Page 166 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2021

SPORTS & OUTDOORS
P•A•D•D•L•I•N•G COASTAL MISSISSIPPI
story and photos by John N. Felsher
In recent years, kayaking and canoeing have become increasingly popular for fishing and other outdoor recreations. As the cost of fuel continues to rise, paddling will become even more popular.
Not confined to boat ramps, paddlers can launch small craft practically anywhere with enough water to float a boat and
get into tiny places where large motorboats cannot go. Once they get to the launch spot, paddlers can fish, watch birds and wildlife or just enjoy the outdoors as they paddle along without spending a penny on fuel.
“It’s very easy to get out on the water for very little cost,” explains Chris Alexander with South Mississippi Kayak Rentals in D’Iberville. “With a canoe or kayak, paddlers can get into many different places along the Mississippi coast too narrow or shallow for big boats to go.”
To buy a paddle craft, people can spend as much as they wish for gear and other associated accessories. People can buy a kayak built for one person or a two-seater. With a large canoe, families can spend time together in the same boat. After that initial purchase, paddlers can roam the waters at will for years at practically no cost.
“A person could buy a kayak for as little as $250,” Alexander details. “For someone with little paddling experience, I
166 | June 2021
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
TONYA BUTLER-COLLINS uses a double- bladed paddle to propel her kayak through the coastal marshes. With a small paddle craft like a canoe or kayak, people can get into small, out of the way places to enjoy nature where large boats cannot go.