Kayak Fishing Around SYD Northern Beaches & Who to call to install a sounder to a Hobie kayak - Tips & Contact Please

[Bealeyma]

Gday Gang - firstly want to shout out to all the legends on this forum that have shared and that continue to share and pass on your years of experience and fishing wisdom! I've finally upgraded from inshore (mainly beach fishing) and bought myself a hobie kayak (next step after this will be to buy a boat but prefer to wait for the token invite from some mate) and venturing out at some local spots (manly harbour, Bayview, Narrabeen lake and hopefully if the swell isn't to rough off fisherman's at Longy). I'm yet to buy a sounder o wondering what the best way is to find any productive grounds and structure i can try my luck to bottom bash and troll around? Secondly, if there are any other spots local to the Syd northern beaches I should try? Lastly - re the sounder dilemma Im looking at the Garmin Striker and although youtube makes it look fairly simple to install on my yak is there anyone that know a retailer that would do the install? Thanks in advance and will be sure to send some pics and debrief success or lack of in the coming months! 

[Steve0]

Probably any specialised kayak seller (as opposed to chain store) would be happy to install your sounder. Especially, if you buy the sounder from them (or bought the yak from them). However, the hardest part of installing the sounder is getting past the thought of drilling a hole in your kayak. Without previous experience, mine went on without any problem. With DIY in mind, I sent you a PM (personal message). If nothing else, think carefully about placement of the head unit.

Another problem you'll face with a FF in a kayak is light reflection off the screen. I solved it using a plastic ice cream container, cut down to fit, so the screen was in shade . It also kept salt spray away from the head unit.

Long story short, my sounder gave trouble and I never caught a fish I put down to the sounder rather than reading water. For me, it may have been useful on open water but I fished near the shoreline. I uninstalled.

 

 

[DerekD]

 

[Bennyg78]

@Bealeyma which hobie model did you get? some have a space already made for the transducer. These are made to prefit Lowrance transducers. 

You can buy a berleypro visor to reduce glare or use the icecream tub.

If you're looking to pay someone yeah a kayak dealer would be the best option

[slothparade]

It's really easy, just get one of those through hull kits the brand of mounts that you want (there is heapes), then drill them in and do a through hull wiring. Try and standardise on one brand of mount for rod holders, ECT. 

You can mount the transducer in the front of the hull with some marine goop and then run the cable up through the hull. As for the battery, I recommend getting a lunch box and a bit of cut up noodle to hold that battery in the box. Drill 2 holes in the box and put a cable tie around the mast in the hull and then run the power cable through the through hull kit as well