a-frame81

I would but I'll be up in the mountains 4WDing this weekend. Got to get my snow driving fix :-)

I would but I'll be up in the mountains 4WDing this weekend. Got to get my snow driving fix :-)

Hi All,
 
Here's some of my catches since starting with lures and freshwater:
My first lure catch, an Eastern Wirrah:


Some of the Redfin I've caught in the local lakes





My only Native so far

Went to the doc last monday with a sinus problem, bleeding from the nose, had it a hundred times. Result you better have a covid test, next result you are in lockdown until you get more results. Next result a phonecall 5pm friday, all clear. I blxxdy knew that,OH well it gave my sore back a chance for a rest.Now planning next fishing trip, you ripper.😜

Thanks Benno,
I have a PFD already, my service kit just arrived yesterday so will get onto that part pronto. I'll take a few weeks to look at Gumtree and see what's there, but keen to have one ready to go for spring when the fish come back on the chew a bit better. The wetsuit for Winter isn't a bad idea with water temps down here too.
I'm hoping for some "in hull" storage, at least for key/phone etc but was going to get a  dry bag in any case as hatches can leak. 
I think I'm set on a sit -on , thanks to all the feedback here. As much as the sit-in would be good in the cold, it will be harder to get gear sorted on the water. 
As for seat comfort, I'm likely to only get and hour or two at a time around family needs so if I can mange it for that it will be ok. Good to know about not really getting wet on the sit-on. It will definitely come in handy in winter and I'm only likely to fish flat water, or the occasional estuary when I can get down the coast.

Hey mate,
welcome to the forum.  sorry i didn't get a note in earlier - i am an occassional visitor, usually drop a few half smart comments and sometimes post a report.  I am a kayak fisho - i have a hobie outback that i picked up second hand with a few bells and whistles for a very good price off gumtree.
just my two cents worth on kayak selection. 
1) capacity.  I am not a small person generally and i do enjoy the occassional pie.  so even though a 130kg capacity would well and truly cover me, i would highly recommend getting one with much more carrying capacity than you think you need.  main reason for this is the yak is more buoyant and therefore more stable when you are on it.
2) as far as sit on top vs sit in - for fishing sit on top is the go - unless you are getting a larger canoe.  allows you to fish easier and access gear.  would recommend highly getting a yak with some "in hull" storage and work out a few methods of securing lose items on the deck. can be as simple as velcro patches or some magnents to stick things too, waterproof bags are also a good thing for wallets, phones, keys etc.  they also float iF they fall off which is reasonably handy.
3) so many different after market seats available to retro-fit afterwards, some of them won't suit your yak though so make sure you get one that can have a different seat installed.  i am limited to hobie only products on mine but i can tolerate it pretty well for a few hours.  i usually plan to find a place to get out and stretch after about 3 hours on mine, especially if it has been a while between uses. box trailer certainly the easiest way to transport them around, i currently can manage to get mine onto the roof of the 4x4 on my own but i am sure that will change in coming years.
4) on a calm day you literally will only get your feet wet launching/retreiving.  you tend to cop some spray in chop or if going over boat wakes. in a surf launch plan to get soaked and if you don't that's a win. winter time if you have a wetsuit that is an option.  would recommend a PFD as well if you don't have one or if you aren't a hugely competent swimmer.
look forward to reading some more reports from down your way!
 

Thanks Benno,
I have a PFD already, my service kit just arrived yesterday so will get onto that part pronto. I'll take a few weeks to look at Gumtree and see what's there, but keen to have one ready to go for spring when the fish come back on the chew a bit better. The wetsuit for Winter isn't a bad idea with water temps down here too.
I'm hoping for some "in hull" storage, at least for key/phone etc but was going to get a  dry bag in any case as hatches can leak. 
I think I'm set on a sit -on , thanks to all the feedback here. As much as the sit-in would be good in the cold, it will be harder to get gear sorted on the water. 
As for seat comfort, I'm likely to only get and hour or two at a time around family needs so if I can mange it for that it will be ok. Good to know about not really getting wet on the sit-on. It will definitely come in handy in winter and I'm only likely to fish flat water, or the occasional estuary when I can get down the coast.

Some scuba gear could help in the winter

I've never been in choppy conditions, but on a river they're as dry as you want them to be.
 

With a sit on top you are able to have all your gear out and easily accessible. Easier to flip upright should you come a gutsa.
I think all kayaks I've seen setup well for fishing have all been sit on top style.

SO I've made the call to get a kayak. More portable as I can just throw them on the roof racks. Looking second hand over the next few weeks/months to see what's out there...

