Pompano Beach Grows As One of World's Best Kayak Fishing Hubs

    FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, August 31, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A person, a kayak and a fishing pole. While it may sound simple, it's the essence of a new competitive fishing trend that's sweeping the world and popping up in hotspots all over, including Pompano Beach, Florida.

While kayak fishing has been around for years as a way to catch small fish, it's recently resurged as a fun, inexpensive way for competitive fishermen to put their skills to test and reel in big catches. That's how Joe Hector, owner of Extreme Kayak Fishing, Inc., first discovered the art of kayak fishing. Yearning for a way to fish on a college student's budget, he decided to take a kayak out one-mile into the ocean and see what he could catch. After just a few tries, he was amazed when he caught a 30-pound mahi-mahi. From there, he was hooked and started his own kayak fishing business based in Pompano Beach, which hosts the only blue water offshore competitive kayak tournaments in the United States.

"I built my own website, magazine and we did our very first tournament in August 2011," Joe says. "I got one sponsor and he was the only guy that didn't say I was crazy. I really didn't know if anyone would show up, but an hour later, the place was packed. We had over 60 people attend." Since then, Joe notes that he's doubled the number of tournament entries every year as word spreads about kayak fishing. "When I tell people I do kayak tournaments, they immediately think bass fishing; but when I show them the photos of the large fish, like the marlins over my lap, they don't believe it," he says.

After watching his business grow, Joe notes that people are drawn to kayak fishing for many different reasons. For many, the affordability and eco-friendliness of using a simple kayak is an appealing alternative to large, gas guzzling boats. Kayak fishing also allows fishermen to focus on the skill and sport of fishing. As Joe puts it: "When you fish in tournaments you're on a team. But in a kayak, it's all on you. When you win a tournament, it's all you."

As kayak fishing continues to grow as a popular sport, Joe predicts that Pompano Beach will continue to grow with it as a major fishing hub. The warm water, large accessible beaches and year-round fishing opportunities make Pompano Beach the perfect location for this kind of sport.

"It's a perfect spot (for tournaments). It's that big beach where we have live music going on all day," Joe says. "Its not only exciting for me, but also for the people that come here on vacation. We have people from South Africa, Canada and even China that come here to Pompano to fish and see these events. The more we can continue to add to that, the better."

For more information on the upcoming Summer Slam Series Fishing Tournament, please visit www.extremekayakfishing.com. And for Vacation Rental accommodations in Pompano Beach see http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p3624386

Pompano Beach is one of the largest cities within Broward County with a population of approximately 100,000 residents. It is well known for its scenic waterfront views, beaches, outdoor areas and close proximity to traditional hotspots in South Florida. Pompano Beach is home to many popular restaurants, retail stores and family-friendly activities and is quickly growing as one of the most desirable locations within South Florida.

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