Annual Irish Kayak Angling Cork Meet 2016

Well it was that time of year again when another of the Irish Kayak Angling events was to be held. This time it was the annual Cork meet which was to be held in Redstand which is located in West Cork. A great venue with a good number of species present with prospects of some quality fish being caught. It is however a surf beach and getting the weather to fish this location is a must as the surf can be large at times making launching not possible. Today however we were greeted with crystal clear water and a small surf that would be no issue to the guys heading out for the days fishing.

The species outlined for todays competition included a Flatfish, a Pollock, a Wrasse and a Dogfish. Funny enough, with the Dogfish being part of the challenge I knew from previous outings at this location that this would be the most likely fish to be toughest as their numbers seem to be very low at this spot. The Joker fish was decided to be the Bass. Before the event I had a game plan in my head to get the nominated species which proved to be very effective. We all met at the beach in the morning to have the usual banter and discussions about tactics before the 11:00 am kick off time came around and we were on the water to get the days fishing under way.

My fist target species was the Pollock. This venue has a very good head of pollock and my approach was very simple. Using a small spinning rod coupled with my Daiwa
Emeraldas, I rigged a pearl coloured Slug Go soft plastic with a very light weighted soft plastic bait hook as the water depth varied quickly along the rock faces on the way out to the deeper water. I planned to troll the soft plastic over the rough shoreline out to the deeper water. Every now and then just flicking the rod tip to give some erratic action to the lure to invite a take from the Pollock held up of the kelp that lined the bottom. Within minutes I had my fist Pollock on the kayak and taking my required photo I released it back to move onto the next target species.

With the Pollock now caught I moved to the deeper water which was approximately 50ft and a very rough bottom. This was ideal Wrasse territory. Luckily for me I was given some fresh Lugworm from my Hobie buddy which went onto a double hook trace tied the night before and shown below in the photo. It is a very simple rig tied with Daiwa 30lb Fluorocarbon with two snoods off 3-way swivels above the weight due to the snaggy bottom I was fishing over. The hook choice was a good strong hook by Cox and Rawle. The Chinu in a size 2. There is not really any current out in the deeper water so I was only using 3oz of weight. I dropped down an had the familiar knocking bite of the Wrasse. I was into one almost immediately and a small Ballan Wrasse came to the surface. That was species number 2 of the challenge done. Next up was the flatfish.

Moving across the bay out of the snaggy bottom the bay then becomes a sandy bottom
that holds good numbers of both Plaice and Dabs with the occasional Flounder showing up. I knew that any Flatfish species would do for the challenge and I rigged up a double hook trace I like to tie. Hook of choice for drifting for Flatfish is a great pattern by Cox and Rawle which is the Uptide Extra in size 1. I only use light rods when drifting for Flatfish and my small Daiwa Ninja and Daiwa Theory spinning rod was ample for this task. I did use two rod while drifting with the other rod having a simple single hook ledger rig with a fillet of Mackeral on to see if  I could get the Dogfish at the same time but this proved fruitless. I did not have to wait long again for a bite and the rattle take soon developed on the lugworm baits slowly drifted across the bottom. I lifted into the take and up came a Dab I also managed a Plaice which had lovely markings. Species number 3 of the challenge completed and no sign of a Dogfish.

I tried in vain for a Dogfish on the drift but not a touch from one so I headed over to the
reef in the middle of the bay where I anchored up just off the edge of it. I rigged up two single hook ledger rigs and put Mackeral baits on both. It is not often that I can say I actually went out to try and catch a Dogfish but this was proving to be a fun challenge. I did however get one after 20 minutes and this thankfully completed the challenge. My plan for the rest of the day was to get some various species that may be around and try for the Bass in the afternoon when the tide had dropped.

I used a small set of tiny Sabiki feathers baited with small pieces of Mackeral to try tempt any other species around the deep water rough ground. I managed some fresh Mackeral, Whiting, Scad and Herring. I also got a micro Poor Cod but it all counts at the end of the day and I was just really enjoying the nice weather and hearing the banter between all the competitors. There was reports of some unusual species being caught and one of these was a Dragonet. A nice species and I have not seen here before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the afternoon drew closer the tide was low and I knew that with the surf being small and a few people on the beach that the Bass were likely to move out to the reef and deeper water chasing the abundance of Sandeels out in the bay. So with this in my I changed over to the Feed Shallow which I had changed the trebles on the night before. The treble I changed to were the Cox and Rawle Treble Hooks in size 4. They are strong and very sharp which hopefully would ensure a good hookup should a Bass decide to take the lure.

