YakFishWest

Welcome to YakFishWest, the forum for Kayak Fishing Western Australia, it’s a homegrown source of local information, community, and fishing stories and info! Written by locals, for locals! It’s a great place to start your Kayak Fishing hobby, and an incredible community to be a part off as a Kayak Fisher.  Supported by the Western Australian Kayak Fishing community, it’s the place to discover the amazing kayak country we have here in Western Australia.

Welcome aboard fellow yakkers, make yourself known on the forums, and the fishing community, and get involved with our competitions and local trips.

From all the Admin Team, and the WA Yakking Community, welcome to Yakfishwest.

Kayak Fishing Western Australia

Well – I’ve finally touched down in Blighty after what can be described on the one hand as an amazing trip, and on the other, as a dismal fishing trip.

I spent 3 weeks in Acra, Ghana where there were miles and miles of surf beach.  Great? No with so much crap and rubbish in the water guess what I caught every cast – yep you guessed it plastic bags.  Heres a shot from the beach at Nungua:

To wind up a cracking year of Kayak Fishing with a great community, we held our final event for the year, Yakfishwests Canning Classic on Sunday December 6th 2009. In the form of a social day, with a social bream/flathead catch and release competition in the morning, and a picnic lunch, chinwag and play around on the yaks.

The rules were:

- Competition is a LURE ONLY event! No using of any type of bait, dead or alive. Also no berlying of any kind is permitted!

- All types of kayak or canoe are permitted, also electric and sail power is also allowed.

- No trolling is allowed, that is dragging of a lure, allowing the movement of the kayak to give it it’s action.

- Only one rod is allowed to be used at a time per angler.

I had setup two categories, Live Weigh-In ABT style and Photo Entries as per our usual comps.

What a fantastic day it turned out to be. The weather had been threatening to “blow it’s tit’s off” all day, peaking at nearly 30 knots, but upon arrival at Shelley Beach a tad before 6am, i was greeted by beautiful calm conditions, with a subtle hints of a SSEaster, but little else.

I started getting my yaks of the car, the Revolution Iggy was to be loaned to Wangler’s Scotty Coghlan for the competition, as i know i can trust Scotty (a call i later regretted when he returned my yak with a busted drive after ramming something solid…)…. I also brought the Stealth Supalight-X for my transportation if required, for show, and as a bartering tool to gain access to test rides on other folks yaks after lunch! As i was unloading, a few familiar faces started to arrive, and before long, we had filled most of the parking lane with YTV’s, or Yak Transport Vehicles and were all busy unloading and preparing our weapons.

The assorted craft ready to fish!

Soon the beach was lined with many varying kayak brands, and a multitude of different Hobies, measuring devices were tagged, peeps were primed, and at 7am, a rousing speach by yours truly sent the lads off in search of the elusive black bream. Some went east, some west, some straight out to the “Sticks”, and some chatted for another 10mins or so before ambling on their way!

There Off!!!

Some went that way, some went this way...

Meanwhile, the next 3-4hours for me was spent kicking back at the beach, with the new banner up every second person walking past stopped to ask what Yakfishwest was, and why we had scales setup, and so i talked the talk, and watched a few joggers cruise past. Chatted to a few of the lads on the radio, getting updates by phone, and soon it was obvious that as expected it was extremely hard going out there, and things seemed to have shut down.

One of the lads out at the "Sticks"

Soon tho, a bit of excitement, as Fisho “Fish Watch” Stu got on the UHF, alerting me to some guys illegally cast netting on a bank not far from me. Stu proceeded to give them some stick, and as i walked up to chat also, they jumped in there car and bailed. Good riddance… Tho! Soon enough Scotty is on the phone telling me the very same jokers had rocked up where he was and kept at it! He checked with them that they were sane individuals, before making the required phoning gestures… Retards..

By 11am the lads were beginning to return to the beach, most with tales of small fish, very tough fishing, and no live fish to weigh in! Nath tho came to the rescue, or so i thought, with a fish i his well, i bolted over in anticipation only to be shattered to find a 4 inch Hardy Head swimming around in his esky..

Some of the lads returning.

With the lack of any live fish to weigh in, the prizes for the photo entries JACKPOTTED!! So we all assembled under the monster shade tree, and proceeded to award the prizes for first and second to the appropriate winners (which i’ll list below). Certainly some great performances in the hard conditions encountered today. Nath (86) did well with two categories entered, with a 20cm Bream and a 21cm Grunter, Micheal (Emric) also got two eligible fish with his 18cm Grunter, and equal second place winning Bream at 22.5cm. Pete (Addidaspeteman) did well with a 20cm bream, and 2 decent Flathead at around 33cm, gaining a second place in that category, and Alec (mustrumur) also managed an equal second Longest Bream at 22.5cm and a decent Flathead also at 32cm. Paul (yakyakker) easily took out Longest Flathead with a great fish at over 44cm, Ben (Dahoughsta) took out Longest Bream with his 24cm fish, and Linda (Asalt Weapon 2) landed a 24cm Tailor, succesfully outfishing her hubbie and taking out Longest Other Fish.

