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Wearing a PFD at all times |
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Tuesday, 12 August 2008 |
Safety (and comfort) 1st!
Some time ago, the term 'life jacket' was replaced with the surrogate: Personal Floatation Device (PFD). This was done because in a few incidents the title of 'life jacket' had proven to be a bit of an oxy-moron. Especially in cases where a certain grade of life jacket was used in circumstances that it proved to be about as useful as an ash tray on a motorbike. PFD's now come with ratings (type 1, 2 or 3). Different rules and regulations about the requirements of PFD types exist in the various states of Australia. The same is true of requirements of actually having to wear one in various situations, or in some cases, all situations. Kayak fishermen in Australia are well advised to look into the specific regulations that exist in the state in which they live and abide by them.
This isn't just for the sake of safety, but also for the sake of your wallet. Several years ago I was caught out by marine police in Victoria for being too far off-shore without wearing a PFD. In hind sight I really was being stupid - not just because I wasn't carrying one, but also because the kayak I was using wasn't particularly safe. It was a cheap inflatable that (knowing what I know now) had no business calling itself a kayak. As commented by the police at the time, it was really just a toy, better suited for calm and small, shallow lakes. I'm not proud to admit it, but when I got started in this sport, I really was a yakass. The main reason I wasn't wearing it was that it was horribly uncomfortable and found it to be more of a hindrance than help.
 I do wear a PFD at all times these days (Hobie highback vest, made by Stohlquist), regardless of where I go fishing. This isn't just for the sake of safety (although that is of course my primary concern) but also because I find the utility pockets invariably handy. That's where my whistle and fishing licence goes, and sometimes my multitool as well. And through a little trial and error, I'm now using a PFD that is so comfortable that I barely know I'm wearing it. And that's really important - after all, kayaking is supposed to be fun. Fun and discomfort don't belong in the same sentence.
We all have different bodyshapes: male, female, ectomorph, mesomorph and ubermorph (I made that last one up... I think). Because of this, no one PFD is going to suit everyone. So the key to finding one that suits you best is not just to try them on, but to try them on while seated in a kayak - preferably the model kayak that you use. Just like human body types, hull shapes and seat designs vary also.
I recently posed the question at the Australian Kayak Fishing Forum: 'Thoughts on wearing a PFD at all times when yak fishing'. There was a really good response to this and a great deal of well-thought out answers were provided. Anyone thinking about the merits of PFDs might be well served to have a read through the numerous comments. Overall, I got the impression that those who weren't wearing PFDs most or all of the time were neglecting to mainly because the PFD they own is uncomfortable. Acknowledging this really hammered home the fact to me that apart from satisfying specific state law requirements, comfort really is a primary consideration. Food for thought. Be first to comment this article | E-mail | Read more...
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Keeping warm on the kayak |
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Saturday, 09 August 2008 |
SharkSkin and RoosterSailing Aqua Fleece
I hate winter.... I really detest it. Being that I'm a one-kidney, slim-hipped nancy-boy, I tend to feel the cold a lot more than most. Kayaking is all about having fun but there's not much that can ruin the endeavour of having fun more than being ridiculously cold. Wind and water can make for a horrible limb-numbing chill factor and for the past couple of years I've always been on the look out for ways to stop it from happening. I think I've finally figured out how to do it without having to wear uncomfortably thick neoprene wetsuits. The answer I've found is actually a combination of two brands and products. Both are somewhat similar in material concept, though the combination I'm using offers me the best of both worlds.
As a bottom thermal layer I'm using SharkSkin 'technical exposure protection' clothing, combining socks, paddling pants and what they call a chesty vest. It is tight fitting apparel and that's precisely how its meant to be worn. The fabric is a combination of 3 materials, the inner of which is a suitably warm fleece lining. The mid layer is a breathable wind-proof membrane and the outer is a soft, flexible and durable nylon fabric. It works better than any thermal underwear I've used (far superior to polypropylene and definitely warmer than Icebreaker merino wool). Not only do I find the SharkSkin layer ideal for kayaking, I reckon it'd also be perfectly suited to scuba diving or snorkelling. This is because it wouldn't create the buoyancy that Neoprene does and thus less or perhaps even no belt weights would be required for scuba diving. I think:-)
It works best if fitted firmly, however, and in certain circumstances I think some users might actually prefer a looser fitting garment for kayaking in cool (as opposed to freezing cold) conditions. And this is one scenario where I reckon the RoosterSailing Aqua fleece top that I sampled the other day comes in. Unlike the SharkSkin, the Aqua fleece top is more of a loose fit and offers better mobility that is highly suitable for paddling. Used in conjunction with the SharkSkin base layer, the Rooster Sailing Aqua fleece provides unsurpassed warmth. Like SharkSkin, it also has a very high quality fleece lining, though I find it a bit softer. Layering up with both just creates incredible body-heat retention and wind-chill resistance. The Aqua fleece outer fabric feels somewhat rubberised, although I think that's actually a breathable polyurethane fabric. Its also windproof and seems to be pretty much waterproof. And it also has a high neck collar that really helps to trap in body heat.
