Kayak fishing light line techniques

Kayak maestro Stephen Tapp goes back to the future, leaving the anchor at home and dropping to lighter line  – and gets his just deserts!
I’m sitting here contemplating a selection of bruises, a burnt thumb the security scanner won’t recognise, and an assorted selection of cuts and scrapes – just the sort of thing you’d expect after being in a brawl!
However, these aren’t the result of some dark carpark escapade, instead the damage was suffered during a session chasing big… more

Live Bait Fishing For Kingfish

The simplicity of live baits
This kayak fishing report from Stephen Tapp and Milan from Big Angry Fish, covers the simple and effective technique of live bait fishing for kingfish from the Kayaks and how the Viking Profish tackle pod system can help you land the fish your targeting.  
As with all great fishing stories it all begins with a short notice phone call from a mate…
Milan “want to target some kings tomorrow?” -  ..no reply needed,  mad scramble to assemble the Profish Reload… more

Hot Kayak Fishing Tuna Action

Paddle leashes are great bits of gear when things work against you, in this case saving this outfit from heading to the bottom – just be sure you don’t overreach yourself trying to make the save!
Recently I had another hot tuna session off Taranaki successfully boating multiple albacore as reward for the days paddling effort. To add spice on light tackle I even managed to entice a few small kings with trolled lures. At around a meter long they were definitely in another league as their sheer brute power… more

Kayak fishing light tackle - setting up to go light

Kingfish of any size can be a handful, but even a modest fish such as this light tackle specimen captured in just a few meters of water behind the breakers will stick in your mind for a long time.
One of the real joys of fishing from kayaks is the ease with which we end up on a “Nantucket sleigh ride”. Even a modest sized fish can have us moving against the wind, while larger fish can end up totally relocating us before the battle is done. This adds a dimension not experienced in larger craft as not only… more

Deep water kayak fishing..

It’s not always about the glamour species, the humble gemfish on lighter line is fun and makes great table fare
Into the deep
My calendar at this time of the year normally has as many weekends as possible blocked out in anticipation of the snapper run. Light tackle is tuned and grab bags made ready to make the most of any weather window to hit Bream Bay, the Bay of Islands, or Doubtless Bay. The lure of having large fit snapper dragging rod tips deep into the water beside the kayak usually has me thinking of… more

Kayak Fishing Expedition Season

Bryce with a superb bluenose from a previous White Island mothership trip – new kayaks and new camera systems and a few new tackle tricks will see us out there trying for new PB’s, and also attempting to catch them on paddle from shore missions.
Expedition Season, by Stephen Tapp
The next few months is going to see a hectic schedule trying to fit in a series of kayak competitions and expeditions. In little more than a week we begin with the Top Catch Cove to Cape kayak contest, September will see missions… more

Kayak Fishing with Small Frame Reels

(Milkey is another angler who enjoys fishing small but powerful reels, and on a breezy Northland day had no problems skull-dragging this prize from the stones!)
Small frame fishing reels, by Stephen Tapp (written for the August 2014 issue of NZ Fishing News Magazine)
Winter kayak fishing and having awesome fun seems almost a contradiction to the uninitiated. They can’t fathom why any person in their right mind seeks to surround themselves with an ocean of cold water while every little breeze chills unprotected… more

Long or short rods for kayak fishing

Big Cuvier Island snapper from the deep on short rods are much easier to land, and this saves the arms for paddling!
The Hutchwilco Boat show is always a great place to be, with plenty of opportunity to check out recent innovations in everything from large craft (for carrying your kayak of course) to the smallest items of terminal tackle. For me one of the more exciting aspects is the opportunity to talk in person to a diverse group of anglers and find out what they’re most interested in. This year was no exception,… more

Landing fish on your kayak, Gaff, Glove, or Net?

(Destined for the table, a quick mouth/jaw shot will have this snapper under control and ready for de-hooking and stowing on ice. Using the appropriate technique will minimize any chance of comedy or tragedy when landing your catch.)
Gaff, Glove, or Net?
Fishing from kayaks has always created the potential for adventure, comedy, and drama. Aside from all the usual possibilities arising from paddling a skinny piece of plastic or composite (or a piece of canvas over a frame if you’re a traditionalist), the biggest… more

Monster snapper in skinny water kayak fishing

"A fat 20 pounder at 9.47kg. Solid and in top condition, but well off the mark for the competition. It’s nose did create lots of comment along the lines of “funny how some fish look like the anglers that catch them!”
Once again the organizers of the recent Taranaki Kayak Fishing Classic have outdone themselves, producing an event that’s even better than the previous. Despite the early rough weather and swell conditions in some areas, and the resulting “rough and tumble” mishaps for… more