Kayak fishing - on your own

This month I was supposed to have been on a trip exploring Cuvier Island and the Merc’s to complement July’s article on setting up for mother-ship trips.
Unfortunately, Tawhiri (the god of weather) had other ideas and our trip was blown out. The resulting swells were too big to safely launch the kayaks to chase the hapuku and kingfish we wanted, so we’ll rebook and bring the mother-ship story at a later date.
This month I’m also setting up for something at the other end of the spectrum – going solo!
With breaks in the weather, but everyone else tied up at work, I’ll be taking the opportunity to turn the clock back 20 years and head out on several kayak-fishing trips on my lonesome. It’s a unique experience these days to hit the water and be the only kayaker around. But winter is definitely the best time for this, as there’s plenty of room to camp, there’s no other traffic to disturb the fish, and the angling north of the Harbour Bridge is nothing short of superb.

Paddling alone – safety considerations

Kayak fishing is a relatively safe sport, but when going solo a little extra care is required. The key consideration – especially during winter – becomes weather conditions (aside from making sure you have the appropriate paddling skills). Remember, the water is cold, so be conservative; it makes a lot of sense to paddle and fish well within your level of expertise and save the rough stuff for times when others are around to assist. (Besides, it’s fun sharing the thrills with buddies who’re out there enjoying them, too.)
The next concern is how to deal with the unlikely event of a roll over. When going it alone, our biggest potential problem is somehow becoming separated from our craft. Ending up over the side might be the result of rough conditions, taking good conditions too lightly (very embarrassing, but it happens!), or as a result of big, unruly fish. Heavy string pullers can drag us in after them or break the line while under pressure, causing us to flip back over the other side of the kayak.
For most of us, the best way to ensure we stay connected with our kayak is to use a good leash system for the paddle and rods. Generally speaking, as kayak anglers we have one or another in our hands most of the time; so long as we don’t let go while tumbling into the water, there’s very little chance of losing contact with our kayak. The key point to remember is that paddle and rod leashes serve two purposes: they keep your equipment attached to the kayak, but can also keep you attached to your kayak. So make sure they’re regularly maintained and inspected for any signs of wear, and replace them as necessary, especially when paddling solo.
Personal tethers are another option that’s been discussed on several occasions in the past. These can be a good option for experienced paddlers with the appropriate buoyancy vests and systems, who are also familiar with the risks of using them (entanglement, especially with other equipment, is an issue that makes it important to know what you’re doing when working with personal tethers). However, for most of us fishing coastal waters recreationally, using leashes on paddles and rods should provide enough security to prevent being separated from our kayak without the need for a personal tether.
Another area worth considering when paddling alone is terminal tackle. When running lures with multiple hooks or trebles, I like to close the barbs; there’s always the risk of a fish flailing free hooks around until they pin nearby flesh or clothing; ‘barbless’ hooks are much easier to extract. I also suggest removing terminal tackle from rods before returning to the beach, eliminating any chance of getting pinned if a tumble is taken while endeavouring to return to dry land.
Another safety pointer to consider involves preparing all baits before heading out on the water. When fishing solo, I’m often staying away from areas where buying bait is possible. At such times I like to convert fresh-caught kahawai, trevally and mackerel into strip or butterfly baits – but choose to do so before launching to minimize any risks with using knives in kayak cockpits. It’s not that I consider it likely I’ll cut myself, it’s just that relatively minor incidents like this take on greater significance when there’s no one else around to lend a hand (for example, a cut finger or hand may make paddling difficult or even impossible).

Communication

To my mind, communication is one of the most important things a solo paddler can put in place; let someone know your intentions, keep them updated, and let them know what to do if you don’t report back by a certain time. After all, while we don’t want to dwell on the negatives of going it alone, it’s also important to minimise the potential risks these adventures entail. This can be very inconvenient, especially when in remote areas, but having someone keeping watch means the alarm will be raised in a timely manner if you can’t initiate it yourself. In part, this is also out of respect for those who may have to come looking for you, with a starting point helping to ensure a rapid and favourable search result.
Having a VHF radio will help you to stay in contact with the coastguard and is critical to communicating effectively with other boating traffic in the area. Add a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) to the mix and you’re doing the best you can to being able to raise the alarm if needed. It’s also a very good idea for solo paddlers to carry a strobe and flares so they can be seen as well as heard.

Let’s go fishing

Okay, enough of the serious stuff, what about the fishing? I start with selecting a ‘relaxed’ launching spot, one where I have easy access to the water and where I’m not confronted with a serious surf transition. Personally, I’d rather paddle a little extra distance from an easy launch area than sweat it getting the kayak to the water, especially if I then have to transition through some rough stuff. Yes, I’m there for an adventure, but I also want to enjoy myself.
Northland, Coromandel, the Bay of Plenty, and East Cape all have many spots with good access and shelter from varying wind directions and conditions. This is one of the big advantages of kayaking: our craft are so easy to transport, we can rapidly relocate to find shelter if the weather doesn’t play ball. If prepared to travel, there are few periods where a sheltered area to launch and fish from cannot be found.
In angling terms I find the only real difference between fishing solo and heading out with mates is making sure you have absolutely everything you need before leaving the beach. It’s definitely worthwhile taking a bit more care when preparing, paying particular attention to nets and/or gaffs, as there won’t be anyone to lend a hand with that big one. Nor will there be a mate to sponge tackle off if something important has been left behind. It’s often the ridiculously simple stuff that catches us out: hooks, pre-tied rigs, swivels, clips, jig heads, jigs, rigging tools (like your trusty braid scissors), so check the lot.

Don’t forget the camera!

This is something I’ve been guilty of in the past: having so much fun I forget to take the photos. I then cop it from mates when telling tales of high adventure and big fish, “If it’s not on film, it never happened!” Even if you don’t have a waterproof camera, or one in a dive housing, most of us have a mobile phone in a dry bag capable of taking reasonable images (and you should have it with you anyway as part of your communication kit).
Another bit of gear I’ve found invaluable when going solo is a tripod. Having one has enabled me to take many self-portraits with my catch over the years, adding the personal touch to mark successful trips. Tripods range from the little travel models with bendy legs easily carried aboard the kayak to the more traditional extendable-leg models grabbed from the car and set up to record the event afterwards. These offer a greater range of perspective and also make it much easier to collect low-light or flash images.

This is the time to explore new spots; you have the coast to yourself, with clear blue water and big fish (though this time I had my mate Milky there to snap the photos).
Remember to get photos however you can. If out there alone, don’t be shy about flagging down a boat and getting them to snap the shot; most are more than willing, and it’ll give you a chance to show off too.

Turning the clock back 20 years to when catching snapper from kayaks was so unheard of no one believed the writer’s success. Here he used the butt end of a fence post to support a camera, in lieu of a tripod.

