I finally got a kayak last night. I got what I felt was a good deal on a first kayak. I got an 12 foot ocean scrambler xt Angler. I got it for $314, so I decided if it isn't enough I wont be out to much.

Now I have developed some list of questions I will be asking for some time.

1. What are the night light requirements? I have read on tpwd and cant figure out what it says. All three lights or just the white up top?

2. what safety equipment is legally required (besides a life jacket of course)?

3. What are scupper plugs and are they essential? Has anyone found a cheap or free way to do the same thing?

Last question- How many people kayak during the cold water periods? Is it just crazy to think about?

More questions to come. Thanks for all being generous with your knowledge with this ignorant rookie.

There's a thread in this section called "the basics". Check that out and it will answer alot of questions for you. I would link it but I'm on my phone.

Abracadabra!

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/6466639/The_Basics#Post6466639

you have a SOT or Sit On Top kayak. Scuppers plugs arn't needed. i wouldn't recommend them to any novice. if you fall out & your scuppers are plugged up, it makes your yak harder to flip back over & is now more like a canoe full of water than a self bailing SOT. If you still want them: ocean kayak will ship u some from their site or you can look up your size on their site then call the academys/ local yak shop till you find a store that stocks your size.

1. They want a white light that is mounted above your head.... Scotty and yakattack make light poles, but PVC, a c light and some duct tape worked for me for a long time before I got a Scotty mount...

2. You need a whistle also.

3. Scuppers are the holes in the floor of an SOT kayak that drain water out when it gets in. Scupper plugs are stoppers that close them up... If you're really being careful on a calm day you can stay drier by using the scupper plugs... Of course when water gets in, it won't be draining out until you unplug them... I plug my footwell scuppers on my manta sometimes, but that's it. The scramblers a little wetter ride... People use foam rubber golf balls instead of the factory plugs... Pretty sure academy and REI sell scupper plugs that fit OK kayaks...

Yes people yak fish in the winter... The bite for some species like big cats and crappie/white bass can be good this time of year. For lmbs it really slows down when the water temps get into the mid forties and below IMO. You need waders with a belt. And you're pretty much planning for the eventuality that you'll go over, get completely dunked, get back into your yak and paddle to safety/warmth in a fairly short time. If it doesn't happen that way, you can get hypothermic very quickly... Cold water is dangerous, so long distance paddles in new areas and days with big wind/rough water are really not great ideas...

Pm sent

Dont forget a whistle