SO I've made the call to get a kayak. More portable as I can just throw them on the roof racks. Looking second hand over the next few weeks/months to see what's out there...

SO I've made the call to get a kayak. More portable as I can just throw them on the roof racks. Looking second hand over the next few weeks/months to see what's out there...

Hi Breaming with bro, you're more likely to catch redfin or the odd Yellowbelly than to snag a Murray cod on your first go.
I mainly catch redfin down in Canberra and most of your bream lures will work on them. I've had the best success with a 2' pre-made swim shad in rainbow trout colour. It's only a cheapie Jarvis Walker lure from kmart, but has accounted for most of my catches. It also accounted for the one solid yellow I've caught.
I mostly use my 2-4kg graphite rod with a 2000 reel loaded with 8lb mainline and 10lb fluro leader. I've yet to even get a hit from something big enough to bust me off, but then again I'mbank fishing dams and haven't ventured out into the rivers.
Murray cod specialists generally use massive swimbait rods with 20lb mainline and up to 60lb leader as the murray cod can hit the metre plus mark.
Hope you get onto some though, they're on my list of fish to try and catch.
Like Dinodadog said, a 1/2oz spinner bait will work for the yellas and might get the cod interested. You can get the odd redfin on them too as they're not fussy when they're biting.

Hi Breaming with bro, you're more likely to catch redfin or the odd Yellowbelly than to snag a Murray cod on your first go.
I mainly catch redfin down in Canberra and most of your bream lures will work on them. I've had the best success with a 2' pre-made swim shad in rainbow trout colour. It's only a cheapie Jarvis Walker lure from kmart, but has accounted for most of my catches. It also accounted for the one solid yellow I've caught.
I mostly use my 2-4kg graphite rod with a 2000 reel loaded with 8lb mainline and 10lb fluro leader. I've yet to even get a hit from something big enough to bust me off, but then again I'mbank fishing dams and haven't ventured out into the rivers.
Murray cod specialists generally use massive swimbait rods with 20lb mainline and up to 60lb leader as the murray cod can hit the metre plus mark.
Hope you get onto some though, they're on my list of fish to try and catch.
Like Dinodadog said, a 1/2oz spinner bait will work for the yellas and might get the cod interested. You can get the odd redfin on them too as they're not fussy when they're biting.

Bulldogs195461
I am also looking to get into kayak fishing. I’ll follow this with interest. 

I’ve been looking at kayaks from Baysports and Weekend Warrior. 
 
Good luck

Anyone got one of these, they can give me some advice on please. I'm thinking of getting my first kayak, just to cover more territory around the coast, should all be pretty flat water, but I travel from Toowoomba so needs to be a one man show on my Ute and I'm not young any more. Any advice appreciated cheers. 
 

The ACT is a bit different to most states, we don't have to kill carp or redfin. I think every other state you can't put them back.
 
Apparently the wirrah is common on rocks and breakwalls down on the south coast. It's the only one I've every caught as most of my fishing has been in rivers or lakes. Certainly was a cranky character and full of spines. glad I had my gloves for getting him off.

The ACT is a bit different to most states, we don't have to kill carp or redfin. I think every other state you can't put them back.
 
Apparently the wirrah is common on rocks and breakwalls down on the south coast. It's the only one I've every caught as most of my fishing has been in rivers or lakes. Certainly was a cranky character and full of spines. glad I had my gloves for getting him off.

Yellows are also good to eat at that size. You just need to cut out the fat line that runs along the spine.

I haven't kept any yet. They have all been pretty small. Maybe if I get a 30cm+ one I'll give it a go. Might be able to get some decent little fillets off one. I've heard they're pretty tasty too.

Thanks for all the perspectives. 
 
I've also started watching some videos about fixing up old boats, so may head down that path (I have a bit of a thing of resurrecting old pushbikes, so this is a bit of an extension of that).
 
Still a little over a year until the 40th so plenty of time to think.

I haven't kept any yet. They have all been pretty small. Maybe if I get a 30cm+ one I'll give it a go. Might be able to get some decent little fillets off one. I've heard they're pretty tasty too.

Hi All,
 
Here's some of my catches since starting with lures and freshwater:
My first lure catch, an Eastern Wirrah:


Some of the Redfin I've caught in the local lakes





My only Native so far

Hi All,
 
Here's some of my catches since starting with lures and freshwater:
My first lure catch, an Eastern Wirrah:


Some of the Redfin I've caught in the local lakes





My only Native so far