If your mates reckon it’s too cold, leave them behind and go solo – the rewards speak for themselves.

Paddle and rod leashes: these are more than just a means of keeping equipment attached to the kayak, they also keep your kayak within reach if you end up in the water. Make sure they’re regularly inspected and kept in good condition.

Tripods, cameras and accessories; take the time to get stills and video of solo exploits. After all, ‘if it’s not on film it never happened…’

- See more at: http://www.fishing.net.nz/index.cfm/pageid/56/view/yes/editorialID/1396#sthash.mQo6Uvzr.dpuf

Catch and release

Although most anglers keep their catch for consumption, catch and release fishing is increasingly practiced, especially by fly anglers. The general principle is that releasing fish allows them to survive, thus avoiding unintended depletion of the population. For species such as marlin and muskellunge but, also, among few bass anglers, there is a cultural taboo against killing fish for food. In many parts of the world, size limits apply to certain species, meaning fish below a certain size must, by law, be released. It is generally believed that larger fish have a greater breeding potential. Some fisheries have a slot limit that allows the taking of smaller and larger fish, but requiring that intermediate sized fish be released. It is generally accepted that this management approach will help the fishery create a number of large, trophy-sized fish. In smaller fisheries that are heavily fished, catch and release is the only way to ensure that catchable fish will be available from year to year.

Removing the hook from a Bonito
The practice of catch and release is criticised by some who consider it unethical to inflict pain upon a fish for purposes of sport. Some of those who object to releasing fish do not object to killing fish for food. Adherents of catch and release dispute this charge, pointing out that fish commonly feed on hard and spiky prey items, and as such can be expected to have tough mouths, and also that some fish will re-take a lure they have just been hooked on, a behaviour that is unlikely if hooking were painful. Opponents of catch and release fishing would find it preferable to ban or to severely restrict angling. On the other hand, proponents state that catch-and-release is necessary for many fisheries to remain sustainable, is a practice that that generally has high survival rates, and consider the banning of angling as not reasonable or necessary.[2]
In some jurisdictions, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, for example, catch and release is mandatory for some species such as brook trout. Many of the jurisdictions which mandate the live release of sport fish also require the use of artificial lures and barbless hooks to minimise the chance of injury to fish. Mandatory catch and release also exists in the Republic of Ireland where it was introduced as a conservation measure to prevent the decline of Atlantic salmon stocks on some rivers.[3] In Switzerland, catch and release fishing is considered inhumane and was banned in September 2008.[4]
Barbless hooks, which can be created from a standard hook by removing the barb with pliers or can be bought, are sometimes resisted by anglers because they believe that increased escapement results. Barbless hooks reduce handling time, thereby increasing survival. Concentrating on keeping the line taut while fighting fish, using recurved point or "triple grip" style hooks on lures, and equipping lures that do not have them with split rings can significantly reduce escapement.

What Makes the Trout in Ecuador Look Like Salmon?

Billboards and advertisements depicting huge and beautiful rainbow trout announce to travelers in much of the Ecuadorian Andes that fishing is one reason to come here. Photo by Alastair Bland.

A crisp, clear stream flows out of Cajas National Park on a 20-mile circuitous route down to the town of Cuenca—but few fish live in these wild waters. Yet the Quinuas River Valley it forms is a hot destination for sport fishermen. They come by the hundreds each weekend, mostly from Cuenca, seeking the most popular game fish in the world: the rainbow trout.
“What kind of trout live in here?” I ask a young man who serves me coffee at Cabana del Pescador, the campground where I have stayed the night. I am only curious how locals refer to the species Oncorhynchus mykiss, which is native to North American and Siberian streams that enter the Pacific but has been introduced to virtually all suitable habitat on earth. In Ecuador, the species first arrived in the 1960s.
“Normal trout,” he says.
I aim to catch a few fish today and have them for dinner, but I move on, up the road, looking for a happier place to fish. The pond here is muddy, surrounded by concrete and a chain-link fence. Trouble is, I won’t find much better. This valley, though populated by a few wild trout in the streams and lakes of Cajas National Park, is a busy center of aquaculture. Trout farming is generally considered a clean and sustainable industry, though it isn’t always pretty. For a stretch of seven or eight miles downstream of the park, nearly every roadside farm has a handful of concrete-banked pools on the premises, fed by stream water and swarming with trout about 12 inches long.

The trout ponds at Reina del Cisne restaurant and fishing club. Photo by Alastair Bland

Up the road, after passing a half dozen possible fishing sites, I pull in to one called Reina del Cisne, at kilometer 21. It is a restaurant and sport fishing “club,” as the sign tells visitors. I have coffee—Nescafé, as always—inside. When I am finished, I ask if there is an opportunity to fish here, and the teenage waiter beckons me to follow. “It’s 50 cents to rent a pole,” he says. “Then, we weigh the trout, and you pay $2.25 per pound.” The biggest fish in the ponds out back are more than ten pounds, he tells me.
He pulls one rod from a heap of several dozen—a broomstick-like pole with a stout line tied to the end and a silver barbed hook at the tip. He quickly mixes up a bucket of bread dough to use as bait, drops a hunk into a shopping-style woven basket and hands me my tackle.
“What kind of trout are these?” I ask, still fishing for local lingo.
“Salmon trout. They have red meat,” he says. He adds, “Good luck,” and returns to the restaurant.
For an angler who has fished in the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada and Alaska and New Zealand, this is a sad comparison, and I feel a strange desire to either cry or laugh hysterically. This would make a perfect opportunity for kids, but I know what real fishing, in real waters, is. Here, I have three ponds to choose from—two of them rectangular, concrete basins, the other a muddy, oval-shaped pool 30 feet across with grassy banks. I flick a piece of dough into this most natural-appearing of the options. Several trout dart from the murk as the white ball vanishes in an instant. I bait my hook and fling it into the middle of the pond, slightly embarrassed that I am participating in what locals advertise as pesca deportiva—or “sport fishing.” A similar flurry of fish attack and strip the hook. I re-bait and try again and this time hook instantly into a feisty rainbow. I drag it in and onto the bank, whack it cold with a stick and drop it in my basket. One down, and in another five minutes I have a second fish. I could take more but, frankly, this isn’t fun or engaging. A year ago exactly I was cycling around New Zealand, casting flies at wild trout six times this size and immeasurably more thrilling to catch—wary, elusive, picky and beautiful. The challenge of enticing one to strike made success an accomplishment. Best of all was the experience of being there, fish or none, standing in crystal clear waters surrounded by green meadows and the tall peaks of the Southern Alps. Indeed, fishing is largely about interacting with the environment, and if one catches no trout on an expedition into the mountains, something else is still gained.
But no matter how big a fish one may pull from a concrete-lined pond, using dough balls for bait, the experience feels as hollow as shopping in a supermarket. While I’m here, I hope I might tangle with an eight-pounder, but no such beast shows itself. I wonder if perhaps they tell all guests that giant trout live in these ponds to encourage business. But back inside the restaurant, my hosts show me the de-boned meat of a 14-pounder caught the day before. The meat is thick and heavy and a delicious-looking salmon red. I ask what the trout eat. “Natural food,” owner Maria Herrera tells me.

