Whether you are new to kayaking and Kayak Fishing or an advanced paddler one of the most important aspects of this sport is Safety. Safety both of yourself and that of your fellow paddlers. Also remember that when you are setting up your equipment for a days fishing or just a recreational paddle and you venture down to the launch site always bear in mind the safety of the general public. There will often be people on the beach - dog walkers - swimmers etc that have as much right to be there and be safe as you. There are many aspects to safety and the equipment and clothing you will require. Here is a list of some of the many items you will require to help maximise your safety.

Personal Floatation Device (PFD). Always try your PFD on at the kayak dealers first to make sure it is a nice comfortable fit. Remember you will be wearing this item for many hours at a time so comfort is paramount. There are quite a few different makes of PFD on the market and with varying levels of buoyancy. The buoyancy levels are measured in Newton's. Newton's are a measure of force. 10 Newton's is equivalent to 1 kilogram of buoyancy. So a 150 Newton lifejacket (or 150N) provides 15kg of buoyancy. Typically the minimum Newton level of a PFD you should use is about 50N but the higher the better really.

Wetsuit. Again always try on your wetsuit of choice is you can first. I personally had to try 3 different ones on in the shop before i was happy that it fitted ok and felt comfortable. There are many to choose from too. There is the longjohn type which is a full wetsuit without the arms. The Shortie type is ine with knee length legs and short arms. These are more suited to summer use. The full wetsuit is one with complete arms and legs. There is also a choice of front zip or rear zip depending on model purchased. Please note that most wetsuits will not keep you as warm during the cold winter months as well as a drysuit.

Drysuit. If you wish to fish those long winter months in comfort then a drysuit is the item to go for. As well as keeping you very warm they also keep you dry. If you happen to lose your balance and fall into the water this item of clothing will keep the water out and also greatly reduce the possibility of hypothermia. Remember Hypothermia can quickly reduce the bodies ability to think straight and function correctly. Most drysuits are also available with an under fleece suit which will keep you very warm and comfortable. The drysuits can be worm throughout the year but during the summer months the use of the under fleece is optional. As well as keeping you warm you don't want to be too hot also. Being hot can be just as uncomfortable as being too cold.

VHF Radio. Before any trip out on Rivers or on the sea for a days fishing you must always remember to tell someone where you are going and the expected time you will return. Either tell friends and family or the Coastguard. The use of a marine VHF radio will allow you to communicate with other people on the sea and also the Coastguard. You should first receive correct training in the use of a radio by going on one of the many day courses available. Help and advice on this is available from most Marine chandlers and also via the Ofcom website.

First Aid. A small but comprehensive first aid should always be carried as part of your kayak kit. Small waterproof cannisters or drybags are available to put items like this in which will keep them dry. There would be nothing worse then cutting yourself with a fillet knife or getting a hook stuck in your finger only to find that your first aod kit is damp and thus quite possibly contaminated. First aid kits are available from most chemists for just a few pounds and are a vital piece of your kayaking kit so do remember to add this to your list.

Flares. Small inshore flare kits are readily available from any local chandler supplies. They consist of 3 or 4 either handheld or rocket flares. The are and must always be contained in the watertight canister they are often supplied in. They must only be used in an emergency. Hopefully they will never be used but if you urgently need to attract the attention of other boat users or people on the beach etc then these will quickly attract their attention. Again only to be used under emergency circumstances. Also remember that flares have a shelf life and if not used for a few years they should be replaced. You can hand unused flares back into any chandlers who will dispose of them responsibly.

Compass. Another item well worth investing in is a deck mount compass. These are often supplied with bungee straps which quickly attach to the kayaks eyelets. This allows you to quickly and easily get your bearings. Obviously some tuition may be needed to fully understand the use of a compass but most boat chandlers will gladly and freely offer you advice. They will also stock a comprehensive range of compasses suitable for use on a kayak.

GPS. Again another item well worth investing in is a Handheld PGS (Global positioning system) unit. Again readily available from most good chandlers these units will quickly and accurately let you know where you are often down to just a few metres. GPS also offers many advantages such as position logging and route logging (waypoints). You can fully log the start and finish points of your kayak trip so that you can quickly and easily return to your point exact start point. If the mist descends down while you are paddling then the waypoint you logged will allow you to return home safely by following the onscreen directions. GPS will allow the precise logging of hundreds of routes. Most also contain quite detailed maps of the area you are in showing the coastline etc.

Waterproof Torch. This little device will come in handy at some stage. Always keep one a waterproof torch handy in your kayak kit bag and make sure the batteries are good and fresh. Certainly if you plan to stay out late or if the weather turns bad and you have to beach for a while.

Drybags. One of the most essential items you should have is a drybag or in fact several of them of assorted sizes. The Drybag as  the name implies will keep most of your items dry while kayaking. Great for storing food - clothing - cameras - phones etc .. They come in assorted sizes to suit from about 1 litre to 100 litre capacity. These bags are well worth the investment indeed.

Spare Paddle. Another item on your essential list should be a spare breakdown paddle. Easily stored inside the kayak in a drybag. This piece of kit will certainly be a lifesaver if you accidentally break or lose your main paddle. After all if you do lose your main paddle for whatever reason how would you get back to the beach if you didn't have a spare and with possibly no one else to tow you in ?

Throw Rope. This item is a great piece of kit to carry. If you get into difficulty or even injure your self and you cannot paddle just connect this rope to another kayak and let that person tow you in. Easily stored in its own bag the throw rope can be stored in the kayak hatch or in the tankwell basket.