MidNrthFisho Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 (edited) Hi all, Been a long time reader – finally caught something of note to put a report up! I managed to get up to Boomerang beach on the weekend with the gf with the view of getting in a quick kayak fish to try and catch one of the large kingies/cobia/longtail I hear are about this time of year. With still seas/wind I managed to launch the kayak at around 4pm Saturday and paddled to a reef off one of the headlands where I could catch a few livebait. I started burleying and as soon as the bread touched the water there was a whole school of fish below my kayak. I managed 3 yakkas in quick succession then got a nice slimy which was pinned straight through the nose and thrown behind the kayak. Not wanting too many livebait (only a bucket with no aerator) I started my paddle around the headland. There were many LBG fisherman on the rocks and I made sure I gave them and their balloons/floats a wide berth. After passing the LBG guys I was able to come in closer to the rocks where after a short while I sounded a big ball of bait which looked to be harassed by something. I looked with anticipation as the slimy started darting around then nothing, I reeled the line in and he had managed to get off. I quickly pinned a yakka through the nose and paddled back to where the bait ball was. On dropping the yakka down he quickly started to bounce around evading something. I thought to myself that I had to be in with a chance here when I feel weight on the rod and that great sound zzzzz. This thing took off quickly and was towing me straight to the rocks making me nervous I was getting too close to the wash. At this point I thought it was a kingy trying to take me straight into structure so I started palming the spool lightly, when it did a 180 turn and headed out to sea at speed staying up high. After two or three long runs it must have taken over 100 metres of line out and was dragging my kayak further and further out (later looking at my sounder it was only 400 metres or so – felt a lot further at the time!). I was slowly getting line back and after another 20-25 minutes minutes and a lot of circling (doing its best to try tip me out) I had it next to the kayak. Without a net or gaff I had no idea how to get it in, I couldn’t reach down and grab its tail so I started trying to lip grip it, grab its fins etc which was to no avail. I started leaning over further careful to not flip the kayak and after what would have been 10 attempts I finally managed to grab its tail and swung it into the kayak. I was absolutely over the moon in shock that I had actually caught a longtail (I didn’t really believe I had a chance!). Now began the nervous long paddle back with the kayak a lot closer to the waterline than before. After getting home exhausted and excited I measured it and it went 111cm to the tip – does anyone have an idea how heavy that would be? I was thinking 20kg+ as it was pretty hard to hold up for the photo! Sorry for no pictures out on the water – I didn’t have a camera until I got home. Could I please enter this into the April catch of the month? Thanks for reading! Mike edit: Mods/admin could you please resize the pictures appropriately? They seem to be coming out tiny on my computer. Edited April 4, 2016 by mrsswordfisherman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamestown Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Hey mate well done. I got 2 on the weekend with the bigger going 120cm and 16 kg clean whilst the smaller went 12kg cleaned.at 114cm. Your fish whole probably would have gone somewhere around 14-16 kg whole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swano Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Beautiful fish and a great report, Good luck to you,but sounds a bit too scary for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Mike That's a fantastic catch from a kayak and your story makes a great read. Congratulations and good luck with Catch of the Month! Cheers Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Effort and a half mate! From a kayak that's a good fish! Well done Cheers scratchie!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camo1808 Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Thats a solid fish mate and perfect for catch of the month with a red yak. Im not expert but my guess is around 14-15kg (just my guess) i will follow this to see how far i am off the mark from the more experienced on here. Cheers and well done again mate Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Awesome story Mike. Really great fish from the yak. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Spanner Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 That's fantastic. Great work on hatching and executing your plan successfully mate. You should be very proud. We're stoked for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 edit: Mods/admin could you please resize the pictures appropriately? They seem to be coming out tiny on my computer. Great shots - just added the pics to the post as they were only thumbnails and not attached. Click on each pic and they come up large Have a look at our Catch of the Month comp and add your fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timk Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 awesome catch there mate. top effort! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauricio Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 Top catch and effort... I'll be heading north in three weeks, with some luck I'll catch something decent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stunami Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 Great fish and great write up Mike, look forward to reading more from you but please be careful on your kayak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W4z Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 Nice one mate! How was the launch and return there? Much swell to deal with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidNrthFisho Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share Posted April 6, 2016 Hi all, Thanks for the support, I am already trying to make plans to get back up there and tango with some more fish off the kayak! Nice one mate! How was the launch and return there? Much swell to deal with? I launched from Elizabeth beach (almost north facing) and there was only .8m swell coming from the South (with only light winds) so it was a very easy launch and return. Top catch and effort... I'll be heading north in three weeks, with some luck I'll catch something decent There was a lot of fish activity there! (multiple bustups seen over the weekend) so I am sure you are in with a shot! Thats a solid fish mate and perfect for catch of the month with a red yak. Im not expert but my guess is around 14-15kg (just my guess) i will follow this to see how far i am off the mark from the more experienced on here. Cheers and well done again mateSent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk Hey mate well done. I got 2 on the weekend with the bigger going 120cm and 16 kg clean whilst the smaller went 12kg cleaned.at 114cm. Your fish whole probably would have gone somewhere around 14-16 kg whole I think you guys are right - I must have been a bit fatigued after the paddle and too prone to over exaggeration from excitement (as a lot of fisherman are) to think it was 20kg+! Stunami - I always wear appropriate lifejackets etc when going out and only paddle where I am comfortable, but definitely think I will take a paddle buddy out with me when targeting these fish in the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welster Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 That's a great effort from the yak, well done, a good read as well. Such a nice area too around Elizabeth beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rizki2230 Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 Awesome catch mate!! Can I ask where the reef is where you caught the bait/livies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidNrthFisho Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 Awesome catch mate!! Can I ask where the reef is where you caught the bait/livies? Hey mate - you can get them off the headlands/rocks on the eastern side of both Elizabeth and Shelly beaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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