Lots of food for thought.

My impression is that he violated many of the basic rules we tend to preach; e.g., know where you are and keep track of how to get back (old boy scout trail marking) and the importance of a PSK in you pocket at all times in "the woods." Even what most of us EDC would have helped.

It seems he lost track of even if he headed off east, west, north or south from where he landed his kayak, and could not simply reverse course.

No indication he started, or could start a fire.

Finally, he made a good decision. Stay in one place and make a signal.

But my real question is: Was the bait (crickets) really that important that you would wander that far away from the kayak the lake and the beach?