Maria Herrera, in the dining room of her restaurant Reina del Cisne, stands with a young employee and the de-boned meat of a 14-pound trout taken from the stocked fish tanks in back. Photo by Alastair Bland.

Down the road, at kilometer 18, I visit a government-run fish hatchery. I roll down the dirt drive, across the stream on a wooden bridge and up a short rise to the facility. I introduce myself to two men in yellow slickers, ankle deep in a muddy concrete basin full of thrashing foot-long trout. The station director, Lenin Moreno, tells me that more than 8,000 adult fish live here. He and his colleague, Ricardo Mercado, are currently trying to get an exact head count in a tank swarming with, they guess, about 300 fish. They take a break and show me to the laboratoria—the hatchery. In the trays and tanks of this covered, concrete-walled facility, 1.3 million juveniles are produced each year and sold to aquaculture operations in four provinces, Moreno tells me.
Outside, they show me a rectangular basin teeming with huge rainbows, green-backed, red-sided beauties that remind me of the two-foot-long giants of New Zealand. Visitors may come here to buy these trout, Moreno tells me. The fish go for $1.50 per pound.

Five- and six-pound rainbow trout cruise through the waters of a 6- by 30-foot concrete basin at a government trout hatchery and farm at kilometer 18 on the Cuenca-Cajas National Park highway. Photo by Alastair Bland.

I ask if the meat is red like salmon. “No—it’s white,” Moreno tells me. “But at the fish farms they feed the trout pigment.”
This doesn’t surprise me. The rainbow trout I grew up on were generally white-fleshed fish. Only occasionally on family camping trips as we cleaned our catch would we discover with excitement that the trout had natural pink meat, which tends to be richer and fattier than paler flesh. But in Ecuador’s many fish markets, I have not yet seen a trout fillet that wasn’t colored like salmon, and I’ve suspected all along that this attractive color (which I’ll admit has drawn my wallet from my pocket more than once) was artificially induced. I recall seeing the fillet of a trout caught in New Zealand just outside the outflow of a Chinook salmon farm that was clearly affected by such pigment—probably either synthetic astaxanthin or canthaxanthin, both used in most commercial salmon farming operations (and the latter of which may cause retinal damage). The trout had presumably been eating pellet feed that escaped from the salmon pens, and the meat was partially colored, patchy red and white like a tie-dyed shirt. Yuck.
I poached my farm-caught trout in cheap Chilean Sauvignon Blanc at my hostel in Cuenca, just off the main street of Calle Larga. The meal was fine and exactly what I had been aiming for when I plunked that ball of dough into the pond at Reina del Cisne. But the fish didn’t quite taste up to par. Because although pink-fleshed trout are a sure catch in the mountain fishing ponds of Ecuador, something else, less easy to describe, native to places like Montana and British Columbia, may evade you with every fish landed.

Neither native nor wild, these small rainbow trout were pulled from a stocked pond in Ecuador, where the species was introduced in the 1960s. Photo by Alastair Bland.

Read more: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/2013/02/trout-fishing-in-ecuador/#ixzz2L3W5D0sD
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Review: Native Watercraft "Slayer 12"

Written by Mark Watanabe

 

While in Virginia Beach, VA for the Columbus Day Boondoggle, I got to meet Woody Callaway from Liquidlogic Kayaks. Strapped to the trailer of the Liquidlogic RV was their newest kayak: the Native Watercraft “Slayer”. I jokingly asked Woody when I would be fishing out of the Slayer, and without hesitation, he said, “Tomorrow!”.

Initial impressions: The Native Watercraft Slayer 12 is clean and uncluttered - everything had its purpose. The overall lines on the kayak are very sleek with everything recessed nicely.

Portability: The Slayer 12 is listed at 70 lbs., but felt lighter. This is probably due to all the handles being solid, allowing you to control the kayak much more easily. All Slayers come equipped with the “Tag Along Wheel”. I tested it at the launch with the kayak fully loaded with gear. The Tag Along Wheel made the move from the car to the launch a breeze. The solid bow handle positioned horizontally made controlling the kayak extremely easy. This was the first stand-out feature of the Slayer that sets it apart from other similar kayaks.

Performance: On the water, you quickly feel like you’re paddling a much skinner kayak. The Slayer handled well in both stand up paddling and standard sitting paddling. The raised seated position felt tippier than the lower seated position, but this is the case with all kayaks.

The second stand out feature was the High Low First Class Seat. Switching between the high and low seated positions was very simple. Native uses bungees to hold the seat in place, so a simple lift and scoot allowed me to move it between positions without having to undo straps or clips. I did initially have concerns over the seat only being secured this way, but Native did a great job of molding the seat pan area to allow a nice, snug fit. The seat never felt loose or unsecure in either position, and was extremely comfortable.

Another positive was an extremely shallow draft. There are several sandbars out at Lynnhaven Bay that were no deeper than 6 inches, and I was able to paddle across them without issue.

Standability: I have yet to stand in a 31” wide kayak that felt this stable. The deck is very flat; I always had a stable position for my feet. The deck is right at or slightly below the waterline, which gives the kayak extra stability. One issue with the deck being this low is with the scupper plugs removed, water does come in slightly. I also feel the Slayer would benefit from adding a strap towards the bow to help in standing from the lower position.

Fishability: The Slayer is equipped with recessed groove tracks on the stern, midship and bow. This made it very easy for me to quickly add a couple of Scotty mounts and my YakAttack “Panfish”. There is also a small console designed to store your battery, and also mount any electronics you like to a groove track. The model I used had the groove track mounted directly to the console but Woody told me that the new models with have the track recessed like all the others.

The foam padding around the cup holder, accessory tray, and rod tip rests is a nice touch. The rod tip rests fit my bait casters, but didn’t fit my spinning rods very well; the larger guides on the spinning rods didn’t allow the rods to rest properly.

While on the water, I didn’t even notice the Plano box storage on the side of the seats. This would have made changing out tackle much easier with my Plano boxes right next to me.

While anchored or staked out, the Slayer would benefit greatly from an anchor trolley. I also noticed the Tag Along Wheel knocking with the side to side movement of the kayak. I mentioned this to Woody, and he said that it was an easy fix. I also missed a paddle keeper, there are no paddle keepers installed by the factory so you will have to add them yourself.

