| I am not going to provide you with a long list of specific | | | | you already know that light colors will reflect more |
| items you should pack for a kayak fishing trip to a | | | | heat than dark colors, which only absorb and collect |
| warm weather destination like Baja. Rather, let discuss | | | | heat.) But the real beauty of a quality flats fishing shirt |
| my approach to packing light by packing just right! | | | | is it's ability to not absorb the gallons of water which |
| As someone who works in the travel industry, I | | | | your body will perspire in order to keep your core |
| struggle with the meaning of what a carry-on suitcase | | | | body temperature at 98.6F. The material will remain |
| is suppose to look like, now with airlines charging for | | | | dry and you will remain cool and protected from the |
| checked bags. It can't be the size of the suitcase itself | | | | sun. |
| as I have seen passenger board the aircraft with a full | | | | PACK (1) Buff: I like to wear something called a Buff. |
| size roller bag, topped with a overnight bag and a | | | | This is a short tube of silk or nylon material which is |
| briefcase to boot. Which brings to mind the question, | | | | pulled over your head and worn around your neck. It |
| how much gear is enough gear? More specifically, | | | | protects your vulnerable neck area especially on the |
| how does a person determine when you have pack | | | | back of your head. You can also pull the Buff up to |
| enough gear for a kayak fishing trip to Baja? | | | | cover your nose and cheeks. You'll look like a bank |
| For International travel, airlines allow two checked bags | | | | robber, but it works amazingly well. Pack one Buff for |
| and one carry-on plus a purse or briefcase. The | | | | the trip. |
| maximum weight for each suitcase needs to be 50 | | | | (A Word About Cotton Clothing): When your body is |
| pounds or less. Otherwise, you will incur a small fortune | | | | pumping out gallons of sweat and urine per day, |
| in overweight baggage charges. With this in mind, start | | | | wearing a cotton tee shirt is like wearing a sponge. In a |
| by getting your bathroom scale in your packing area. | | | | couple of hours, your shirt will be completed drenched |
| O.K. Here we go! | | | | in sweat and you'll no uncomfortable... no miserable as |
| The best kayak fishing in Baja happens during the | | | | the day wears on. |
| hottest months of the year; May, June, July and | | | | PACK: Underwear- (3) pairs for 7 days. Most men's |
| August. The Baja sun is intense and it isn't unusual for | | | | underwear is cotton. Whether you prefer briefs or |
| the temps to run 100-105. You must think in terms of | | | | boxer style, I'm going to suggest you invest in a type |
| protecting your body from the harmful effects of the | | | | of men's underwear which most likely you don't own |
| sun. | | | | yet. At $25 a pair, it seems like a waste of hard |
| For the purposes of this article, let's plan for a 7 day | | | | earned cash, but hear me out. They wick moisture |
| trip and you can adjust accordingly for longer or | | | | away from your body (this means comfort); can be |
| shorter trips. | | | | washed out by hand and will dry very quickly (reducing |
| PACK (2) Footwear: Working from the bottom up, | | | | the number of pairs to pack). Men's briefs from |
| without feet and ankles can be seriously sunburn in a | | | | Patagonia are the best of the best. Expensive, but will |
| very short period of time (45-60 minutes). I like to wear | | | | last you ten years! |
| something on my feet which can get wet but are | | | | PACK: (2) Undershirts - Same logic as described in the |
| comfortable. Teva type sandals or Crocs help to block | | | | above paragraph on cotton and underwear. I |
| the sun, but I would suggest applying sun screen 45 | | | | recommend a Capilene, long sleeve shirt by Patagonia. |
| SPF as well. In terms of packing, I take one pair of | | | | This shirt will block the sun (15 UPF), wick moisture and |
| "water shoes" and one pair of sandals for the street | | | | keep you cool and dry. Perfect! ($40) |
| and travel. That's it! | | | | PACK (2) Hats: Pack one baseball style hat and one |
| PACK (2) Pants: Fast drying nylon pants should be | | | | sun protection hat. Under no circumstances go out for |
| worn to cover your thighs and lower leg ares. I | | | | a day on the water without covering your head. |
| especially like the style of pants which allow you to zip | | | | PACK (2) pair of POLARIZED sunglasses. They say |
| off the legs to make shorts. Very handy and you | | | | your eyes are the window to your soul. With the sun's |
| again have one pair of pants which provides you with | | | | rays being reflected off the water all day, intense eye |
| functional shorts as well. Pack two pairs of this type of | | | | strain will sap your energy, cause severe headaches |
| pant. | | | | and you'll probably quit fishing several hour early and |
| PACK (3) Shirts: Even though it will be over 100F while | | | | miss some great fishing. Don't mess with your eyes. |
| fishing, you want to wear long sleeve shirts. Until you | | | | Protect them! |
| have tried it, you might conclude that your going to be | | | | Follow these clothing recommendations and your bags |
| compounding the heat problem for your body, | | | | will be well under the 50 pound limit; you'll be cool when |
| however just the opposite if the case. Long sleeve | | | | the heat is on; and you'll have a smirk on your face, |
| (sometimes called flats shirts) the material has a built-in | | | | knowing you packed just the right clothing for Baja's |
| solar block are usually advertised as such. (Most likely | | | | summer heat! |