Paddle paddle fishy fishy...

**Paul in NZ** · 30th December 2008, 15:38

Not much fun riding bikes while the holiday traffics so thick but the weathers nice and I got a boat rod for chrissy (first ever fishing rod - always a handline dude)... so....

This morning I fitted the kayaks out with rod holders, fitted paddle leashes, a fish box on the back and rigged an anchor to one of them and Scott and I went fishin'

Erk - the wind had come up while we were boat fixin' so it was one wild ride and I was NOT going to chuck out an anchor in that sloppy mess so we trolled down the beach for Kawahi. Vicki n Amber plus Cody the puppy (who lurves the beach) drove down the coast to pick us up...

It was a bit rough and getting windier and 'orrible, not quite dangerous but Scotts not go much paddle time in and it was my first float of the summer but - yes, we caught a little Kawahi, not a keeper but he got a bit banged up in the haul and didn't survive.

Cor - fishing from the kayaks is the funnest, it was as much fun as the bike with less traffic.

**DingoZ** · 30th December 2008, 15:41

Nice way to spend a day....but where's the pictures....?

**Paul in NZ** · 30th December 2008, 18:08

Originally Posted by DingoZ

Nice way to spend a day....but where's the pictures....?

Um - I wasn't letting go of the paddle today mate.... It was 'lumpy'...

Real cool to see the foredeck burst up through a breaking swell while paddling strong but awesome fun with a following sea and riding the breakers...

**Storm** · 30th December 2008, 20:08

Well done that man

Be sure to show us pics when you catch the big ones

**98tls** · 30th December 2008, 20:15

Good work,been surfcasting for years and on the really flat days have often mused about doing just what you guys did.

**Matt_TG** · 30th December 2008, 20:55

I'm into surfcasting, my brother in law has a kayak rigged up with rod holders, sea anchor (floats behind like a kite tail) and compartments everywhere. He's hardly used it... may have to borrow it one day soon, but it looks like it would be bedlam if you hooked anything decent!

The other night three kayaks went off the beach here at Papamoa, I lost sight of them pretty quickly, and they didn't come back whilst I was still on the beach - at that time it was dark. Bit of a bugger as I would have loved to see what they caught.

Myself I got two small Kahawai and three huge crabs lol. Maybe I'll just paddle out on the surfboard and tow my line out 100 metres.

**Paul in NZ** · 31st December 2008, 07:02

Fishing off kayaks has become a big thing and it's not too tricky (apparently). You can even get some specialised units. The first sit on tops we built to allow divers to get out to reefs on surf beaches so people have been doing it for yonks.

Best go for kawahi (so far) is to tow a lure beyond the surf break. Caught a couple of real beauts that way and you can just tow em up the beach for an easy sort out.

Some folks here use a kayak to tow out a long line either set or beach based.

I need to find out more about the rod fishing lark cos Scott and I reckon there are giant snapper out there just waiting for us to eat....

**Paul in NZ** · 31st December 2008, 07:03

Originally Posted by Matt_TG

The other night three kayaks went off the beach here at Papamoa, I lost sight of them pretty quickly, and they didn't come back whilst I was still on the beach - at that time it was dark. Bit of a bugger as I would have loved to see what they caught.

Myself I got two small Kahawai and three huge crabs lol. Maybe I'll just paddle out on the surfboard and tow my line out 100 metres.

Yup - its big up your way - there is a great kayak shop there and they are right into kayak fishing.

**Paul in NZ** · 10th January 2009, 21:05

Oh POOH!

Great morning on the water here on the Kapiti coast. The nor wester finally dropped and the southerly held off giving Vicki a paddly paddly time....

Had a couple of hook ups but a lack of skill and poss poor rigging of the soft baits I was using only got me 1 snapper up to the kayak before it made a last gasp, and ultimately successful, leap for freedom (damn - that was dinner)...

Still - 2 hours on the water, GREAT stuff... I really need a sea anchor to slow my drift (cool more shit to buy) and Vicki needs a rod now.. ;-)

A kayak one swell up caught a whopper (bastard)...

**Madness** · 10th January 2009, 21:15

There was an Expert on te news tonight, talking of sharks coming into shallower waters this summer

. He warned of a likely imminent encounter between a Mako and a kayaker somewhere in NZ and warned against fishing from kayaks.

