Standup paddle board angling is getting more and more popular because paddle boards are not only extremely stealthy as they push through less water – so fish feel less movement in the water – but they can also get to the shallowest of fishing waters where a traditional fishing kayak or motor boat simply can’t. In addition, SUPs are lighter, fun to paddle and easy to use.

However, most paddle boards are made of easily-cracked fiberglass hulls unsuitable for fishing, and that’s where the super-stealthy, all-weather, all-waters Vibe Cubera 120 hybrid SUP fishing kayak comes in – with its unique all weather, all conditions tough, unsinkable rotomolded single piece high density polyethylene hull and unrivaled open deck for true 360-degree casting. Think of it as offering all the advantages of bank fishing, without the need for a bank.

As a new generation of anglers are taking the sport of SUP fishing to the limits right in their own backyards, or simply adding a new “toy” to their arsenal of fishing kayaks, Vibe’s Field Staff offer up some beast pro stealth tips and tricks to ensure you not only have a safe awesome time on the water, but your hook ups increase too!

Kevin “The Machine” Hughes | Miami FL
Tarpon, sailfish, peacock bass, snakehead, largemouth, bowfin and more

As an avid kayak angler, guide and dealer based out of South Florida, I fish for just about anything that swims. Around here, that’s a lot. Offshore, inshore, freshwater and brackish, the opportunities are endless. Just about any day of the week you will find me on the water, and standup paddleboard fishing with the Cubera is yet another fun, stealthy weapon I use for easy-to-go-anywhere and fish for anything.

When the tides go out, and most kayaks are stuck, the Vibe Cubera 120 is still able to get there in just inches of water.

Tarpon, sailfish, peacock bass, snakehead, largemouth, and bowfin each require different tactics to find them, sneak up on them, and bag them. Look for bottlenecks where current is funneled. Target shallow or deep structure like docks, bridges, fallen trees, boulders, sandbars and oyster bars.

Fish in the now – don’t necessarily use what worked last week. Match the hatch. If you see small menhaden, use a lure that looks like the baitfish. Remember, learning what doesn’t work is just as important as learning what works.

My Cubera 120 standup paddleboard is designed to be super stealthy quiet on the water, slipping along the top of the water, allowing me to get much closer to fish than often one of my other traditional fishing kayaks. There is so much stable deck space and customizable rigging, I can not only cast and sight fish 360-degrees at a very high angle either standing or sitting, but I can also bring everything I own. The Cubera SUP is lighter than a regular fishing kayak, making it easier to maneuver, too.

The Cubera is uniquely versatile, and this is where it really shines. I can rig my fishing board with a Vibe Summit Seat (and adding the Vibe Summit Perch gives me standing platform a full 16-inches off the water!) and a fast Bixpy electric motor for a super-shallow skiff I don’t have to paddle. Or I can easily add a Power Pole Micro anchor so I’m rock-solid positioned in shallower waters. For quick trips, I also leave the Cubera rigged up on the roof rack of my vehicle, so I’m always ready to go.

Vertical jigs allow me to cover the water column from the bottom to the surface. I can work the jig straight up and down or cast it to breaking fish. This lure works year-round.

To maintain stability when fighting a fish, keep the rod tip pointed towards the nose and the fish will pull the board straight. Also, land fish with a net so they don’t jump overboard.

The best thing about the Cubera SUP is it is almost indestructible – which is completely different from any other SUP. I beat the heck out of mine. Drop and drag it, or paddle it across an oyster bed, it gets some scrapes and small dings, but it doesn’t crack. I’m not recommending you try and run it fast into a rock, as like any kayak it can be damaged, but it holds up better than any other SUP I’ve ever seen, and better than any other fishing kayak I’ve seen. It is literally unsinkable.

Final word: If you are serious about catching as many fish as possible, then you need to get to any place where the fish are hiding. The Cubera gets you there very stealthily and very quick, so you can cover more water and find more fish.