 It was rather cold when I went paddling the other night, with a fresh south easterly blowing up, yet I was toasty warm the entire time and this usually isn't the case. The experience has given me confidence in having the ability to head out in freezing conditions - the eskimos would love this stuff. Admittedly, if I was expecting rain, I'd still use a breathable waterproof dry top as well, but I'm not sure most people would need to go to those extremes. As I've already mentioned, I tend to feel the cold much more than most people. But equipped with all this new extreme weather watersports apparel I'm pretty much covered no matter what the weather does. I highly recommend serious kayak fishermen having a very close look at both SharkSkin base layer gear, as well as RoosterSailing Aqua fleece. I wouldn't say one is better than the other, but I would definitely suggest that used in tandem, the combination is pretty much unbeatable. There will be times when I only want or need to use one of the other for sure - either way, it's great to have options. Whilst I'm on the topic of watersports apparel, I should also mention the new waterproof breathable drytop that was on display at the Hobie stand at the Sydney boat show. It's lighter than the current model, would likely suit better for paddling, and also has those swish-looking waterproof zippers on the pockets. The sample on display is a prototype model I believe and production models are likely to be available pretty soon. I like the current Hobie drytop just fine, although it is thicker and heavier and anyone looking for something that is lighter and offers better mobility might want to check that out. All Hobie kayak and catamaran dealers will have these in stock fairly soon I expect. The SharkSkin apparel can be found at various watersports retailers (I picked up mine from Outdoors and Beyond in Huskisson) and the Rooster Sailing gear is retailed (and wholesaled) from NB Laser Hobie Sports in Gosford.
 New Hobie Drytop
(Edit) I've added some further thoughts on this topic in a quick follow up. Be first to comment this article | E-mail | Read more... |
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Kayak storage and transport on a shoestring |
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Sunday, 13 July 2008 |
Carport storage and home-made roofrack 'extenda-bar' modification Carport kayak loading system
My shoulder has really been giving me curry lately, so the matter of lifting the kayak onto the racks of my car was becoming a concern. Moving into a new house was a good opportunity to go about addressing at least half of the problem whilst also solving the issue of storage as well. I've seen a few clever carport kayak storage systems that allow for a simple pulley driven action to lift the kayak from the racks of your car and up to the roof of your carport. The benefit of such a system is obvious. When heading out on a trip, getting the kayak into place onto the racks is a simple matter of gently releasing the rope from the cleat and then strapping it down. Upon returning from a trip storing the kayak is a simple matter of reversing the process.
 'Extenda-bar' roof rack loading system
So that has sorted out loading and unloading the kayak at home... but what about at waters edge? To date, I've been using a sort of sideways clean and jerk technique to load the kayak onto the roof racks, which is exactly what one shouldn't be doing - especially with a crook shoulder. Being that I've got the Thule aero-bars, there's not many products that exist to make loading a kayak easier for them. It's pretty easy to rig something up to do the same job (that would work with any roof rack bar) though, which is what I've done. This simple rig incorporates a handfull of heav-duty cable ties and 2 galvanised extendable tent poles, one being a ridge pole with eyelets at each end, the other with a flat spike on one end and a plastic end cap at the other. In the closed postion both poles are about 4 1/2', which is about an inch longer than my roof rack bars (about ideal).
