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Re: Hello - new and looking to getting into Kayak fishing

Posted: 08 Nov 2018, 08:18
by Reeling
Firstly, welcome Clint. I read this thread when you first posted it, but refrained from adding my comments as it would merely re-iterate those of everyone else's. I didn't want you to think that everyone on here was getting on your back, and doing you down, but as my name was mentioned, I thought I should first clarify the post about me, and while I'm here, I'll give you my 2-cent worth.

Just to clarify, I went out of Altona last week in already "average" conditions (8-10knot southerly). The wind forecast increasing slightly to 10-12knot - so things were only going to get worse.

I'm not sure how knowledgeable you are about the whole wind speed and direction (i'm far from the expert), but putting it simply, the more water the wind travels over before reaching you the more choppy it will be. i.e Consider Altona - 10knots that has been blowing a southerly all day will give complete different conditions to a 10knot that has been blowing northerly all day.

It is not unknown that the forecast be innacurate in terms of DIRECTION and STRENGTH. You have picked the perfect season to be looking at this, with Melbourne spring being the most unpredictable of seasons to accurately and consistently forecast. Over the coming weeks I'd suggest keeping an eye how several forecast models predict what the weather should do, compared to what the wind actually does. I personally like fishranger as is shows two different forecast models (BOM and GFS) in a single place: https://www.fishranger.com.au/forecast/ ... -%20Altona

I'm not 100% sure whether it was forecast, but the latest example of a freak spike in the wind was Maverick's post within the past week: bottom of page 3 http://www.vyak.net/forum/viewtopic.php ... 6&start=20

You will find many of these unfortunate unexpected variations from the weather...Laneends (Keith) is very vigilant when it comes to going when the forecast is average, let alone boarderline. Yet he has been caught out a few times, with the most prominent in my mind being when he went out of near san remo: http://www.vyak.net/forum/viewtopic.php ... mo#p260977

You also mentioned in a previous reply that you will only being heading 500m from the beach and only in flat conditions. So what will happen if you have been busy for the past 3-4wks with work, holidays, family, friends, and whenever you have had a window to fish, the weather has been shithouse? But....Saturday morning is looking ok, not great, but ok. The wind forecast is suggesting that 2hrs after you plan to return the wind will increase... not ideal, but you haven't fished in ages and you'll be back on land long before with wind kicks up - are you going to turn that opportunity down...everytime this occurs? If you do, you probably wont fish many times a year. If you don't turn it down and go for fish, then what happens if the wind kicks in early? Are you confident in the watercraft you have to get back? Admittedly, MOST of the time the wind will change when forecasted or later, but that one time when it does kick in early, or unforecasted at all? you really need a watercraft that can get you back in with the skills you have.

This is the weather I went out in when the wind kicked up early:
Image

So it is up to you if you want to buy a short kayak. You are right in thinking that they are suited for the ideal conditions you say you be using them, but unfortunately the weather forecast is not a given.

Re: Hello - new and looking to getting into Kayak fishing

Posted: 08 Nov 2018, 09:23
by maverick
I was out the other night, beautiful forecast, then suddenly it blew up to 25 knots, went from dead calm to whitecaps in minutes. 20 min pedal back to the beach, I would hate to be on a short slow yak in those conditions. We were only a few hundred metres from shore, but it was all rocks and cliff. The distance out isn't the issue, the distance from a safe landing spot is.

Re: Hello - new and looking to getting into Kayak fishing

Posted: 08 Nov 2018, 09:32
by Reeling
maverick wrote:I was out the other night, beautiful forecast, then suddenly it blew up to 25 knots, went from dead calm to whitecaps in minutes. 20 min pedal back to the beach, I would hate to be on a short slow yak in those conditions. We were only a few hundred metres from shore, but it was all rocks and cliff. The distance out isn't the issue, the distance from a safe landing spot is.
Thanks for clarifying Pete. I didn't think it was forecast but, without being certain, I didn't want to speak an untruth

Re: Hello - new and looking to getting into Kayak fishing

Posted: 08 Nov 2018, 22:58
by ecoronad
You can never have enough feed back/comments/opinions in order to make an educated decision... here's my 2 cents.

3 years ago, I co-owned a 4.2m WB Dory with my brother and dad. Having over 25 years experience boating freshwater, estuary and both PPB and WPB, I have a very good understanding of what type of weather conditions mother nature can throw up. After selling my share in the boat, I decided to buy a kayak - mainly for estuary and freshwater fishing, but couldn't resist the lure of the salt, and so now fish PPB and WPB as well. I pick and choose the days I go out wisely. I like to fish in comfort. I'm not desperate enough to head out if I have doubts about the weather. Luckily, you have the boat option if you really wanted to go out.

List of priorities:
- My budget was $1500 (extras for sounder and other add ons - over $500 spent on rod holders, sounder, paddle, home made cart, manual bilge pump etc.)
- needed to be new (didn't trust second hand back then - now I know better)
- needed to be stable & a DRY and COMFORTABLE ride, especially at anchor (MOST IMPORTANT - which ruled out all those under 12ft as everyone has already mentioned)
- needed to be light enough for me to carry (not drag along)

I already had a life jacket, small sand anchor, crate, collapsible net esky.

