Blog Article · Kayak Fishing ·Jan 21, 2026

How Kayak Fishing Makes You Healthier

Did you know kayak fishing isn’t just fun? It adds to your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Here’s how…

a kayak angler holds his fish up with a smile

(Photo: Cameron Smith)

We found a blog post on Outdoor Empire called “11 Reasons Fishing Makes You a Healthier, Happier Person.” We thought we’d take a look at a few of those reasons as they specifically apply to kayak fishing:

Nature Heals

Those of us who love being in a natural environment—on water, in the mountains, in a park, among trees, on a trail—already know how nature affects us positively. It can relax us on one hand and invigorate us on the other.

Did you know nature can help us heal, too?

A 1984 study by Robert S. Ulrich, PhD, found that hospital patients whose windows overlooked trees had a faster and easier recovery time than patients whose only view was a brick wall. They needed less medication and experienced fewer complications.

A 2023 research study has this to say in its introduction:

“In recent years, research has confirmed what many of us have intuitively known for a long time: that nature has a profound impact on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

“This has led to a growing interest in using nature as a form of medicine, both as a complementary therapy and as a preventative measure. In this context, nature is seen as not only a place of beauty and wonder, but as an essential part of our overall health and wellness.”

That healing power of nature affects you whether you fish in a rural, urban or wilderness environment. After all, water in all its forms is part of nature.

Surrounding trees, wildlife, birdlife, the sounds and smells—all of nature impacts our senses and our well-being positively.

Nature Lowers Blood Pressure

Studies show that spending as little as 30 minutes a week in nature can lower high blood pressure. There’s something about being in a “green space” (even if that space is in or near an urban setting) that gives us a sense of calm.

a late afternoon sun shines over two kayak anglers paddling their boats

(Photo: Luis Delgado)

Paddlers instinctively know the calming effect of being on the water, too. When you fish from a kayak, your connection to the water is very intimate—more so than fishing from a larger motorized boat or even from shore. The movement of the water can be very therapeutic.

This study gathered information about the effect of nature on hypertension, or high blood pressure, the #1 cause of heart disease and premature death all over the world. The authors concluded:

“Experimental and observational studies suggest that time in forests or other green spaces is associated with reduced blood pressure, lower prevalence of hypertension, and reduced odds of using antihypertensive medications. Therefore, prescribing time in nature for patients at risk or diagnosed with hypertension may have substantial benefits.”

Do you have high blood pressure? Consider kayak fishing more! It might help.

Sunshine is Our Friend

Of course, we want to be careful with over-exposure, but the sun is also very good for us. Here are some of the benefits linked to healthy sun exposure:

Sunshine increases serotonin levels, which helps ease depression
Sunshine helps boost Vitamin D production, which is essential for strong, healthy bones, for immune health, and for healthy muscle and brain cells.
Sunshine can help treat some skin conditions, like acne and psoriasis
Some data suggests sunshine can benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic conditions

Wearing long sleeves and pants, hats and sunglasses are all ways you can prevent over-exposure and still get the benefits of sunshine while you’re out in your kayak.

Nature and Activity Both Strengthen Mental Health

It’s been well-documented that physical activity of any kind gives us a mental and emotional boost. Add that to the boost we get from being in nature, and we get a two-for-one deal.

When we engage in physical activity outdoors, the mental health benefits include: the ability to better manage stress, lower anxiety and depression, help with PTSD and ADHD. Both encourage better creativity and problem-solving abilities, focus, memory and quality of sleep.

Kayak fishing is a great way to take advantage of the brain and mood-boosting benefits of nature and physical activity (assuming you paddle or pedal your boat instead of relying on a motor).

Kayak Fishing is a Low-Impact Calorie Burner

Anytime you move your body, you burn calories. Paddling or pedaling to your spots, casting, reeling—all use energy and require muscle strength. Even just carrying your kayak from your vehicle to the water burns calories.

If you stand when you fish—at least part of the time—even better. (Did you know studies have found that sitting for long periods of time is as bad for us as smoking and obesity?)

Fishing kayaks are designed to be stable enough to stand on. Even if you prefer to sit, get up every 30 minutes or so to stretch stiff muscles, get your blood flowing again and burn more calories.

(Photo courtesy of Peter Yeung)

Kayak Fishing Can Help Keep Our Brains Sharp

I think we’ve all heard by now that mentally stimulating activities are good for our brains. This gets more and more important as we age.

There are some fascinating correlations between ways we can keep our brains stimulated and kayak fishing. Here are things you naturally do as a kayak angler that help keep your brain sharp:

Continually learn
Use all your senses
Build confidence
Stay physically active

Fish is a Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Protein

If you keep your catch for the dinner table occasionally, you’ll benefit from healthy protein, as well as omega-3 (healthy fat) and Vitamin D. All in a low-fat, low-cholesterol package (depending on how you prepare it, of course!).

We know a lot of you are catch-and-release anglers, but for those who are catch-and-cook, fish is a great addition to a healthy diet.

[Usual suggestions are to eat fish only occasionally due to potential dangers of mercury build-up and other toxins—especially in large freshwater fish. Beware of the contaminants in the waters you fish in as well. Pregnant/nursing moms, kids, older adults and those with weakened immune systems should be most careful.]

Kayak Fishing Can Be Relational

While some kayak anglers enjoy the solitude of fishing alone, there are relational benefits to tap into, too. The kayak fishing community is loaded with friendly folks who are generous with their time and know-how.

Many of you have developed life-long friendships by participating in local kayak fishing groups, tournaments, clubs and chapters.

Kayak fishing is a wonderful avenue for family time, too, for both quantity and quality time. It’s a great way to introduce kids (whether your own or others) to both paddling and fishing. Many anglers love to kayak fish with their spouse, too.

Studies show that healthy people who are in healthy relationships with others are less stressed, have better emotional support, heal faster physically, live a healthier lifestyle, have more of a sense of purpose in life and live a longer life.

two kayak anglers stand together in a shallow river holding their paddles, smiling

(Photo: Luis Delgado)

Our conclusion? Kayak fishing is far from meaningless or wasted time. Rather, it’s an activity done in an environment that boosts wonderful benefits to our mental, emotional and physical health every time.

What more motivation do you need? We’ll see you on the water!

[This post was first published in 2017, updated in 2020, and further updated and expanded in 2026.]