The final stand-out feature is the Slayers stability. I was able to fish all day in the kayak, turn around and grab tackle out of my crate, and access my gear in the bow without issue. When we got back to the launch, several others tried out the Slayer. People who have never stood in a kayak easily stood and paddled the Slayer.

Summary: I believe the Native Watercraft Slayer 12 will be in the running for next year’s KACA’s as Kayak of the Year. It’s stable, tracks well, is quick and nimble for a wider kayak, is easily moved using the Tag Along Wheel, and has a seating system that allows you to move from high to low seating positions with ease. When I’m in the market for a new paddling kayak, I’m almost positive it will be a Slayer!

Boat Specs	Boat Features
Length: 12' Width: 31" Weight: 70 lbs Capacity: 400 lbs	Groove Track High/Low First Class Seat Electronics Console Cup Holder Open Bow Hatch w/ Scuppers Quiet Stable Hull Tag Along Wheel

 

 

 

Full Article: http://www.yakangler.com/fishing-kayak-reviews/

Kenali kawasan sekeliling di lokasi baru

Oleh Nuri Angkasa

Photo Credit:  Google Images

SEBAIK tiba di lokasi memancing yang belum pernah diteroka sebelum ini atau dalam erti kata lain anda baru pertama kali turun memancing di kawasan itu maka kumpulan anda dinasihatkan supaya tidak terburu-buru mahu terus melakukan aktiviti memancing.
SEBAIK tiba di lokasi memancing yang belum pernah diteroka sebelum ini atau dalam erti kata lain anda baru pertama kali turun memancing di kawasan itu maka kumpulan anda dinasihatkan supaya tidak terburu-buru mahu terus melakukan aktiviti memancing.

Sebagai tempat baru, anda atau ketua kumpulan harus mengenali tempat itu terlebih dulu. Ini kerana dibimbangi kawasan berkenaan adalah perkampungan makhluk halus yang tidak mahu diganggu. Apa yang terbaik boleh anda dan kumpulan lakukan ialah dengan menunaikan solat sunat mohon perlindungan Allah daripada sebarang gangguan. Ialah, dalam perkara sebegini maka hanya kekuasaan Allah saja yang dapat menyelamatkan keadaan atau melindungi kita.

Di samping itu, kita harus meneliti atau meninjau keadaan sekeliling dan tidak merosakkan tumbuhan yang sedia ada dengan sengaja. Atau jangan sekali-kali mengeluarkan kata-kata yang tidak sopan ataupun celupar. Begitu juga dengan lokasi di laut yang kita sedia maklum bahawa laut adalah tempat buangan hantu syaitan, justeru pantang larangnya adalah ebih besar berbanding di darat.

Di laut, membuang sisa tulang ayam mahu pun saki baki makanan adalah dilarang mengikut petua adat resam orang tua terdahulu daripada kita.

Tindakan sebaik-baiknya ialah sisa makanan disimpan dalam satu bekas plastik (bukan dibuang ke laut) dan buang plastik itu sekembalinya ke daratan ketika kita pulang daripada aktiviti memancing.

Menyedari betapa pentingnya perkara yang dianggap remeh di kalangan generasi muda hari ini yang gemar pada aktiviti memancing maka adalah menjadi tanggungjawab bagi Pak Nuri untuk mengingatkan bahawa apa jua boleh berlaku jika ada unsur-unsur pantang larang dilanggar dengan sengaja.

Apapun, menidakkan pantang larang pada zaman moden ini tidak boleh dilakukan 100 peratus kerana ia masih berkait dengan makhluk halus dan syaitan. Justeru, langkah terbaik ialah menyerah diri kepada Allah (bertawakal) sambil mengharap petunjuk daripada-Nya.

Berdoalah dan minta perlindungan Allah sebaik tiba di lokasi sama ada di darat (hutan) mahu pun di laut, kerana sesuatu yang berlaku itu adalah atas izin-Nya juga. Jadikan doa dan solat sunat hajat sebagai petua yang harus diamalkan oleh kaki pancing sebaik tiba di lokasi memancing.


Full Article:  http://joran.bharian.com.my/

Chinese Expert Calls for Fishing Moratorium and Halt to Yangtze Dam

By: Katy Yan

Research staff members monitor the health of endangered finless porpoises at the Tian-e-Zhou Oxbow Nature Reserve.

Photo: Keen Observer9 via Flickr
 

After years of overfishing and rampant dam-building, a senior fisheries expert with the Chinese Academy of Sciences has spoken out against the ecological threats facing the Yangtze River by calling for a 10-year fishing moratorium and joining environmentalists in decrying the proposed Xiaonanhai Dam.
In an article published in Oriental Outlook and translated by chinadialogue, Cao Wenxuan expounded on the importance of key Yangtze River fish species for the entire basin ecosystem and warned against what might happen if fisheries declined even further. His solution is a 10-year moratorium on fishing in the Yangtze so that fish numbers can recover. (This is not the first time scientists have called for a 10-year moratorium; just last year, two other fisheries experts made the same proposal.)
In the article, he and fellow fisheries expert Weng Lida, formerly head of the Yangtze Water Resources Protection Bureau (a body under both the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Environmental Protection) go on to warn against the Chongqing government’s plans for building Xiaonanhai Dam on the Upper Yangtze River and the impact that the Yangtze dam cascade, which includes Three Gorges Dam, has had on fish numbers. He also strengthened the position of environemntal activists by joining them in their critique of proposed fish passages and tunnels, which activists see as an ineffective solution to mitigating the negative impacts of the dam.

Dam cascade contributing to rapid decline

The Yangtze River is China's biggest freshwater fishery, accounting for 56% of all catches. But fish numbers are dwindling.

Photo: Qiu Bo (Greenpeace)
 

Cao and his colleagues are not alone in doubting the efficacy of fish passages. A recent publication by a host of fish migration professionals concludes from their global experience, “We have learned that it is always better to remove barriers because in this way we can revitalize our rivers. It is almost always cheaper than building a fish pass, and removal has multiple benefits for river naturalization – all aquatic and riparian flora and fauna will benefit! Such solutions can address a range of problems, of which fish migration may be just one” (Executive Summary, From Sea to Source).
[UPDATE: A new study published in Conservation Letters on Jan 16 reported that fish-passages built into dams on three major rivers in northeastern US have failed to allow migratory fish to pass through, raising questions for all the dams being proposed worldwide.]
Here is an excerpt from the article describing the severity of the decline in fish numbers as a result of dam construction on the Yangtze (emphasis added later):

Observations by the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that, before the dam at Gezhou was built, fish eggs and fry from spawning grounds upstream in Chongqing, Wanxian and Zigui would float down to the middle reaches of the river before hatching and growing. Gezhou is a “run-of-the-river” hydropower dam, and most of the eggs and fry which pass through the sluice-gates do survive. But bubbles of gas are found in the bodies of some of the fish, which do not survive.

