The votes - all 5,160 of them - are in for Round 2 of the Kayak Angler’s Choice Awards. Many of the Top 5 nominees moving into the final round were clear standouts, several with over 20% of the votes. Make sure to show your support for your favorite anglers, kayaks, and products in the final push to see who will be the winners of the 2015 Kayak Angler’s Choice Awards.
To cast your vote in Round 3 go to www.yakangler.com/choice. The final results will be announced on October 19. At this point, it’s all up to you!
Kayak Angler of the Year
Robert Field
Robert Field may not be one of the original pioneers in our sport, but he has come a long way in a short amount of time. As the owner of YakFish TV, V.P. of Manley Rods and president of the Kayak Bass Series, Robert’s life revolves around kayak fishing. He is also a skilled videographer: his YouTube channel has over 7 million views and 30,000 subscribers. He has won Video of the Year in the KACAs the past two years. Robert has become known for chasing a wide variety of species, from giant alligator gar to sharks to sailfish.
Rob Choi
Rob Choi is a kayak fishing junkie. He achieved the prestigious "Saltwater Expert Angler" status from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission while strictly fishing from his kayak. While holding down an eight to five, being a kick-ass husband, and fathering the two cutest, most amazing kids on the planet, he also authors an award-winning blog. Note of interest: he was dropped as a baby into a pool of awesomeness and badassery. He wins every day. It’s just what he does.
Mike Baker
Mike Baker got introduced into kayak fishing in wells Maine, always fishing from the beach and seeing blitzing schools of striped bass just out of reach. Luckily for him his friends own the local surf shop and had kayaks for him to use. He remembers the first striper he caught and the rodeo of circles it he went through before landing it. Fast forward 10 years and now he is a registered Maine guide and owner of Kayak Fish New England guide services and part of the Wilderness Systems and Torqeedo pro staff. As for accomplishments in 2014 he took 2nd place in the NEKF striper shootout .2015 he took 6th at the NEKF shootout and 1st in the slam and largest fish in the j Bay tourney in NYC earning a spot on the US team in Shang Lake China.
Joseph Harrick
Joseph is the Owner of Catch Fish or Die Trying, the Assistant Tournament Director for The Kayak Bass Series North Division, and runs social media for multiple outdoor brands and organizations. He is also an avid competitive fisherman, fishing several tournament trails such as Kayak Bass Series, RiverBassin, and Kayak Fishing Ohio. In his first season of competitive fishing he is ranked in the Top 20 of each trail he fishes, has several Top 5 finishes, and has won two events. He is very proud of his 12th place finish at the KBS Classic on Guntersville this past September. He has had his articles published, and his pictures and videos featured in several magazines, blogs and other media this year.
Christina Weber
Christina is a south Florida native who utilizes the fishing capital to the full extent, by fishing freshwater, saltwater, inshore and offshore. Kayak fishing happened by pure accident when she was shopping around for a boat that could keep up with her fishing styles, and the only one she could find was a kayak. Here she is five years later, traveling around and outside the country competing in the Extreme Kayak Tournament’s and the Kayak Bass Series, all from her Hobie "Outback". Christina’s biggest accomplishment have been finishing in third place for AOY in the KBS, landing a tarpon from the kayak with Ross Gallagher, and the oh-so-famous sailfish with Robert Field and Eric McDonald.
Mark "YakSushi" Watanabe is the Co. Founder of YakAngler.com, "He built this site!". He considers himself a mediocre fisherman and an unexceptional writer. He's the devoted father of a ton of little sushis (Air Quotes) and everyday tech ninja.
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I've had a Hobie PA14 since 2014. I changed from my first kayak, a Jackson Cuda 12. Loved the Jackson but for the same reasons you cited I switched to...
Kayak anglers should be familiar with the Hobie Bass Open Series by now as it's one of the most accessible yet elite tournaments, especially when it comes to high payouts.