First try at kayak fishing

Jewies, big reds, macks & more - tell us how you went. NT, FNQ and Norwest.
Post Reply
Pecheur
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 2139
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:50 pm
Location: Darwin
Contact:

First try at kayak fishing

Post by Pecheur »

Hi there,

Yes last weekend, I had my first real try at fishing from a kayak.
And I loved it, it is a very exciting form of fishing.

Aaron had sent me a message, asking me if I wanted to go fishing from one of his kayak the following day. He just had a great morning fishing, and wanted to do it again the next day.
I love fishing, yet I was not too sure about doing it from a kayak. Above waters in which crocodiles and sharks are swimming.
Yet it is a long time since I had some fresh smoked fish, and the idea of it made me say yes.
We arranged to meet at 6:30 am at East Point, one of my favourite land based fishing spot in Darwin. With the day rising and the cold of the dry season on us, (it was actually on the coldest night/morning of the year so far). We started to get the two kayak ready, loaded with all the fishing gear that we would need, for just a quick trip on the water.
And just on sunrise we launched the two small embarkations, in direction of the fishing grounds.

Image
Kayaking at sunrise.

This was at the same time beautiful and relaxing, but with a tiny edge of nervousness. I have many times seen crocodiles around there, and I was not overtly comfortable entering their territory, and being so close to the water at the same time.

Image
Close to the water.

Fishing from the rocks on the water edge is one thing. But being literally sitting a few centimetres above it, is another.
Aaron told me that as soon as I would get a fish, I would be alright and forget all about it.
Well, it didn't take long, 19 minutes after launch, I was battling a Queenfish that had taken my lure. I know that it was only 19 minutes after launch, because I had turned my video camera on just as we were launching, and on the movie, the hit came in at 19 minutes on the dot.

We were fishing in close proximity of each other, as they said that there is safety in numbers.
When we saw a school of Queenfish, following and trying to take hold of Aaron lure.
As we both screamed about it, I immediately casted my lure toward the watery commotion and reeled in as fast as I could. To absolutely no results. Aaron did a second cast, and as he was retrieving his lure at high speed, I casted too. Just as I had casted my lure, who was still flying in the air, I saw once again the Queenfish having a go at his lure, and this time very close to his kayak.
I could only exclaim with a big Ah! Thinking that I may have now casted my lure way too far from the school of hungry fish to stand any chances to entice one of them to chew on my offering.
Yet, I still tried to get my lure in as fast as I could. And not far from the kayak, I first saw a fin tail, a bit of a boil in the water, and I could not reel in my lure anymore, it was being taken away from me at great speed.
I was on!

The fish didn't take long to make a nice little jump, and then I knew for sure that it was a Queenfish.

I think that I must have then started to shout and screamed like an over excited kid. Who has never fished before and has just caught his first fish ever.
Yes, sometimes when fishing, I can act a bit like a happy child...

Image
bringing in the Queenfish.

On the kayak in the background was Tristan, who had just arrived in time to see that the fish were there. This Queenfish wasn't one of the biggest ones. But it was healthy and gave a very good account of himself. Once it was near the kayak I was afraid that it would dive under and resurface on the other side. Luckily, it didn't happen. The little Queenfish was boated, photographed, and released.
Released, when I wanted to eat some fresh fish?
Well yes, it started so well, that I decided to wait for the next fish before I kept one...
Will I ever learn?
That was the only fish I caught on the day, and if I want to eat some fish this week, I will have to eat some frozen one...

Anyway, here is my little fish:

Image
Queenfish caught from the kayak.

Yes, this is definitively a very exciting form of fishing, where you are in very close contact with mother nature. I was starting to love that.

Aaron for his part got a nice little Trevally, which he released too.

Image
Aaron fishing from his kayak on Darwin harbour.

Aaron has now written a few magazine article about fishing from a kayak, and is a great advocate about it. His passion for it is contagious, and he has even talked about it on the local radio.
Thank you Aaron for inviting to fish from one of your kayak, this was a great morning session.

One of the funny thing about this fishing trip, is that in his messages Aaron had told me to take some popper and some skipping lure or stick bait.
Now, I have some popper, but don't have any skipping lures or stick bait. So what did I take with me?
A walk the dog lure, and used it as a stick bait, reeling it in very fast.
And it worked.
I had already caught smaller queenfish with that very lure, but using it as it should be, walking the dog. Just a bit faster than normal, but still walking the dog style. In fact I have caught Barramundi, Trevally, and Queenfish on this lure so far, so I really like it.
This is what it look like:

Image
My favourite walk the dog lure.

And because you have been reading so far in this post, now you can see the little video of our morning fishing, from the kayak, like if you were seated in it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS-FVO_-Vcs
Fishing from the kayak. (Sorry I didn't managed to embed the video in the post, but just to put the link here)

Yes, it is a short film of only four minutes, And I am definitively no Stanley Kubrick, I need to make a lot of progress in the video department, I know. But it is four minutes of angling bliss.
It would have been better if I had a film with more fishes in it.
So you would all get excited and would want to go and fish from a kayak too.

And that is is for now.