And at the Three Gorges Dam, where in June 2003 the reservoir was filled to a depth of 139 metres, the majority of the fish passing through the sluices are believed to die as a result of nitrogen poisoning.

In 2007, the reservoir was filled to 156 metres, and 98% of the 316 million fry passing through the dam died. Many of the 912 million fry of the “four farmed fish” passing through in 2008 also died.

Cao explains that a dam changes the natural flow and rise and fall of the water, and this – especially the filling of a deep reservoir – affects the local climate and reduces the river’s ability to cleanse itself. Large quantities of harmful substances are produced, affecting the food chain.

“In the cold water of reservoirs like Anjiang and Danjiangkou, the methylation of heavy metals creates organic substances, which are absorbed by plankton and enter the human food chain and damage health,” says Cao.

“The water flow at Gezhou isn’t bad. The Three Gorges is a bit worse, and then Xiluodu and Baihetan are worse again. And it’s not just methylation. The vegetation at the bottom of the reservoir becomes methane, which is a greenhouse gas – that means carbon emissions.”

The implications of this final remark by Cao is also important given the debates that have raged on over Weibo (China’s Twitter) about whether hydropower can be considered a clean and green source of renewable energy.

Xiaonanhai “in breach of regulations”

The twice-redrawn boundaries for the Upper Yangtze Rare and Endemic Fish National Nature Reserve

The reserve boundaries were redrawn twice from 2005 to 2011 to make way for hydropower development. “It’s as if national nature reserves are optional,” says Cao. “It’s unacceptable. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about fish or about people – you’ve got to obey the law.”Cao also went on to explain why environmental groups and experts oppose the Xiaonanhai Dam on the Upper Yangtze, which has been avidly promoted by the Chongqing government, despite the location of the dam and its reservoir in the Upper Yangtze Rare and Endemic Fish National Nature Reserve. According to China’s Nature Reserve Regulations, no “production facilities” can be built within the core or buffer zone of a nature reserve, while in the surrounding area, no production facilities are allowed which pollute, damage resources or spoil the appearance of the reserve. “So building this dam, which obviously affects the aquatic ecology, is in breach of this regulation,” says Cao.
In addition, preliminary construction at the dam site began as early as March 29, 2012 despite the lack of an approved Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and wide-spread criticism from experts and the general public. The resettlement process has also begun for the 200,000 people that would be affected, and there are already reports of unfair compensation and lack of prior and informed consultation.
While the project remains on hold, a coalition of environmentalists and activists has called on the public via Weibo to fight the project through the EIA process. They are also calling on the Chongqing government to respect the 18th Party Congress’ commitment to an “ecological civilization,” where economic growth should not be pursued at the expense of biodiversity and livelihoods. It remains to be seen whether the Chongqing government will commit to environmental protection, or whether it will opt for pursuing energy projects that promote polluting growth targets.

Full Article:  http://www.internationalrivers.org/blogs/

Mokhtar tawar pakej ke OFB

Oleh Tamizam Abd Karim

APABILA disebut OFB, ramai pemancing kurang arif atau tidak tahu apa maknanya. Tetapi dengan menyebut Rumah Api - One Phantom Bank (OFB) - Permatang Sedepa maka pasti ramai yang tahu mengenainya. Rumah api ini yang berada di tengah laluan kapal kira-kira 27 batu nautika dari jeti Pelabuhan Klang menjadi nadi pergerakan kapal yang menyusuri Selat Melaka.
APABILA disebut OFB, ramai pemancing kurang arif atau tidak tahu apa maknanya. Tetapi dengan menyebut Rumah Api - One Phantom Bank (OFB) - Permatang Sedepa maka pasti ramai yang tahu mengenainya. Rumah api ini yang berada di tengah laluan kapal kira-kira 27 batu nautika dari jeti Pelabuhan Klang menjadi nadi pergerakan kapal yang menyusuri Selat Melaka.

Rumah api berfungsi sebagai pedoman kapal dagang supaya tidak tersasar di laluan yang salah. Di kawasan rumah api OFB terdapat sebuah bangkai kapal karang yang tersadai di beting pasirnya. Kawasan itu dikatakan tumpuan ikan selain di sekitar tiang konkrit rumah api itu sendiri.

Menyedari ramai pemancing bermasalah untuk mengunjungi rumah api ini, Mohd Nazami Mokhtar Abdul Aziz (gambar), menyediakan pakej memancing ke OFB sejak beberapa tahun lalu. Beliau yang lebih dikenali sebagai Tekong Mokhtar menawarkan perkhidmatan membawa kaki pancing berkunjung ke rumah api berkenaan. Bot gentian kaca 42 kaki itu mampu membawa 10 pemancing biasanya mengambil masa sejam 15 minit untuk tiba ke tempat terbabit. Sampan gentian kaca jenis pancung itu boleh bergerak dengan kelajuan maksimum 25 batu nautika sejam.

Selain rumah api, kapal karam menjadi destinasi pilihan tekong Mokhtar untuk membawa kaki pancing menduga ikan di kawasan itu. Antara ikan yang lumrah ialah talang, alu-alu, jenahak dan kerapu di samping tenggiri, gerepoh dan aruan tasik yang kadang-kadang turut menjadi habuan pemancing. Waktu malam pula sambil memancing, pengunjung berpeluang mencandat sotong yang gemar bermain cahaya dari rumah api berkenaan.

Bagi kaki yang tidak tahan mabuk laut, OFB adalah tempat yang sesuai bagi muka baru berjinak dengan aktiviti memancing di laut. Selain itu ikan selar, tamban dan cencaru turut digemari kaki pancing menggunakan set mata apollo yang di pancing dari rumah api. Selain ia dijadikan umpan hidup pilihan, ikan-ikan ini turut popular sebagai ikan hidangan. Sambil menunggu ikan besar menyentap umpan, hasil memancing apollo turut memberi kepuasan buat pengunjung.

Bagi tekong seperti Mokhtar, beliau biasanya akan memberi tunjuk ajar dan nasihat kepada pemancing mengenai peralatan dan program memancing ke OFB ini. Persiapan seperti bekalan makanan, minuman, perubatan, keselamatan dan peralatan memancing boleh dirujuk kepada beliau jika pertama kali ingin mengunjungi lokasi cukup popular di kawasan Lembah Klang ini. Tekong Mokhtar boleh dihubungi: 019-3477766.


