krause

Headed South tomorrow, check the Kayak section or PM...

Last second call for anyone interested....

Tide makes a difference but on populated beaches I normally make a habit of evening fishing. Rock up prior to sunset so you can find a good location and set up camp. Doing so avoids a bulk of the day crowds but allows you to see where to fish. Ill then normally fish into the night until I'm bored. Everyone has a theory on tide and generally no two people will agree. I like a high tide, but in saying that if I only fish during that time because I think its the best, then of course ill catch all my fish at high tide! It quickly becomes bias... I personally think beach fishing is structure dependent so that should be my first port of call. Buuut structure changes with tide so it quickly becomes a nightmare. My thoughts, don't fixate to hard... Get out when you can, fish "good" and "bad" times and see what works

You get very good very quickly at wrestling assorted dangerous things in your lap. Rule one is point toothy things away from your crotch! The convenience of living near the water and owning a yak would be what dreams are made of. I wouldn't know as I live no where near the water but I can only imagine. You'll have a ball

Hey mate good to here from you, my reload is still going strong as well. I'm in the same book as you with work, gone are the loose days of choosing when to fish, now I just "go" when I can. If ever you're back up you've got my details, well go chase something somewhere. Cheers mate

Gotta aim big, though I agree its probably smart to have more than a 2.8m yak and a coles bag at hand. Rats are entertainment enough on their own IMO but always hoping for those bigger models. Sinker size, err about that big? I can find out for you but its a rough science. I have a number of sizes and use them loosely, the reality is if you're drifting they all sink down and if you're moving they'll all sit in the top few meters. Minimum of about 60g maybe? Idunno but theyre not small, but still towable in a kayak. Speed is what ever is comfortable, ave of about 4kmh according to my sounder

Your man above is on the money. Ganghooks and whole pillies, bigger sinker, berley will get you in trouble on the Northern Beaches but if you use it make sure its washing towards where you're fishing not away from it, be mindful of surfers, the lagoon will flow out into structure but choose the best looking structure on the day and remember that very high flow areas can prove to be a real pain. Dont fixate on a single beach either, go for a drive if youre not happy with narra

Get a feel for it all first but I'd join in for a trip to Kurnel, though they police that wharf pretty well. I generally go to Molli if I'm headed to BB as its a little manageable. Though it can get like a parking lot on weekends.... Can produce the goods though

Lets make clear i don't land monsters, but I guess that's the goal. I just run a poor mans down rigger. No room for real down riggers on the yak and towing that resistance would prove painful. A poor mans does the trick though, if they're marking on the bottom then ill hit the brakes and get the bait down there. North Head has never proven fruitful for mass numbers of rats for me, I generally would get one solid hit a trip and that was it, alongside whatever I could spin up along the way. Though I don't frequent the area as much as I once did

Down south has all the cheat codes activated, hardly open water. A good spot to test yourself in a bit of swell with local company and safety near by. Current and backwash can present problems but like anything you choose your conditions wisely. You shouldn't be out there if conditions are uncomfortable. What denotes suitable conditions depends on the location, and your understanding of the area. You'll almost always have swell and backwash to deal with but you get used to letting the kayak rock side to side and going up and down as well as whats a safe distance from the cliffs and what areas are to be avoided. For example North head always feels very rough on the way out to Old Mans Hat and I've seen people turn around because of it, but its always more comfortable past OMH in the primary swell. I also swing very wide around the SE corner of the headland as I don't like to risk going surfing. A suitable level of scepticism and following others will get you a long way in learning whats where. I always collect livies from the yak, and as a result I generally fish areas where live bait is reliable and on the way out. Actually that's another reason I find fishing systems a pain, paddling to find live bait can be a real effort especially if it is mobile or variable.

Hi all, In an attempt to spark conversation, here is my new live tank pump assembly. All self contained under the lid of a water tight hatch on my kayak. 38mm inline pump sits in a scupper hole and is always primed. Its plumbed into the tank (a very high tech device called a bucket) which simple has an overflow on the top and a ball valve at the base if needed. Compact and convinient. Who else has a home build or two?

Derek is on the money, little manly is your spot to go

Sounds like North/Middle harbor might be the go? Though I do have a hatred for fishing systems, the traffic and the learning curve... bleh! But ill always give it a bash, you never know! Maybe we can recruit Derek as our guide to middle harbor? If people are game / feeling safety in numbers, Northhead is always worth a shot. I'm familiar enough with the area though I'm not one for secret spots. I just troll live baits around and hope for the best. And I ignore people like sharknett who have landed monster kings Ill blame my losses on not having a hobbie and getting towed into the rocks as a result. But real yakkers paddle I was down south in Lungfai's backyard over the weekend and ended up with a nice mixed bag of rat kings, salmon, big bonnies and even a little mac! A good day on the water with no company due to the forecast and recent weather. Back at the ramp at 9 right before the southerly came threw.

