Tag a Ray Weekend

Well as the title goes, this past weekend was the annual Tag a Ray weekend run by the Tralee Bay Sea Angling Club. This event is held in May once a year over a two day period for both a competition and most importantly a conservation project. There are many Ray species that frequent the Tralee Bay waters and arrive at certain times of the year. The IFI are interested in tagging two ray species which include the Undulate Ray and the Stingray. Tagging of these rays creates a data log of the species at the particular time it was caught where records of the measured wing span, total length, sex and an estimated weight is logged and should the tagged ray be captured in the future, new measurements and be recorded which provides an insight into its movements and also its growing rate. This is a great initiative and provides a vital source of information to protect and monitor stocks of the ray population.

So the event was to be held over two days with two categories. There was a boat category and a shore fishing category. Me and Dave (Scone) were going to try our hand at the shore fishing category as we are both avid shore anglers and wanted to get involved in something a little different. I think we were both a little excited about the event and Friday couldnt come quick enough for the both of us. Scone had been out during the week and collected a nice amount of prime peeler crabs and we had some of the regular frozen baits which consisted of Sandeels, Mackeral and Squid. With all our packing done we tried to get an early night but by the time leaders were tied and the car was packed we were only a short sleep away to making the trip over to Tralee Bay.

Day 1:

The day started off blustery and with forecasts of showers and an increasing wind we decided on a spot that we hoped would provide some fish. At 10:30am was the time the fist cast was going to go in which gave us time to register, get our tagging kit and of course have a cup of tea. We both rigged up at our chosen spot and made up some baits which we were hoping would entice a roaming Ray moving up the bay with the tide. We both fished a standard pulley rig and enough weight to hopefully hold bottom in the bigger tides that would be running throughout the day. We soon found out that the tides and weed would be so intense during the middle stages of the tide. As the tide was running out, each cast proved to be an endless struggle with the abundance of weed passing by. It was not till the tide was at it lower stages that the weed was reduced but still no bite. The lads fishing close to us had an Undulate Ray each on the fist of the incoming tide as it started to push in. Myself and Dave had nothing.

As the tide started to push in the weed returned until frustration got the better of me and I said to Dave that we should move further in towards a more sheltered area with less of a tidal run. We did and almost immediately Dave got his first Bass. A lovely fish which was put back after a photo. Not long after this he was into another Bass and to be honest I was delighted but at the same time wondering was I doing something different? Well he got the Bass in and at this stage it was almost time to call it a day. I had not had a sniff for the Day and Dave finished off with two Bass. That’s fishing.

Day 2:

A new day and a new game plan. We decided to stay at Fenit Pier to have a more comfortable day as we had little success yesterday. We both agreed this would be fine for us and there was still a chance of getting a Ray. We both Baited up on our Pulley Rigs and sent out our baits. It was no more than 15 minutes and a had a knock and a slack line take. I struck into the fish and knew I had a Ray. After a brief fight Dave went down and landed my first ever Ray from the shore which turned out to be a decent Undulate Ray. After tagging the ray and taking the required measurements I let the Ray swim off to hopefully produce some data in the future.

Dave was next to get a fish and although it was not the greatest fight I would say he has ever had, it still showed up as a small Undulate Ray. He was delighted as he had never caught an Undulate Ray before. It was a little small to tag so we took measurements and Dave released the fish back.

Soon after this Dave was into another fish. Another Ray was on the end of the line and out came a Thornback Ray. This fish was not required to be tagged so after taking measurements and photos the Ray was sent back to the tidal waters of the bay.

I wish I could keep writing that we had fish throughout the day but that was about all the action we saw for the day. Even though the fishing was tough it is always great to get back to the shore fishing with Dave as we spent our youth fishing the shorelines around Cork.

We headed back to the pub that was collecting the score cards and had a lovely dinner before the results were read out. Not expecting anything I finished day 2 in fourth place and Dave came in at 2nd place. Not bad for two guys along for the skit. Anyway, I have to say that it was a pleasure to fish this competition which was well organized and was all about tagging before an actual competition. I do think we will fish it again next year and here’s hoping for more Ray next time.

Until next time,

Tight Lines.