 Ridge bar extends to desired length
The first step in making this rig is really the only step. Its simply a matter of using cable ties to secure the ridge pole neatly behind the front bar. I used 12 tightly bound ties for my rig, which seems to be rock solid. Once the ridge pole is attached the rig is ready for use. The use of the other pole is pretty self-explainatory. When the extending piece is pulled out on the ridge pole, the spiked pole is used to support it and hold it's height position. Fitting it is simply a matter of extending the spike pole into place so that the spike is neatly through the eyelet, and the other end firmly planted on the ground. This should support the extended bar nicely by keeping it steady and preventing the weight of the kayak bending the extended bar.
 Support pole erected, ready for use
Once erected, loading the kayak is simply a matter of lifting the bow up over the bar, then walking to the stern and lifting it up over the rear bar. Once both are positioned at roofrack height, it's just a matter of sliding, or shuffling it on.
There's a few ways one could go about building a pulley-operated kayak carport loading system and although I'd seen a few other systems in the past, I figured I'd fall back on the experience of one of my work mates (thanks Mick) who is very experienced with sail rigging. He arrived at my place with a few lengths of rope, a handfull of pulleys, a rope cleat and a drill. We took a look at the carport, looked at the bits and pieces, agreed on a plan and got to work. It was all over in about 10 minutes. Here's how we did it:
 Pulley-operated for ease of use Comments (1) | E-mail | Read more... |
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Al Mar Sere sheath knife |
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Tuesday, 20 May 2008 |
Cutting edge Al Mar Sere Sawback: sexy steel!
Having spent almost a decade working in outdoor retail stores in my younger days, I've surely developed an eye and appreciation for quality over the years. But when I started kayak fishing, however, initially my attitude was to use mid-range equipment. The reason for this was that I might just lose it all over the side anyway. Admittedly, thats precisely what happened several times in my first couple of years fishing. Eventually I got smart (well, smarter) and started leashing just about everything down to prevent this from happening. Since developing that strategy there is very little I've lost to Davey Jones locker. And because of that I started to replace my 'good enough' gear for higher quality counterparts. My fibreglass rods were eventually replaced with graphite you-beauts, my aged Leatherman tool replaced with a new Charge TI, my folding net replaced by an Environet and my heavily chromed dive knife replaced with an Al Mar Sere sheath knife.
Unfortunately, I never did get much use out of that knife because it was one of the few things I didn't leash down and sure enough, I simply dropped it over the side one day. Even in 11 metres of water I considered diving in after it. Alas, I was too gutless to do so, which was probably a good thing because the wind probably would have blown my kayak out of reach anyway.
I didn't lose the sheath, however, so I've had that stored for the past 6 months doing very little. One day I'd replace that hallowed knife I kept telling myself, so much did I admire it. That one day came yesterday when a package arrived from the states, complete with my new Sere that I've been pining over all this time. Joy... it's enough to make me want to start using bait more often (just so I have more reason to use it).
Why am I so fond of the Al Mar Sere? For one, I'm highly familiar with the Al Mar brand. In almost a decade of selling them, never once did we get one back with a complaint. I'm also familiar with the steel that is used in the Sere, which is CPM S30V stainless steel. It cuts really well, sharpens easily (far easier than a typical dive-knife) and with 14% chromium, is relatively rust resistant. The same steel is used in the main blade of my Leatherman Charge and has served me very well in that knife. Its also a full-tang construction, with one piece of steel from the tip to the butt (making it as string as possible by design). And finally, I'm really very fond of the sheath, which can be attached in various ways.
 Snug as a bug in a rug
Truth be told, it's likely that the Leatherman will continue to get used more often than the Sere (until I start diving again, which will likely be this coming summer). But one thing I have learned in my years of coastal kayak fishing, it's better to have a big knife and not need it than to need a big knife and not have it.Be first to comment this article | E-mail | Read more... |
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Interview with Astro |
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Friday, 16 May 2008 |
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I first met Carl Holland (AKA Astro) on my travels north, passing through Mackay. Well, passing through was my intention, although I soon realised that there were too many goldern opportunities for kayak fishing in the area to just 'pass' through. That, coupled with my meeting of Astro, inspired me to hand around for about a week. I also stopped back in on my way back south a month or so later. Unfortunately the barra weren't showing any interest during either of my visits, but we did have planty of other fishing opportunities, which we took. Astro's yak-fishing mojo was suffering a depression of sorts at the time as it turned out, although he's certainly turned that around recently.
