I don’t make a stack of cash and only had week to buy the kayak. I quickly jumped online starting sussing out kayaks. In my mind I was thinking no way I am going to be able afford a bloody kayak and be able justify it. I was sent a link from a friend who found a cheap kayak of eBay. It was around $370 off eBay, impulse kicked in and next min I had purchased it.
Next day drove down to my local BCF store and purchased a life jacket, rope and anchor. To get ready for the trip as in my mind thats all I could think of.
Ebay messaged me, saying Kayak was ready be picked. As it was a mile away from where I live my mate picked it up for me. I drive to his house the night before going out in the bay not having any idea what the Kayak looks like. When I got there the kayak was wrapped up in plastic, once I opened it and set it up couldn’t of been happier with my purchase.
First Trip Problems:
Soaking Wet & Cold
Anchor rope being everywhere.
Tying off the anchor.
Water coming into the boat.
Losing the anchor.
Issue of weather.
Looking at the problems, discussed with my friend I worked out going to need spend more money on accessories and right equipment to do this right.
1st Problem of being soaking wet and being cold - I went out and brought winter wetsuit and booties to keep warm.
2nd,3rd,4th,5th Problem - Anchor system. I decided the reason that loads of water was coming into my kayak is because I had tied the anchor to the side of kayak. Also worked out after reading forums that you don’t tie off the anchor with just a knot at the top. You need to have the knot at the bottom of the anchor and use a cable tie to hold the rope in position at the top of anchor. (See Pic Below). I didn’t want to have the trouble of tying off the anchor again so went out brought 276 Scotty Anchor Lock. (http://www.scotty.com/fishing-gear-equi ... r-lock.htm) Which I attached to the back of my kayak. Still had the issue of not having a place to store the rope so brought a wheel to keep it neat. See pic below for the full set -up.
6th Problem - Weather, the problem being young is you are arrogant. I thought I’d be right in any conditions and be able to paddle back with no problems at all. The paddle back in was a much needed wake up call and key is to check the weather, I found VIC Winds app for iPhone. I think it is the best to check out bay conditions.
After thinking I had everything sorted it was time to fish again. I checked the weather and it said was calm day. I went out to Ricketts again as it was a solo trip this time and thought go somewhere I knew. I got there before sunrise and paddled out to group of boats as thought they’d have the fish finders. The water was like glass couldn’t of asked for a more perfect day. Settled outside the pack of boats and started fishing and the bite was on. I caught two nice pinkies 34cm & 38cm perfect for dinner. I was just casting out pilchards and slowly running them along the bottom and bang they would hit. The problem I faced this time was I didn’t bring enough bait. I was out of pilchards within an hour and half, I did take squid but they didn’t want a bar of it. I was stoked to bring something home to eat and first time in ages that caught a keeper. The anchor system worked well, no problems with water coming into the boat, I was nice and warm with wetsuit on. It was the perfect day.
(Another gopro caught the action of capsize, check out @smithrob on Instagram, its video before picture of a turtle lol)
3rd Trip Problems.
Why wouldn’t cable tie break?
Capsized - how stop losing everything?
Having zero confidence after this trip and saving some money to re-buy all the essential equipment. I looked at the problems I faced, I went through lots and lots of guides before reading need to use smallest cable ties as the bigger ones will not break. So went to bunnings got the smallest cable ties and did a bunch of tests in the backyard so it will not happen again. I also jumped on eBay after the capsize and brought a paddle leach. I was lucky didn’t lose my paddle when I capsized so think smartest purchase I’ve made. I also brought leaches for my rod, net, tackle and tools so if I do capsize I shouldn’t lose anything.
I had a good little break after losing my confidence before heading back out to Ricketts once more. It is now early June, I brought head lamp and got on the water at 5am, it was freezing even with the wetsuit. I thought my hands were going to fall off. I went out with my mate who talked me into kayaking. It was so so cold but the water was calm and knew it was going to be good day once we got warm. The bite was quite early, only had few bites and only landed one pinkie between 5-7am. Once the sun started to rise and the tide change was over the pinkies were out. Unfortunately for my mate he snapped his rod in half out there. We didn’t want go back in so he used half of rod to fish with and he was catching bulk fish. Every cast we would catch a fish we caught 5 keepers between us ranging from 29cm to 33cm. Good for dinner. Just same method of running pilchards along the bottom. I had no troubles with the anchor and just good day on the water.
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) kgw (39)