An afternoon well spent..

So how does one spend a Sunday afternoon? Well if the weather is somewhat decent I will always try and get some fishing in. It just so happened that yesterday proved to be a spur of the moment kayak day out. Now, I had planned on fishing as I dug some fresh lugworm in the morning with the intention of heading out for a cast anyway but to get the kayak out is the more preferred option.

So with the fresh lugworm packed in damp newspaper and kept cool they were in perfect condition for a session in the afternoon. I decided to fish a spot which is sheltered from the wind, which was a little breezy, but also throws up some cracking fish from time to time. I know from this spot that I need not bring any heavy gear but rather stick to my little Daiwa Ninja 2500 coupled with a Team Daiwa dropshotting rod which is a lovely little setup and fishing a 1oz weight is great. On the other rod I was using another light setup with a small baitcaster and both reels were spooled with the Daiwa J-Braid in 9lb breaking strain.

My rigs consisted of the tried and tested single hook ledger rig which was tied up using 12lb Daiwa fluorocarbon and a very good hook pattern for holding worm baits neatly was tied on. This hook comes in the form of the Cox and Rawle Aberdeen Match in 1/0. I like to use this size hook as I am not really sure what may be around but the hook itself is very capable of holing big fish and I have landed good bass on this hook without any trouble but being a smaller hook allows me to catch some of the smaller fish that may be around and they make a fantastic flatfish hook too.

Weights were dependent on the tide and a 1oz was perfect at the slacker stage of the tide while a 2oz was fine in the running tide. I anchored up and baited up my first rod and cast it out away from the kayak. While baiting up the second rod I had a rattle on almost immediately. I set the hook and had a great little fight on the smaller rod which came up to be a decent flounder. He was quickly released and the rods were cast out again.

What happened for the next hour can only be described as manic to the point were I was fishing one rod at a time. Every time the bait hit the water, within two minutes and sooner I was into a fish. They all were small school Bass but there were so many of them which is great to see. I released all my Bass due to the size of them and also with the new Bass rules in it is still closed season. I was just out to see what was about and not targeting anything in particular but I was plagued by these little feisty guys which were great sport on the light setups.

 

For about close to an hour I had fish after fish which was some amount of action but nothing of any size but I was not complaining as there are worse ways of spending an afternoon. As the the tide slackened off I noticed a good few Mullet around and I had a couple of White Ragworm which I dug in the morning with the lugworm. So out went a bait with some White Rag and I was getting small knocks straight away. I missed a few until I finally hooked one and it was a no wonder why I had missed so many rattles, it was the smallest Golden Grey Mullet I have ever caught. I had a laugh to myself before taking a serious photo!

So that concluded another day and an evening on the water. I have to admit it was really enjoyable just being out there for the afternoon. I think that is what is the most appealing aspect of my kayak. I can get away from it all and catch fish!

Until Next Time,

Tight Lines.

 

On a new spot with the father…

“Yes!!” was the word that came to my mind on finishing work on Friday and looking at the weather for the weekend. In particular the Sunday was looking the best option with a slight off shore breeze throughout the day and then turning to a more southerly direction as the afternoon came in. But what was going to be the location of choice? The same usual spots where we know there are fish and what types can be found in that particular location is always a good bet when wanting to catch something but I have an inner excitement when it comes to finding new spots to fish and what maybe lurking under the water. This would be the plan of action.

My father and I had a look through the charts of our area and had a few ideas that may be of interest but after a a while we settled on a spot that seemed to provide some bit of interest with regards to water depth and general location. The spot we decided on has a very gradual sandy bottom that slopes all the way down to 140ft of water and looking at the charts there is deeper. This area would for sure produce some flatfish. There are also rocky rough ground areas dotting around the place that could hold some more species. The launch spot is nice and easily accessible with a slip to launch from, so this made things all the better.

Saturday evening came around and the car was loaded with all the gear for our days outing and the Hobie would soon be out on the sea again. Bait can be difficult to find sometimes at this time of year and with that in mind we bought some frozen bait we had in the freezer. Tackle wise I decided to use two of my light 12lb rated rods with my two small multipliers and also a rod I got off Daiwa at the Ireland Angling show. This rod is a light dropshotting rod and is 7ft in length. I couple this with one of my small fixed spool reels and the 9lb J-Braid by Daiwa. All the gear was loaded and everything we needed was packed.

