddled over un-wadeable mud bottom flats to some perfectly wadeable hard-bottomed grass flats I could have never been able to reach on foot. I proceeded to find multiple tailing redfish right out the backdoor of the place we were staying. What could be easier? I personally cannot think of another boat that you can travel with that can slink along the grass flats, power out to reefs, cruise trout rivers, or scout local bass water.

Am I nuts, or are SUPs one of the most economical easy to travel with fishing craft available right now?