Have a good day,
Pecheur


john d
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 796
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 8:29 am
Location: darwin/jabiru

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by john d »

Great stuff pechure. :mrgreen:
Well done on getting a fish from a yak first go, it is a real challenge. 8)
You will be buying one next.
Haven't been able to get mine on the water this year but you have got me motivated.
Next work break I will get out at lee point which is my usual yaking area.
:cheers:
shaggs
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 1692
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:13 am
Location: HUMPTY DOO

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by shaggs »

Well done Pech
The video turned out great ,good to watch
The past is history,the future is mystery,the moment is a gift and that's why it's called the present
nomad
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 5770
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:29 pm
Location: PALMERSTON
Contact:

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by nomad »

Good on you mate. At last you've found a boat you can drive , ha
User avatar
Lats
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 3185
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:27 pm
Location: Marlow Lagoon

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by Lats »

Nice one Pech. I think everyone has done the whole "I'll keep the next fish" and come unstuck. I take it you will be doing it again?
jeffish
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 3716
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2011 8:25 am
Location: Darwin

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by jeffish »

Nice one lads 8) ,, I just gotta try this one day looks like tooo much fun :cheers:

Might have to tow another Yak behind to hold the beer esky :mrgreen:
User avatar
Dinger
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 143
Joined: Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:53 pm

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by Dinger »

Nice one Pech
User avatar
Matt Flynn
Site Administrator
Site Administrator
Posts: 16187
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 9:30 am
Location: Somewhat Southerly
Contact:

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by Matt Flynn »

Sounds like a hoot Pecheur :mrgreen:

A dry fuel booster for NT yaks is sorely needed. Just pull a string ... gone :mrgreen:
NBN
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 620
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:45 pm

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by NBN »

Thx Pecheur and well done! That's a sweet set up.

I do a fair bit of yak fishing; great for stealthily accessing rarely fished sections of rivers and creeks down here. Obviously not for you. Having said that I have been shadowed by a couple of hammerheads on Lake Mac, lucky they are well fed I guess.

It's amazing how even small fish like the salmon and rat kings I target can tow you around. Although the 'HMAS Pech' looked quite significant compared to my little tub.
Pecheur
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 2139
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:50 pm
Location: Darwin
Contact:

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by Pecheur »

Hi there,
john d wrote: You will be buying one next.
I would not hold my breath on that one.
I loved it, but it is still a bit too close to the water for me to totally relax...
:croc:
shaggs wrote: The video turned out great ,good to watch
Thank you, but really I need more practice...
Which is why I need to go back fishing...
:wink:
nomad wrote: At last you've found a boat you can drive , ha
Lol, just, but it's only because it is not going too fast!
:lol:
Lats wrote:I think everyone has done the whole "I'll keep the next fish" and come unstuck. I take it you will be doing it again?
I wouldn't be surprise about that...
:roll: :D
jeffish wrote: I just gotta try this one day looks like tooo much fun
You should try it once, that is real fun.
Dinger wrote:Nice one Pech
Thanks!
Matt Flynn wrote:Sounds like a hoot Pecheur :mrgreen:

A dry fuel booster for NT yaks is sorely needed. Just pull a string ... gone :mrgreen:
A hoot it is.
And yes a booster would be nice, or some kind of electromagnetic field?
:wink:
NBN wrote:
I do a fair bit of yak fishing; great for stealthily accessing rarely fished sections of rivers and creeks down here.
Although the 'HMAS Pech' looked quite significant compared to my little tub.
No way I am going in a rarely fish section of a river on a kayak up here! No way!!!
The kayak is not mine, it belong to Aaron, who kindly lent it to me for the trip, while he was on another one.

Have a good day,
Pecheur
User avatar
Once Bitten
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 699
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2013 12:12 am

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by Once Bitten »

Nice one Pecheur, great fish! Fishing really is an addiction!!! Good on you Aaron for giving A fellow fisho a crack at something new. Something I'd like to have a crack at one day. Well done!
... <NAUGHTY{ ... <NAUGHTY{ ... <NAUGHTY{

My missus wants to buy me a GoPro...she said I need it... It's like a black box recorder for fishos...
Anon
Seadog
Seadog
Posts: 323
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2015 12:22 am

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by Anon »

Awesome
Looks like fun...
User avatar
arrabmundi
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 180
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:05 am
Location: Darwin
Contact:

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by arrabmundi »

Its been a while since I looked at this forum, great to see your still mad keen.
Nice action you've got there on that surface lure, well done.
Northern Top Water Tackle, only the best in heavy top water gear
www.ntwt.com.au
Pecheur
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 2139
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:50 pm
Location: Darwin
Contact:

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by Pecheur »

Hi there,
Once Bitten wrote:Fishing really is an addiction!!! Good on you Aaron for giving A fellow fisho a crack at something new. Something I'd like to have a crack at one day.
No it is not an addiction. I will do just one more cast, and I can stop when ever I want...
:P
Yes t was kind from Aaron to lent me the Kayak, it was great fun, you should try it.
Brendan wrote:Awesome
Looks like fun...
It is a lot of fun, you should try it.
arrabmundi wrote:great to see your still mad keen.
Nice action you've got there on that surface lure, well done.
Keen yes, but not mad... Or not much...
:wink:
And yes, I still dream of coming to see you one day to have a try at all these fish you get on surface lure yourself. They are great.

Have a good day,
Pecheur
Tom27
New Member
New Member
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:03 pm

Re: First try at kayak fishing

Post by Tom27 »

Hi I am thinking about buying a kayak and go fishing , I'd like to go out with someone else at least at the start as I've never tried ! Anyone know how to get in contact with Aaron? I've seen his post on Facebook, he's still kayak fishing, I just can't message him or add him to friends
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Bluewater”