We arrived at the spot on Sunday morning with high hopes that we might catch something at this new venue. The sun was shining and a gentle off shore breeze disturbed the seas surface. It was a picture worth saving and one that has not been seen of recent.

The plan was to find a suitable looking bottom on the fishfinder and then use the drouge out to slow the drift down a little. There were a a few bait pockets showing on the finder and it was not long and I was soon landing a few Mackeral. This was great to get some fresh bait for the day. I fished two rods on the drift. One rod with the Cox and Rawle-Flattie Rig and the other had a simple single hook ledger rig with a size 2/0 Cox and Rawle Uptide Extra hook. As I drifted along my father contacted me and told me that he had just landed a small Turbot. I headed over and soon had a Turbot of my own.

I headed out a little deeper to around the 60ft mark and started drifting again. I picked up more Mackeral and a Herring. One of the flattie rods had some interest and I landed a small Dab.

I love drift fishing in deeper water as I never know what will be around. The water was still not its crystal clear blue but the fishing was still relatively good. The next bit of action was a great fight with a Thornback Ray on my Daiwa Dropshot rod and 9lb J-Braid. The Ray made a few runs and I was not expecting to get one and on this light tackle was an absolute blast.

The afternoon came fast and the day was drawing to a close. My father had Pollock over near the rough ground. I decided to head over and fish a small soft bait and try catch some other species. It was not long and I was in and I landed a nice Ballan Wrasse on the soft Plastic. What a fantastic way to end the day at a new spot and one spot that I am sure to visit again.

Until next time,

Tight Lines.

A Winters Day Out

It is always great to receive a phone call during the week to discuss the possibility of getting out on the kayaks. It has been a long spell of consistent rain and heavy winds which have made my kayak fishing come to a standstill. Needless to say that when I heard that there was a break in the weather I was filled with the excitement that most fisherman get when they know they are going to wet a line. The plan was to fish in South West Kerry where there is a deepwater mark that holds a vast variety of species and also has the potential to throw up some surprises every now and then. Friday night was spent packing all the kayak gear and getting the rigs ready for the following morning.

Arriving at the launch site the sea was calm. A slight breeze blew across the bay and it felt a bit warmer than the last few days. The tide was near full at the time of launching so we would be fishing the outgoing tide for the entire session. I have found at this mark that it never fishes to its full potential when there is an outgoing tide. The kayaks were rigged up and soon we were out on the water heading for the depths to find anything that would be willing to take a bait.

I decided on taking three rods with me. I like to keep one rod always rigged up with a set of smaller feathers. This allows me to drop them quickly if I come across a shoal of baitfish. I can also bait these up and fish on the bottom and pick up the smaller species. On the other two rods I vary the rigs depending on the ground I am fishing over. Today the rigs were two simple double hook traces for fishing over the rough. It is always my plan to get some fresh bait but at this time of year it can be a little difficult. Frozen baits like Mackeral are always a blank saver and I had some in freezer which I took with me on this day.

On the way out to the deeper water I failed to come across any baitfish so it was to be the frozen Mackeral for the day. I baited the small feathers and sent them down to the bottom which was approximately 120ft down. I had a few taps and I was into the first fish. I got the little fish up to the surface which showed itself as a lovely colored Cuckoo Wrasse. The colors on these fish are just amazing. I took a couple of photos and let the wrasse make his journey back down to the bottom.

It was clear from the beginning of the session that it was going to be tough. There were plenty of small fish which came in the form of Whiting, Poor Cod and the odd small Ling. I was not complaining as I am happy catching anything but I know this mark fishes very well at times. In amongst the small fish I had an all too familiar take on the baited feathers. I lifted into it and I immediately knew what was at the end of the line. No head shakes and almost a dead weight is what it can be described as. I knew I would have my hands full when it came to the surface. A few feet below the surface my suspicions were correct as I saw eight tenticles coming up to the side of the kayak – an Octopus. As it came up tot the side of the kayak he tried to get away by passing a jet of water out which sprayed me in the process.

