August is a bit of a funny month for the fishing. Everything in the aquatic world seems to get a little stale. With the high water temperatures the fish seem to get a little lethargic and sport slows. Well that's my excuse anyway!
Wrasse from the rocks in Wales
I didn't have a great month fishing- wise, in part because I was working solidly and also had 2 weeks away, leaving very little time to actually indulge in any fishing at all.
Best of the bunch
I managed a few short sessions here and there though. I blanked at Selsey Bill fishing for bass and hounds, lost a big sea trout in my local estuary and blanked twice when out looking for mullet...they just haven't been around this year. Very worrying indeed...my feelings are that the netsmen have had them all. So I didn't have a lot of luck really!
My modest Undulate Ray...it's a start
The only success I did have was catching a small undulate ray from the beach at Shoreham one night and a few wrasse whilst away on holiday in Wales. The Ray was a significant catch as it broke my little spell of blanks, so I was happy about that. It's one of my saltwater targets for the year, a double figure specimen is what I'm looking for. They seem to be making a comeback these days.
I had arranged to meet up with Chris Summers from Masterline Walker at Linear fisheries in Oxfordshire. The plan was to spend a couple of nights fishing and have a bit of a social really. There's a large number of gravel pits on the site and plenty of specimen fish to go for. It's predominantly known for the large number of carp that reside in its waters and this is the draw for the majority of anglers that bivvy up on the banks.
In all honesty, I was much more interested in the other species present as some of the pits are rumoured to hold some huge bream, tench and roach. I wouldn't be complaining if a large carp happened to pick up my bait though!
We decided to start on Hardwick lake which is one of the bigger waters and had a walk round first. There were large numbers of carp topping out on the end of the new north wind that was blowing, so we chose to set up on a point with the wind in our faces. It all looked rather promising!.
Look at the tail on that Tench!
It proved to be very tricky fishing however. The water was crystal clear and full of weed, it was impossible to find a clear spot to present a bait to. We decided to fish solid PVA bags to overcome this problem, using either plastic corn or small boilies and pop ups as bait.
As the day wore on, it was looking bad. Neither of us could buy a bite, despite watching some very big fish crashing out all around us and over our baits. No one on the lake seemed to be catching much. Our alarms did not sound at all during the night. Not good......Once we'd had our breakfast we packed up and loaded the cars and went to have a look at the other lakes. It was time for a move!
Oxlease Lake at Linear Fisheries
The complex had become very busy and the only lake that had a reasonable amount of space was Oxlease. We had a wander round and opted to set up together in the double disabled swim which was nice and sociable and offered plenty of water in front to fish.
There was far less weed on this lake and we were altogether more optimistic as we got the gear out again. I started fishing the feeder and managed to get in to some roach, just small ones though....but at least I was catching! Chris got the carp gear out and got to work too. About 2 hours in, he had his first run.....but sadly the hook pulled! At least things were looking up. The sun then unfortunately came out fiercely and killed sport until the evening.
As the temperature cooled we set our traps and settled in for the evening with a couple of beers and a Chinese take-away. It was a lovely warm evening and around an hour after dark my left hand rod rattled off. It was a male tench around 5lb in size, a promising start. Then I had another one of a similar size that dropped off right in front of the net!
There were a few aborted takes during the night but nothing else graced our nets. Come early morning the rain started and Chris had a run....this was the carp he had been waiting for. A nice mid-double common for his efforts. The weather was much more carpy now!
Chris Summers and his mid-double common carp
Once the rain had stopped after lunch we started to pack up to make our respective journeys home. Literally right on last knockings, the bobbin on Chris's right hand rod jumped a little and he instinctively struck....to find some solid resistance! This seemed to be a much better fish and once in front of us there were a few tense moments as the big lump tried to bury itself in the marginal weed.
It was a chunk of a mirror and when finally coerced into the net we were quite surprised at the sheer bulk of it. Just over 30lb it went on the scales, much to Chris's delight. It was his second biggest carp ever...good things come to those that wait it seems. Well done mate!
Chris Summers and his 30lb Mirror Carp
It was an interesting session and I can see the appeal this vast complex holds for many, for me it was just a little too busy for my liking. I could see myself targeting the big roach there during the winter when it's quiet though. For Chris and I next time, I think we'll head to running water instead, seeking the unknown....
CLICK BELOW FOR VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE STUNNING 30LB MIRROR
Those of you that watched 'The Big Fish' show on
the BBC will be well aware that during the Costa Rican leg of the competition,
myself and the other contestants were set the task of catching a Sailfish.