Source:  http://joran.bharian.com.my/

Albino barra takes expert by surprise

 

This 1.16m albino barramundi was caught and immediately released in the Proserpine Dam by Rod Sherrif while on charter with Lake Proserpine Fishing Charters. Contributed

AN EXTREMELY unusual 1.16m albino barramundi was caught and released in the Proserpine Dam by Rod Sherrif while on charter with Lake Proserpine Fishing Charters.

Mr Sherrif was visiting the Whitsundays from Groote Eylandt (a small island off the Northern Territory).

Local charter guide and barramundi expert Lindsay Dobe said that after many years fishing the dam, he was very pleased there were still fish in the dam that could surprise him.

"It's very unusual to find a white fish this big, as they don't normally make it this size."

"They are very white so predators tend to find them a lot easier," Mr Dobe said.


Full Article:  http://www.whitsundaytimes.com.au/

Colombo's fishy beauty in danger of extinction

By Correspondent

 

(SUPPLIED)

Pethia Cumingii known as ‘Depulliya’ in Sinhala is now a native endangered species.

According to The Island newspaper, in 1991 this ornamental fish was found in eight locations, but in 2012 its habitat has reduced to five.

Found in mountain streams in Sri Lanka, basically in the Kalu Ganga. The habitats of this fish are spread in Horana, Ingiriya and Bodinagala in Colombo.

Environmentalists yesterday urged the government not to ease the regulations regarding the export of endemic species of freshwater fish and plants to boost the profits of the ornamental fish exporting industry.

According to environmentalists, the Wildlife Conservation Department (WCD), on the instructions of the Economic Development Ministry, was to formulating rules and regulations to ease the export of rare, endemic and protected freshwater plants and fish.

Environmentalists accused the ornamental fish exporting industry of seeking to loosen regulations in order to boost their earnings.

Addressing the media, at the National Library Auditorium on Wednesday (09), Environment Conservation Trust (ECT) Director, Sajeeva Chamikara claimed that if those rare, endemic and protected species, which were protected under the flora and fauna protection ordinance, were removed from their original places, for the special breeding system, they would be extinct in a short time.

He warned that freshwater fish, some that have been named only in the recent past, were under threat due to over fishing for export.

Chamikara stressed that people would collect those species from their native environment to the point of extinction to make money.

Environmental Lawyer Jagath Gunawardane said that if the present trend of over exploitation continued, all 91 species would face the same fate as many endemic freshwater fish.

According to Nadeeka Hapuarachchi, of the Wildlife Conservation Society, the freshwater fish were the most widely traded wild species from Sri Lanka and the severe threat faced by endemic fish included habitat degradation and water pollution by increased human activities and over exportation.

Meanwhile, ornamental fish exporters claimed that by easing the restrictions, they can recapture a larger share of the export market and use a portion of the proceeds to do work that will go much further towards protecting Sri Lankan habitats, which are under serious threat due to severe pollution.

WCD Director General, H. D. Rathnayake told The Island that the WCD had been funded to prepare rules and regulations to allow breeding and export of eight endemic, rare and protected species of freshwater fish and 13 species of freshwater plants on the instructions of the Economic Development Ministry.

Ratnayake noted that the WCD wouldn’t allow those species to be caught from their native environment.

Man arrested about to skin croc

Acting on a tip-off, the Puttalam police arrested a man who slaughtered a crocodile close to the Pawattamduwa tank.

The police said that at the time the police entered the man’s land a kilometre away from the tank, the suspect was ready to skin the nine foot long reptile, according to The Island newspaper.


Full Article: http://www.emirates247.com/news/sri-lanka/colombo-s-fishy-beauty-in-danger-of-extinction-2013-01-13-1.490836

Tip Umpan: Katak minyak umpan haruan, bujuk

Oleh Zulhilmi Hat

Photo Credit:  Google Images


KATAK minyak yang biasanya ditemui dalam parit atau bawah daun cukup dikagumi kaki mengilat ikan air tawar seperti haruan atau bujuk yang gemar menggunakan umpan ini untuk memburu dua spesies terbabit.

Selain mudah didapati, spesies amfibia yang berkaki panjang di belakang dan berkaki pendek di depannya serta berkulit perang muda pada badan dikatakan paling berkesan untuk menjerat ikan terbabit sebagai diet makanan utamanya.

Asalnya daripada telur atas permukaan air, katak minyak ini yang juga seperti katak lain akan berkembang menjadi anak berudu kemudian berubah menjadi katak dewasa apabila mencapai tempoh matangnya.

Bergerak secara melompat dari satu tempat ke tempat lain dan menjadikan serangga sebagai makanannya, katak ini gemar menjadikan kawasan tanah lembap sebagai habitatnya untuk berlindung dari musuhnya.

Secara amnya, spesies dari famili Anura mudah dikesan apabila mengeluarkan bunyi menguap secara berterusan ketika musim mengawan atau hujan.

Di arena memancing, katak minyak bersaiz satu hingga dua sentimeter saja akan digunakan. Caranya, mata kail bersaiz enam atau tujuh dicangkuk pada bahagian duburnya hingga ke dalam perut.

Cara berkesan untuk menjerat ikan haruan menggunakan katak ini, adalah gewang jenis perambut getah atau dikenali sebagai ‘janggut’ oleh pemancing tempatan akan dicangkuk pada katak itu.

Umpan ini dibaling ke kawasan reba kayu dan selepas itu karauan secara perlahan dilakukan untuk meransang deria bau ikan.

Di kedai akuarium, katak banyak dijual dan harganya sekitar 40 sen seekor dan mereka yang ingin mencari sendiri boleh melakukannya dengan menyuluh katak itu di sekitar kawasan padang lembap atau tebing parit, sawah atau sungai.

Kini, katak tiruan juga boleh didapati sekitar kedai menjual peralatan memancing dengan pelbagai saiz dan warna. Katak tiruan kurang efektif berbanding katak hidup, ini kerana faktor bau katak hidup dikatakan cepat merangsang spesies haruan untuk memakannya.


Source:  http://joran.bharian.com.my/Current_News/Joran/index_html

Surtees 6.7m Game Fisher

Surtees Boats has been around for about 18 years now – long enough to be considered amongst the senior ranks of aluminium boat builders.
I first tested one, a 6.1m hull, back in January 1995. Company founder Neil Surtees was a one-man band in those days, knocking out a hull per month on his own to pay the mortgage and keep himself in beer money. We did the test, went on the turps in Whakatane, and I slept the night on the floor of what is now the company office, but then was Neil’s lounge in the rural Bay of Plenty near Whakatane.
But that was 17 years ago. The company is now owned by a group of shareholders and managed by one of them, genial Phil Sheaff. The Surtees facility is still in the same place, out on ‘the farm’ at Te Teko, but is now a full-on production plant with around 30 staff turning out about 300 hulls each year, many of which are exported to Australia.
One of the old hands at the firm is Paul ‘Frosty’ Frost, who has been associated with Surtees since its earliest days. Frosty recently upgraded his personal boat from the original 5.5m Workmate to an outboard-powered 6.7m Game Fisher, a hull configuration I had not tested before, so in late December I went down to Whakatane to check it out.

