Reply With Quote
I use a Stealth Kayak (http://kayakspecialists.com.au/kayak...volution-range) for all my kayak fishing and fish exclusively offshore with it. They are designed, built and imported from South Africa which has a long history with fishing from skis due to their lack of suitable boat launching areas, they have a dedicated compartment inside the hull that is easily accessed and I store my catch and fishing gear within here as it is able to take fully rigged rods up to 7ft in length. This allows me to store all my gear in the hull and transit through the surf zone with a clear deck and if I do get rolled (happens regularly) then my gear is safe and dry.
Personally I am not worried about what happens below the water, I don't really ever think about sharks but have seen a few, thankfully I have not been harassed by any as yet. For those that are concerned about them, there is an electronic device called a Shark Shield (https://www.sharkshield.com) and I believe these are quite effective. Crocs are a different kettle of fish and are not something to be taken lightly, personally you will never find me kayaking in known crocodile waters.
Yes we get dragged around by our fish. I fish mostly for pelagic such as mackerel and tuna and have been taken on many a merry sleigh ride getting towed along at speeds up to 8kph, I usually hang my feet over the side to create a bit more drag to slow things up if they get out of control.
I use a sounder and up until recently ran it off a small 7amp hour SLA battery, these are about the same size and weight as a house brick. I have recently just changed my power setup to a bank of 4 18650 batteries, these are just a bit bigger than a standard AA battery and provide about 3.4-3.6v each, so a significant weight and size saving. I get about 8 hours life running my Lowrance elite 5 sounder. I use a small garmin etrex hand held gps mounted in a cradle that has a suction cup mount, this is stuck on the top of my fish box lid.
I have come off my kayak a number of times for various reasons, mostly in the surf zone, though have been tipped out by a strike on a rod in a holder that had too high a drag setting, this was about 3klm east of Double Island Point is some sloppy conditions. I am fairly proficient in remounting my kayak, it is something that I have practised and used time and again. It is advisable that all people that fish from kayaks be able to perform deep water re-entry, This is a skill that will save your life and one that I practise regularly. I have my paddle leashed to my yak, so if l come off, I just keep a hold of my paddle. Most times I fish with mates also, not just for company, but for an extra bit of safety as launching through the surf there has been more than one occasion where yaks and paddlers have been separated in a wipeout and we need to help each other either get to shore or collect a yak, but most times the yaks wash in to the beach.
Snags can be painful at times, particularly if fishing heavier lines. I just try to get over the top of the snagged line and point the rod straight down the line, take up as much line as possible with the rod right down in the water, lock the spool off and try and bust it that way. When I fished the creeks more I always kept a lure retriever and this saved me quite a few hardbodied lures at times. But if all fails, well sometimes you just have to cut it and lose the line which is far from ideal for many reasons, but a bad snag can create a capsize risk for the young player, particularly in current or swell, once again this could be where your deep water re-entry skills come in to play, but I can guarantee 75% of kayakers you see on the water will not have practised this basic skill.
Kayaks offer an excellent platform to fish from and areas like Redcliffe are the perfect yak fishing grounds as being able to be quiet on the water is probably their biggest advantage. We get some incredible fish, and guys are continually pushing new boundaries with excellent results, things like successfully targeting marlin from kayaks are almost becoming main stream for those willing to put in the time and the effort.
IMG_1099.JPGIMG_1090.jpg