Things didn't exactly go to plan as the Sailfish hadn't read the script. Over
two days filming, only one was caught by my fellow contestant Dan. I narrowly
missed out on one.
This winter just gone, I got the chance to have
another crack at them as my wife and I were volunteering in Panama for a couple
of months. It made sense to stop in Costa Rica for a few days on our way down
there and see if I could come face to face with one.
Shimano Tiagra - Big Game Workhorse!
I wanted to return to the same lodge the BBC
took us to but a little digging around revealed it was way out of my price
range. After a bit more searching online I discovered 'Jackpot Sport Fishing',
based on the Central Pacific coast in the town of Quepos. What stood out about
these guys was that they are owned and run by a British fella – Benn Gilmour.
His is the the only British owned and run charter business in the country.
Quepos - nestled up against the Costa Rican rainforest - Lush!
Benn and his family sold up everything and moved
to Costa Rica back in 2015 to set up their business. They bought a 31ft
Sportfisher boat named 'Good Day' from which to pursue the many species,
inshore and offshore, that the country is famous for. Benn's team on board
includes 'Captain Manuel' who has 30 years experience fishing out of Marina Pez
Vela in Quepos with 12 of those on 'Good Day' itself. By his side is Yoxan, his
son, who is an extraordinary deck-hand. I really liked the idea of a father and
son team working together.
Captain Manuel - A lifetime fishing the waters off Quepos
I got in touch with Benn and we bounced a few
emails back and forth. He seemed just the man for the job, making everything
straightforward, so I booked in two days in mid-December to fish with him. The
plan was to spend one day offshore after the Sailfish and the next day inshore
after Roosterfish, Cubera Snapper and the like. With the high season for
Sailfish being November through April, Benn assured me we stood a good chance
of catching one.....which was just what I wanted to hear!
The more I spoke with Benn the more excited I
got, he was passionate and enthusiastic about his fishing. His online catch
reports were very impressive too. He and his team were consistently catching
some fine fish, I knew I'd picked the right guys. They seemed keen, eager to
please their customers and their results spoke for themselves.
Offshore, they work up to the 40 mile range and
target Wahoo, Tuna, Marlin, Dorado, Sailfish, Amberjack and Grouper. Inshore,
the list of species is mind boggling. The big draw are the Roosterfish but
there's also Snook, Grouper, Jacks, Sierra Mackerel, Bluefin Trevally,
Tripletails, Corvina, Cubera, Milkfish, Pompano and various Snapper species
including the Cubera, Red, Yellow and Mullet to name a few. Then you have to
decide how you're going to catch all these incredible species. With gear on
board to cover trolling, jigging, popping, lures, livebaiting, fly and bottom
fishing you really are spoilt for choice!
A sailfish fly...pink is THE hot colour!
When my wife and I arrived in Costa Rica, it was
just at the tail end of some particularly out of season rain that hung around
after hurricane Otto. It wasn't looking too clever, but as we made our way down
to the coast it fizzled out and some nicer weather moved in, just in time for
the fishing. We met with Benn and his family for dinner on our second evening
in Quepos and hit it off right away. Plans were made and targets were set. If
we could pull it off and get the Sailfish on day one and then a nice Rooster
inshore the following day, I'd be one very happy chap. The challenge was on!
Yoxan, the deckhand rigs up a ballyhoo bait
As my first fishing day dawned, it was grey and
overcast. Benn picked me up at 6.30am sharp and we made our way down to the
modern and well equipped Marina Pez Vela. I was very impressed with 'Good Day',
she was immaculately kept. Captain Manuel and Yoxan had been busy preparing
everything on board well before I arrived. After introductions and hand shakes,
Manuel steered her out of the marina on to the open sea and gunned the engines
for our steam out to the fishing grounds.
As we edged ever further offshore, the weather
cleared and we soon had the tropical sun beating down on us. We discussed
techniques and the drill for if and when we connect with a fish. In a big game
fishing situation like this, it's all about teamwork. Our spread consisted of
teasers without hooks and trolled ballyhoo deadbaits with rubber skirts. In the
boat, the fly rod was ready to go in case we had the chance to tease a Sailfish
close enough for a shot. Anything is possible in this situation and it pays to
be well prepared. As much as we hoped for a Sailfish, there was every chance we
might find Tuna, Dorado or even a Marlin out there.
Benn Gilmour with one of his favourite Sailfish lures
The anticipation was intense as we approached
the fishing grounds. A nice Sailfish breached nearby which gave me great
confidence, they were in the area. Once the lines were set, all eyes were on
the water behind us with Captain Manuel having the best view from up in the
tower. To my surprise, not more than 20 minutes after we started fishing, the
trolled ballyhoo bait to my left was away. The reel started screaming and
Manuel was shouting 'Sail, Sail, Sail' from the tower. It was all happening!