Design and construction

Neil Surtees had a stroke of genius with the concept of creating a triangular self-flooding ballast chamber formed by welding a flat plate across the V of the keel. Off plane, this chamber fills through the open end at the transom and the air vents out of the anchor-well at the bow. When the boat accelerates onto the plane the chamber empties instantaneously.
This system allows for a relatively fine entry, variable deep-V hull (the 6.7m has a deadrise of 20° at the transom) that cuts through the water like an axe-head when under way, but doesn’t slop around at rest – a good example that it is possible to have your cake and eat it too.
The 6.7m hull carries 380 litres of water, putting about 380kg of ballast where it is most effective – right on the keel line. A further development of the system is the addition of a gate on the keel that, when closed, allows the water ballast to be retained when underway if desired.
The 6.7m Game Fisher is built on the proven 6.7m hull with 5mm bottoms, 4mm sides and 3mm topsides. It features narrow reversed chines and no strakes. Six fully-welded stringers support the hull lengthways in addition to the keel assembly. Laterally, there are three full bulkheads plus the transom assembly, and 18 gussets support the 4mm chequerplate deck – a very solid construction system.
Underfloor is a 240-litre fuel tank plus two, large, pressure-tested buoyancy chambers rated for a load of 850kg or six people. Surtees hulls are built to CE (European Union) safety standards that are recognised by over 75 countries, and are covered by a six-year worldwide hull warranty.

Power and performance

The 6.7 Game Fisher is rated for 140-250hp, and Frosty’s boat Frostbite II (with its cool ‘frostfish’ logo) was pushed by a Yamaha 200hp Four Stroke outboard spinning a 19”-pitch prop. He told me he had deliberately gone for the old (2010) model Yamaha, as it was slightly heaver than the newly-released model, and he wanted to help counter the weight alteration made by shifting the cabin forward about 200mm to allow a little more cockpit space.
When we crossed the Whakatane Bar, the sea was dropping after a big blow the day before. We still had 10-15 knots of westerly blowing along the coast in a wind-quartering-against-tide situation, lifting a slop of up to a metre. We headed out to the Raurima Islands, then back to Whale, with a bit of fishing thrown in.
I had forgotten how well the Surtees design copes with a sea; Frostbite II just sliced through without a bang or a crash. A remarkably soft rider with no handling vices at all, it’s no wonder they’re such a popular hull and that they hold their value so well.
The sloppy seas would not allow a full-speed test run; we cruised along at 32kph (17 knots) at 4200rpm in comfort. Frosty told me that he had 73kph (about 40 knots) at 5300rpm as a top-end speed – in fresh water. Given the added buoyancy of salt water, this rig may be slightly faster on a calm sea. Overall, I rate the Surtees as one of the best-riding aluminium hull designs available.

Anchoring

As mentioned, the cabin had been moved forward a little on this particular hull, reducing the walk-around space on the sides. But a feature of Surtees hulls is a large hatchway in the bow, which is the best option for getting up there, should you need to. Substantial bow rails and a crucifix bollard make up the rest of the bow furniture.
Frosty had a Stress Free drum winch recessed into the bow, with a helm switch controlling a permanently-mounted Sarca anchor on the short bowsprit. The winch has a freefall facility, allowing pinpoint anchoring – something that came in handy when we were positioning the boat over a school of tarakihi in 40m at Whale Island. As most tarakihi fishermen know, you usually have to be spot-on with your boat positioning to get into the action. The Stress Free winch worked fine, although Frosty reckoned he had over-cooked it a bit with the amount of warp he had loaded, so needed to remove about 20m to get it running faultlessly.

Layout

The cabin is fully lined, with a toilet under the centre squab and privacy screen fitted. There are side shelves and under-berth space for stowage, while bungee straps along the front of the shelves keep lifejackets out of the way, but quickly to hand if you need them. LED cabin lights are fitted, and an inspection hatch gives access into the back of the console. A cup/bottle/can rack is another addition.
The cabin entry is not big, but the owner intends Frostbite II mostly for use as a day fishing boat, and was happy to sacrifice a bit of cabin space to get a bigger cockpit. However, the cabin would sleep a couple of adults if they curled up a little, and it’s fine for the kids/grandkids to have a nap.
Frostbite II is configured as an open-backed hard top, but fully-enclosed versions are available. The wheelhouse features a deep dash with marine carpet lining and grab rails. A tried and trusted Furuno FCV 585 sounder (with 1000W transducer) and Lowrance Elite-5m GPS plotter are mounted here. Other electronics include a Raymarine Ray49E VHF and Fusion IP600 sound system mounted overhead. Flush mounted on the console are controls for the Lectrotab trim tabs and Yamaha LCD gauges for tach, fuel and speed. Lighting is provided by LED cockpit flood lights and overhead LED cabin lights, which have a white/red option to avoid ruining your night vision.
All-round visibility is good through toughened-glass plate ‘screens and side sliders, while steering is hydraulic, making this a pleasant rig to helm.
There is plentiful stowage space provided by side shelves and two levels of trays in front of the passenger, one of which is designed to take a gas burner. Cup racks are also built in, along with two levels of storage inside the seat pedestals (tackle drawers take up the top level of the helm seat), along with bungee straps that can hold a number of items. The seats themselves are upholstered plastic bucket types with swivel-slide mounts. A removable canvas shade screen is fitted to the rear of the hard top.
The cockpit boasts full-length side pockets that extend right up into the wheel house – about 3.5m long. Additional side seats can be clipped onto them, as can other fittings like dive-tank racks and internal rod holders. Wide, flat gunwale tops are finished in Deck Tread panels, and make a useful perch when fishing.
The sealed chequerplate deck drains to a sump under the transom, from where water is removed by bilge pump. Centrally at the stern is an under-deck hold with a clever hinged and sliding hatch, which is large enough to take dive tanks.
House and start batteries are housed up in the locker in the transom wall and fitted with an isolation/link switch. This locker is accessed through a fold-down front hatch, which forms a rear bench seat when open. On the port side, a transom step-through with drop door opens onto the large chequerplate boarding platform, fitted with fold-down ‘T’ boarding ladder and grab rails. Mooring cleats are welded to the stern.
A good, practical fish-and-dive layout with plenty of work space.

