When it comes to estuary fishing, everyone has a secret spot, tucked away in the upper reaches of remote creek. I’m exactly the same when it comes to kayak fishing, as I paddle past many possible honey-holes in order to get to my own secret spot.
After having a long
break from my kayak I had been keener than ever to get out on the water and
flick my Rapala Lures into my favourite snag. I launched my kayak and began the
paddle out to my spot in the glassy conditions of flat water and not even the
slightest breeze of wind.
Picture perfect conditions |
My gear of choice is a
baitcast combo for throwing larger hard-bodies, like the Rapala Saltwater X-rap
10 at Barra and Jacks in the snags, and a light spin combo for casting the
Rapala Ultra Light minnows and shads at flathead and bream. The baitcaster combo
of choice was my Okuma V-200A on the Silstar Barra Stik rod, while my spin combo
was my new Okuma Avenger II 25 on the Okuma Taurino rod.
The Okuma V-System 200a Baitcaster |
After having enough I
left my creek and headed off, back towards the boat ramp, where I found a small
sand bottom inlet, unlikely for a boat to access.
I cast at the snaggy bank and gave my X-rap 10
two sharp twitches and let the lure pause, as if to imitate an injured baitfish.
When I began to twitch again I felt a thump… thump …thump. Then a flash of
silver darted through the water. My first call was a nice little barra, but when
the fish got close to the yak it became obvious it was a huge bream. The fish
thrashed across the surface, shaking it’s head in attempt to spit the hooks.
Unfortunately for me he did, before swimming away and down into the muddy water.
I think I recall him rudely flicking his fin up at me, as if to give me the
bird, while he disappeared into the depths.
Losing fish isn't fun, but you have to keep casting and hope for another. |
After I finished
crying over what would have been a PB bream I continued my search for a new
creek. I paddled my way looking for
promising snags till I found a mangrove tree which had collapsed into the water.
I cast on an angle which allowed me to land my lure between the branches of the
fallen tree. I aggressively twitched my lure into the timber then SMACK it was
dragged in deeper by a bronze mangrove jack. I managed to pull the jack out of
that snag, but he soon hooked the other set of trebles on a mangrove root in the
shallows along the bank.
Once I made it to the
bank I jumped out of the yak, into the shin deep water, then pulled him off the
snag and pinned him down in the seat of my kayak, so he couldn’t escape like the
bream managed to early on. The jack was tagged and released after a couple quick
pictures.
The latest trend in fish fashion |
I can’t wait to head
back up to the new creeks I found with my 6’6” Okuma X-Factor 1-3kg rod so I can
chase down those bream. When fishing close into the snags and in the skinny
creeks it really pays off to have a shorter rod. But then again my 7’2” Okuma Taurino is unbeatable for
castability and is by far a better option for flats, rocks and beaches when
casting either soft or hardbody lures.
A nice jack from my my new 'Secret Spot' |
This trip really
proved to me the importance of exploring my local estuary to look for those hot
spots that everyone goes straight past.
Words and Pics: Rhett Thorne - reproduced with permission. Read more of Rhett's fishing adventures at Mad Keen Yak Angling.
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