 Carl 'Astro' Holland
Carl is a fairly experienced kayak fisho, but outweighing even that is his irrepressible enthusiasm for the sport and I found him to be great company because of it. He's also a pretty good cook (another reason I hung around for a while) and overall a very interesting guy, which is why I decided to ask him to take a moment to answer a few interview-style questions. He agreed to respond. Behold... Q: G'day Astro and thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. When did you realise that you are a kayak fishing addict, and how did the addiction develop from it's early stages?
A: My addiction started early learning kayaking and fishing…but not together around the same time. Over the last 30 odd years has waxed and waned but since moving to mackay (1996)it has greatly improved.
The previous kayak I had before the outback was a fibreglass sik which was a real effort to get out and about in especially with the tides and wind we get. This made yak fishing not so attractive, with the best type of fishing was to work the flats for whiting, flathead, trevally and queen fish mainly occasionally you get blessed with a barra.
Since the outback, the addiction is in full swing and have a lot of flexibility to be able to go for a fish. I like to get out 3 times a week if possible and have yak fished 8 days in a row as a personal record. Basically it’s one to the best addictions to be inflicted with…its: fun, healthy, gets you out, is a challenge, you see some great sights, you get to eat fish…..well mostly anyway. The only downside is the $$$$ for tackle this…lure that…..bling…
Q: You live close to Mackay and are blessed by quite a variety of fishing options, both fresh and salt water. Tell us a bit about the area you live in, your favourite places to fish and why.
A: Heaven on a stick….to me at least. Within a 1 hour drive of home I can get to Teemburra dam, Kinchant dam, Eungella dam, Peter faust dam - all loaded with barra - at least a dozen estuary systems, Whitsunday islands & Airlie beach/shute harbour. Tropical paradise….what can I say…
For favourites I like Teemburra, (NO JET SKIS OR WATER SKIERS)... lots of barra, very scenic, lots of barra, heaps of wildlife, lots of barra, fishing variety, lots of barra. Salt based, at the moment Victor creek, Seaforth…scene of some recent memorable catches.
Would love to do more around the islands… hence my saving program to get an Adventure Island. The tropical waters of the whitsundays and the ability to reach further sees the AI as the ideal craft for me up here.
Q: You spend a fair bit of time chasing the elusive Barramundi. What other species are high on your priority list, and why?
A: Yeah love to catch barra…but would really love to get some big pelagic fish on board…Spanish mackerel for one. When and if this winds goes then there will be more chances to get out wide around the islands. Also a coral trout…they are my favourite fish to eat Be first to comment this article | E-mail | Read more... |
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Interview with Paulo |
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Monday, 28 April 2008 |
On that incredible marlin...  Paulo in kayak combat with a 78kg marlin
Ever since I found out about the 78kg marlin that was caught at South West Rocks by kayak fisherman Paul O'Leary I've been trying to get my head around how he did it. I figured that the best way to have my questions answered was to go right to the source - the very man who did the deed himself. I first met Paulo (as he is affectionately known at the AKFF) at last years Sunstate Hobie Bass Bash event and back then he told me of his aspirations to get amongst some big pelagic fish. It didn't take long for him to exceed his own expectations. If you're curious to know what it's like to hook onto a marlin from a kayak, grab yourself a cuppa, sit down and have a read. In the Q&A below Paulo offers an intreguing insight into how he caught the fish and what the experience was like. Q: How long have you been fishing from a kayak, what attracted you to it, and can you tell us a bit about your humble beginnings?
A: I bought my Hobie Revolution at the Brisbane boat show in Sept 2007. I have owned a variety of stinkers throughout my life. As a child my father always had a boat and was a fanatical fisherman. For the past 15 years or so my fishing was reduced to holidays at the coast and a once a year offshore trip for four days. I would stand for hours on the beach and watch the mackeral and tuna slash away at the bait fish, just beyond casting range and scheme ways to get my line out there. Good game fish from the beach were few and far between. I didn't want another boat but rather a personal craft that allowed me to fish. I looked at rubber ducks and then a jetski, but they still had motors. I investigated fishing kites from NZ but they just seemed too much hassle and our predominant winds in SEQ just didn't suit. I wandered past the Hobie stand and was instantly drawn to it. I had seen earlier Outback models five or so years before but it looked like a gimick and I never gave it another thought. I knew then and there this was what I had been looking for all along. Excited by the prospect of getting offshore, but still sceptical, I paid my deposit and headed to Sunstate Hobie the next Saturday. I knew within two minutes this was it. At this stage I didn't know of anyone kayak fishing. I found Yakabout and followed Josh on his travel. I have been out at least once a week since getting it and just find it the perfect fishing platform. Ill never buy another motor boat.
