Stubblefield estimated he landed 100 spotted seatrout (give or take a few repeats) that day. That’s a pretty bold claim,

but I absolutely believe it. In May last year, Stubblefield purchased TexasKayakFisherman.com, a two-year-old

web site ‘yak fishermen affectionately refer to as "TKF." Today, he is kayak fishing 150 days a year and fostering a burgeoning

Lone Star sport fishing community (the site routinely receives more than 1,000 unique visitors each day) that gets high marks for

its members’ friendliness and the warm welcome it gives neophytes. "The kayak fishermen I’ve met are not

quite as competitive as the bay boat fisher-men," said Chris Arceneaux, vice president of Paddling Anglers in Canoes and Kayaks

(P.A.C.K), an American Canoe Association-affiliated club based in Houston. The orga-nization hosts spring and fall kayak fishing

tournaments at San Luis Pass. The 2001 fall event drew more than 70 anglers. "We do have to give a lot of credit to the

TKF website," Arceneaux said. "That’s just the central clearinghouse of information. People are always willing to answer ques-tions,

no matter how redundant." The question most often asked on the TKF saltwater message board is: "What

kind of boat should I get?" Dozens of man-ufacturers offer scores of models, with designs from Ocean Kayak, Perception, and

Wilderness Systems leading the pack. Most experienced paddlers admit there is no "one size fits all" boat, and suggest a "try

before you buy" approach. Retailers host "demo days" throughout the year, and fre-quently allow prospective buyers to try a

boat for free, or will refund a modest rental fee upon purchase. "First, you need to evaluate your style of fishing," said Capt. Sally Moffett, owner of

Rockport Kayak Outfitters and a kayak fly-fishing guide. "If you’re a fly-fisherman and you need to stand-up, you need a stable

boat. If you want to drift a shoreline and throw topwaters, you want a boat with a rudder." Generally, long and narrow means fast

and straight-tracking, but not as stable. Short and wide designs produce a stable, maneuverable boat not as well suited to

paddling long distances. While several manufacturers market boats purpose-built or factory-rigged for angling, almost any

kayak can be outfitted for fishing with the addition of a rod-holder or two and an anchor system. Minimal but mandatory

safety equipment includes a personal flota-tion device (soft, inflatable PFD’s are popu-lar), a whistle, and a 360-degree light for

dusk, dawn, and night forays. Aficionados agree that kayak fishing is still in its infancy in Texas, and thousands

of fishermen have only to try it once before they, too, are hooked. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is betting on it.

Last summer, TPWD established six kayak trails specifically for naturalists and anglers. The marked trails dot the coast

from Galveston Bay and metropolitan Houston all the way to the aptly named South Bay near Port Isabel. They are not

easily accessible to conventional boats (a blessing for fishermen seeking solitude) and serve as convenient jumping-off points

or complete, self-guided outings. On any given weekend, 90 percent of anglers concentrate on 10 percent of the water.

A kayak is a ticket to ride away from that crowd, reducing crowding for all concerned. "It’s going to relieve the fishing pressure

on the shorelines and flats—the popular spots," said Moffett. Because of the kayak’s ability to get into shallow, secluded