Corpusfishing.com

[ROBDOG]

I am hoping for a nice weather window later this week and really want to do some BTB out at some rigs. I got my yak (hobie revo) several months ago but have only had it on the water once mainly due to not having a good way to transport it. I found a trailer on Friday so I am now ready to hit the water. I have fished off the beach in a yak and paddled a ton of baits out so I am comfortable BTB, but have never gone more than a few hundred yards off the beach. I have a bruce anchor with 25' of line. I know that's not enough. How long should I go? I have plenty of offshore gear and gaffs etc... I have fished for kings quite a bit so my main concern is safety and comfort. Should I take a rope to tie off at the rigs? I am not sure about a cooler for fish either. I don't think I would want to have a stringer dragging behind me.

This is the yak and trailer.



Thanks,

Rob

[SharkBait]

i only take about 20 feet of rope with a float and carabiner on it, and tie to the rig...just unclip when you hook something big, its easy to come back to and rehook..if the fish goes tward the rig you will have some problems..(keep the rod at the front of the yak to keep you following the fish)

when anchoring the rule of thump is have three times the length of rope for the depth you are fishing...(the rigs i go to are in 60 feet of water, 180 feet of rope is just not gunna happen in a yak) 100feet of anchor rope should hold you in a bout 30-40feet of water...however getting a bruces claw to hold exactly where you want is a whole other problem
also carfull anchoring in a strong current, i have heard that you can flip as soon as the anchor holds in heavy current, haven't seen or had it happen..

most people take a fish bag and tie it to the front of the yak...the ones i have seen are under $100 and measure from 28inches-48inches..
if you can fit a cooler it will work just be carfeull cause it can make your yak more tippy...
hope this helps nice yak by the way
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http://www.youtube.com/user/Shark456Bait/featured
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[SharkBait]

freeze some of your water bottles too, that way you can keep your cooler/fishbag cold without taking ice(ice is fairly useless if you had to drink it, the frozen water bottles will thaw during the day) you may still want to take ice though too
i would go float around in the bay for a bit, just to get another feel for the yak...i have some friend that have tried to get me to take them btb(i have an extra frenzy) i tell them to log at least 10hours in the bay before i will take them... (i spent two years in a yak on the bay before going offshore)
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[rabbit]

I use the small claw boat anchor and 100 ft of rope and a float on the end incase I have to unhook. I do not tie to the rigs. I throw a rope over a support and keep both ends of the rope in the kayak with me, that way when im ready to leave I just let go one end and pull it back into the kayak. I usuallly have a cooler tied to the back of the kayak when using my Drifter. With the revo I just got I will use the outriggers. Yeah I cheat coming back in thru the surf.
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Fishing and Kayaking its a rough life but somebody has to do it.

[rawlbay]

You asked how far... I usually troll all the way out to the close rigs, but have only ever hooked one fish before getting to a rig, and that was not far beyond the 3rd bar. I would either troll around pretty close, right after the breakers, or bite the bullet and go to a rig or some other structure. Your mileage may vary, but for me, it's kind of a noman's land in between.

I couldn't tell from your post if you have had your hobie out btb or if it was other kayaks, but I have broken two mirage drive cables coming back in. One was when my flipper hit a sand bar, the other was when I left the yak on the beach but a large set of waves came and bounced it around and it landed hard on one of the fins. I have the turbo fins which are a little longer, that might have contributed as well.

Any who, they aren't that hard to replace, but the little chains are kind of expensive. About 50 bucks a pop. My suggestion would be either to lock the fins up against the hull and use the paddle once you get anywhere near the breakers, or just hop out in the second or third gut and walk it in, keeping the kayak between you and the shore. More and more I just do the latter. Usually ready for a cool dip by then anyway.
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[SharkBait]

troll every where you go in the yak, they go perfect trolling speeds...i put out two ribbonfish as soon as i get through the breakers... haven't hooked up in open water yet but its only a matter of time, the kings could be so thick you never make it to the rig...
you could hook a tarpon too...
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http://www.youtube.com/user/Shark456Bait/featured
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[ROBDOG]

Thanks for the input. I have not used a hobie in the surf. I did add turbo fins and I will definitely be careful of the drive system. As of right now the end of the week is looking good.

[FishLady]

Please, fellows, what does BTB mean?
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FishLady

[SharkBait]

BEYOND THE BREAKERS
we need a sticky
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http://www.youtube.com/user/Shark456Bait/featured
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[ltorna1]

welcome to the addiction. Tie up to the yak or bring 100 feet minimum of anchor line. The anchor is best used with a float and a clip so you can detach and fight a big fish. Same for the rope around the rig - Rabbits method is smart. You want to be able to detach easily incase you hook that cobia or shark and it runs away from the rig instead of under it.

Cooler bags inside the front storage or a fish bag on the front hatch are the way to go, especially if you want to keep big fish. Just beware that a heavy bow makes re-entry a bit tricky when riding the waves in. The revo is a great yak but its long and narrow, and may have a tendency to pitch-pole riding a big wave.

By the way - I'm super jealous of your new rig and trailer.

[FishLady]

Thanks for Beyond The Breakers!
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FishLady

[mike3887]

You all are about to get me in trouble talking about BTB fishing. My wife is going to come home to an empty house and a note on the door that says "See you tomorrow, feed the dog".
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Keep your friends close, and your enemies guessing...

[Prof. Salt]

[tim9368]