Q: Prior to catching that infamous marlin, what was your most impressive catch?
A: My first trip off Caloundra last December was the best day I had prior to the marlin. I landed 3 good snapper and on the way home picked up an 8.5kg Yellowfin Tuna. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for three days.
 Winner: Paulo, by TKO
Q: You caught the marlin during the AKFF gathering at South West Rocks. Did you target marlin specifically, or were you simply aiming for large pelagics period?
A: To be honest I never thought any of us would hook a marlin, let alone land one. My aim for the week apart from the marlin was a large cobia. I managed a big Mack Tuna, a shark and a bonito all week. I never wavered from the targets and trolled two heavy rods with live slimeys 5-7 hours a day for seven days. The target was a marlin or a large pelagic.
Q: How would you say the Hobie Revolution faired during the fight. Would you say that pedal-power was a help, hindrance, or neither?
A: After the catch, the debate raged as to whether it could have been done from a paddle kayak. I believe the overwhelming consensus was beaching the fish would not have been possible from a paddle kayak but many were still willing to have a go. I would say the pedal-power was integral to landing the fish. I constantly used them throughout the fight to regain line to my spool, get in front of the sounding fish to turn its head, after it had towed me 4kms off shore, and finally drag the fish into the bay and onto the beach. It fought me all the way to the beach and the pedals were the key to landing it. Even on smaller fish they allow you to move when the fish swims under the yak or spools your line on the first blistering run. I can imagine fishing without them.Comments (2) | E-mail | Read more... |
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Full shore leader knot |
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Tuesday, 15 April 2008 |
I have a new leader knot Long time followers of this site would know that in times past I've obsessed somewhat to figure out my ideal leader joining knot for kayak fishing. A while back I turned away from the improved Albright knot (for anything other than insanely thick leader lines) simply because I've seen it fail too many times under less than highly stressfull situations. That's a shame because it is a nice slim knot, making it perfect for casting.
Since then I started using the double Uni knot and learned to place more faith in it. The problem I've found with this knot is that for relatively thin lines the chance of the mainline severing the leader is just too great. It works fine for heavier lines, although it does tend to leave a fairly large knot that isn't so great for casting. Now, I know there's a bunch of fandangled knots that are rather trustworthy and nice and slim. A good case in point is the mid-knot, which AKFF member Wopfish drew attention to recently in the Aus Kayak Fishing Forum. The problem I have with knots like this - as Wopfish admits - it's not one that you'd want to try and tackle on the water. I prefer to keep things simple so that re-tying leaders on the water isn't a chore. And this is something I tend to do a fair bit, because if I detect so much as the faintest nik in my leader line, I'll trim or replace.
So recently I started testing out a new knot and I'm already pretty fond of it. It's an absolute no-brainer to tie and seems to hold it's strength pretty well. I have been bust off once so far (from a great big groper I suspect) but it took a lot of force to do so. And I've found it equally effective on light or heavy lines. Fishing knots come under various names typically, but the description I've found for it calls it the Full shore leader knot. It's main advantage - aside from being simple to tie - is that it offers the advantage of tapering, making for smoother casting. Once you've actually tied this knot it's easy to see why it holds well. One knot blocks the other which makes it virtually impossible to slip through.
So if you're thinking about experimenting with a new knot for kayak fishing and like me, you like the K.I.S.S philosophy, give it a try. The diagram pictured is pretty self-explainatory.Comments (2) | E-mail | Read more... |
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The shark thing... |
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Thursday, 20 March 2008 |
How much toothy danger faces the coastal kayaker
 Oh...
Certainly, I agree that there is far more danger for any fishermen (kayak or otherwise) who drives to his intended fishing destination because the chances of experiencing an accident are greater than experiencing a shark attack. However, I do believe that most coastal kayak fishermen have a greater chance of seeing a shark than they do having a car accident to or from the fishing spot. There are plenty of sharks out there and for sure (not all of them dangerous and even less of them agressive), they become more and more prevalent and thus more visible further north (travelling north, from Hervey Bay onwards I sighted sharks frequently, all the way to Townsville... with the greatest presence of them in the Townsville area itself).
