Putting it into perspective

My partner Maxine and I are real amateurs when it comes to fishing from our kayaks. We both have sea kayaks, mine is a bit skinny and quite long.

When it comes to landing a fish I'm all fingers and thumbs, where do I put my rod and get the fish off the hook and not tip over etc etc???

Maxine [ my partner] loves to keep it simple. She has a shorter and slightly wider sea kayak . Her preferred tackle is a hand line and a piece of bacon for bait!

Don't laugh - she catches fish. Especially from her favourite spot [Grandpa's rock], about 5 minutes paddle from her 'bach' in Tauranga Bay near the most beautiful Whangaroa harbour.

Until we get a proper fishing kayak [ if we do], we often take the bach 'ute' a QK Escapade instead of my skinny tippy thing and raft up to Maxine's Tui and deploy our long line.

The Escapade paddles well and is a superbly stable platform.

You can see Maxine's hand line attached to the deck bungy, plus the prebaited traces for the long line.
In the Escapade are anchor [ in the bucket in the tank well], buoy and the actual long line on reel.
We also have a running anchor rig for the Escapade.

How we do the long line thing?

I anchor the Escapade, Maxine rafts up in her Tui facing me. As I deploy the long line,  Maxine attaches the traces as the line is fed out. After the first trace is attached, the anchor for the line is hooked on, the remaining traces are attached and lastly the buoy.

We detach and paddle around. Or, more accurately I paddle around and Maxine then employs her faithful handline + bacon bait.

We only wait about 30 minutes maximum before we raft up and recover the line [ reverse the process].

Our best catch is 4 fish from 5 traces - the biggest a 420mm long snapper which fed us over two meals.

It is a system that works well for us.

We have a very stable platform with the two kayaks rafted up [ especially as one is a wider sit on top].

We are facing each other and so communication is maximised.

We have life jackets on, and other suitable clothing depending on the weather.

We have fun.

We know we can go fishing the next day and catch more - one or two fish will feed us adequately.

Proving Popular

One kayak worthy of consideration is the Cobra Marauder. It is not a new design. But it has stood the test of time, and now that kayak fishing is becoming the 'new golf; what does the Marauder have to offer?
Like all Cobra designs, there is considerable what I call 'freeboard'. This is the height say from the waterline to the gunwale. What this means is that it is relatively easy to convert what was a 'plain' sit on top into a customised fishing machine. The pictures show a very large hatch in the cockpit area. This gives access to a cavernous interior. With the addition of a rudder, a high back seat and two rod holders you are ready to go fishing at a very competitive price.  A smaller flat rectangular hatch plus a round hatch with internal bucket could be substituted for the large rectangular hatch shown.

There's plenty of room for fish finders and deck mounted Scotty rod holders as well. Not to mention the large tank well or storage area behind the seat for securing that all important catch.
Another hatch can be fitted on the foredeck.
How you benefit from all this cutomisation.
You can buy a basic package with say a rudder, two flush rod holders and one hatch and go fishing.
Later you can add more hatches, more rod holders, paddle clips [ to secure your paddle whilst fishing], tank well covers, and other accessories as your budget and knowledge grows.
The Marauder is 4.3 metres long, 780mm wide and weighs only 24kg! It has a capacity of 216kg so pretty much everyone will fit this kayak!

It tracks well and is quite a bit wider for its length than  of some of the other brands and certainly lighter in overall weight.
In theory you get very good performance and greater stability with much less weight to push around and get on and off your roof rack!
Remember the more gear you add to your kayak, the more weight you have to paddle and carry!
The leader of our local fishing club loves the Marauder. You can contact him here and find out why!
We will feature more on kayak fishing soon.
Remember your kayak is only one part of the equation.
Learning how to paddle correctly and understanding basic safety needs are equally if not more important than owning a cool fishing machine!

Is this the Ultimate Fishing Machine?

Ocean Kayaks have just launched their new fishing machine. Who would have thought that a live bait tank would be a feature on a kayak?
Check out the video and see the other cool new features.
By the way; we are still waiting for the unveiling of Mission's new fishing kayak!

Fishing from a Kayak

Using a kayak to fish from is becoming very popular. There are many reasons for this. On this post and subsequent posts I will discuss some of the things to consider.
Let's assume that you have decided to try fishing from a kayak and that you do not yet own a suitable kayak.
Sit on top style kayaks offer the best solution. They offer a good stable platform from which to do your fishing.
You will need to consider all the variables such as the length and width of your kayak. Longer kayaks will be relatively narrower than a shorter version. The trade off in stability with a longer kayak is offset by being easier to paddle [longer distances]. Shorter kayaks are often more manoueverable [change direction more easily] which can be an advantage if you are planning to fish in amongst rocky areas.
Safety is paramount. A bouyancy aid [life jacket] is the minimum you should have with you.
Your choice of paddle and suitable clothing to protect you from the elements are also very important.
It is a good idea to take a course or join a kayak fishing club where you will be able to learn how to paddle correctly, and about safety and clothing recommendations.
Becoming skilled at paddling will only enhance your kayak fishing experience.
A reputable kayak retailer is a very good place to start, as they should let you try before you buy, and spend time with you discussing the best options for you. Choosing the best kayak for fishing is very subjective - it is vital that you are comfortable with the model that you feel suits you best.
Canoe and Kayak in Manukau Auckland is a very good place to start.
In future articles we will discuss fishing from your kayak in more detail and we will have great stories and photos and tips and tricks to help you enjoy your fishing experience.
Tight Lines!