The yaks and crew lined up for Booty!

We all sat down for lunch shortly after the prizes were awarded, and some of us took turns on eachothers yaks, Shorty’s Adventure Island was copping a flogging, i had a go myself, and can vouch for the massive fun factor! The wind had really picked up by this stage, pushing 20-25knots, and it really handled it well.  Erin’s Finn Endorfinn also got a run by myself, struggling to not tip it, and a few others had a go on there dream yaks.

A huge thankyou to all the sponsors who provided great prizes, and to all those who attended for making it such a great day! Not many fish were caught, but i’m sure we all had fun, and put a few names to faces!

Thanks All!

Entry List

Gale66 – Pro Angler
Brendan – Quest
Kayakarl – X-13
Griffon – Adventure
Jutto – X-Factor
Mattyoga – X-13
Nath86 – Outback
Addidaspeteman – Mini-X
Da Houghsta – Quest
Shorty – Adventure
FishoStu22 – Outback
Yakyakker – Adventure
Mustrumur – Outback
Dan – Manitou
Dawn – Manitou
Emric – Revolution
AsaltWeapon – Pro Angler
AsaltWeapon2 – Pro Angler
Sott Coghlan – Revolution
Chefdale – Prowler

1. Longest Flathead – As it says, the longest, baddest Flattie you can find!!

First – Yakyakker – 44.5cm
Second - Addidaspeteman – 33.5cm

2. Longest Bream – Again, fairly obvious!

First – DaHoughsta – 24cm
Second – Mustrumur/Emric – 22.5cm

3. Longest “Other” Fish – Any fish other than blowies or the category fish, ie Bream and Flatties!

First - AsaltWeapon2 – 24cm Tailor
Second – Nath86 – 21cm Grunter

Round 2 of the YakFishWest Social Competitions will be held on the weekend of October 17-18th, and is a statewide, multi-category photo based competition. Any ACTIVE, West Australian dwelling member of our forum is eligible to enter, who has access to a decent, legible measuring device, and a camera, or a fishing buddy who has one! Oh, and of course a kayak…

All Fisherfolk interested in submitting a photo entry must be registered by Thursday 15th of October by entering in the Competition forum thread.  It costs nothing to enter so you’ve nothing to loose and everything to win – please support your forum and register even if you can only get an hours fishing in!

This is the first and easiest of a few changes I am making as part of Rig to flip and dress to swim. I have attempted to hang my tackle box in the centre well previously but it didn’t work very well. The hooks that were attached to the box and got in the way of opening and closing box and hooked onto everything and anything when the tray was taken out.

I took to the wire with the pliers again and came up with a new more simple and effective design. One that won’t get broken and won’t get in the way of opening the tray. Now my tackle will be stored safely and out of the way. I can still use the rest of the well for other things.

Cheers,

Swamp

GUIDED KAYAK SAFARI OF EXMOUTH GULF

WILDERNESS ISLAND

WESTERN Angler has teamed with Wilderness Island to offer a unique opportunity for kayak anglers to experience the remote magic of the east side of Exmouth Gulf next year.

WAngler readers will be familiar with the Wilderness Island fishing camp and its spectacular fishing, which featured in the Aug-Sep magazine this year.

With its protected waters, shallow flats and countless creeks, the east side of the gulf is perfect for kayak exploration and 10 places (BYO kayak and fishing gear) are available for a week of guided ‘yak fishing action out of Wilderness Island, from May 9-15 next year.

The week will include fully guided creek, flats and bluewater fishing, with all food, drinks, accommodation, transfers to Wilderness from Exmouth and kayak transportation during the week included. During the week we will have fully boat supported trips around the area, including a possible overnighter (weather depending) to the Murion Islands!!

Also included in the package is a night at the luxurious Novotel Ningaloo Resort in Exmouth before heading across to Wilderness.

Species likely to be encountered during the week include spanish mackerel, longtail tuna, golden and giant trevally, mangrove jack, yellowfin bream, permit and queenfish.

There will be three boats acting as motherships for the week, and Western Angler editor and keen kayak angler Scott Coghlan, Kayak Angler columnist Brett Ozanne and Boating Angler columnist Darryl Hitchen, as well as two local guides, will be there to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Cost is $2660 per head and bookings can be made through Western Angler on 0414 685 169, or PM Brett Ozanne (Shufoy) for more information.