The clutch was engaged and with it the circle
hook driven home. At this point, a magnificent Sailfish, all lit up in blues
and purples, started to leap and tail-walk behind the boat in it's bid to shake
the hook. It was an incredible sight and the reel was literally fizzing as Benn
and Yoxan cleared the other lines and teasers. With these out of the way, I had
space to get to work on the fish and the fight began properly.
Once the first run was over, I was able to gain
some line back by steadily pumping and winding. It was an immense weight on the
end and I was willing it to stay attached. To be honest, I was rather shocked
at just how quickly it had all happened after the many months of planning and
thinking about it. These guys were on it!
The fish regained some strength after a while
and tore off on another blistering run, sounding a little this time. This was
to be it's last though. It was then a case of solid pressure from me and the
drag that proved too much. Slowly but surely, I managed to edge the fish back
to the boat.
Yoxan and Benn's experience shone through in the
next couple of minutes as they had the fish unhooked, tagged, measured and got
trophy shots for me without the fish ever leaving the water. It's law in Costa
Rica that any billfish caught should never leave the water and there's a
no-kill policy too. They truly value the incredible fishing they have.
I swam the fish by the boat for a short while as
it got it's strength back and then released it, watching as it swam off
strongly to fight another day. What an amazing creature and what an incredible
experience. I was over the moon and it wasn't even 10.30!
I filled in the paperwork that goes with the
tagging research program and the boys set the lines once again so we could
continue fishing. With a Sailfish in the bag already, I couldn't quite believe
it. There had even been talk of a couple of Marlin being raised on the radio.
With this in mind we got the coordinates from one of other captains and headed
over to investigate. To catch a Sailfish and a Marlin in one day would
be really quite special!
A fine sailfish - 198cm
We got a chance too. After a couple of hours of
trolling, Manuel started screaming from the tower and sure enough there was a
Blue Marlin in the spread. In a flash, it scythed through the lures and baits
slashing at them with it's bill but failed to connect before sinking out of
view. As quickly as it began, it was all over.
Apart from one other dropped run from a
Sailfish, that was all the action we had that day. It wasn't an easy day by
Costa Rican standards but what mattered is that we got a Sailfish to the boat
and our target was met. As the lines were drawn in and the bow pointed back
towards Quepos, I was certainly returning back to port one happy angler. We did
it. Another species ticked off the list, and at 198cm, a fine specimen.
DAY 2
"A Sailfish offshore on day one and a
Roosterfish or Cubera Snapper inshore on day two please". That was my
request to Benn Gilmour of 'Jackpot Sportfishing' when I made my booking with
him back in the autumn of last year. I knew it was a lot to ask from just two
days of fishing, but you've got to dream haven't you? Specimens of those 3
species were right up there on my 'bucket list' of fish too.
Day one went to plan in magnificent style
with the beautiful Sailfish capture. We
couldn't have asked for a better start and as such were in high spirits and
full of optimism as we headed out of Marina Pez Vela for Day two. There had been a little rain in the night but
as we pushed up the coast in the early morning light the clouds retreated over
the mountains, leaving a clear sky above us.
The first task for the day was to fill the
livewell with bait. When looking for trophy fish inshore then a livebait is
hard to beat, more often than not it sorts out the better specimens. Catching
the bait in itself can often be a challenge and the first couple of spots we
tried proved to be just that. We got a few sardines, but not enough for the
day.
Captain Manuel made a call that we should
try for a Snook as were close to a productive river mouth that he loves to
fish. We drifted the mark with livebaits out the back while Benn tried casting
lures and poppers to fish that were showing on the surface from the bow.
After a few quiet drifts and one aborted
take on a livebait, the call was made to move on and attempt to fill the
livewell properly. Captain Manuel ran us down the coast a fair distance. He had
some rock marks in mind where he hoped to be able to put us on to the Roosters
and Cuberas. On the way, we stopped and tried to gather some more bait where
there were a couple of smaller boats attempting to do the same thing. There
were birds working the area and after a quick scan with the fish finder Manuel
was able to put us right over a large shoal of sardines.
Out came the Sabiki feathers and we all
began jigging at the back of the boat. This time the sardines were obliging and
it didn’t take long to get what we needed. Within fifteen minutes the livewell
was full, the lines were wound in and we were heading down the coast to Manuel
and Benn's favoured rock marks.
