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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Snapper from the Hobie Kayak?

I Decided to have an early fish with local Yaker and friend Dave Tingey alias 'Tingles' at a local spot near Adelaide. It was decided upon that we would meet early next morning to see if there were any Snapper around as the ban was in place the following week. This is to help Snapper stocks not being interrupted during their annual spawning season. 'Tingles' had an early appointment and couldn't get there until around 6 so I decided I would start without him.

It was around 5.20am when I reached the launch site, there was little moon and it was very dark. I wanted to turn the car around so I could back the trailer near the ramp which is quite steep so I proceeded to turn the car around when it came to a noisy halt! What had I done! I've ran over something. On inspection I had gone over the edge or the ramp and the left front wheel was in the air, the underside of the car flat on the ground. ARRGGGG!! I had forgotten about the steepness of the ramp and was also worried as the yak was still in the middle of the road. After laying some rubber, literally, I was humiliated and embarrassed at what had happened, must have sounded like a yobbo!
After I had the car where it should be I proceeded to get things ready without any more incident, phew.

The water sounded quite calm as it was still dark, I wouldn't have launched if it wasn't.
I checked all the safety gear, put on the PFD, turned on the Railblaza Navi light and also the LED Navilight Port/Starboard, no way I'm taking chances in the dark and these lights are very bright, great visibility and totally waterproof.

To make it easy with launching, Dave had previously showed me a great tip. Have the mirage drive clipped with a bungee so to is flat under the hull for launching but you can still use it once you peddle. I did this without any dramas and relaxed the bungee once in safe water which was over the first breakers. I didn't actually realise from the shore but there was a bit of swell but nothing to worrying and proceeded to anchor on what I thought looked good, nice broken bottom and around 5m of water.

This Mulloway was caught using the same plastic earlier in the year, see post HERE.

Today I was trying bait and plastics so I threw out my first rig, a whole pilchard on 2 snooded hooks, and no sinker as there wasn't much water movement into the darkness, let out some line, double-checked the drag, put it in the rod holder and locked it in place.

I then started to berley which consisted of chopped up pieces of the 2kg of pilchards that I had prepared the night before.

My next rig was the plastic so after smearing on some SFactor onto the Pilly Flickbait I again tossed it into the darkness and started to work the lure.

"I was fishing for over 1/2 an hour without a touch, the sun had started to creep over the hills and I could see 'Tingles' in the distance making his way over, great I thought, at least one of us should get a Snapper".

We started to fish together, burleying at intervals but with no results. I then started to try some different tactics, tied on my ever reliable sinking minnow to see if there was any snook or salmon around but even that didn't get a hit. Try for some squid I thought, so I put on the jag and flicked it as far as I could.

I left it for quite a while as the wind was picking up and the water was getting a little sloppy but managed to get one.

This was only a small one, There was some nice ones out there.

After this had happened my Snapper rod came up tight (which I had left in the holder) and I thought you ripper I'm on, lend back on the rod and set the hook, whatever it was took a bit of line and then nothing. Drat a Stingray I thought as I put as much pressure on the 'ray' as I could, the rod had a serious bend in it and I was putting some major hurt on the ray but it wasn't budging, much to the amusement of Tingles. I gave up after what seemed at least 10 minutes and had to break it off but at least I knew my reel and line (15lb) was more than up to the challenge and the knots held.

Trying to put some hurt on the Ray.

Over the course of the morning of flicking it right out leaving it till it was right near the bottom and hopping it back I managed a total of 12 Squid, while trying for some whiting as I had given up on the Snapper idea I also managed a few others, a Leatherjacket and a Wrasse which I had heard tasted all right - they were wrong!

Not to bad considering.

Dave also had some success and we trolled along the coast over to the jetty and back again where I dropped a good Snook while trolling a squidgy bloodworm wriggler.

It got quite sloppy and it's always good to make sure you can be seen on the water, These flags certainly help when the swell is getting up.

Dave alias 'Tingles'  in the swell, great idea to be as visible as possible.

After a safe beach landing we had a breather and then it was the horrid task of getting the yaks over the soft sand up the steep ramp to the cars and I only had my normal trolley. Thankful Dave was able to help me over the sand, once we got them up there we had to catch our breath - well I did anyway.

So although I didn't end up getting my target fish of snapper, by trying a few different things still ended up catching a feed, having great time with a mate and getting out on the water, good times all-round.

Future blogs will be added frequently so please bookmark the page, thanks for reading.

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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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DIY How to 'blaze' the Hobie Pro Angler with Railblaza - Tidy Sounder cables

The Project. This is really basic and not really a DIY but I thought I would share it anyway.

I really wanted to tidy up the sounder cords - I hate cords! I am sitting at a computer every day for my job and the power cords etc. They drive me nuts!

The Plan. Simply tidy them up. This was achieved by firstly filing a bit of a notch in the back of the rotating platform to help the cords sit nicely. I also added a stick on cable guide and the cables run underneath, nice and tidy.

The next step was to simply put cable clips as out of the way as possible to house the cabling, these are quick release and if I want to change the sounder position its an easily achievable, I just put the cables in certain clips.

starport fixing plate underneath to add extra strength.

This helps keep the cords away from hooks jigheads etc.

By using clips it keeps the cords out of the way and if the sounder needs to e moved they are opened quickly. The sounder can go on both sides of the kayak and also at the front sail mount.

Parts used or shown.

Starports

Adjustable platform

Railmount - 19-25

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

You can check out the products videos etc at http://www.railblaza.com

*product images taken from Railblaza catalogue - download here: http://www.railblaza.com/uploads/Products/RB%20Cat%202013%20Catalogue%20Web.pdf

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