Spots are limited, so get in early for an incredible Yak Fishing Safari of  lifetime!!!

http://www.wilderness-island.com.au/

After finally shaking the Snapperitis, i got my first Bream of the warmer months today. Hit deepwater in the river, and tried looking around for some early season (i think…) Mulloway, with no result. Soaked a big bait while prospecting, but it was dispatched by Crabs and other pickers.

So switching to the Bream rods just as dusk approached returned some decent Black Bream on lures! The trusty Ecogear SX40 did the damage, on my light outfit, casting toward the bank and rocky outcrops and retrieving erratically!

This little fella was super dark in colour, and very energetic on release!!

Lot's of smallish Bream around the 20cm mark, water was still very tannin stained, bright lures did the damage!

Best for me for the day, in total landed probably 6-8 bream.

Great arvo on the river, was beautiful, sunny and calm. Tho heaps of boat traffic probably contributed to fish being flighty. Landed two small Tailor also, and only saw one blowie all day!

Thanks to Paul (Yakyakker) for the company!

Dark Red Joy

With me running the KFWA Statewide Saltwater Showdown this weekend, and not having to compete, i thought i would get out and have a go myself. Unfortunately i also had a massive week with the Dowerin Field Day, and being down there for 4 days meant i was absolutely buggered by the time the weekend came around. So on saturday i hit the offshore reefs with Matt for donuts, and thismorning i thought i would try the inshore waters for a Pinky.

Launched solo before dawn, and headed out in calm conditions to my mark, where i got some berley in the water, followed by a mulie, and an assortment of different plastics. Over the course of the morning i landed many small Skippy, with the largest going 23cm, and three Herring 22, 19 and 21cm giving a Three of a Kind of 62cm (One of our comps categories).

One of these Herring found itself with a couple of carbon steel peircings and went back in the drink, after about 45mins, the rod goes off, and a torrid fight ensues with a good size Snapper. This guy fought hard, and i was struggling to get him up, allowing me to think he was a MONSTER!!!!!!! But in the end once netted, it turned out he was foul hooked just under the jaw!

This is one of the most incredible looking Pink Snapper i’ve ever caught with it’s dark red colouring, certainly see why they call them big reds! This fella went somewhere around 85cm ish, and after a short swim, powered back into the depths to fight another day!

The Big Red Beast from the depths!!

Was a pleasant day out there today, and I also caught up with Ian (Beluga), Chris (Desperate2fish), Herb (Old Bloke) and on the way in past the afternoon shift in Col(Shorty) and Matt (Yoga!). Was great to see so many yaks out there this weekend, and i hope you all got scales on the deck, and some great entries for the comp!

Bub’s and Banjo’s!

I too saw the window open, and through it i ran forth!!!

Toddled out to the mark after work this evening, went solo which wasn’t really a problem, if i had a catastrophic hull failure, there was 6 boats within dog-paddle range to swim too..  Was quiet early, not really suprising with the constant boat traffic. Some of the boats got fish, few good size ones i could see, and many boys hanging of screaming eagle rays!

After the last boat had split, i cruised over to one of my favourite spots, and hung out the pick, poured as much of the last of the berley out, and waited. Calm night, with a almost full moon, it was magic out there! Soon the Magnum Butt is bending, and the reel starts giving up line, i grab the rod and nothing…

Which is fine as the other rod has just gone off! I reel the last of the line in and stash the rod, feels like an decent fish, and i slug it out with a nice 60cm Snapper.

First of the Night!

I grab a snap of the snap and give him the kiss of life, he powers off! Now im almost out of bait, and sacrifice my last Scaly for berley, leaving my last bait out, and i’m working the plastic on the 10lb gear. I feel a touch on the plastic, bump, and BANG! I’m ON!! Feel’s solid on the light gear, and slugs it right out to the yak. Get him onboard, a feisty 65cm fish, which i dispatch for Friday Dinner!

Number two he say's!

So i’m stowing the fish, and i hear my Twinpower ’s drag singing!! I grab the rod and play the fish? Well i’m not exactly sure what it is, kinda ray like but not… Up to the boat comes this fella, a Banjo Shark i think there called, or a Fiddler Ray?

And 3, well kinda anyway's!!

I manage to get the hooks out of his lip, and give him a bit of a swim, and he’s off too!

Awesome night, a few good fish, and some top tucker for tomorrow night! Fancy that, all the fish after the last boat had left, and all in an hour..

As i packed up my gear i wandered over to the car, and i had a visitor on my window, creepy….

Over the last month,  i’ve spent a heap of time on the water targeting Pink Snapper around the inshore waters of Perth.  I’ve tries many different techniques, ranging from bait, to Jigs, with varied success. Here is a summary of the best trips, with some super hot sessions, and plenty of cracking Pinkies landed as the end of the season approaches!

Enjoy!

Good Karma – August, Sunday.