The further we went, the better the inshore
ground began to look. There were deserted black sand beaches interspersed with
dramatic cliffs and ominous pinnacles of rock rising up from the turquoise
waters. The scenery was fantastic, it was lovely looking ground that simply
screamed fish!
Once the engines were cut over our first
mark, we prepared the rods. At the rear we had two livebaits out, both hooked
through the nose with circle hooks. One was freelined while the other was
fished with a bullet lead of 1.5oz on the line to keep it down. With the water
column covered at the stern we could fish lures, poppers and flies from the
bow, hedging our bets so to speak.
Benn had spotted a large shoal of Milkfish
lurking behind one of the pinnacles and was casting flies at them. They were
incredibly spooky with just the shadow of the fly line above their heads enough
to send them scattering in every direction.
Sadly, they were having none of it.
The livebaits also remained untroubled at
the rear and after twenty minutes or so Manuel made the call to move on to the
next fishy looking spot. Casting a glance down the coast, it was clear to see
we were spoilt for choice. Everywhere I looked had potential for swimming a
bait or chucking a lure. Knowing where to start is half the battle and
fortunately for me, Benn and his team had a few tried and tested marks in mind.
Live Bait!
The next spot was a cracker. There were two
huge pinnacles of rock towering out of the water with swell and white water
washing all around them. Manuel edged the boat in to casting distance and we
sent the first livebait out to run the gauntlet. Just as the second one was
being lowered down the reel on the first rod screamed into life, it all
happened so quick.
With the rod bent double in the holder and
the drag begrudgingly giving line, the fight was on. I grabbed the rod and hung
on for dear life as Manuel was screaming 'ROOSTER!' from the tower. The
pressure was on as this was one of the target species!
The Rooster fought hard and long, but
didn’t give me any trouble by heading down into the rock like some species do.
It was zipping around behind the boat giving us all a great show with it's comb
like dorsal fin slicing through the surface on several occasions. They really
are very special fish. With their radical hair do and awesome black and silver
stripes, they must surely be the rock stars of the ocean.
A few more spirited runs were all the fish
could manage before it surfaced by the boat and Yoxan was able to scoop it up
with the net. It was an incredible fish and the second target met in as many
days. Estimated at a little over 20lb in weight, I was ecstatic. These guys
were good!
With the circle hook easily removed, I held
the beautiful creature for a few trophy shots before releasing it. The fish
swam off strongly, which is always nice to see. They are another of Costa
Rica's protected species which makes it easily one of the best places on the
planet to catch one.
I was buzzing after that incredible
experience and could have gone home happy. But we still had a few hours of
fishing left. Benn mentioned how great it would be if we could find a Cubera
Snapper as well......I should be so lucky!
The livebaits were once again deployed and Manuel slowly trolled them
along a submerged reef.
After changing baits a couple of times, a
rather peculiar bite developed. The line pulled tight and the rod bent over
slightly. I wound down to allow the circle hook to do it's job and then
everything went slack to my disappointment. On checking the bait, all that was
left was a head with some puncture marks in it, the body having been savagely
bitten off. It seems the fish had just missed the hook and from the teeth marks
Benn called it as a large snapper. So close!
By this time the tide had peaked, so rather
than wait for it start moving again we trekked up the coast to another big
river estuary for the last hour of the day. Once we arrived, the ebb was well
underway. Livebaits were sent out to the rear and Yoxan was up the front
chucking a big popper around. What happened next can only be described as total
carnage!
Within minutes, the first livebait was away
and I was bent into fiercely strong fighting Jack. Then the other rod was off
and Benn and I were into a double hook up. Then Yoxan hooked a Sierra Mackerel
on the popper. It was crazy, there were fish everywhere. As soon as one was
unhooked and another bait deployed then it was instantly hit by the Jacks. At
one point we even had a triple hook up.
A dozen or so Jacks and several Mackerel
later we had pretty much run out of bait and it was time to head back in to
Quepos. It had been an incredible day, what a way to finish off my Costa Rican
fishing experience. It really doesn’t get much better. All credit to Benn and
his team, they did a great job putting us on to some serious fish in such a
short space of time. That's two more species ticked off the list. Until the
next time.....Tight lines!
CLICK ABOVE TO SEE THE VIDEO FROM THIS COSTA RICA ADVENTURE
With the wonderful weather we've been having recently there have been some good opportunities to get afloat....sadly I've been far too busy at work to take advantage of it! All except for one occasion that is, when my buddy Paul rang me and asked if i'd like to join him on his boat for a mornings fishing. With a promising forecast and the chance of a bass or a plaice to motivate me, I managed to get my work schedule reorganised.
