arpie

Thanks Nursie - let me know when you get up here!!

Thanks, Nursie - I have seen a couple of 'do it yourself' lean bars & tried to find the sites last night - but couldn't! Your idea of using the forward Scuppers should work - as would any forward rod holders if they were molded into the yak. Using other bits of bent pipe fittings, you could still keep rod holders too, off at an angle? Look forward to seeing the pics Roberta

Hi Nursie Google 'Hobie H Bar' - they have made a collapsible bar to assist you in standing up in yaks - and also to lean on whilst fishing standing up (I think it was originally aimed at Fly Fishos, as there is much more movement associated with casting from a yak whilst standing up ......) I have great difficulty trying to stand from what is essentially 'ground level' without a reasonable 'push up' area ...... and you just don't have that luxury in most yaks. The Hobie PA 12 & 14 are different - as you are virtually in a chair & can use the arms to push yourself up - and the yak is VERY stable, so unless in turbulent water (when you wouldn't be standing anyway!) most folk would find it easy to stand up. I have heard of non hobie yaks having the H Bar fitted. It lays down when you don't want to use it & then just set it up when you need it! Most who have bought one for a PA tend not to use it after a while, as the yaks ARE so stable, so some do come on the market 2nd hand, occasionally. Good luck Roberta Freedom kayaks have a Stand Up Bar on theirs ...... others find that if you have 2 'outrigger/stabilizers' on the yak, that you can generally stand up easier on a yak - for whatever reason!!

Well done on even getting fish, Stewy & Nat! Shame about the dorks in boats - you don't need a brain to get a licence, obviously, even tho there are restrictions on how close they are supposed to get to other vessels ...... imagine what that bow wave would have done to us in a kayak!! I've been swamped by one up here! Hope your gear wasn't damaged (apart from you suffering bruises!) Yeah - I don't go upriver here now for the same reason, until it gets colder & the wimps in ski boats don't come out til next summer! cheers Roberta

Well done! Great to hear the kingies are 'on' at Pitty!! Congrats on getting them in your yak! Roberta

Hi Bennoz Well done, on getting financial approval from the Ministry of Finance ...... Step 1 completed!! NOW .... just time to do your homework! Either the Revo 13 or Adventure would suite the purpose - even the Outback as well. The main reason Hobie 'has it' over most other kayaks is having the Mirage Drive/pedal that allows you to maintain your position in both wind and current, even with a big fish on. It also allows you to pedal AWAY from structure without even winding the reel, to get your fish into safer water, to THEN commence the reeling in. This advantage CANNOT be understated! Best thing would be to meet up with as many yakkers as you can and actually ASK them if you can give their yak a try! Most would be amenable to this. I see you mention 'sit in' ........ not many (if any) people use 'sit in' yaks for offshore fishing - they are just too difficult to empty out in the case of tipping over ...... so most are 'sit on' yaks (with internal storage for gear & even rods in some models.) ...but only in small conditions.... you may only intend to fish small conditions but it will only be a matter of time before you are caught out in 'big' conditions, so your craft needs to be able to deal with ALL conditions! You can buy yaks 2nd hand - just google them! NEVER BUY, unless you TRY! Remember that on top of your purchase, you then need to get safety gear as well - often this comes included in a 'used yak' price - so a real advantage in many cases. Definitely after new models have been put on the market, you can usually find people 'upgrading' to the new models ...... you just have to be in the right place at the right time & have the $ available for a quick decision! Good luck on your hunt ROberta

AWESOME sessions!! Well done!! Shame about your net tho! Great report with terrific pics and lots of tips on gear to use! Well done Roberta

Hi guys check this youtube out - neat to see how Aussie bass hang round the snaggiest bits!! :roll: Then, check out his OTHER vids!! Lots of cool underwater stuff!! cheers Roberta

SO much fun, going for bass in a yak!! Well done Roberta

I know a lot of the ABT bream & bass competitors will be getting these!! Makes sense - if you can duplicate the sound of a feeding frenzy/feeding fish, other bigger predators will be drawn to it!! cheers Roberta

....whats the yak he's on?.... Pretty sure it is a Stealth - and he has all the necessary safety equipment, should he get in to trouble! Plus had his buddy Paul stay with him for support. Another vid of the interview! http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/watch/20813859/fisherman-catches-monster-marlin-in-kayak/ Roberta

It is a great interview - Tommie is a lovely bloke! Here is the interview - with expletives removed! ttp://au.prime7.yahoo.com/n1/video/-/watch/20800834/what-a-catch/

