Kevin Whitley

Home Base: Norfolk, VA - lower Chesapeake Bay

Favorite Ocean Kayak, and why: My main fishing boat is the Drifter. I consider it to be the best Chesapeake Bay kayak. The Bay can get rough fast, the Drifter takes the ugly chop perfectly. Its low center of gravity and added stability keeps me upright in the mess. I fish a lot of structures like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnels rock islands and bridge pilings. The Drifter pivots on a center axis which makes its maneuverability unmatched for getting into tight places. When a fish spins me around or makes a run through the bridge pilings, I'm right behind him. I use the Drifter in tight and rough places. If I need to get some distance in a hurry or trolling, I use my Prowler 15.

About Kevin: Kayak Kevin Whitley has been and continues to be kayak fishing trail blazer in his home waters of the Chesapeake Bay. He was the first to target and innovate many of the kayak techniques of this fishery including trophy red drum and striper. Kevin was the first kayak angler to achieve the Virginia Saltwater Expert Angler award in 2006, and again in 2007.  In 2011 he was the first kayak angler to reach Virginia’s Saltwater Master Angler.

Kevin is also a long distance touring kayaker. Completing six extended kayak tours, including a four and a half month, 1,800 mile tour from Pensacola Florida to Norfolk Virginia. All of the tours where done in a Ocean Kayak Manta. In 2009 Kevin was featured in the first “Game On” movie, prompting him to produce is own DVDs, the award winning “Kayak Fishing the Chesapeake Bay”. This film showcases Kevin and crew over a year of kayak fishing the Bay. The “Chesapeake Bay Tour” chronicles the six week 600 mile tour of the Bay, and “Kayak Fishing the Chesapeake Bay 2” reveals the techniques on the spring and summer bay fishery.