I'm glad I did too. It was a stunning morning as we crept out of Brighton Marina in Paul's inshore skiff with just a gentle breeze rippling the surface. We headed East with 'Bass' on our minds as I rigged up the lure rods. With several marks in mind that have produced for us in the past, we set about fishing them in rotation. With shallow, snaggy ground we favour the Fiish black minnows. The fish adore these lures and it's very rare that they get hung up on the rock.
Hooked up to a Bass
Casting away from the boat and jigging the lures back along the bottom seems to be far more successful than just a straight retrieve and this morning was no different. We managed 3 or 4 bass between us with the best falling to Paul's rod.....not a monster but great fun on the light lure tackle. Just as it should be!
As the sun climbed higher, the bass backed off and it went very quiet over the reefs. This signalled for a change of tactics and I suggested we head back along the coast to the sandbanks and mussel beds to drift for the Plaice. There are good numbers off of Brighton these days and they're a pleasure to fish for.
My best Plaice of the morning
I keep it real simple when fishing for plaice. I like to use a running ledger with a 3 foot trace of 10lb fluorocarbon, a few colourful beads to grab their attention and a size 1/0 aberdeen hook baited with either lug or rag. Then just let the boat do the work, sit back and relax.....
There wasn't much relaxing though. With a dozen or more plaice each over a couple of hours we were busy. There must have been stacks of them down on the sea bed, it's great to see the species doing so well these days. Long may it continue.
I spent a week in North Devon just recently, taking my Gran on her annual fishing holiday (as can be seen in the post below this). The place we stayed was way out in the sticks and I did a little research before we went to see what fishing was available locally, other than in the lake where we were staying.
A quick root around the net with google revealed that there were lots of lovely looking streams and rivers nearby. There was some good fishing for wild brown trout very close and a little further afield on the Rivers Taw and Yeo, the chance of salmon and seatrout when conditions are right. Which they weren't!
The bare essentials for a spot of dry fly fishing
Closer investigation revealed that the Little Dart River was literally minutes from our cottage and was fishable on a day ticket with the 'South West Rivers Trust' for less than a tenner. Wonderful news! With plenty of gorgeous little brownies to have a go at it was perfect for me to sneak out while my Gran was having her afternoon siesta.
I packed a #5wt fly rod, floating line, some leader material and a few flies - including a couple tied for me personally by my buddy Adam at Wet Your Knot - Fly Fishing. With my waders and fly fishing vest I was good to go.
Wild North Devon Brown Trout - Perfection!
For me it's all about fishing the dry fly for these little trout and that smash when they hit the fly. Such a visual form of fishing, it's tough to top. The river was painfully low due to a lack of rain which made things difficult. The utmost stealth was required at all times as a heavy foot fall or a shadow cast would send the trout darting for cover.
It was hard fishing I have to say, but rewarding whenever a fish was raised. I averaged a fish or two each time I went out. They were all perfect brown trout in miniature with biggest going around 10 or 11 inches at a guess.
I even managed to temp my first Chub on a dry fly too which was a pleasant surprise and another first.....that's what I love about fishing, 35 years down the line and it's still possible to achieve a 'first'. Such is the variety of our fantastic sport.
My Grandma's a bit of a legend.....her and my Grandad (who has sadly now passed) gave me the gift of fishing when I was a nipper and I've never looked back since. She's always loved her fishing, mostly freshwater stuff. She's always been a fan of float fishing down the edge but I suppose her biggest passion was fly fishing for trout.
My childhood memories are full of days on the banks with my grandparents and for that I'm incredibly grateful. They inspired me to go on and do the things that have brought me so much joy in recent years....and will do for many more to come. The gift of fishing is a very special thing.
Bent into a good'un!
Being 86, she doesn't get about much these days, let alone go fishing! Every summer we try and get her a bit of bank time though. It means so much to her. There's also her 'annual fishing holiday' too. Recently these have been a week down in Devon somewhere with a little cottage and a lake in the grounds. She loves it!
This June saw my wife and I take my Gran to a lovely little place near Chulmleigh in North Devon. She fished every day in the afternoon and evenings and had a great time catching roach, rudd, bream and carp. Seeing the smile on her face was enough for me, it's so nice to return the favour that she did for me all those years ago. Priceless! Good on you Gran!
It was good to be back on the beach down in West Sussex once again. May and June are good months for our shore angling here in Sussex. There's always a chance of a Stingray or a nice Smoothound and it was with these two species in mind that I headed west on a breezy Saturday afternoon.