Fishability

One of the important design aspects, the self-flooding ballast tank, comes to the fore here, giving excellent stability at rest. This, added to the good footing provided by the chequerplate deck, flat gunwale faces giving good top-of-the-thigh support, plenty of toe room, and a big roomy cockpit, made fishing easy, even in the sloppy conditions experienced.
There are three through-gunwale rod holders along each side, each with an adjacent cup holder that is useful to drop a sinker or jig into when the outfit is wound up.
An eight-position rocket launcher is set on the hard top, and an additional four rod holders are positioned along the back of the bait-station. Further removable rod holders can be clipped onto the side pockets. These are not for fishing from – the rod angles do not suit this purpose – but for carrying rods when underway at sea (keeps the reels out of the spray) or when towing the boat on its trailer (keeps the tips below the hard top and inside the line of the sides).
The bait-station itself is a pretty substantial unit, occupying a fair amount of the transom top. It is drained overboard and also fitted with knife and towel racks. You could fillet a reasonable sort of kingfish on it, but if you don’t fillet at sea, a smaller unit might be easier to fish around.
Other fishing fittings include: a live-bait tank under the transom step-through with viewing window; a gaff clipped onto the inside transom face; the tackle locker in the seat pedestal (as already mentioned); and a berley pot built through the boarding platform.
Catch stowage is taken care of with an aftermarket 105-litre Icey-Tek bin with padded seat top, which is kept in place by a central cockpit mount. A couple of thumb screws allow this unit to be easily removed and a game chair fitted.
Divers are well catered for, with tank stowage options and easy boarding via the platform, ladder, grab rails and step-through.
It was the middle of a hot, bright, windy day by the time we got to the Rau’s. With a fast drift in bright light and shallow water, the odds were against success, but we were keen for a feed of fish, so I threw a soft-bait around without result, while we let Frosty’s insurance policy, a longline, soak for a little. This later produced two snapper, with the sharks beating us to a third fish, along with a couple of blue cod.
Figuring deeper water might be a better bet, we went back to Whale Island with the hope that there might still be a few tarakihi holding at The Bubbles. This proved to be the case, and we put about ten of them and a few gurnard on ice, so finished with a reasonable mixed bag of prime table fish.

Trailering

Surtees Trailers supply the trailer for Surtees boats. The 6.7m Game Fisher is carried on a cradle A-frame, tandem-axle model with zinc-protected leaf-spring suspension. The trailer has: six pairs of wobble-rollers on each side; hydraulic braking; a dual-ratio manual winch; dual coupling; a wind-down dual jockey wheel; and submersible LED trailer lights. The drive-on, drive-off ability of the rig is aided by another clever Surtees design idea: the self release–self engage trailer catch. Tow weight of the rig is approximately 1760kg, dry.

All in all

With lots of innovative design ideas, this well-laid-out hull travels extremely well, looks good, and is a pleasure to fish from. What more could anyone ask for?

Specifications

Material: aluminium
Configuration: open back hardtop
LOA: 6.84m
Beam: 2.39m
Bottom: 5mm
Sides: 4mm
Topsides: 3mm
Deck: 4mm chequerplate
Deadrise: 20°
Recommended HP: 140-250hp
Test engine: Yamaha 200hp Four Stroke
Prop: 19” pitch
Fuel: 240 litres
Trailer: Surtees Trailers tandem
Tow weight: 1760kg
Basic key-turn: $75,260 (150hp Yamaha V6 Salt Water)
Price as tested: $106,000
Test boat courtesy of Paul ‘Frosty’ Frost.


Full Article:  http://www.fishing.net.nz/index.cfm/pageid/51/view/yes/editorialID/1176

News release: fish’n’tip 0663 kayak fishing bucket list part 3 by rob paxevanos

A REEL HOOT: Big trout and Atlantic salmon are easy and fun from a fishing kayak.

Rob’s weekly FISH’N’TIP 0663 written for the week of Wednesday 14/11/2012

This week I continue my three part special on what species I consider to be on the bucket list for kayak anglers in each Australian State.

Western Australia: This state is so big that in encompasses most of the above freshwater species minus just a few naturally occurring species like wild bass, Golden Perch and Murray Cod, although these are stocked in some private lakes and there are other surprises like reasonable trout fishing in the higher altitude rivers and dams of the SW corner.

The saltwater fishing is exceptional, and all the species mentioned so far inhabit parts of this vast place. Exmouth is one of my favourite spots, you can fish either side of the cape depending on which way the wind is blowing. Amongst the regular tropical speedsters you can reliably target truly rare species like permit and ‘the’ worlds biggest bonefish. Ningaloo reef will blow a kayakers mind every time!

South Australia: Prime spot for southern species that seem to grow much bigger than else where such as kingfish, Snapper, King George Whiting, jewfish and more. But don’t forget that the murray river and it’s tributaries have excellent fishing for Murray Cod and Golden Perch (often called callop in SA.)


Victoria: Inland the drought broke around 3 years ago, and shallow lakes stocked with trout are tuning on some exceptional fishing, trout can be 10 pounds in less than 3 years, and some whoppers are already gracing the decks of kayaks. Some good Golden Perch and Murray Cod fishing too.

Saltwater contains a variety southern species, the most easy to find of which include flathead, salmon, bream, squid and of course Snapper.

I spend a lot of time on Port Phillip Bay, and trolling up a Snapper on a deep diver is a real hoot after 35 years of catching them on bait and plastics (yes plastics 30 years ago-I have some softies more than 40 years old and keen pommy anglers will know an old favourite of mine that is not available any more, the red gill-google that one up! Current favourite is a Storm Pro Shad: brilliant plastic for many reasons.

Tasmania: While there is some awesome XL Black Bream, bluefin tuna and also bread and butter species like flathead, garfish, and squid), the trout fishing is world class.

When half of the country was under water and everyone was stressed to the max, or even suffering the tragic loss of loved ones, Taz was coping better than most places-very broadly speaking they have better infrastructure like roads and dams to deal with regular heavier rain. This makes it easy to travel around, especially now the Spanish Lady La Nina is Singing up the wet stuff more regularly.

Plenty of well know lakes to hit, but in a kayak you can get to some nooks and crannys where bigger boats can’t launch and the fishing is absolutely exceptional. Lakes literally number in their thousands and I have more ‘secret lakes’ down there than you can swing a paddle at!

TIP OF THE ICE BERG.

The above is of course a very small selection of what’s on offer...that is the attraction of yak fishing this vast country-and I for one will never come close to doing it all.

One thing is for sure, whatever you chase you will be enjoying that environment to the max with as little footprint as is possible in this day and age, and gaining some health benefits along the way

See you at water level.

Rob Paxevanos

Footnote: much of the fishing explained here can be found in robs instructional dvd series available at all good tackle stores and online at www.robpax.com


Full Article:  http://fishnet.com.au/default.aspx?id=234&articleId=8755&memberId=21