I find these creatures fascinating, the way they can camouflage themselves and fit into the smallest areas. They do make a nuisance of themselves if they start grabbing onto the kayak. I handle them with care and release them after a photo. This was a nice surprise and made the day that bit more enjoyable.

The day passed quickly and the wind picked up a little which made the deeper water mark a little choppy. We decided to head back into the sheltered bay to pass the last hour or so trying our luck there. On the way in I had a few frozen Sandeel with me which I trolled slowly across the rough ground and structure. I hooked a few small pollock and decided to call it a day after that.

It was great to be out on the water again after such a long time of not being able to launch my kayak. The fishing was not as good as it can be but with the amount of fresh water that has fallen and the outgoing tide I had a feeling the day would be tough. Hopefully I can get out to some other marks over the next few weeks and try target some new species.

This report was originally published by Ireland Fishing Diaries. Check out their site.

 

 

 

Until next time,

Tight Lines.

Stocked Trout on the Fly

Weather seems to be the topic of conversation in most cases these days. Rain, rain and more rain has fallen and with this the wind has been blowing non stop making any trip out on the kayak absolutely a no go. So what do I do in this particular circumstance? Well I always have my shore angling background to fall back on and target some fish around the coast but this time I chose something a little more different and a variation on what my normal fishing outings consist of.

My buddy Allen gave me a call over the holidays and said he had an idea. Intrigued I enquired what he had on his mind and to my relief it was fishing related. He was very keen on fishing for stocked trout on the fly. Needless to say I was already packing my fly gear together. We decided on a day and the location was Laois Angling Centre. Looking through this venues website and recent catches and what exactly I could expect from the place, I was delighted to see some monster trout can be caught at this venue.

Personally stocked trout fisheries would not be on my top priority but I would take any kind of fishing over none. The venue has both trout stocked lakes and coarse fishing lakes to cater for various angling desires. For myself and Allen, we would be fishing the fly only lake where a trout of over 20lb can be caught. So we arrived early enough to be greeted by the owner of the fishery who advised on the fly patterns to use and general information about the venue. Down to the lake we went and we bother fished floating lines and varied the flies throughout the day.

The wind was variable and there were a few gusts but nothing that was to bad. It was only a case of moving around the lake and trying to cover the fish that were showing. Looking for signs of fish is key, or finding features that may hold fish. This is certainly the case when fishing a new venue. I moved around the bottom end of the lake where the water was draining in from an upper lake. I thought that this bit of water entering the lake might draw some trout in. I was fishing a Goldhead Red Montana on the point and an unweighted Green Montana on a dropper. A couple of casts later and I was into a fish.

I have to say that these stocked trout at Laois Angling Centre are in amazing condition and put up a great fight. This lovely Brown Trout was released after a couple of photos. Not long after this I moved towards the corner at the back end of the lake where I thought that with the wind there might be some food blown down into the corner. One or two casts later I was into another fish and two seconds later I was off. Strange but that is fishing. I casted into the same area again and remarkably I was into another fish almost immediately. This time a solid hook set and a great fight again. Another great conditioned brown trout and quickly released again.

Now that I had caught the Brown Trout it was time to see could I get into the Rainbow Trout that were in the lake. For this I changed the flies and fished some Buzzers. The technique used was to fish them as slow as possible and try cover and fish that may show themselves. In the meantime Allen got into the fish and was rewarded with a nice Rainbow Trout. We moved around to the front of the lake and fished the Buzzers. I hooked up and had a great little battle with a lovely Rainbow Trout. Once again the fish was released and we fished on.

After this the fish were taking really well and we had a good few fish between us. I have to say that it was a really enjoyable day and when the weather is as bad as it has been for the last few weeks it is great to get a bend in the rod. Flyfishing seems to bring with it a sense of satisfaction when catching a fishing on material tied on a hook, but putting a plan into action and seeing the fish landed is by far the greatest bit of satisfaction.

Laois Angling Centre was a great place to visit and the fish were of excellent quality. I will be visiting this place again due to the hard fighting trout and as a little treat to myself. A venue well worth a second trip.

Here is a short video I put together of the day.