Tonight, was one of those nights. I felt a chance heading down, talked it up with myself a bit, was confident. Got home after being out all day with enough time and a leave pass, for a fish, checked the forums, and a few were enroute, passed Paul on the way and he followed me all the way to the launch, where Shorty rocked up 5 mins later, funny little coincidences

Whilst rigging up, saw Graeme departing, and another yakker clearing the heads, which turned out to be Dan. All good, remembered everything, got set and away we went. Fairly calmish, till we hit open water. A gentle swell and plenty of wind chop produced messy conditions, so myself and Paul headed across the bay, where i left Paul to troll, and headed right up to the end where i knew there was some ground that’s produced fish before. Things looked fairly quiet here, and Grae commented on the lack of fish, but i stuck to my plan, and dropped a pick just off the structure. Some berley was tossed around, Paul commenting i was feeding the chickens!!:shock: 

It was dusk before the berley took hold, fish started feeding, found my trap, and it was on! My bait rod took a big twitch, so i grabbed it out of the holder, it felt heavy, so i took up a bit of line, felt weight, i struck, and was met with a few kicks, and the sound of braid whizzing thru alconite eyelets!!!  At this stage Dan and Dawn had cruised past me on the way home, and sat back to watch the show. I was telling Dan at this time almost in jest, this is when they come on the bite! How right i was!! 

This fish played hard, and at one stage almost wrapped the anchor, but eventually got him yakside. A ripper 70cm+ Snapper that got the kiss of life, and back he went.

Good honest Pinky

So after the kufuffle i got another bait back in the water asap, got myself set again, reset my Plastic as well, fed the chooks again, and sat back. My soft plastic had a bit of a touch, but nothing else. Then again, the bait rod takes a hit!! It’s out of the holder faster than a jatz cracker and i take up the slack, another solid hit follows, and the weight starts to increase! A whack of the tail reverbs down the line, and i strike! It comes up solid and i’m on, another slugfest commences!!

Photo by Paul(Yakyakker), thanks mate!

The fish slips into my net for number 2 of the night, and a little bigger this time, at 75cm-ish, the chunky little blighter poses for a few pics by Paul, and he gets a bit of a swim, and away he goes. Double karma points for me. I turned to Paul at this point and said if I get another i’ll take him home!

So anyway by now i’m fairly stoked, and ready to cruise, but the boys are keen to hang around, so i think i’ll stay too. Glad i did, as after another short pause, i’m on again. This one feels solid, good head shakes, short runs, its on!!! Good fight follows, and he gets wrapped around the anchor rope!! I can feel the line rubbing, and then it goes slack, only for a second tho as the fish’s protests soon become evident!! I play the fish yakside, and he’s being stubbon, but into the net he goes!! The boys come over and have a look, as i’m breathless, thrilled at the horse in the net, great fish!

Great Fish!! Snapper Yakker!!!!!!!!

Picking this fish up for a few snaps, and he’s still strong, and not that impressed at his dilemma! So i get Paul to take a few pics, and give him a swim, he’s still pretty green, and soon spasms into life, so i release him. He gives me the old seeya later with a kick of the tail, and a facefull of saltwater!

What a night. Three good fish landed, and released. Go home happy, and hungry for the next trip. Thanks for the company Paul, Graeme, Shorty and great meeting you Dan and Dawn.

This is some good advice I remember reading when i first discovered kayak fishing.  It is some advice I haven’t really listened to. Fishing protected waters I developed a bad habit of trying to take every lure I owned with me on every trip. When I started fishing offshore I cut my gear back significantly but over time I have added more and more gear to my kit.

I have been kayak fishing on a regular basis for 2 and a half years and I have yet to capsize. On the weekend just past I came very close. I was fighting a Queenfish and I lent over the side to take shot of it underwater. As I did so the fish pulled my kayak around side on the wind chop and went down. As I rolled down into the trough of the wave I teetered on the edge of my balance and the side of my yak dug into the next wave. I managed to hold it together and regain my balance but it was close and I got quite a scare.

The picture that nearly cost me

I was pretty close to losing it, I am pretty sure I could have bailed and stopped the yak from going over. Had I gone in I am confident, having practiced plenty of times, that I can right the yak and make a deep water re-entry.  As I got myself together I assessed the gear I would have lost had I gone in.  Rod and reel in one hand, camera in the other both unleashed. The centre well was half shut so potentially all of my tackle, drinking water, pliers, knife and bragmat. Anchor, drogue and extra water bottle in the rear well. The seal i put on the sounder compartment has failed so possibly sounder gone too. A capsize would have been a costly exercise!

Over the next few weeks i am going to make some changes to the gear I take and the rigging of my yak so that I am better prepared for when I go over.  Stay tuned I’ll be putting together a series of posts on this topic.