I trolled the lure across the kelp around the reef in the bay which was only about 6ft under the water when all of a sudden the rod I was holding in my hand got a heavy take. I immediately thought it was a good Pollock so I put pressure on to keep it up from burying itself in the kelp. What was strong though was the fish came up in the water then and this had me question was it a Bass. My thoughts were confirmed when the unmistakable silver body of the Bass showed itself under the kayak. I immediately eased off on the drag before the Bass took two solid runs. I then was able to land a fine Bass which ticked the Joker fish off the list. I good solid Bass and a great fight.

Another great meet came to a close that evening with a prize giving around the fire pit where the days stories were told. A very big thank you to the Irish Kayak Angling Club for holding the event and all involved in organizing the event. Everyone seemed to have a great time and thats what these meets are about.

Until next time,

Tight Lines.

Cahore with the IKA

Cahore is situated in Co. Wexford on the East Coast of Ireland. Once a year the Irish Kayak Angling Club hold a meet here which is a competition based around catching nominated species plus additional points for any other species of fish that are caught. But, besides the competition it is great way to catch up with friends from the forum and also meet new people that are taking up the sport of kayak angling. It’s a social event and all are welcome which makes it great for sharing information and having some fun.

Cahore has a variety of species but the most notable is the Smooth Hound. Another member of the shark family, this species predates on crustaceans and thus having crab baits is a must. This was one of the nominated species along with Bass, Flatfish, Dogfish and the Joker fish which doubled the final points was a Thornback Ray. All these species are readily available to the kayak angler and there is no need for paddling long distances as the fish can be found in close waters. With a strong tidal flow, fishing off the kayak in Cahore requires the use of the anchor if there is more chance of getting on the Smooth Hounds.

I arrived down in Cahore to meet Pat and his wife on the Friday after work and a huge thanks to Dave (Scone) and Pat for putting their heads together to get all my kayak gear up to Cahore. We met at the local tackle store which was great and after picking up a health supply of peeler crabs we went for a meal in the restaurant next door which served a great plaice dish. We made our way to the launch spot in Cahore and rushed to set up and get a bait in the water. Needless to say this didnt take long and we were heading out with our expectations high of a Smooth Hound. Baiting up with Peeler Crab I soon had a small take which turned out to be the ever present dogfish. Not long after this I was into the first Smooth Hound. These guys fight so hard for their size and it was great fun on the lighter rods.

Soon after this there was a black sky approaching and we were soon inside a heavy rain shower which really put an end to the evenings fishing. Peddling back in through the rain to get back was a little uncomfortable but getting back to the shore and having a cold brew was a fitting end to the evening.

The morning of the competition saw lovely sunshine and a flat sea which all were hoping for. Although this weather was set to change it was still great to wake up to sunshine and  know there was going to be some fishing done. The plan was to rig up two rods with  running ledger rigs with a pennell rig hook setup for keeping the bait presentation ideal. The hooks of choice for the two running ledger rigs were Cox and Rawle Uptide Extra 3/0. The size of the hook would be purely based on the size of the baits and Smooth Hounds have a relatively large mouth so a 3/0 sized hook is not a problem with hookups. On the third rod I used my Daiwa Ninja 2500A and my Team Daiwa light drop shotting rod. This would be rigged up as well with a running ledger but this time with a  single size 1 Cox and Rawle Chinu hook pattern. I would use this setup for targeting Flatfish and any other smaller species that were around.

We all headed out to our preferred location and I chose to target the Smooth Hound fist and found a nice bit of water after a while and with the tide running out and very strong I found I had to leave out a good bit of anchor rope to hold bottom. But once I did I was soon into the Smooth Hounds. I like to peel my crab but leave the legs and claws on as when bound up it gives a more natural look and also reduces the amount of dogfish takes. The Smooth Hound action continued for a while and in among them were a couple of small Dab.