It's really not at all fair to simply compare car accident deaths to shark attack deaths without being able to get accurate per-capita percentage comparisons on the amount of people who drive vs the amount of people who fish from a kayak with relation to the total population. Obviously, that's data that is pretty difficult to obtain and thus quantify. What is a safe thing to say is that by kayak fishing off-shore (or even in bays) we are certainly putting ourselves in a position where a shark encounter is much more likely. A shark attack is another thing altogether though and all of the evidence suggests that these occur quite rarely. Think about how many people surf, think about the way they might look to a shark and then think about how few of them are actually attacked and killed.
According to the Ichthyology Florida Museum of Natural History, the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) records only one death during 2007. Thats across the world. And how many people were snorkelling, diving, kayaking, swimming, surfing? Food for thought. Be first to comment this article | E-mail | Read more... |
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Bass straight kayak crossing 2009 |
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Saturday, 09 February 2008 |
Wilsons Prom to Little Mussleroe BayAdventure before dementia. Sounds good to me. Perhaps that's why I seem to get more and more adventurous as years go by. But the years are indeed passing by. One of these years I'll wake up to find that I'm not physically capable of living up to the adventurous spirit of my over-ambitious nature. For that reason, sooner - rather than later - seems like the perfect time to execute my long harboured dream of crossing Bass Straight in a kayak. I'm confident that I'm fit enough to do it (or will be - I still have some work to do on cardio) and I reckon I'm also now experienced enough at off-shore kayaking to pull it off as well. At the time of writing (Jan, 2008) I have just over 12 months to prepare for this epic journey, which I plan to undertake sometime in Feb, 2009.
I started thinking about this trip one day while fishing in an inflatable kayak near Port Phillip Heads, fantasizing about what might happen if I was sucked out by an out-going tide and wondering about the remote probability of drifting anywhere near Tassie. The dream kind of grew from there. A year or so later I mentioned this fantasy to my girlfriend at the time and she was up for it. So I started taking the notion more seriously, reading up on previous attempts - both failures and successes - and anticipating what sort of equipment we'd need to make the journey. I was, however, side tracked for a while by an escalating love of kayak fishing and a coastal kayak fishing tour that resulted. But now the itch is back and I feel the need to scratch it. I'm no longer with that girl any more so it appears as if I'll probably be completing this journey alone. A mans gotta do what a mans gotta do.
This page will be an evolving article that describes my plans and preparation. A great deal of what I post here will change as my preparation continues and additions will be made frequently. I will be discussing the equipment I plan to use and why I have chosen it. I'll also be talking about my training and my thinking behind it. And of course, I'll be adding more and more information as to why I have chosen the course I have (which is most likely to change as my research continues) and how I expect to complete each leg of the journey. There will be a lot of experimentation done between now and the departure date and no doubt I'll learn a lot as I progress through the prep stages. One thing is for certain - for this project I will be embracing the (SAS coined)"7-P's" philosophy wholesale: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
The journey...
Leg 1: Tidal River - Refuge Cove. Est: 36km
Wilsons Prom is the southern most tip of the Australian mainland and is also the closest point to Tasmania. A place I am intimately familiar with, it's also my home away from home. I've done so much hiking in this place that I wouldn't dare hazard a guess of how many miles I've covered on foot. Many of those hikes began from Tidal River, which is a very popular getaway destination for the less adventurous (base-camping) visitors to the prom. The river itself trickles out into Norman Bay, which is a long beach that stretches over 1.5km. It's well protected by Mt Oberon and thus, it's waters are usually relatively calm. This, as well as the nearby car parks, make it a perfect launching spot.
The 1st leg of my journey will see me paddle from Tidal River in an anti-clockwise direction around the southern tip of the prom, past the lighthouse, up and around to Refuge Cove. This little bay is also pretty well protected and should make for a fitting landing destination for the day. There is also excellent camping facilities at Refuge Cove, which made it one of my common stop-off points when hiking around the Prom. It's also a great place to catch an Aussie Salmon (or perhaps even a Kingfish) off the beach, so I'll aim to be eating fresh fish that night.
At this point I will still be on the mainland, which is fitting given that I am treating the 1st leg very much as a 'shake down' paddle. If I'm going to encounter any technical problems, hopefully they will show up in my 1st 35km of travel.