Isn't it just great how there's always someone looking out for your safety in this country, no matter what you might find enjoyable.

**riffer** · 10th January 2009, 21:17

I bought a couple of Kilwell rods from Rebel Sports over Xmas to try and shut up oldest boy who's been hassling me about fishing.

I took him out last Saturday to Point Howard wharf (yes, when it was blowing 100km/hr and raining) to try and put him off a bit.

Little bugger scored two Trevally within half an hour and has been pestering me non-stop ever since.

Can anyone recommend any other kid-friendly spots to take the boys this summer?

**Matt_TG** · 11th January 2009, 09:27

Grrrrr. Six kayak lads came in the other night. Each of then had 5 or 6 good sized snapper on board, with a few decent kawahai thrown in. All using lightweight jig rods and 'Gulp' plastic baits. Not only are they catching the buggers they are not getting their hands smelly from bait.

I came away from the beach with about 5 kg's of sea lettuce ...

**Paul in NZ** · 11th January 2009, 09:50

Originally Posted by Madness

There was an Expert on te news tonight, talking of sharks coming into shallower waters this summer

. He warned of a likely imminent encounter between a Mako and a kayaker somewhere in NZ and warned against fishing from kayaks.

Isn't it just great how there's always someone looking out for your safety in this country, no matter what you might find enjoyable.

Yup! I tell ya, a big ol shark looks waaaay bigger from a kayak!

A dude I know here regularly sets out a long line from his kayak - hes pretty staunch because I tell you he goes waaaay out in some leery seas. So one day I'm pootling about in my longer boat (Scupper Pro) and he blats out off to pick up his long line. 'Come for a paddle' he says, 'I could do with the company'.. Fair enough, it was a bit breezy with a big lazy swell rolling in and its a lot easier to clamber back into a kayak with a helper...

Anywho... We were out on the deep growly bits and I was feeling a little uncomfortable but the boat was not really troubled so I just kept way on into the weather while he hauled in his long line...

'Glad you came out.' says he.... (I basked in accomplishment feeling my fellow seafarer had obviously recognised my stunning ability handling my vessel and probably felt safer just knowing I was at hand....)

'Yeah - there was one big arsed shark out here when I set the line out.'

OK - he had my attention... 'Erm - really? (voice went up a tad in pitch from manly seafarer to scared cabin boy).... Um - how big do ya reckon?'

He stopped hauling in line for a second and screwed up his face a bit... 'Oh, easily longer than your kayak (4.5M).....'

Fark! 5M? Thats a BIG anything...

So, job done we head back, I spluttered, 'You bastard, you trying to give me a heart attack? There was no shark was there...?

'Oh yeah, there sure was he said....'

'Then why did you ask me to come out, protection in numbers or something?"

'Well, he smiled, if push come to shove, I reckon I can paddle faster than you so you could say that....'

Damn - seafarer to shark bait....

There are lots of sharks off Kapiti beaches but they are not the people bothering sort. Sometimes a great white ot mako etc appears around kapiti Island but I'm too old n fat n chicken to go that far..... I'm not aware of any shark incidents on raumati beaches?

yet....

**Paul in NZ** · 11th January 2009, 09:51

Originally Posted by Matt_TG

Grrrrr. Six kayak lads came in the other night. Each of then had 5 or 6 good sized snapper on board, with a few decent kawahai thrown in. All using lightweight jig rods and 'Gulp' plastic baits. Not only are they catching the buggers they are not getting their hands smelly from bait.

I came away from the beach with about 5 kg's of sea lettuce ...

How were they rigging the soft baits?

**Paul in NZ** · 11th January 2009, 09:53

Originally Posted by riffer

I bought a couple of Kilwell rods from Rebel Sports over Xmas to try and shut up oldest boy who's been hassling me about fishing.

I took him out last Saturday to Point Howard wharf (yes, when it was blowing 100km/hr and raining) to try and put him off a bit.

Little bugger scored two Trevally within half an hour and has been pestering me non-stop ever since.

Can anyone recommend any other kid-friendly spots to take the boys this summer?

At high tide lots fish off the Raumati South rocks. Along the waterfront or at the little slipway thing...