I decided to move off and try my luck at a Bass. I chose to slow troll a Tackle House Feedshallow. A great lure with a reputation of producing Bass. Although I am not a huge lure fisherman I have has Bass on this lure and I am pretty confident when using it. I trolled around for a while and noticed the Garfish darting across the surface as I approached them. So with this I grabbed my light Daiwa rod and rigged two trebles and a long slither of Mackeral belly. There is no need for weight as a slow troll with just the hooks and bait is plenty as the Garfish are just below the surface. I finally hooked one after a few dropped takes and with amazing tail walking like some tropical game fish I soon had a lovely Garfish on the kayak.

The Bass were eluding me and I headed over to the rough ground not to far from the shore as it was nearing the end of the day and I wanted to see what was around in the kelp. I used small ragworm baits and fished close to the kayak and according to my Lowrance Fishfinder I was only in 10ft of water but it was very murky so 10ft was ample amount of water to pick out a few smaller fish. I managed a tiny Codling and an even smaller Ballan Wrasse.

So with that the day was over. We all headed back in and discussed our day out. This was followed by a brilliant meal in the restaurant that I had visited the night before. It was great time up in Cahore and the fishing was very good. Meeting up with the guys from the club is always great and getting to discuss fishing stories with all of them is what it is all about. With a second place finish and a few new species it was time to head home and leave Cahore behind me.

A huge thanks to the Irish Kayak Angling club for holding the event and with the organizing involved it was a great weekend.

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.

 

Tope on the Hobie

Every year the Tope arrive in good numbers down in the South West of Kerry. I must admit that Tope fishing for me is not something that really does it for me and this more than likely comes down to my South African background where shark fishing was not something we did and really saw them as more of a nuisance, but that said, they do put up a great fight and I make it a day out when they arrive and land one or two before I start fishing for the other summer species that arrive around the coast of Ireland.

I am delighted to have met another fishing buddy who is as keen as me and is always up for an adventure. When Ciaran rang to say we would be doing an approximate distance of an eight kilometer round trip the next day, I was more than eager to try this new spot. This is where our Hobie Kayaks really come into their own and allow us to travel distances to find new fishing grounds. Ciaran owns a Hobie Pro Angler 14 and I was on my Hobie Revolution 16. Both our kayaks are fitted with the Turbo fins for the mirage drive system and this really does help with keeping up a good pace when heading out to the fishing spots.

With a plan set for the nest morning and a car loaded up I met up with Ciaran the next morning where we rigged up and quickly got out on the water to start the trek out to the mark. We were about half way out when we spotted a large amount of birds working on the surface and then a good number of Dolphins chasing bait fish. Soon we were upon them and they came right towards us and as if they wanted to see what these contraptions peddling around the place.

A flat calm sea was on the forecast which was perfect for our day out on the water. I rigged up two rods with Tope Traces which consisted of both multipliers spooled with 30lb Daiwa J-Braid . The rigs were simple single hook running ledger rigs with a small length of nylon coated wired to stop the Tope from biting through the trace. My hook pattern for the Tope was a Cox and Rawle 8/0 Meat Hook as there was certainly going to be some bigger Tope out here and it makes unhooking them a little easier but most importantly allows me to rig a large bait and still keep my finesse with bait presentation. Weights were dependent on the stage of the tide and even when out nearly 4km the tide still pushes hard. My rigs are tied with 50lb mono and my nylon coated wire is tied direct to the mono trace line which takes away the necessity of using crimps. A simple setup really and at the end of the day it is a bit of sport and making sure the fish swims away good and strong.

So we anchored up when we reached out preferred spot and it was not long before my mackeral bait was picked up with a surging run. I was quickly on to a Tope and a it felt like a decent fish with good solid runs as it stayed deep. After a good fight a decent Tope came to the surface and with some help from Ciaran we got a couple of photos and sent the Tope away back down to carry on with his business.

Ciaran was next up with a run from a Tope and he was soon fighting the fish from the depths and with a decent tidal run it really helps to the Topes advantage. After a few minutes Ciaran had his Tope across his lap to get a few photos before removing the hook and releasing the Tope back to the bay.