Until next time,

Tight Lines.

 

 

 

 

Bad Weather but Still Catching

With the weather this month in December it has been near impossible to launch my kayak. If there was an opportunity it would not have been worth it in my opinion with the amount of rainfall that we have had this month. The water inshore is very coloured and the swells that are present are large and make launching a challenge in itself. So with that being the case and safety a number one priority for me I decided to at least go for a cast from the shore and see if I could get a bass or anything else that would be willing to take a bait.

A friend of mine gave me a call to get my gear ready and that we would head down to a local beach mark to give the Bass a go. When fishing from the shore I like to travel light and take only what I need and will be using. This has the advantage of allowing me to be on the move easily and find the fish rather than waiting. The wind and rain had died off slightly but the swell was very large still and arriving down at the mark this became quickly apparent by large waves smashing on the sand banks which are located a bit out. In front of these banks the water tends to fill deeper holes which the Bass would come into and feed but we encounted another problem caused by the large surf. The amount of water being pushed in by the large surf was causing a very fast cross flowing current in front of us and no matter what weight was used the water power was just to strong and, well, this ultimately meant that not much would be caught in that water. So we made a decision to give a more sheltered spot a try.

I was fishing with my trusted light surf rod coupled with my favorite reel, my Daiwa SL20sh. I have lost count of what age this reel is of mine but it just keeps on bringing in fish. The spot we decided upon consisted of a pier that was out of the water during low tide but the area filled up during the high and fish moved in with the rising tide. On arrival the water was high already so a quick change of trace was in order and I opted for a simple double hook trace with two Cox and Rawle Uptide Extra 1/0 hooks. There was no need for the grip lead here as there was no surge of water to deal with. Three ounces was all that I required and baited both hooks with some razor fish and bound it up with some plain and simple bait elastic as all the scent needed came from the bait. We all casted out and waited for some interest.

My first sign of a fish came in the form of a little Coalfish but to be honest I was happy to be holding a fish in my hands after not being fishing for a while. I quickly slipped it back in while the other guys bought in some Dogfish. We had to deal with a couple of rain showers but it was still very mild for this time of year and was pleasant enough. I decided to have a cat in the shallower water and hopefully pick up a Flatfish.

My rod buckled over and I was into something a little more decent and it even took line. I knew it was a Bass by the way it fought and when getting it up next to the Pier and our headlamps shone down we saw the silver body of an average Bass. I eased it to the shallows where I landed it. I was surprised at the fight this Bass put up for its size but I was not complaining at all. After some photos we carried on fishing for a while longer hoping the Bass was not alone but there were no more to be caught.

It was great to get a cast out and get a bend in the rod in amongst this time of unsettled weather and persistent rainfall. I am hoping that after Christmas that there may be some settled weather so that the Hobie may be put to its paces and start catching some fish. So that was it, Razorfish and a simple double hook trace and a result of a Bass. Simplicity.

Until next time,

Tight Lines.

 

Hobie Revolution 16 – At First Glance

It has finally arrived and as luck would have it, I was not there to greet my new kayak due to being away fishing the Hobie Worlds in China. But on arrival back home I was soon over to Bantry Bay Canoes to get acquainted with what would be my fishing partner from now on. I had waited patiently for my Hobie Revolution 16, eager to make the transition from paddling to pedal power. The Hobie Worlds was a great way to familiarise myself with Hobie’s Mirage Pedal Drive System and the general control of the kayak on the water. Although we were using Pro Angler 14’s, it still opened my eyes to the benefits of using pedals over paddling.

I chose to go with the Revolution 16 due to my style of fishing. I like to fish the open sea  and also large freshwater lakes therefore I wanted something that would be fast and cut through the water while still maintaining comfort and practicality with regards to fishing. The Hobie Revolution ticked all the boxes on paper and having a look at it on the shop floor of Bantry Bay Canoes I was very pleased with my choice.

Looking down the nose of the kayak it is clear that it will seperate the water rather than punch through. This should help maintain the speed and make for a smoother ride. Of course I will only see this when I get the chance to finally get on the water with it but it looks good. Quality fittings are used all round the kayak and stainless steel screws are a must when in the saltwater.