Leg 2: Refuge Cove - Hogans Island. Est: 50km
Providing weather permits, I'll be heading off towards Hogan Island right as the sun rises. Hogan Island is a small patch of dry land that is only a few kms long. My intended landing destination on the Island is a small (and usually) calm bay on the eastern side. I've read about the existence of a hut at the northern end of the island, which may well be where I camp for the night. If not, I'll set up a tent nearby. I've read that there is a running water supply here, so I'll take advantage of that if there is. I've also heard about the proliferation of rats and penguins, so I'l be keeping food safely locked away and may even take earplugs to shield me from the noise generated by squabbling penguins.
Leg 3: Hogans island - Erith island. Est: 39km
After traversing about 40km of sea my plan is to then approach Erith Island through the northern end of the Murray passage. Word has it that Erith island also has a small hut that I should be able to shack up in for the night and here I'll be making an entry into the hut's log book, which (apparently) has some fascinating accounts from sailors, kayakers and fishermen that have also stopped there. I expect my camera to get a bit of a work out at Erith island, where I should be able to find a good vantage point to take a variety of scenery photos of the Kent group of islands, of which Erith is a part of. If I have time and energy enough, I'll probably also make a quick trip over to Deal island to explore around a bit.
Leg 4: Erith Island - Killicrankie, Flinders Island nth: Est: 62km
I'll be heading out the southern end of the passage to make my way toward Flinders Island, which will be the longest leg I plan to make for the entire trip. I'm expecting this particular leg will be the most mentally and physically demanding and there is every chance I'll stop off for a rest at Craggy Island, which is about 43km away from the Kent group. When I do finally reach Killicrankie, I reckon I'll be finding somewhere that I can actually buy a warm meal of some description as I imagine I'll be too tired to bother cooking. Just setting up a tent after finishing this leg will probably be challenging enough. Either way, I'll sleep well this night. Be first to comment this article | E-mail | Read more... |
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Kayak fishing kit: the obligatory towel |
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Thursday, 31 January 2008 |
Towels: not just for hitch-hiking around the galaxy A wet towel is perfect for handling fish that you intend to return
The late great novelist Douglas Adams knew the importance of having a towel handy and as such, so to did his most famous character, Arthur Dent. Anyone attempting to hitch-hike around the galaxy without one was seriously rolling the dice. I feel the same way about the proximity of a towel while fishing - especially when kayak fishing. I'm often asked what I think the most important bit of equipment to take out kayak fishing, and believe it or not, the towel is right up there with my other requisites. Specifically, I like the Sea to Summit 'Tek towel' but find any of the 'me to' copycat brands (of which there are many) all suffice nicely. I find having a towel handy especially important if I'm not carrying a net. I use to take a towel instead of a net deliberately, but now I take both.
There's a few reasons for this, but the most important reason is for handling fish. Especially when I intend to put the fish back in the water, which is most common with flathead and bream. Handling a fish with a wet towel is much less likely to peel any protective slime off their scales, and thus increases their chances of survival. Even if I intend to keep a fish I will often handle it with a towel - particularly if that fish is a flathead. I keep the towel pretty close, usually between my legs. When I land a flatty I just place the fish on the towel and then lightly fold it over the top. This seems to keep the fish pretty calm and also protects me from being spiked. Then I can pick up the fish, peel back a few inches of the towel near it's head and then gently remove the hook. It's really easy to get the hang of and makes a great alternative to something like an Environet.Be first to comment this article | E-mail | Read more... |
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Main lines for kayak fishing - colour is everything |
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Tuesday, 22 January 2008 |
Visibility is the key It sure did take me a while to figure it out, but when it comes to kayak fishing (any fishing almost for that matter) line colour really is a big deal. But no, I'm not talking about if said colour may act as an attractant or deterent to the fish. Like most of us, I pretty much always use a reasonably long fluorocarbon leader and as such, the visibility of the main line is rarely seen by the fish anyway. What I have found to be important - for a couple of reasons - is the visibility of the main line to the human eye. The first of these reasons is the visibility to the person using it... especially when it comes to using a lighter line.
