PB Bream twice from the kayak

Well what a day it was Thursday.
After trying to plan a fishing trip with some mates the weather had a major part to play where we ended up going. After keeping an eye on willy weather for a week and changing plans around 4 times from Ardrossan, to the Onkaparinga, to 'oh well will have to be land based' it looked like there was going to be a gap in the horrible winds we have experienced in Adelaide.

After setting the alarm for 3 am I seemed to wake up every hour, I finally gave in and got up about 2.45.... we had planned to meet around 5.30 am before the winds picked up.

My friend Dave picked me up and after hitching up the yak in the dark, we were on our way. After arriving we had just started getting our gear together when some other mates Ben and Sean joined us and the usual fishing banter started.

The conditions were excellent which was such a relief. We paddled out into the darkness, flicking soft plastics for jewies and it wasn't long before I had one on board, it was only a small fish of around 40 cm so I quickly sent it on its way. I only managed another one for the day, Ben managed a 60 cm and Sean and Dave both managed to get multiple small ones.

I really wanted to catch a bream from here as they had eluded me in past attempts.

Plenty of fish on the Lowrance sounder using downscan.

After trying a few different small offerings I put on a Z-Man grub in motor oil, and a Squidgy 2.5gm jig head (I think), cast out as far as I could and let it sink. After what I thought was a few very timid bites I lifted the rod and to my delight it came up tight and the reel started peeling line. The Lure Project/Rarenium combo was up for the challenge, topped of with 5lb bite motion 6lb leader. Thinking this was another mulloway I couldn't believe a very large bream started to rise to the surface. The usual 'knot please hold' was going through my mind as I fumbled for the net. After a couple more runs my new PB bream was in the net, measuring around 42 cm and to say I was excited is an understatement. Multiple pics later I gave it the Rex hunt kiss, revived it and it swam away.

My first PB for the day, 42cm

The excitement rose as we all started to try for these awesome fish and it wasn't long before Dave was on. Line started screaming and I watched as he landed an absolute horse of a fish, which was a lot larger the mine! High fives all around shortly followed.
It wasn't to long after that my line came up tight and I had another 'horse' this one was even bigger than my first and a new PB, wow what a day.

Time was slipping by so we decided to call it a day, we went to a bakery and had a coffee and a bite to eat before going our separate ways.

What a privilege to not only catch such fantastic fish but to be able to release them back to spawn for another fisho to experience the buzz, thanks fellas for making a fishing trip to remember…

My PB Bream, what a fat healthy fish. 

One very happy fisherman!

My second PB, around 45cm (went over the ruler)

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Squid Fishing from the yak

What started out slow was a great day out in the yak.

With me starting a new job it's not as easy to get away for a fish like it used to be. Other commitments come first but I have managed a few trips with great success chasing squid. This is something quite new to me and I wish I had started years ago.
One recent trip was when I was able to hook up with a mate and head up to one of my favourite places, Wallaroo in SA. Not only do I like fishing there but there is something about the place, the long jetty, the history, whatever it is I love it.
After getting on our way around 4.30am we had an easy drive and arrived to flat seas, always a nice sight after nearly a 2 hour drive.

My previous yak at Wallaroo Beach.

With great anticipation we set up the yaks, launched from the beach and headed to the jetty.
On the way I tried for Snook with no success. After fishing near the jetty with no success I thought I would try for some squid in the shallows - I'm glad I did.

The water was pretty calm at this point and I attached my jag to the my Raider Yak Rod 1-3kg and cast into the shallows. It wasn't long before I had a squid on and landed in the net unfortunately I also had ink over the yak!

A previous 'inking'.

The gear of choice is the Shimano Egixile squid jigs and my favourite colour seems to be Keimura Purple and the other (Keimura Orange I think), they have both served me well catching over 45+ squid between them and only now showing battle scars, they will still be good for a few session yet!.

The rods I use are a Raider Yak rod, 1-3kg, Starlo JungleStix 732L 2-4kg, and a Raider Lure Project (I take a variety of rods, normally 1 with a lure, 1 a plastic and the other a jag). They are matched with a Symetre 1000, Stradic Ci4+ 2500, and a Rarenium Ci4 1000, if you want a super smooth real and something that you can hold all day you can't beat these…

The braid I use is 3 and 5lb PowerPro Bite Motion, I love it because part form being super thin, it comes in a high vis' orange with a bite detecting black marks at one metre intervals. even if you did get a rare wind knot they are easy to get out, just take it slow.

Another squid comes on board.

I found the most success came with long casts and waiting until the jag was near the bottom. To achieve this I did a count back, drop the jag over the side of the yak and count how long it took to reach the bottom. I would then cast out and count the same time before starting the retrieve which was a series of 'flicks' and long pauses.

The Egixile squid jags are wighted correctly they have a great action and a slow drop.

At one point I had 2 in the net as as I caught one and his mate followed him up, I just had to catch him as well...

There are 2 in the net, they just can't resist the orange colour, I caught one and his mate followed him up.

Nice squid caught on a previous Metro Adelaide trip.

Some of the other locations I have had great success is Ardrossan and around Adelaide metro coast also. That being said these would work anywhere in 'Squid Territory'.