I chose the Ivory Dune colour as it is a little different to the colors of kayaks one might see around Ireland. Not only this, I like the colour too.  There is a large hatch that opens up into the main hull at the front. The hatch cover is held closed by bungee and looks to be very water tight.

There are some nice features around the seating area in the form of meshed pockets which are always handy for holding items when out on the water. There is a round hatch going into the main hull just in front of the seating position which also houses a tackle box that comes standard with the kayak, What is nice about this round hatch cover is that it is not a screw off type but rather it has a twist latch and opens up on a hinge.

I guess the main thing that caught my eye with the Hobie Revolution 16 was the seat and the seating position. First off the seat is raised off the deck of the kayak meaning no water to cause any irritation when fishing. Not only this but Hobie have incorporated a pull cord scupper drain plug underneath the seat. If water was to splash in under the seat and into the well, a quick release of the plug and the water drains out. Such a small thing but what a great idea. The seat itself is the Vantage CT. It can be adjusted in a variety of ways which I am still to get familiar with. The seat can be completely removed from the kayak and has fold out legs to give you a seat when off the water. Once again, a small feature with a big benefit. The seat is not a metal frame so corrosion will not be any issue. I will only get the real feeling of this seat when I get out on the water and I cannot wait.

Behind the seat is a large rear well which has ample space to store a crate or one of Hobie’s additional items that can be purchased. Beyond this is the rudder system that comes rigged and standard on the Hobie Revolution 16. Operation of the rudder system is done by hand via the rudder control next to the seat on the left hand side. The rudder may also be raised and lowered via a pulley just infront of the seating position. The rudder moves with ease via the hand control. I will be able to comment further on this when I get to do a water test.

Finally I came to the Mirage Pedal System that makes the Hobie so unique. The Mirage Drive system allows hands free fishing and the use of the leg muscles instead of the arms. The pedals can be easily adjusted to suit the length of the legs making it more comfortable. On the new models the ST fin is used and this new fin has a larger surface area while still keeping a low friction pedal. The Mirage system has also been updated and now incorporates roller bearings to reduce friction and making it even easier to kick.  The system fits through the hull in front of the seating position and locks into place. It can be easily removed when launching and coming back in. Hobie have also included a blanking piece that locks into place over the Mirage system slot on the kayak. This essentially blocks the gap for the pedal system when it is not in use and stops items falling through or water slashing up. Not to forget, but the Hobie Revolution is supplied with a paddle as well. I look forward to seeing how the kayak will paddle without the Mirage Pedal system.

So thats a quick first glance at my new kayak and hopefully I can get out soon to give it a real test on the water. To be honest I am confident that it will not disappoint. All the features of the kayak feel like quality. I can not wait to see what average speed I will be able to achieve and also how much stability I will actually have. From having a look over the Hobie Revolution 16 I am please with my purchase and lets hope that I get some great fishing on it. The actual specification of the Hobie Revolution 16 are as follows:

SPECIFICATIONS
Crew: 1
Length: 16′ / 4.88 m
Width: 27.5″ / .7 m
Capacity: 350 lbs / 159 kg
Fitted Hull Weight: 75.5 lbs / 34 kg
Fully Rigged Weight: 92 lbs / 42 kg
Hull Construction: Rotomolded Polyethylene

Until Next Time,

Tight Lines.

 

Improvising for The Garfish

It is not very often that I head out on the water for a days fishing where I am not prepared. I always have in mind the target species that I will be after so I choose my rods and tackle accordingly to what I am after. This particular Saturday the forecast showed a very settled day with a gentle breeze for the Kerry coastline. With this forecast it was near impossible not to load up the kayaks and head out local. That is the beauty of where I live. On almost every outing it is possible to find somewhere to wet a line.

My father and I both decided to head out local to a spot that does hold some fish but is not the best location to get into some real big fish. We decided to fish this mark as the wind would be behind us and would get us away from the Red Tide that was present across the other side of the bay. So with this in mind I decided to pack two rods for a pleasure trip. Rods that would deal with flatfish through to Ray. I decided to leave the spinning rod at home and I was soon to realize I should just bring it with on all occasions.