Connecting back up to my anchor after taking some photos for Ciaran, I baited up with a full Mackeral with the head and tail removed. With there being a number of Dogfish in the area and knowing that the Tope will come up in the water column to take a bait, I was fishing approximately close to 5ft from the bottom which kept the bait away from the ravenous dogfish. It was not long before my rod doubled over and the sl20 starting singing. I lifted the rod out of my Scotty rod holders and lifted easy into the fish. I was definitely on to a good Tope as it kept running. Soon I was making up line on it and with the water clarity so good I could see the fish coming up from the depths and I was definatly into my best Tope. Getting the Tope to the surface I was able to get it onto my lap and Ciaran came over to take some photos. I was delighted with the size and I am not into estimating the weight of a fish nore am I interested in it either. For me its about my own personal experience and what the day and fish means for me.

Ciaran had another Tope and with that we decided we would make the trek back in. The Hobie Kayaks soon made it back to the shore in no time and with ease. I really think that these Hobie kayaks open new doors to areas that can be fished off the kayak. Another Tope session done and a brilliant result and a mark that I am sure to visit again.

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.

 

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.

A Bit of Kerry Magic

The forecast showed a nice clear spell to get the kayak out and try get a Tope. Once again I loaded the car up the night before to head down early to catch the first high tide. I called over to Kevin Brain the night before to pick up a good supply of Mackeral baits. Check out his latest catch reports and website at www.kbfishingireland.com. With the car loaded it was an early rise to hit the road down to Tralee Bay.

As in my previous write up on the Ray I got in my last outing here, my rigs were much the same. Single hook ledger rigs tied on 30lb fluorocarbon trace line to a short length of 20lb nylon coated wire to prevent the Tope from biting me off. I prefer to tie my wire direct to my fluorocarbon trace line as it then takes away the need for a swivel and a crimp thus making the presentation much more neater and appealing. This I learnt as a youngster while fishing for shark on light tackle back in S.A. On the business end was the old faithful and very good hook, the Cox and Rawle Uptide Extra. I used two sizes which were 4/0 and 6/0.

I arrived at the spot which was like a pond with not a ripple on the surface and the sound of Seagulls whining as they do. I felt confident that there would be some good fish caught today. As a fisherman there is an inner feeling that is felt when you know that it is going to be a good day. with no hesitation the kayak was loaded up, the GPS turned on and the paddling started to the position of choice. The tide really pushes here so I use a longer chain to hold my anchor in place and reduce the risk of it pulling out and me drifting away off the mark. I dropped the anchored and baited up the rods.

With the baits sitting in position it was only a game of patience. As the tide pushes here in the middle stages there is quite a heavy amount of weed passing which makes it a little frustrating but the rewards of sticking it out are worth it. As I waited patiently I had my first bit of interest. Lifting into the fish I felt the solid resistance and a good run. The familiar fight of the Stingray. After a short but good fight I got the small Stingray to the side of the Kayak and took a quick photo carefully before letting it get back to its business.

The tide really started moving after this so I decided to explore the area as I have never really had a good nose around the place. What I came across was some really good looking features that have been noted and I decided to give them a go. With the bass season open and the tide running it made it ideal to target some. Using the tide run to my advantage I fished extra light and by this I mean just a simple double inline hook setup. No weight, nothing, just the hooks. Sandeels are flooding in all around the place and most fish are stuffed to the gills with them. I had no sandeel with me or lures so I had to improvise. Using the white shiny belly of the Mackeral, I cut a thin strip and rigged it up to flow in the top layer of the water and not spin. The key is to not let it spin. Paddling slowly against the tide did the business as I hit four Bass in no time at all. Two were above the size limit and two were little schoolies. What great fun on a spinning rod and just a hook.

The tide was easing off at this point so I decided to head back into position for the change of the tide. It was not long till I had a good take. The line peeled off the reel and I was in to a good fish. After a few powerful runs I got the fish to the surface and was delighted to see a good sized Stingray. I decided to take it into the shore as I was very close and get a photo to show the size of it. Once I got the photo and carefully handling it, I put her back and she glided away.

After releasing this Stingray, which was kindly assisted by two shore fisherman, I went back out to my anchor and readied myself again. The rod doubled over again and I was into a heavy fish. Bigger than any fish I had this day. It went round the kayak, under the kayak and stuck to the bottom. I finally got a glimpse of what was a really good Stingray and bigger than the one previous. I did not want to handle such a fish on the kayak or go back to shore with it so I unhooked it next to the kayak and watched it swim away.

