Bay Report 27/7

[Phoenix]

Well took my sister in laws BF (Allyn) out for his first time in a kayak.

As we got into deeper water I decided to drop out a lure (gold bomber) to see what was around. Shortly zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and the line was off. So much so I tthought the fish might try and steal my car it was clearly headed for the car park. Pahh to the person who said that a kayak would be too slow to troll a lure.

Well Allyn hasn't much experience with fishing so he locked up the drag completly and fought the fish. Clearly this fish had some serious fight in him and the rod was going every which way - finally some colour and a tailor appeared - 32cm.

With so much fight we decided to relase the fish - and I explained the principles of drag.

We tried a few locations for bait fishing but there was a lot of weed - so we moved further out into about 5 metres of water. Not long after my handline was clearly being attached - but no hook-up. So out it went again and same thing. Dammit - I was thinking crabs.

Then the next time - a clear hook up and the fish decided to try for a undersea speed record! After about 15 minutes of fighting some real colour and my first (ever) Snapper. Unsure of exactly what the legal requirements for snapper are I decided to release it - but it was around 42cm, and had a good weight about it.

Allyn was trying out Soft Plastics (old style red squidgies) and got a few nudges. he was loving it. Being welsh he fishes for Mackeral and Pollock. Both small very fish and hadn't really ever seen fish this big before.

A short while later my handline went off again - and once more the familiar head shakes - this fish was swimming everywhere looking for a way out. 15 of so minutes later some more nice colour and appeared another snapper or Squire at 40cm. This one was also released.

The tide had dropped considerably by the time we went in and we found it very difficult to navigate around the rocks and reef - so ended up walking around 200 metres. All in all, a great day out. And I'll be back at that place this weekend with my Mrs to pick up a few fish for dinner.

A big thanks to all those who offered advice on location and technique.

[cobiaman]

well done mate, legal size on snapper is 35cm

[Jeremy]

Pahh to the person who said that a kayak would be too slow to troll a lure

I said a kayak would be too slow for trolling lures for tuna and mackerel offshore from the Gold Coast Seaway. Pull ur head in and stop sending me PMs FFS.

Jeremy

[beefaman]

Sounds like a lovers tiff starting

[Phoenix]

On the sunshine coast Tuna up to 20 kilos have been caught on lures from a kayak - lures such as the Rapalla X-Rap and similar. Spanish Mackeral have been caught up to 19.5 kilos on Spanyard Specials and bombers.

There's no reason why they shouldn't work in other areas such as the GC.

I'll let ya know how they work out as we go.