We decided to fish the last of the outgoing tide and then fish through to the start of the incoming. It was really just to get out there again as I have been tied up with work and organizing my trip away to the Hobie Worlds in China which is on next month. We packed a bit of frozen Mackeral to get us going while we tried for some fresh ones. I rigged up two bottom rigs for drifting. One with the single hook ledger and the other had my double hook trace ready after I had caught some bait on some small feathers.

We rigged up on the slipway where we launch from. The water was like a mirror with a gentle offshore breeze to be felt on the back of my neck. We both were quick to get in the water after a minor delay – I forgot my seat! As we paddled out to get into some deeper water my eyes were drawn to a fast moving small wake on the surface which was a telltale sign of a Garfish. My father called over and advised to use just a small hook on its own and a thin strip of Mackeral. I quickly took off one of my rigs and tied on  a small size 10 Cox and Rawle Octopus hook.  Here is where my dilemma of not bringing my spinning rod came in. The rods I had with me were way to big to be targeting Garfish but not one to be defeated, I used the lighter of the two rods and baited up a thin belly strip of Mackeral. I started to paddle slowly while feeding out line when all of a sudden the rod bent over and I had a take. Too excited I missed that fish but quickly baited up again.

It must have been no more than a couple of minutes and I had another take. This time I gave the fish some time before lifting into it. Out the water and almost walking across the surface came the Garfish. Shooting from side to side as it tried to get off the hook. These fish are amazing fun on light gear and I was kicking myself for not bringing my lighter rod. I landed my fist Garfish off the Kayak a short time after the brief fight. They are spectacular fish to look at with their streamlined bodies and their distinctive beak like mouth which is filled with tiny teeth.

There were plenty of Garfish in the area as they could be seen on the surface darting around. Another bait was put out and I paddled towards a sandy beach where I wanted to try a drift. In no time another Garfish was hooked and leaping out the water. Once landed I quickly got some photos and released it back to can on with it’s business.

I paddled over to the sandy beach and rigged up a simple single hook ledger and started drifting using my drogue. I was hoping for a flatfish or two but was greeted by a pesky weever fish on the end of the line. I try not to handle them too much due to their poisonous spine so the quicker they are off the kayak the better. I got a video of the weever fish burying themselves on a recent trip. it shows how they are so elusive when hidden beneath the sand.

The evening was creeping in quickly and with a couple of other fish to add to the Tally, my father and I decided to call it a day. I did however have to get another Garfish on the way back in and my dad got into them too. I must say that despite their small size they are exciting to catch and really do put a smile on my face. It is not always catching the biggest fish for me but rather what makes me interested and excited like being back in  my youth days.  

I guess I have learnt my lesson from this outing and that is to always be over prepared rather than under. Hopefully the temperature does not drop too quickly and October will throw up some good fish for all.

Until next time,

Tight Lines.

 

 

 

Getting into the Bass from the Shore

It is great to pick up my light surf rod and recall all the great fishing memories I had with it. Since getting into kayak angling my surf rod has been gathering a little dust and it was about time I got out there and made some more good memories.

Shore fishing was always my preferred fishing style. Be it spinning, ledgering baits for bass and targeting everything I could, I was out most days around my local marks targeting fish from the shore. Having all the knowledge of bait collecting, locations and tactics have been great to use in aiding my kayak fishing but getting back to my roots is always a great feeling.

My father and I did not have much time over the weekend to get the kayaks out and with a South Easterly wind blowing we were not to bothered about getting out there on the yaks. We always found South Easterly winds to be somewhat of a curse wind and the fishing never seems to be that good. But this is down to personal preference. So with no kayaks on the water we decided to hit the beach with a bucket full of live sandeels collected the day previous. If it is Bass I am after and this time of year, a live Sandeel is a very hard bait to beat.

Tides for the weekend were large and this meant we would fish the incoming tide at the inlet of a tidal bay. Rigs were kept simple and just like off the kayak I opted for the single hook ledger rig with a 3 oz weight which allowed the sandeel to bounce across the surf. I like my live Sandeel bait moving as the disturbance I find brings the Bass in for a look and when they come across the twitching Live Sandeel it is hard for them to resist. Hook size is dependent on the size of the Sandeels we had and in this days fish our eels were slightly larger so a 4/0 hook was used.