I was told a great tip and once you have caught a squid get your hand around its 'neck with a firm hold or it will try to bite you with its beak, then pinch them it the neck until it turns white, this will kill it quickly and also stop it squirting that horrible ink in the esky.

I also find that by keeping the wings attached and not removing the 'skin' until needed is easier as its defrosting as they aren't slippery.

I look forward to a another day off, calm seas and another great feed (and snapper baits).

Flaps left on ready for freezing.

A small rugger was a bonus on an Ardrossan trip.

Another victim to the orange Egixile squid jig.

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Great Mulloway catches using Squidgy flickbaits in the Coorong

Although this trip was a while ago now it's one remember clearly.

I had gone to Victor Harbour to stay with  my mum and also my brother who was over here from the UK and I of course I couldn't go without taking the Hobie.

My brother and his new lady friend met me at the Mundoo Chanel boatramp where he took some photos for me of the newly wrapped yak, and after saying "I'll be at Mums for dinner" I went on my merry way for a fish.

One of the pics from the 'photoshoot'.

My hopes were high on getting a fish but after a couple of hours I realised that wasn't going to happen. I had tried topwater, trolling and plastics but there seemed to be nothing around. Feeling a bit dejected I headed back to the boat ramp and was packing up my gear when a boat appeared from the darkness and moored at the ramp. I went over for a chat and as fishermen do started telling the stories of what was biting etc. He was interested in the yak and I mentioned I had caught mulloway from it in the past. "oh you should try here" he said, "caught stacks there the other night all catch and release, had a ball".

Thinking this was just one of those fishing stories I didn't think to much of it and continued to pack up after we had said goodbye.

This spot was on the way home so I thought to myself - what harm can it do to check it out.
On arrival I saw a boat trailer there so at least someone was out.

I put on a squidgy flickbait and thought to myself 'ill give it an hour' lobbed the plastic into the darkness, clicked over the bail arm and proceeded to work the plastic in a big hop hop action, well no sooner had I started the line came up tight and I was on! I could feel the head shakes of a mully and I couldn't believe it, 1st cast your joking I though to myself as I fumbled for the net. After a shortish fight I shone the light into the water to the see the gorgeous silver flanks of a Mulloway along side the yak.

1-3kg rod with 4lb BiteMotion did the damage.

This can't be real, hands still shaking as I tried to take a photo, release the fish and call my mates to let them know the awesome news  but I couldn't get coverage.

Well to cut a long story short this was the order for the rest of the night, cast the plastic then no sooner had it hit the water, rip rip - BANG! Incredible and to think that I was going back to Mums and would have missed all this action.

This isn't a fishing story but honestly I lost count of how many mulloway I caught and released that night, I was there from around 10 till 4am (yep in the kayak) and it was pretty much none stop action all night. I kept 3 fish which were between 70 and 75cm for Mum as she loves fish but can't afford it a lot.

I went down there as much as I could over the rest of the summer, told some friends and they also experienced some fantastic Mulloway action from the yak but it was never as good as that magical night, one I will never forget.

I found these floating on the surface pretty selective feeding! 

The Mulloway were taking a variety of Squidgies and the size of the plastic didn't seem to matter.

Another schoolie caught on the magical Squidgy flick bait, I caught numerous fish on the same tail,
making them very economical.

You can see the bite/scuff marks in this tail, very well used but still catching fish.

All of these plastics caught Mulloway, you can see the teeth marks in some and although they look a little worse for ware were still catching fish. 

One of the 3 keepers from that magical night fishing.

More info on the Squidgies here

Blogs will be added frequently so please bookmark the page, thank's for reading.

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Retro Fitted Shimano lures do the damage on Mulloway and Bream

I love my lure fishing, especially for Bream and also love tinkering around. I had read a great report in a fishing magazine about retro fitting trebles with single hooks or stingers to improve your catch rate when you are getting 'short bites' (the fish going for the lure but basically just getting the tail etc.

I had experinced those short bites myself so I thought what a great project to do while its cold and wet outside. I have a good variety of lures and wanted to modify some of my favourites, the Shimano sinking minnow, a variety of blades and some top water lures.

I was having a lot of trouble getting the line length correct for the single hook, if I tried to make it to short i had no way of tying the knot so after a bit of 'Googling' I found a solution, thanks HotBiteFishing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS2TGNen1qo.
I'll do a step by step guide in a future blog.

I pretty much followed his instructions but used braid instead of line, I also added some fine rubber tubbing found in my wifes sewing room and also tried a few beads (sshhh).

The results were fantastic, I would let the sinking minnow do just that, let it sink to the bottom or close to it and then give it a twitch and then a pause. Pretty standard retrieve but came up with the goods.

assorted retro fitted lures

Retro fitted single hooks on the Shimano Sinking minnow brought this short striking Bream undone.

This is with the treble still at they back - they catch fish!.

I was wrapped when this Mulloway grabbed on.

No matter what the size Mulloway are great fun on light line - This is 4lb BiteMotion

Also managed some on topwater lures

Shimano sinking Minnow

Check out the sinking minnow here: http://www.shimanofish.com.au/publish/content/global_fish/en/au/index/products/lures/sinking_minnow.html

you can see the Shiano website here.

Blogs will be added frequently so please bookmark the page, thank's for reading.

Blogs will be added frequently so please bookmark the page, thank's for reading.

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