I was loaded up with plenty of ragworm for the Stingray, a few frozen crabs and a box of squid for the Smoothounds. I like to keep my fishing simple and as such had tied up a few pulley rigs with nice sharp 3/0 hooks. These rigs are easy to tie and have never let me down. They clip down well enabling a nice streamlined presentation for the cast too.
It was rather windy when I arrived on the beach and I feared the worst with regard to the dreaded weed! I made an exploratory cast with just a lead tied on and to my surprise found the water to be totally clear. Game on!
I rigged up both rods, set up the tripod and baited both rigs with large worm baits. It's the stingers that I was really after having never caught a big one in the UK. I soon realised that the wind was going to cause me problems. It was so strong it kept pulling the lead out of the soft sandy seabed.
I ended up just using the one rod and casting up into the wind and putting a bow in the line which did the trick. I changed the worm baits every 20 minutes or so and sadly they came back untouched every cast!
As the light started to fail, I switched to crab baits and had a nice bite on the first cast that came to nothing. Upon inspection of the bait, it was clear to see it had been crushed in the jaws of something. Most likely a Smoothound.
With the wind slowly dropping it was much more comfortable, so I prepared another crab bait and sent it out to the 80 yard mark. It didn't take too long before the tip pulled over and sprang back again. I wound down and this time felt some good weight and resistance. After a lively scrap I had my first Smoothound on the beach...a pretty nice one too. It certainly pulled well.
CLICK BELOW FOR VIDEO OF RELEASING A SUSSEX SMOOTHOUND
With darkness approaching and a rumble in my belly, I packed up and headed home. Windswept and happy! There's always another day for the Stingrays.....Tight lines!
Whilst
on my travels 3 years previously I had discovered a Kayak fishing camp way out in the
wilds of Panama, far off the beaten track. It was run by a Frenchman, called Pascal, who
had the great vision to build an off the grid eco camp at this fantastic
location.
With no people for miles
around and it being a good hour and a half boat ride into the wilderness from
the end of the nearest road, it's a very special place. The fishing is pretty
much as virgin as you could find anywhere. It's untouched. It's places like
this that really excite me and I arranged with Pascal to spend a week with him.
The communal area at the camp
To make the trip viable and
keep the costs down I needed to get a group of four anglers together. With this
in mind, I invited Jeff Smith, Paul Harman and another friend Kyle Waterhouse. I arranged all the logistics and got the boys to fly out to Panama
in February of this year to join me for an adventure none of us will ever
forget!
Paul, Jeff, Pascal, Kyle and I - The Kayakeros
It's a simple set up at the
camp. All off the grid and run on solar and gas. With basic wooden structures
to sleep and eat in, it really fits in it's environment well. Every morning the
four kayaks are loaded into a panga along with the anglers and deposited at
some of the most incredible looking fishing spots you could imagine. Pascal
calls it 'The Wild Coast'......and rightly so.
Heading out in the morning
Once you are afloat in your
kayak you are essentially left to your own devices, which I really liked. To
me, this is the true essence of what kayak fishing is all about. Having to
think for yourself and work it all out. Far better than being told exactly what
to do and where to do it by a guide, in my opinion. Very satisfying when it all
comes together.
We were each supplied with a
heavy spinning/popping set up and a heavy jigging set up. I also had a lighter
spinning outfit of my own to have some fun with the smaller species. Large and
medium sized poppers, shallow divers, deep divers, speed and slow jigs were the
order of the day.
Selection of successful lures
The big draw at this location are the monster roosterfish,
amberjack and cubera snapper. Some groups of anglers have had over 30 different
species in a week. There is some real variety to be had, such is the
biodiversity of this part of the Pacific.
The thrill of catching hard
fighting fish from a kayak is hard to beat. It adds an interesting extra
dimension to your fishing. Being so low to the water and watching fish chase
down your popper, being towed around by unseen leviathans and the extra skill
required make every capture that little bit more memorable and special.
Preparing the kayaks on our first morning
It's an exhausting
experience in the heat mind you. Being in a kayak for 8 or more hours in a day
certainly takes it's toll on the body. For me, it's the perfect balance of
thrills and adventure though. It's extreme fishing. Robson Greene.....eat your
heart out!
The smaller species alone
provided us with arm-wrenching battles that at times had you believing you were
attached to a submarine, such was their power. For the first couple of days we
all enjoyed some splendid sport with jacks, snapper and small yellowfin tuna as
we got settled in to the experience.