Another success story - Oslo (a naturopath from Melbourne) was visiting Forster & a buddy contacted me saying he wanted to learn beach worming! We met at the Main Beach & I could see that he had a good eye for detail and sure enough, it wasn't long before Osolo was 'getting heads' and not long after, pulled his first beach worm! He was VERY happy!! He was going to go back to Melbourne & try & find some there! cheers Roberta

WOW! Spooky situation that everyone needs to be aware of, Lyn! Thanks for bringing it to our attention (not that any of our vehicles are smart enough to be on the list!) I have one of those hammer/torch/cutter thingies in the campervan, too, just in case you need it!! cheerio Roberta

Forster Boardwalk, behind the shops near the bridge. Up from the Amaroo

....how big that marlin was,.... Hi Jani - I think it was estimated at about 90kg!! So a pretty good fish!! Who knows - I may have a go at one myself ....... one of my buddies who will be there with me at the end of February has a Tandem Adventure Island (2 seater) and has said he will take me out in ti!!! he, he, I may just make sure I go out more than once if I can! Last time I was off the Gaol, my little Hobie Sport was bobbing around like a cork & I got horribly seasick - particularly when I opened the Vacuum Packed Bag of Squid Heads .... and had to head for sure, totally dehydrated as well!! That is when 2 dolphins jumped over the rear of my yak & a fellow yakker managed to take a photo at the exact same moment (scaring the CRAP out of me, I might add, when the closest one landed!!) ...... which about 5-6 years ago was quite amazing, as there was quite a 'time lapse' between pushing the button & the photo actually taking!! cheers Roberta

THanks guys Send me a PM when you get here, Chris! I am sure there will be more around as there will be less people! cheers Roberta

Thanks guys - it really is a magic 'back yard' to have!! ...Love your red flag, is that on top of an outrigger pole.... No Paikea - I have taped a small tube onto the back of the left rear rod holder & the flag sits in that. ...Not fair trolling for Bass you know...... Nah - this is salt, not fresh & I am casting ahead of myself ...... the other 2 rods are 'spares'! It must have been taken about 3-4 years ago, I reckon - as I haven't had that 'Live Fish Tank' on the back for AGES!! cheers Roberta

Hi guys A yakking buddy has just landed his first yak from Marlin off Coffs Harbour & has a terrific video showing the fight! Warning for young viewers' parents - there are 2 muffled expletives in the Vid - if it was MY marlin, there would have been a few more!! His buddy Paul (who also took video of his epic battle) hooked one the next day, but it got off There has been a rash of 'hook ups' over the last 2 weeks with some dropped & others 'landed', with many coming from the SWR area. Marlin from Yak Guru, Grant had a double hookup yesterday and one even tried to take off with his downrigger bomb!! I hear there have been 40 hooked down Jervis Bay way, with some landed from the rocks too! Looks like a HOT Marlin season, this year!! My kiwi buddy, Shelley is coming back late in Feb, to go up & try again! How good would it be for her to be the first lady to hook a marlin on yak?? cheers Roberta

Sorry to hear of your woes, Jeff! Yep - bloody low lifes!! With the iPhones, is there a tracking device on them? I heard there was? Yeah - you take out insurance on the hope you don't need to use it .... and still feel robbed! Glad you got a PB bass - that should have brought a smile to the dial cheers Roberta

Great pics, Kyle!! Great fun, too! Roberta

x 2 for double uni ...... I've often cut off a 'wind knot' and just rejoined the line with a double uni & it works fine - about 4-5 turns on both sides. Used it on small lines (6lb) and bigger lines and never had a hassle cheers Roberta!

Well done, Kyle & :1welcomeani: to Fishraider!! Looking forward to more blackie reports! There is a wealth of information here for you to learn different fishing techniques along the way ...... but just remember that blackfish are around ALL YEAR and are a very reliable fish to target!! cheerio and see you next time you are up here! Roberta

Hi Guys I was flicking thru a local Magazine before Xmas & was surprised to see a pic of me in my yak used as advertising the Great Lakes!! he, he, Not that I mind or anything!!! Pretty sure it was Shane Chaulker (local photographer) who was on the Free Spirit one day & spotted me in the Paddock!! He could have told me to SMILE!! I am looking a bit 'serious'!! My 5 mins of fame! cheers Roberta

There are plenty of juvenile great whites along Stockton Beach - so not surprised to learn a bigger one is further up (or is it 'down'?) ......... I sure wouldn't be swimming round any of those areas any time soon!!! I know that massive sharks have been caught by the shark boat 2-3k off Forster - but they are not allowed to set their hooks any closer ....... so some MUST be closer inshore here too. They hooked a whopper one day - and another mega-shark bit it in half (lengthwise, so only the head & top part of the gut was left) before they could boat it! THAT one is still out there swimming somewhere!! Roberta