As the tide started to push in we fished the mouth of the bay where the Bass would most definitely be coming up to devour the hoards of Sandeel shoals moving up with the tide. Confidence high, we both waited patiently for a take.

I kept in contact with the weight as I felt it bounce around with the surf and tide when suddenly I was left with a slack line take as something picked up my Sandeel and came towards me. I tightened up set the hook and was greeted by a solid resistance and short run. A bass was definitely one. It was great to feel the bend in my Penn Extreme Light Beach Rod, coupled with my old faithful Daiwa SL20. This reel has landed some amount of fish. I cannot speak highly enough for this reel. As I eased the Bass towards the shore I waited for a wave to bring it up the beach. A lovely Bass lay on the sand, it’s belly absolutely packed with what must be assumed to be Sandeels.

It was great to be able to get back to my roots and bring back that excitement of my youth. Getting the Sandeels, heading down to the surf and casting out. A great short session. Although my dad did not get into one we both know that the big ones are yet to come. So that was our couple of hours passing the time by, landing a lovely bass and just fishing together.

Well, maybe the kayaks might be on the roof of the car for our next outing. The new Hobie is on the way so I am counting down the days.

Until Next Time,

Tight Lines.

Joining the Hobie Team

Lately my fishing activity has been very minimal and in fact pretty dismal due to work and organizing commitments for a trip that is fast approaching. A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Hobie Kayaks expressing their interest in what I do and informed me they had been looking over this blog and were impressed with what they have seen. This is where things got a little hectic….

From that email I was asked if I would like to be part of the Hobie Team. This meant that my current kayak would be a thing of the past and I would be able to make my choice of a brand new Hobie Kayak. The choices are endless ,models, colours, fins, lengths, extras and so on. I am delighted to announce that I have accepted a position on the Hobie Team and have also chosen my new fishing machine that I will be aboard in the near future.

I wanted a kayak that I could go further, go faster and be very comfortable while not having to sacrifice on having a lot of additional weight. My fishing is predominantly in the sea and I like to travel and wanted a kayak that would be able to deal with any changes in the weather and get me home quick when the wind came up. Hobie’s mirage drive system is ingenious. The speed these kayaks get is remarkable and with the new bearing system employed, the ease of peddling has increased taking strain of the angler – brilliant!

The kayak I chose would have to have some storage facilities and waterproof hatches. Taking into account of the things I would need to make my fishing as enjoyable and comfortable I finally decided on a fishing kayak that fulfilled everything I needed. I chose the Hobie Mirage – Revolution 16.

When I get to have the boat in my hands and take it for a good expedition I will be able to discuss everything about this but for anyone that wants information about it then head over to the Hobie website where all the specifications ,and details can be seen. So that is one of the announcements but the second one has me excited beyond words…

Not only was I asked to join the Hobie Team, I was then asked if I would like to take part in the Hobie Fishing Worlds 5 to be held in Shang Lake, China. I had to take a step backwards for a second and read that again, China… I read that there were qualifying rounds across the globe for this competition and here I was being asked to take part in this amazing event that will be home for a week to the worlds best kayak anglers. This would be an honor. I gratefully accepted the offer. Here is a video of the event to be held…breathtaking

This is a great opportunity and an amazing trip. A week in a 5 star hotel, navigation day trading, pre fish days, three days of competitions, event dinners, the list goes on. To say that I am excited is an understatement. It is not everyday the largest Kayak firm contacts you and puts you on the spot like this. I am taking this opportunity and hopefully going to have the experience of a life time.

So I think that with the little fishing I have been doing of late I have a valid excuse. I am getting lures ready, sorting out travel arrangements, and basically trying to get everything in place for this trip. It has been a pretty exciting few weeks and are only going to get more exciting as the days progress closer to the arrival of my new kayak and the trip of a life time.

I will be keeping up to date posts for the event so everyone can see what is happening over there and also keeping posts going on the build up to the event. Right now though I have a bucket full of live Sandeels and a sea that is filled with bass waiting to be caught.

Until next time,

Tight Lines.