The tide was flowing fast again at this stage and the weed was coming with it. I had another take and found myself attached to a decent Thornback Ray. Covered in thorns but nice patterns on its back, I took a photo and let it back into the tide.

Waiting for the tide to ease I went in to stretch my legs and have a bite to eat. My bait was looking a little worse for wear at this stage but I still felt confident there was a Tope there with my name on it. I went back out and baited up both rods with whole joey mackeral with heads and tails removed. Waiting patiently my Shimano Trinidad started peeling line off, this was a Tope. I lifted into the fish and he ran off with the current. The fight was great as the Tope tore back up the current past the kayak and gave a great account of itself. When he cam up next to the kayak I lifted him carefully onto my lap. A couple of photos and I was a happy chap. The Tope was released and swam away.

A really good day to be out just soaking it in. Fishing, thats what its about.!

Until next time,

Tight Lines.

 

Fishing the Estuary – 16/04/2015

Looking back on past fishing logs that I keep to compare on a year to year basis I was drawn to the thought of fishing an estuary that produces some great fishing as the weather starts to warm up. It is still a little early for this spot to really come alive and produce some great fishing but I decided to give it a try anyway. The day previous I had dug some fresh lugworm as it is a hard bait to beat for all round fishing. I also got a few peeler crab as an added bonus. The plan of attack was to fish the incoming tide from low. The rig I chose to use was my all round single hook ledger rig with a two ounce weight and a Cox and Rawle Uptide Extra 1/0 hook.

  I arrived about an hour before low tide which gave me time to set up my kayak and rods and wait till the tide started pushing in. I would be anchoring up in the channel and fishing two rods. It is quite comfortable as the tide holds the kayak in a straight position allowing both rods to be fished out in front of me. The weather was pleasant but a few blustery squalls came through. I was after a bass but knew there would be some flounder around so I was pretty confident that I would land a fish or two.

Anchored up in position, the tide started to move. Both rods were baited up and cast away from the kayak in front of me. There is not much of a problem with weed at this time of year but as the water temperature rises the estuaries get plagued by weed which makes it extremely tough to fish.

I stared getting small takes but did not connect with anything until I had the familiar rattle bite that is often associated with Flatfish. I set the hook and felt a good weight. I caught a glimpse of the Flounder and was surprised at the size of it. It gave one more run which is great to feel from a Flatfish as it is a sign of a decent one. I got it next to the kayak and lifted it in. A lovely coloured and plump Flounder. I took a couple of Photos and put it back to fight another day.

It was not long after I had another take which too was a sure sign it was another flounder. At this stage of the tide I would of had a Bass by now so confidence in getting one was all but gone. Still, I had another Flounder on and it was another good sized fish which put up a good account of itself and fishing with spinning rods really makes catching fish much more fun. Once again, a few photos and the Flounder was sent back.

Altogether I was happy with my result for the mornings tide. I headed back in after the second flounder. The first fish was caught on lugworm while the second fish was caught on a lugworm and Piddock bait. Both rods were rigged with the trace shown in the photo above. Nothing over complicated but effective.

Until next time,

Tight Lines.

Stingray and Tope. What a day!

This day has to be one of my most exciting days I have had in a very long time. I was in contact with a friend of mine who targets Tope, Stingray and Undulate Ray when they show themselves in the warmer months. When I got the nod to head to the mark for my first session at these fish, I was like a my younger self. I could not pack the car fast enough the night before. These fish have the potential to grow to substantial sizes so a step up in the tackle was required. With most of my fishing I really do not like using heavy tackle and my rigs and main line reflected this. I was using 15lb mono on my two multipliers. Two light boat rods and some frozen mackeral. I would have preferred fresh bait but could not get hold of some. I also took along a very light Fladen boat road I have that I couple with a small fixed spool reel. I tend to use this rod for smaller baits while my two main rods are out.

On arrival to the mark, the paddle out was an experience in itself. Not much wind, but rather a breeze, and a smooth paddle out. Once at the preferred spot, the anchor was dropped and the mackeral baits were sent out.

