Hmm $300?

Well first up I haven't done any fishing for 50 years, till a few weeks ago in the Okavango Delta. Course most of you won't know where that is, but its in Botswana in Southern Africa. But, having a AI, I have been following the stories here, and I thought that just maybe I might give it a go.

Today I went looking for gear. Thought $100 would do, but now I am out $300. Course I knew I needed a bait runner reel, and lures. After perusing our local Kmart, where I was surprised that things were looking more like $120, I called on a local guy that makes his living building rods and lures for about 400 local fishing shops.

Actually I suspect his advice was spot on, but its just that I did not think it was going to cost me that much. But now I have everything, lets hope I catch something. Apparently we have lots of game fish around here.

Geoff.

Gepff,Sounds like you have made a good start and probably have the basic gear--fishing gear, like most hobbies, is a bottomless money pit. 

Now you need the experience.  Much of that can be gained from talking to local fishermen, but it takes time.  Maybe there is a fishing magazine which deals with local conditions or similar conditions.  There is usually a weekly fishing report in the local newspaper.  Also, I think there is some old rule to the effect that you don't catch fish if your line is not in the water. 

So, you need to get on the water with your line out.  Unless you are in some type of fishing paradise, you will have some frustration, maybe lots of frustration before you develop that experience.  I remember a professor once saying "if you are not frustrated, you are not learning."

Good luck!

Keith

Hi Keith,

There is a lot to learn. Now that I have a bait runner reel, my first question is how long can I leave the rod screaming away, on the first lo drag. I assume I need to get the sail at least luffed, and grab the rod, and then set the hook. Now is that best with the low drag or the second drag? Then I will need to get the yak round, pointed at the fish, if its still there. But, what happens if I get it in, and its a decent size. Presumably I now need to get it behind the amas, at the back of the AI?

Actually I have been thinking this last week, as it was far too cold and wet to go fishing. But, assuming I actually catch something that is bigger than a throwback, what then? I don't have anything to protect myself while handling a fish. I have a double trace, that will lift 50 lbs, and a trace into the lure that is over 100 lbs strength. But what do I do with the fish? Last I remember they can jump about like mad, and are all spiny and slippery. Sounds like a recipe to get a sharp bit into a soft spot?

I saw something in the fish gear place that seems designed to grab the lip. But I was not sure I could work that with one hand. I have already been told a gaff is not good. Then once you have the lure removed (I also have a stainless pair of pliers), where do you put the thing. I saw a net bag that I assume gets chucked over the side. Is that what you do with fish of any size?

Geoff.

Hi Geoff,

I come from an inshore, flats fishing background.  That means most of the fish I catch are less than .75 meter and weigh 15 lbs (kilos?) or less.  The largest fish I have caught have been from a sea kayak and include 100+ lb tarpon and 100+ lb sharks.  In the case of these large fish, I never make any attempt to get them in (or on) the sea kayak.  One large 5-6 ft shark grabbed a lure of mine and I got him up to the boat twice.  I was about to reach down and try to get the lure when it came loose--lucky for me.  Sharks are very dangerous, and in such circumstances, will snap at your hand if it appears in their eyesight.  My advice for sharks is to waste the lure, cut the line.  In the case above, I wanted the lure because I was in the 2nd day of a weeklong trip, and it was the only large lure I had.  It was intended for tarpon--you will lose the lure with tarpon also, but not your hand. 

Some fish, I consider dangerous and try to avoid.  For example, barracuda (& sharks to a lesser degree) will jump out of the water, presumably in an effort to attack their tormentor.  You do not want to be in front of the business end of a flying barracuda.

If I am fishing from my Hobie Adventure or AI, I always carry a net big enough to hold the fish I intend to catch--it usually works (you still catch sharks, but usually they cut or break the nylon line before they get to be a problem.)

There are several people on this discussion who do go after big fish in deep water.  AlohaDan, in Hawaii, is one such person.  So you should look at his posts.  Other people, perhaps less experienced than A-Dan, also are attempting deep sea fishing--just keep checking this discussion and look at some of the earlier topics.

Here is a link to a very interesting day fishing out of Destin, Florida.  Check out the videos in that discussion.
http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=9548

Where to put the fish?  Again, that is going to vary from person to person.  When I am in a sea kayak (covered cockpit), I just chuck them in the cockpit between my legs.  When I am using my Adventure, they either go in a cooler behind my seat or a thermal bag behing my seat or into the hull via the center hatch.  The Hobie Adventure or AI is a much more convenient fishing machine than a sea kayak.

Keith

Thanks Keith,

I am just back from 1.5 hours off shore. No luck, but it was a fabulous day, with about 6 to 7 knots of wind, and dead flat sea. It was interesting to see how far I can get in that time, as I was about 2 miles offshore.

I ended up buying a lip grip, and a bag that I can put the fish in. But looking at the bag, if its a decent Yellow Fin Tuna, its not going to be easy. Incidentally the guy I got my tackle from got 9 yesterday, plus two marlin. Had to come home - too many fish.

Geoff.

hi geoff....

well done on getting some gear...

for fishing tips try here: http://www.akff.net/forum/

plenty of keen yak fishers down under as well...

i am still busily saving for my AI....some day soon i hope

cheers

If you encounter these http://henry-gilbey.blogspot.com/2008/1 ... frica.html at the Okavango delta, a lipgrip is a must

Stunning surrounding, some more Brits made a documantairy about fishing there.

Buy good reels and cheap rods if you are on a budget, I`ve got several 200/20$ combo`s

PF

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hobie Quest

Hi Chekika,

I only just started fishing a year ago, but most of the fish I catch are small yellow fin barracuda 2-5 kilos (4-11lb)...some fight quite hard some dont but they ussauly go quiet quite soon after. I shall take aboard your advice and treat them with greater caution! My greatest advisary is ME i am forever hooking myself trying to unhook the fish!

Philip,

After hooking myself twice in one day, I decided for lures, the back hook is for the fish, the front hook is for you. I promptly removed all front hooks from my lures.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Chekika,

Well said! its the front hooks that get me! I will remove them as per your advice.

Philip