Articles
My Life Has Become an Adventure!
- Category: Fishing Kayaks
- Published on Monday, 18 January 2010 22:22
- Written by Shufoy
- Hits: 2778
I have tried to make change and variety an important part of my Kayak fishing since getting into the sport, trying new things, tactics, spots, even different Kayaks, which i must admit is hard, after falling for the lure of the Dark Side. These days my harem consists of an Adventure, Revolution, Stealth Supalight and most recently, Hobie Adventure Island. In many ways, Josh is responsible for getting me into one of these beasts, reading his posts and stories has really opened my eyes to their capabilities, and potential on the West Coast. As soon as it became financially responsible to do so, i ordered mine, and the rest, as they say, will be history!
Being a West Australian Kayak Fisher, it's hard to be inspired by those over here, as we are so few in number, and are really mostly on the same page as far as abilities, and experience. The sport is really in it's infancy, and i've found myself looking to the East Coast for inspiration, and the challenging push of their spectacular catches and trips. I guess my first insight into this was travelling to Mooloolabah for the ABT competition over there last year, where i was warmly welcomed by fellow blogger Stuart "Dunebuggy" Whitehouse, who picked me up, and accompanied me for my weekend there. I also met Josh on the day, and we had a great chat, and our friendship was born. Seeing how big things were over east really gave me the drive to try to inspire, and drive the guys in the West to the same level, and encourage the growth of the sport through the Yakfishwest Forums, and my Western Angler writings. I guess in a sense, this blog will be my way of bringing the WA community into the Yakass mix, and i thank Josh for the oppurtunity.
So the AI, now i bit my nails for a month waiting for this to arrive, and read and read, watched every video i could on them sailing, and planned how to set her up. An important part of the fitout design, was to be able to use it as a plain Adventure, without having to change anything, or modify the setup. I looked at the different mounting systems available for rods, sounders and cameras, and settled on the RAM mounts, ordering a fortune in different parts, making sure i had all i needed. I also got a truckload of Hobie accesories from my sponsor, which was very generous! This meant by the time the AI arrived, i had the setup fully planned, and all the parts to do so. Still i decided to take her for a shake-down trip, with only the main rod holders fitted, just to make sure it all looked good, and i was certain things were going in the right places. I had sailed AI's a bit before, taking the shop ones for a thrash every now and then, but to own one, was a buzz.
The first trip, was an easy 30km run, out between Carnac and Garden Islands, launching at Woodmans Point. The day was an easy south easter, of around 10-12knots, meaning i cruised out at around 8-10km/h, and managed nearly 15km out before the wind finally died totally, leaving me floundering! Luckily i had ended up right on the edge of the 5 Fathom Bank, a large reef that runs for over 100km parralell to the coast, ranging in depth from 5-10m, and between 6-15km from shore. It's a very popular spot for fishing, and the back edge is home to the prize West Australian Dhufish. The wind soon swung round to the Sou'West, as is typical of the WA coast, and i was able to get sailing again, and headed in, not a quick trip in, but great fun nonetheless! Heres a quick vid of the first trip!
So from this point, i spent a solid week on the fitout. Set the Transducer in sikaflex, up front, behind the mast foot, and proceeded to fit the numerous RAM ball mounts i had bought of Josh. Started with two small balls out on the ends of the AMA's, hose clamp style, these were fitted purely for camera mounts. I also mounted a single small ball up front, just behind and to the right of the mast step, this being for a camera mount when in Adventure style.Anothers small ball with clamp was mounted on the front outrigger bar, just to the left of the mast, and this is the sounder mount. The trusty Humminbird 141c will be used here, and probably die here too i expect...
Large metal balls were mounted on the side gunnels in front of the pockets for the main rod holders, i decided on the RAM Revolution Tubes, after much thought, as i've always liked tube style holders, and these encompass a riser in there construction, perfect. On the rear bar i have mounted my EPIRB and bracket, these are compulsory in WA wehn travelling offshore, and mine is registered to my Hobie. On eather side of this i have mounted two large balls and clamps, these were tricky to get a solid fit, and in the end i stuck them tight with a generous dollop of Sikaflex under the ball, to assist the clamp, and they are now solid as!!! On these i have two aluminium RAM tubes, that are used for rod storage, allowing me to kick them out to the side and easily clearing the rear sheet. Also used in Adventure form, as i love to carry three rods and a net, and these allow me to do so, without interfering with it's sailing abilities.
At the front of the yak, is my jewel in the crown so to speak, the Finn Wave Deflector. After watching countless videois of AI's at sail, and using Adventures myself since i got into the sport, i knew of the Adventures flat, rockerless traits, and saw them emphasized in the AI with it's extra horsepower. This wave deflector was designed to keep the nose up, and stoip some amount of water coming over the front of the hull. Several of these were hacked to death before getting this to fit right, and now it's only the two screws of the existing handle holding it in place, and i am stoked with the way it works.
Lastly i fitted one tramp to the right hand side, and a Hobie anchor trolley to the left. We like to anchor on occasion here in the west, and i also use a drift shute a lot, and run it rear with the trolley for slow drift fishing. Fitting my standard battery in the Hobie Gear bucket, and power cable was all that remained, and she was ready to roll. We had planned a Trip to 5 Fathom Bank, launching from Point Peron for the following Sunday, this being the closest point to the reef at about 6-7km. On the day, it was almost windless, and whilst we got some sailing assistance from the wind, we basically pedalled all the way, and hence, didn't really give the outfit a good test.
So this weekend gone we planned a 3 Mile Reef trip. This reef, 6-7km offshore from the north Perth suburb of Ocean Reef is a great destination, and the forecast was perfect, blustery Sou'East winds in the morning 20knots and easing, to a early afternoon Sou'West change. A perfect test it seemed, so away we went, andit was a sensational day, the AI lived up to all expectations. A great opening chapter in my time on this great yak, and i hope to see many more days like this one. Maybe next time, some more fish would be grand!!!