I ended up with a Native Ultimate 12ft kayak - (20kg weight without the fittings - so I can easily slide it onto the roof racks of my Challenger) which is really more like a canoe. I've fished rivers, freshwater and estuarine lakes and both PPB and WPB. The furthest from shore I've ever travelled in PPB/WPB was 2km on a glass calm day (from Avalon to just off Pt Henry on the other side of Corio Bay). However, 90% of my fishing is done within less than 1km from where I launch (geez i miss ramp rage - NOT!!).

The Compass you mentioned would be a good choice if your budget allows for it. Have a read/watch of Pete's(Maverick) review on it. The hull weight is 31kg, so you might need to drag/cart it to your car, but it should be easy enough to lift up onto the roof racks. I use an old beach towel draped over the back roof rack and over the back of the wagon so that i don't damage the paint when i lift the bow onto the back of the Challenger. You'll just have to do what i do and fit all the rod holders, seat, esky etc when you've reached your launch spot. Would certainly love to get a hold of a pedal kayak in future.

Down the track, when the budget allows for it, i'll get another boat so that i can take my son and daughter with me, or fish further, or slightly windier conditions. Good luck with whatever you decide on and don't forget to use the "search" function, it's the most under utilised tool in any forum.

Just also a note, if/when you do decide to get a kayak, i would strongly recommend going with a guide or learning on the water from someone about kayaking if you have never done any of it before. For example, knowing how to use your body/paddle to manoeuver your yak during those periods of rough weather could help you get out of sticky situations.

Re: Hello - new and looking to getting into Kayak fishing

Posted: 09 Nov 2018, 08:44
by clintos
Thanks all, more great replies!

As to experience on the water, I do feel quite comfortable on the sea and know quite a bit about conditions/winds etc. (ex Navy).

I'm in a lucky position to actually be walking distance (about 200 meters) from the beach in st Leonard's over summer months so have the luxury of picking and choosing best times to go out, but given the experience of those in the board hear will definitely take advice into account.

To be honest even 500 meters is an exaduration about distance, most of the yak work would be whiting/flatty/squid in 4 meters which is only about 200 off the shoreline (in line with small jetty on boat ramp). As I've said earlier if there is any type of sea or keen to go out further we have a boat.

I'll most likely be purchasing in the next fortnight or so, will keep you all posted as I'm sure I'll then have a heap of questions about mods and transporting the thing.

Cheers

Clint

Re: Hello - new and looking to getting into Kayak fishing

Posted: 09 Nov 2018, 12:09
by cheaterparts
clintos wrote:To be honest even 500 meters is an exaduration about distance, most of the yak work would be whiting/flatty/squid in 4 meters which is only about 200 off the shoreline (in line with small jetty on boat ramp). As I've said earlier if there is any type of sea or keen to go out further we have a boat.

Clint

it's funny how many times we hear I'm only going to be a couple of hundred meters out - I think we all started that way after a season or so a 10 km round trip becomes normal
so does 20 km and now a 30 km paddle on Westernport is really just a great day out

you may be surprised on the distances you travel after a little time kayaking and flatties - whiting and squid are a great start - but pull that first big red or gummy and you will be hooked it's a whole different ball game to boat fishing

Re: Hello - new and looking to getting into Kayak fishing

Posted: 09 Nov 2018, 13:41
by frappa11
Hahhah thats EXACTLY what I thought when I got my Hobie i9s 3m inflatable - and I also only used it a few times a year for the last 4-5 years on only calm days and mostly only stay in close to catch small flaties/pinkes at millers etc...

Then I went to WP and caught my first gummys of size.... but found that I was really pushing the limits of my i9s ... and now I have a Revo 13 lol

cheaterparts wrote:
clintos wrote:To be honest even 500 meters is an exaduration about distance, most of the yak work would be whiting/flatty/squid in 4 meters which is only about 200 off the shoreline (in line with small jetty on boat ramp). As I've said earlier if there is any type of sea or keen to go out further we have a boat.

Clint

it's funny how many times we hear I'm only going to be a couple of hundred meters out - I think we all started that way after a season or so a 10 km round trip becomes normal
so does 20 km and now a 30 km paddle on Westernport is really just a great day out

you may be surprised on the distances you travel after a little time kayaking and flatties - whiting and squid are a great start - but pull that first big red or gummy and you will be hooked it's a whole different ball game to boat fishing

Re: Hello - new and looking to getting into Kayak fishing

Posted: 09 Nov 2018, 15:48
by clintos
Honestly, big fish hold no interest for me. I've caught gummys before off the boat and some decent fish off Queensland coast.

My favourite type of fishing is actually small creek fishing for trout.

Re: Hello - new and looking to getting into Kayak fishing

Posted: 09 Nov 2018, 16:16
by cheaterparts
frappa11 wrote:Hahhah thats EXACTLY what I thought when I got my Hobie i9s 3m inflatable - and I also only used it a few times a year for the last 4-5 years on only calm days and mostly only stay in close to catch small flaties/pinkes at millers etc...

Then I went to WP and caught my first gummys of size.... but found that I was really pushing the limits of my i9s ... and now I have a Revo 13 lol
the Revo won't go flat when you bring a sting ray in ether :evilgrin:

Re: Hello - new and looking to getting into Kayak fishing

Posted: 09 Nov 2018, 17:59
by Reeling
Sounds like you just want someone to tell you to buy a 3m kayak so I'm happy to say, "just buy yourself a 3m yak :)"