Come on mate, take the redbacks out fo a tour of the port, theyll love it. Ill have to find time when the weathers good and hit the stones down your way. I dont do it enough anymore

Thanks mate... Tagging is a solid idea that ill use moving forward, but I'm just trying to shake the tree and see what falls out. Even if its an "aggressive" shake, which I apologize for. Its less about reading archived kayak posts, more about hearing new names or rediscovering old ones, and maybe organizing a meet up. But someone has to start the dialogue.... Glad to see a few new names already. I started in the Hacking, waking up at 2.30am to get out of Yowie Bay with live baits at sunrise. Hahaha I was very dedicated, but it was good fun in protected waters where I could learn what the hell I was doing. My first king came from the point out of Yowie. I still fish the eastern areas of Botany and have actually seen some of my best fish in there! There are a few convenient options to get into some kings in there but this time of year it can be like a parking lot on weekends! But you do what you gotta do. Allot of kayaks out there these days, maybe weve chatted in person without knowing it? Port Kembla down south is another excellent hunting ground for aspiring yakkers, I remember a meet we did down there that was plagued by rats. Its normally a reliant haunt with lots of options present, from nice kings through to soapies and flaties (the reports will be somewhere). Cod are something Id love to chase, I've only ever held one but it was from my old yak. Sadly I think I've doomed such ambitions with my new yak as its just too damn long for timber infested fresh water. Maybe with a few more names in the pot we can organize something at one of these locations? Ahem Derek, Allenf, HenryR, Dynabolt, Bigrod, Razzle, Lungfai, Dirvin and so on Conversation inspires conversation

Hi all, Long time since my last post. For context I kayak fish when I can, with decent intent to chase Kings, other pelagics and general "go-fast-fish". Just a call out to any and all kayakers on the forum. Once upon a time we organised a few small meets, and met some friendly faces along the way. Whilst there is a kayak section on the forum, its generally pretty neglected. Maybe to kick start some interest in the topic we should through our names into this thread, Along with what we fish for or what we'd like to catch. There is an ever growing kayak community out there and some of them have to exist on here. ------------------------------------------- To start, I kayak out around headlands throughout Sydney/Wollongong with the general focus of catching my hoodlum. Despite my efforts the buggers drag me into the cliffs or find the bottom every time. Plenty of smaller kings and pelagics as collateral in the process. Whilst I prefer areas with blue water, waves and less crowds, I do venture into the systems from time to time, from chasing salmon in the harbor to freezing my ass off trying to catch hairtail at midnight in the hawkesbury. My most recent trip saw over a dozen fat and healthy rats landed in pretty ordinary conditions at one of my regular haunts where on the way out I watched a nice 3.0m shark cruise past.... my first code brown! Whos next...... Cheers

No, just a bigger kayak. Gotta hold onto that man vs wild title Ill post something up in the gen chat and see if i can stir up some attention. JD, horrible to hear your situation. Ive only just returned to the country and am still getting to fully understand the reach and scale of what has happened. Just hoping everyone stays safe.

Another year gone, I guess its time to check in with the world again? I see the forum limps on. Who's keen for a meet? Not sure where, no area seems to suit everyone but I'm sure we can sort something out....

What yak?

Dereck, you mean to tell me henry the bastard is back fishing again and hasnt told me! Shame on him. Lungfai i hit port the other weekend, lots of rats but no bonnies. Yet to see one this season and starting to get desperate Other than that there are kings a plenty and there are masses of us in bb. Best avoided when possible imo ahahah its like a parking lot out of yarra

Im back. Looking for an update on how the portstephens area is fishing atm. Ill be landbased, primarily rock fishing my normal spots or the breakwall. I might also have a mate bring a small boat, but i personally have no idea what to do with a boat in a system. I noramlly kayak headlands but this boat isn't up to the task so my knowledge is useless. Any pointers appreciated. Cheers all

Its been a while.... anyone still here? 5 posts for 2018, must have been a ripper haha. Whos doing what these days?

Sounds like a nice part of the world to spend a few days at...

Flatiefisher, north head is/will be a major stomping ground for us in a few months so we can definitely keep you in the loop on that one. Potentially also long reef? I don't know hire blue water oriented you are Coastie, how what where etc hahah, no there is a curiousity about the pelagics out front of the haven. Wondering if it gets as good as some say it does?