Several species of fish are renowned for taking a lure moments after it hits the water as it is slowly sinking to the bottom. During this time there is usually a lot of slack line and unless you can see it pretty clearly, chances are high you won't detect any bites until the line is taught. But by the time you've managed to take in the slack line there's every chance the fish has realised that the funny looking fish-like thing isn't actually what it thought it was, and has spat it out. Bream and Pinkies (or Squire, whatever you want to call juvenile snapper) are strong candidates for this. A lot of pro fishermen will tell you that a great many fish are lost this way and since I've adopted highly visible lines I've started to agree. I've found that when your main line is clearly visible, if there is a tell-tale jerk I am able to detect it and strike immediately.
The other reason I've become a big fan of highly visible lines is that it's much easier for other people to see it as well, and if you're trolling, this can be particularly valuable when others are on the water near you. This is especially true when power-boaters are coming towards you from the side and are planning to pass you on the rear. If they can't see your line, they might not figure out that you're trolling a lure and could very well power right over your line. This has happened to me several times in the past, but not once since adopting easily sighted lines. Of course, this is also of use when kayak fishing near your fellow comrades. Too many times I have inadvertantly paddled over a mates line (usually when I'm moving in to take a photo of them with their landed quarry) and this often results in tangles that otherwise wouldn't have happened.
I've experimented with a few line colours now and so far I've found that the best is the yellow (almost fluorescent in appearance) colours. The photo below doesn't really do the colour justice, because the end of it has faded somewhat. Underneath those initial wraps, it's much brighter and this part is exposed when cast. I've also found pink to be a fairly visible colour as well, but not quite as eye-catching as yellow. My most recent main line colour experiment has been with a bright orange line (pictured below on the Shimano reel) and it's not bad. If the sun catches it, it's actually pretty darn good, but no where near as visible as the yellow under a cover of clouds. Although the orange is better than most colours I have tried, I think I'll stick with fluro yellow from now on.
 My most prized reels on my most prized rods, all spooled with highly visible braid main lines Comments (2) | E-mail | Read more... |
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Adding to the Adventure |
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Tuesday, 13 November 2007 |
Modifications: Rod mounts, GPS mount, XL steering rudder  This bit always makes you feel a little nervous
Upon receiving the Hobie Mirage Adventure last week the first kayak fishing influenced modification I made was installing the RAM mount tube holders. Unlike the Hobie Mirage Revolution, the Adventure has a handy flat platform that hosts the mast mount and provides room for several other addional mounts. This is where I decided to place the RAM tube rod holders. Initially I took the same approach that I'd used on the Revo, which was to smother the base with Sikaflex and then screw it in at each provided hole with a self-tapping screw.
It always worked well on the Revolution because there was a lot of strength and very little hull flex where they were mounted on each side. While the flat platform on the Adventure makes for an easier and probably more useful mounting point, I quickly discovered that using self tappers simply wouldn't secure them properly. With heavy pressure applied to the rod there was just too much flex in the flat polythylene base where the self tappers screwed into. I decided that the likelihood that a tuna, mackeral or shark could pull them right out from the screw holes was just too great - even though there was 7 screws holding it in place. So I resolved to correct this before heading back out into the coastal waters off Townsville because just such a hit is always a possibility up here. Replacing self-tappers with something more secure was in order, and augmenting this with solid backing plates seemed pretty much mandatory.
 Silicone sealant used to seal holes left by self-tappers and to seal holder and base plate
Due to my host (thanks Darrin) being the horder that he is, he was able to dig up a thick sheet of stainless steel that was pretty much perfect for my needs. Using an angle grinder we cut it out two small pieces (8x8cm) to use as backing plates for the mounts. After grinding them down and removing the sharp edges we then lined them up with the base of the RAM mount and drilled screw holes to match. We decided against using each provided hole (three are 7), instead going with only 3 stainless steel screws and bolts for each mount.
After cleaning off residue silicone from the last attempt, I then applied more Sikaflex to the base of each mount, put them in position and inserted the screws. I then smothered the upper side of each base plate with Sikaflex and then carefully aligned the holes with each screw. It was a little tricky to line them all up properly with silicone all over the place, but once I got the nuts screwed in tight the end result was very effective. Now when I apply heavy pressure to the rod holders at a trolling angle there is hardly any flex in the platform at all and the rod holders hold their position nicely. It now feels much more secure than my first attempt.
 Here's one we prepared earlier Comments (5) | E-mail | Read more... |
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