Jeff with a nice little Yellowfin Tuna
One species in particular
that gave me a real tussle were the bluefin trevally. Pound for pound, I'd say
they were easily one of the most powerful fish we encountered. They never give
up, fighting with real brutish strength and always ploughing hard for the
safety of the sea bed and rocks below. If you allowed them to take any line
then they'd undoubtedly reach their sanctuary and reef you. Not only did they
fight really hard, they were also incredibly beautiful and happy to take just
about any lure you chucked at them. A serious sports fish.
Nice Bluefin Trevally
The snapper species were
also very obliging. There were at least 7 different species of snapper
available to us and we caught most of them I believe. I was fortunate to catch
one of the prettiest varieties, the rock snapper, which took a liking to a big
white jerkbait I was using. The fight from this fish was exceptional. It came
flying out from behind a large underwater boulder, I saw it hit the lure and
turn back for it's lair. It was a short but powerful scrap, proper hit and hold
fishing. Eventually my tackle wore the fish down and I got to pose with the
stunning creature for a quick photo before it's release.
Stunning looking Rock Snapper
Pascal,
our host, had his very own version of a 'Grand Slam' which is in fitting with
the location and the hard fighting species present. The big three that make up
this 'Slam' are the Roosterfish, the Cubera Snapper and the Amberjack. All of
which grow to huge sizes. Targeting them from a kayak with lure fishing gear
adds a real element of the 'extreme' to the whole situation. Having little
experience with big fish from a kayak,
hooking anything monstrous would be a baptism of fire!
Over
the first couple of days, we all got accustomed to our new fishing platforms
and had fun with some of the less challenging species available. It wasn't
until later in the week that I was able to open my account on the 'Slam'.
Kyle with a beautiful Mullet Snapper
After
a slow morning where my only real action was losing a large fish in the rocks,
the wind then got up making our drift too fast. It was no good, fishing became
impossible and we had to move locations.
After
loading all the kayaks back in to the panga and motoring a couple of miles down
the coast we were dropped off behind a large peninsula. This was tucked out of
the wind nicely and made fishing much more comfortable.
Stunning scenery on the 'Wild Coast'
I
immediately made a beeline for the point where there was white water washing
all over the exposed rocks. As I did so, I chucked a large popper around 30
feet behind my kayak and trolled it along, popping it every few seconds.
Paul with a Pacific Barracuda
I
passed over a shallow reef and from out of nowhere there was a huge splash
behind me, the rod was nearly ripped from my grasp. Something had smashed my
popper like it was it's last meal ever. With my drag locked down tight, the
kayak stopped immediately and started to turn as the fish made a dive for the
reef below. I held on for dear life as the rod took on it's full fighting
curve, my kayak now being dragged in the opposite direction.
Nice Cubera taken on a Popper!
It
was insane how powerful this fish was and I leant as far back in to it as I
dared, managing to get a few turns on the reel every now and then. After the
initial crash dive for cover, I sensed the fish realised it wasn't going to
make the sanctuary of its lair. It was only then as it circled deep below me
that I got my first glimpse of a large
Cubera Snapper.
Business end of a Cubera Snapper
It
didn't like the sight of the kayak and tried to crash dive a couple of more
times, but the fish was tiring. The strong tackle absorbed it's final lunges
with ease and before long it popped up on the surface. There were a couple of
tense moments trying to get the fish on the grip but once it was secured, she
was mine.
CLICK BELOW FOR VIDEO OF CATCHING A LARGE CUBERA SNAPPER ON A POPPER
It wasn’t until pulling the fish out of the
water on to my lap for photos that I realised quite what a lump it was. I was
elated and could have gone home happy then and there. To catch and release a
specimen Cubera in itself was enough for me. Little did I know, there was much
more to come.
The
following day dawned hot and bright again. The plan was to target Roosterfish.
So far, only one very small one had been caught by Kyle. I think it's fair to
say that this is one species all of us longed to catch. With their
characteristic comb like dorsal fin and striking black and white stripes, they
really are the most handsome of fish.
Lunch break on a deserted beach
Pascal
ran us East to where long stretches of sandy beach were interspersed with
patches of rock and reef, it was classic Roosterfish territory . Poppers and
stickbaits were the order of the day and I stuck with my trusty 'feed popper'
lure that had brought me success with the Cubera.
Almost
immediately, I had a hit and was briefly connected to a small Rooster before
the hook came unstuck. It was unlucky but I wasn't phased, I was after a much
bigger fish. They are known to reach sizes up to 100lb in the waters of Panama
and that's what I was after.
Heading out after breakfast full of anticipation
A
little later, I approached a small group of rocks breaking up a stretch of
beach and decided to troll my popper as I had done for the Cubera capture. I
worked my way along the face of the rocks parallel to the shore, popping the
lure every few seconds.
