Vilano Kayak FishingBook a trip

Before you go

What you need, what to bring, and what I provide

None of this is complicated, but a couple of items on it will end a trip before it starts if you turn up without them. Read it once.

You need a Florida saltwater fishing licence

Every angler is responsible for their own licence. Buy it before the trip — it takes a few minutes online from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and a short-term non-resident licence is inexpensive.

Some people are exempt — including children under 16, and Florida residents over 65 with proof of residency. Exemptions change and there are more of them than fit here, so check your own situation directly with FWC rather than taking my word for it.

Buy a licence or check exemptions at myfwc.com

If you are unsure, message me before you book and we will sort it out. Turning up without one means we cannot fish.

Bring with you

Your list

  • Your Florida saltwater fishing licence

    Essential

    Or proof that you are exempt. This is the one thing I cannot provide for you, and without it you cannot legally fish.

  • Polarised sunglasses

    Essential

    Not a luxury. They cut the glare so you can actually see fish and structure, and they keep a hook out of your eye.

  • A hat with a brim, and sunscreen

    Essential

    You are on open water with the sun coming at you twice — once from the sky and once off the surface. Reef-safe if you have it.

  • Shoes that can get soaked and stay on

    Essential

    Water shoes, or sandals with a heel strap. Not flip-flops — they come off in mud and float away.

  • A change of clothes for the car

    You will get wet. Plan on it rather than hoping.

  • A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch

    Anything not in one of these can be lost or drowned. I am not responsible for a phone that goes over the side.

  • Any medication you might need

    Essential

    Inhaler, EpiPen, insulin, anything at all — bring it with you and tell me where it is before we launch.

  • Water, and food on longer trips

    Cold drinks are included. On a 6- or 8-hour trip, bring something to eat as well.

I provide

  • A fishing kayak and paddle, sized to you
  • A properly fitted life jacket — worn at all times, no exceptions
  • Rods, reels, terminal tackle, and bait
  • Cold drinks
  • Instruction throughout the trip
  • Basic first aid on the water

Leave at home

  • Alcohol, or anything else impairing — I will not launch with you if you are under the influence
  • Loose valuables you would be upset to lose to the water
  • Your own kayak, unless we have specifically discussed it

Who this works for

Fitness, swimming, and age

You should be comfortable in open water

You do not need to be a strong swimmer, but you do need to be able to keep yourself afloat and stay calm if you end up in the water unexpectedly. Kayaks tip. It is rarely dramatic, but it happens, and panicking is what turns it into a problem.

You will wear a life jacket the entire time you are on the water. That is a condition of coming, not a suggestion, and the trip ends if it comes off.

Fitness

Paddling a fishing kayak on flat inshore water is not strenuous, and we go at your pace. You do need to be able to get yourself in and out of a kayak from a shallow launch, and sit upright for the length of the trip. If you have a back, shoulder, hip, or knee issue, tell me when you book — usually it is workable, and it is much easier to plan around than to discover at the launch.

Anglers under 18

Welcome, with a parent or legal guardian's written consent on the release of liability. The guardian does not have to come on the trip, but they do have to sign, and the release form handles that.

For younger children, message me first. Whether it works depends far more on the individual child and the conditions that day than on a number, and I would rather have that conversation honestly than take a booking that will not be fun for anyone.

Tell me about health conditions

Heart conditions, seizure disorders, diabetes, asthma, severe allergies, pregnancy, recent surgery, or anything that could go wrong an hour from the nearest road. I am not a doctor and I am not judging — I just need to know what to watch for and what to do. You will be asked again on the release form.

Bear in mind that these trips take place on water where help can take a while to reach you. That is part of what makes it good, and part of what you are accepting.

Everyone signs a release

Once your date is confirmed, every angler signs a release of liability before we launch. You can read the full text any time — it is on the site, not sprung on you at the water's edge.

Anything on this list unclear?

Ask before you book rather than after. It is a short conversation and it saves a wasted drive.

Ask me a questionWeather & cancellation

Or email bookings@vilanokayakfishing.com