[I've joined the kayak crew]

Yeah I've been meaning to look into some rod holder extensions. I will measure and see if I can use some conduit, thanks for the tip. I was unsure about bigrods comment as he said to NOT use the long hobie rod holders.

Leashes are another thing on my list. Do you guys just buy all your leashes? Could be expensive as I can imagine I might need 6+. Any other suggestions?

I use a length of bungy cord with a stainless carabiner secured in a loop at each end with a couple of cable ties. Secured to rods with para cord.

Youtube and the specific kayak fishing sites are excellent sources for info when it comes to making stuff.

[Sydney Harbour Yaking for Kings]

Anywhere from right under the bridge in either direction to between the boats.

Best approach I have found when you hook one is pedal hard for open water before they find an anchor rope.

[Help with live bait]

Quakers Hat bay on your right not long after you leave the ramp at Tunks.

There will usually be a few boats hanging around looking for livies, otherwise just sound around till you find them.

[Sydney Harbour Yaking for Kings]

There are loads of places you can find kings. Where you can go will depend on which Hobie you have.

I have no problem being around the heads or even a few k's along the coast on my adventure (revo 16) on really good days. Just make sure you are easily visible, watch out for other boats and particularly ferries as they move faster than you think.

There is plenty of information on the net showing where to find kings in Middle Harbour but around Spit Bridge is not a bad place to start.

The warves and channel marker along the north side of Goat Island can also be worth a look if you are launching from Greenwich but any recognised land based spot will be worth trolling past

[I've joined the kayak crew]

Are you talking about the ram mount one? So far I'm just using it as it came. Can you put up a pic of what you use? It's all new to me and I'm sure I will be fiddling with things over the next few months

Think they may mean the Hobie rod holder extension tubes. Get the reels up away from the water. I made the mistake of putting my 30lb rod in one with a live bait on & it nearly got pulled out. Better off just making some out of PVC tube.

These days I only use the Hobie ones for storage and have Scotty holders mounted up front.

Another tip is make sure you leash EVERYTHING. Many don't worry till they lose something expensive in deep water.

[Middle Harbour kayak session]

Nice result from the yak. The live bait tubes work pretty well from the yak & you don't have to worry about powering it. Water drag is not too bad as long as you don't want to travel fast. I have managed to keep a couple of decent sized squid or up to 4 large slimies alive for a few hours no problem.

[Offshore Flathead Questions]

For a good tough bait, take a couple of strips from the belly of the first legal flathead you get and use your GPS to keep drifting the same area.

[Sydney Spotted Mackerel]

Nice fish despite the self release. They seem to show up every couple of years if the water gets warm enough. Think they were caught in the Hacking last year or year before.

I would be getting the feet further out of the way tho. One swipe from those teeth & the fish will be the least of your worries.

[Harbour kings on lure]

Casting soft plastic or hardbody stickbaits around any of the channel markers, usually first or last light, is a pretty popular approach for kings. Pretty much anywhere there is reasonably deep water and structure is worth a try at some point. As mentioned above, white seems to be the top colour in the harbour. Once the sun gets up live baits (yakkas, slimies, pike, squid) can also get results.

[First harbour kayak session]

Sounds like a decent session. Just remember with kings they can shrink a couple of centimeters when dead so if you take one just on legal, you could end up with a fine.

[Finally got a YAK!]

Nice yak. Don't forget to leash pretty much everything. Too much gear gets lost in this sport.

[Rod recommendation]

What style of fishing? Plastics, bait, light jigging ....?

[Boat gone and now a kayak]

My biggest recommendation is to test your deep water reentry skills early and regularly. Too many guys get caught out when they end up in the drink unexpectedly.

[First kingy for the season]

Nice fish

[Looking at kayaks]

If looking at Hobies for open water don't forgot to look at the Revo 16. Love mine & much better in any sort of swell/wind chop than the other models.

As much as I love the hands free, if I didn't have issues with paddling distances due neck problems I would definitely go back to a Stealth.

[Sydney Marlin]

Congrats on your first but hopefully not last. Great report too.

[DOWNRIGGERS & BRAID]

I thought most ran the bomb about 10m off the bottom anyway so in 25m you need 15m depth.

[kingfish lures to troll for kingfish]

Trolling soft plastic stickbaits can also be worth a go. The stop start motion of paddling imparts the action for you. White is considered to be the best colour for kings.

[It's time for that question, sounder installation.]

Pretty sure my in hull install gives pretty accurate temp readings. Only a thin layer of plastic so may take a few minutes but temp inside & out should equalise.

No idea personally how it affects downview but pretty sure there are a number of guys on the yak fishing forums I frequent that have that sounder.

[Bonnie's on Saturday]

Well done. Got a few bonnies as well around South Head on Saturday trolling a laser pro. Also lots of undersized kings getting caught

[need urgent help!]

Live baiting out of the kayak I use the poor mans downrigger.

Leader to swivel then trace with suitable hook. I then attach a 6-8oz sinker to the free ring on a cheap snap swivel. The snap then gets attached to the ring on the inline swivel closest to the rod. Hope all that is clear as mud. Some people use rubber bands so the sinker breaks away when they get a hit, but I can't bring myself to leave all that lead behind and it hasn't affected me landing a fish.

[Yak Fishing Rosebay area]

Bit late, but flathead, whiting and bream would be main targets with possibility and salmon & kings. Plastics are probably a good place to start with maybe a few small hardbodies & surface lures.

[Live well ideas]

Had anyone used livie torpedoes? It's a tube you drag behind you with the bait in it?

Yes. Most simple and best builds are on some of the local kayak fishing sites but assume I am not allowed to lnk to them.

Built mine from 1meter 90mm PVC tube with couple of tapered end caps. You can go down to 50mm to reduce drag but I wanted to be able to get a few big slimies or candy sized squid in.

Add flotation such as a length of pool noodle to keep it on the surface. Otherwise they can tend to dive & create even more drag. Also allows you to attach a weight with enough cord to leave the tube floating in your fishing area instead of towing it all day.

Also make sure the inside is completely smooth. Remove every burr on the inside from cuts & any holes you drill. If you don't your baits will get scaled in very short order.

[Pictures speak 1000's of words]

Great result. Had a similar experience in NZ's Bay if Islands a few years ago.

189kg blue hooked on 37kg. At the boat in about 1hr 20 but could not revive the fish.

Had a fair bit smoked, vaccuum packed & deep chilled for the trip home, rest went to local community.

Also had the bill treated which I'm pretty sure is my wifes least favourite thing on our mantle.

[New kayak. Suggestions please!]

Possibly look at something second hand. Hard to go past a Perceptoin Swing or Viking Nemo. A little longer at around 4m, within your weight limit and suitable for getting out on bigger water or even offshore if you get the chance while stll being small enough for creeks.

Have a look at the local kayak fishing forums, ebay, classifieds. You will often see good deals on used yaks that are already set up with extra rod holders, sounders etc.