Kayak Fishing & Paddling Near Bradenton, FL: Robinson Preserve, Emerson Point, and Neal Preserve Guide
Northwest Bradenton is home to one of the best beginner-and-family paddling networks in this part of Florida — a run of connected coastal preserves that stay calm and mangrove-sheltered almost year-round. If you’re coming from Lakewood Ranch or anywhere in Manatee County, this guide covers how to plan a trip to Robinson Preserve, Emerson Point […]
Kayak Fishing Near Nokomis & Osprey, FL: Launch Points, Tides, and Gear Guide
Nokomis and Osprey don’t get talked about as much as Sarasota or Venice, but this stretch of coastline, anchored by Blackburn Point, Dona Bay, and the historic grounds at Spanish Point, is some of the most sheltered, beginner-friendly paddling water on the Gulf Coast, with fishing that holds up just as well for experienced anglers. […]
Kayak Fishing Near Venice, FL: Best Launch Points, Tides, and Gear Guide
Venice, Florida sits at the southern edge of Sarasota Bay, right where the Intracoastal Waterway, the Gulf of Mexico, and a network of quiet backwater creeks all meet. That mix makes it one of the most versatile spots on this stretch of coast for kayak fishing and paddling — sheltered creeks for calm mornings, open […]
Kayak Safety Gear: Why a PFD Could Save Your Life on Sarasota Bay
Paddling Sarasota’s waterways is one of the best ways to experience Florida’s coastline, but it comes with real risks that too many paddlers underestimate. Paddling Magazine has published several reports analyzing kayak and paddle board accidents across the country, and a troubling pattern shows up again and again: paddlers who weren’t wearing a personal flotation […]
Mangrove Tunnel Kayaking: Sarasota’s Hidden Paddling Gem
Some of Sarasota’s most memorable paddling experiences aren’t found in open water at all, they’re tucked inside narrow, shaded mangrove tunnels that wind through the coastline like a natural maze. Mangrove tunnel kayaking has become one of the most popular activities for both locals and visitors, offering a completely different perspective on Florida’s coastal ecosystem. […]
What COVID Did to the Paddlesports Industry — And What’s Happened Since
In the spring of 2020, as the world locked down and outdoor recreation became one of the only acceptable forms of escape, something remarkable happened to the kayak industry: it ran out of kayaks. Not metaphorically. Literally. By summer 2020, most kayak manufacturers were backordered for months. Dealers couldn’t get inventory. Customers were waiting six […]
How the Kayak Industry Has Changed: From Touring Boats to Fishing Machines and Electric Motors
If you walked into Economy Tackle fifteen years ago looking for a kayak, you would have found a very different selection than what fills our showroom today. Long, sleek touring kayaks. Recreational sit-insides. The occasional fishing-rigged sit-on-top for the more adventurous customer. The industry’s center of gravity was somewhere between flatwater recreation and wilderness touring. […]