The traces used consisted of a simple running ledger rig. The baits were anchored on the bottom and it was not long before I had my first take. At this location the next bite could be a big fish so I was filled with anticipation at every enquiry my bait had. Striking into my first fish, I knew immediately it was the ever present dogfish. Not to be disheartened the baits were sent out again. The next bite proved to be more promising. At first I thought I had a small tope on but to my surprise it was a lunker of a bass. A quick photo and this beauty was sent on its way. I was extremely pleased with this.

Once again the rod had another good take. The fish put up a similar fight to the previous Bass and it proved to be another good sized one. What was taking my attention is that these bass were taking my large Mackeral fillets intended for a Tope. I lifted the Bass on the kayak and got some photos before releasing it back on its journey.

It seemed like today was going to be one of those days you just do not forget. The baits were redone and sent back down to seek out anything else that was willing to engulf it. My light boat rod coupled with my Shimano Trinidad TN14 sudden started peeling line. I eased into the fish and was suddenly aware of the weight that was pulling line from my reel. All I could do was wait till it tired itself out and then I could get it back to the kayak. The fight was solid and after a number of runs I soon had my first ever Stingray at the side of the kayak. I was not overly keen on bringing it anyway near my kayak so a fellow kayak angler helped me out by unhooking it and releasing it.

That was inexperience that would stay with me for a long time. The takes were coming frequently now and another good take on a Mackeral head bait occurred.  Another solid run aided by the incoming tide and solid thumps. An Undulate Ray was soon on my lap. Another first for me and I was delighted.

As the tide started to push in the bites became a little less frequent and I had another great take and a solid fight. I saw the dark shadow of what could only be another Stingray. This time a much smaller one but still had to be shown the same respect as any other one. Their poisonous spine can cause severe injury and I take extreme caution when handling and releasing them. I try not handle them at all if possible. So no photo and I let the Stingray go.

By now the tide was almost reaching full and I had another small Undulate Ray. The hopes of a tope were slowly drifting away. Just then at this point my one rod had a take and then a soaring run. I eased into the fish but it kept on going. This was to fast for a Stingray and I hoped this would be my first Tope off the kayak. I then realized I had taken off my short length of nylon coated wire as I thought there was going to be no Tope showing for the day. A big mistake. The fight continued until I got my first glance of the great streamlined shark figure below the kayak and my heart was in my mouth. I got it to the side of the kayak and was assisted in getting it on to the kayak as this was my first. I was so delighted to have landed my first Tope and I took some photos before sliding it back.

Not a great photo but I quickly baited up again and casted out. Within a few minutes I had another great run and I was in again. Once again just a mono trace but after a couple of minutes I was bitten off. Another hook tied on and another bait sent out. Once again another take. It was clear there were a few Tope around that had come up with the tide. A great fight with surging runs all around the kayak. I soon landed another Tope which was a bonus for the day.

So what can I say about the day? A big thank you to the other guys that were out that day. It was a day to remember and hopefully one that can be relived again.

Until next time,

Tight Lines.

Fishing Report 24-04-2014

What a weekend for fishing. The sun was shining and the wind was minimal. I had dug lugworm the day previous as I had the intention to try my luck at a spot where I knew the bass ran up the estuary. I also knew there was a chance of some flounder. So I headed over to the spot where I rigged the kayak. The spot is so shallow at low tide there is no need for a fish finder.

The kayak sat nicely anchored up with the flow of water passing by. I could see fish rising as they passed so I could feel that any second I was going to get a take. The first bite was the telltale sign of a flounder. The familiar rattle of the rod. I struck into it and I had my first fish of the day. A small flounder.

The tide was pushing in nicely now and the second fish grabbed the lugworm bait without any hesitation. This was surely a bass. I knew it was not a big one but never the less it was the first one for 2014 for me. After a quick poor photograph the bass was released.

Up next came the familiar rattle again and another flounder showed itself. This followed by another small bass which were released as I was only have a bit of sport fishing on the light spinning rods. These are all I use when fishing shallow water for bass.

I knew I only had a little while longer to fish before the tide forced me to move. So with both rods out with fresh baits on I waited for another bite. It was not long till I luckily grabbed my rod before it was pulled over by a better fish. A good fight and some strong runs due to the current really put a smile on my face. I then landed  decent bass of around 4lb. I took some photos and sent him back to fight another day. Click HERE if you would like to see the video of this days fishing.

 

 

Until next time,

Tight lines.