On
about the fifth pop, everything went tight and I slammed the hooks home over my
shoulder. As I turned and looked behind me, I saw the remnants of a huge boil
and the kayak suddenly lurched to one side as the unseen fish fled. It towed me
straight in towards the rocks and I had to work hard to keep the fish from
dragging me into certain carnage.
Paul with a nice Bluefin Trevally from the rocks in front of the camp
It
was a tense experience to say the least, the power of the fish was beyond anything
I had experienced before....let alone from a kayak! I had no idea what I was
attached to and it kept wanting to tow me into dangerous water. Repeatedly, I
had to turn the kayak and peddle for the safety of open water.
Eventually,
I got a safe distance from the shore . The fish then went deep and there were
moments where it was pulling so hard that I was almost turned out of the boat.
It was an extreme experience and by now Paul and Kyle had paddled over to watch
the show. We still hadn't seen the fish at this point.
A rather unusual catch on a big jerkbait!
Out
of the blue, it got a burst of strength and managed to rip a good fifty yards
of braid off a nearly fully locked drag. Then it came up in the water, popping
it's head out for just a second, enabling us to get our first glimpse. It was a
Roosterfish of jurassic proportions, we all yelled in unison with disbelief at
the sheer bulk of the fish. It was beyond my wildest dreams!
Seeing
it only added to the intensity of the experience. I was looking at a fish of
potentially 70, maybe 80 lbs here. A fish of a lifetime for sure! It took a
further fifteen minutes to subdue with many more hairy moments before it tired.
Happy Campers!
The
fish finally hit the surface and I couldn't believe what I was looking at. It
was almost as long as the kayak. The frame of the fish was immense with a huge
sickle-like tail that would look more at home on a Marlin! It was a Roosterfish
like no other, a fine specimen and one of the biggest Pascal had ever seen. I
was over the moon - what a result!
The mother of all Roosterfish - an incredible fight from the kayak!
This
fish was conservatively estimated around the 70lb mark and released after a few
photos, I was literally shaking with all the adrenaline. I never expected to
find a Roosterfish of that caliber attached to my lure. The 'Feed Popper' had
done it again. It was the only Rooster that was caught that day and spirits
were high in the camp that night as the beer flowed.
Beautiful Rooster!
Heading
out the following morning, Pascal was quick to remind me that I only needed an
Amberjack to complete the 'Slam'. There was an offshore jigging spot he had in
mind for later in the day that could produce the goods. First spot on the morning itinerary, however,
was inshore over some lovely looking reef.
There were plenty of Jacks to keep us entertained
There
were plenty of dolphins around as we approached our spot and where there's
dolphins there's often tuna. Once on the water, I started trolling a
deep-diving lure at full speed and was quickly rewarded with a hit. There was
no mistaking the fight of a small tuna.
I
got the small yellowfin to the kayak, unhooked it and tossed the lure back over
the side. As I looked up, I noticed a large fish in the water next to me. It
was big Wahoo circling my deep diving lure next to the kayak. I was amazed to
see a Wahoo this close to shore and so curious in my lifeless lure. It was most
unusual.
Jeff with the biggest Cubera of the trip
As
I watched the Wahoo, it circled the lure a couple of times. It was too close to
the kayak for me to cast at so I lifted the deep diver out of the water to see
what would happen, putting the rod away in the rack behind me. This confused
the fish and with no shiny lure in the water to grab it's attention, it swam
off.
I
then quickly grabbed my lighter rod and cast a minnow lure beyond the fish,
ripping it back as fast as I could. The Wahoo clocked the lure and jumped into
top gear immediately, smashing it at full speed. It was incredible to watch and
once connected, the reel screamed as the fish made an epic first run.
Almaco Jack on the Jig
It
was a spectacular yet short lived fight and with the razor sharp teeth in mind,
I called Pascal over with the safety boat to gaff the fish . He exclaimed it
was the first Wahoo to ever be caught at the camp and it provided a delicious
dinner for us all that night. I have to say, sight casting to a Wahoo is not
something I ever expected to get a chance to do, let alone from a kayak. What
an experience!
Big Wahoo from the Kayak
In
the back of my mind, I was still thinking about the Amberjack that was needed
to complete the 'Slam'. When we headed out to the deep water jigging mark after
lunch, I was rather keen to get cracking. Even though the jigging action had
been very poor all week due to the arrival of the cold water currents, in my
mind I knew that there's always a chance.
Jeff
and I had been working our jigs over a pinnacle for some time and I was almost
about to give up when he hooked up. I watched and filmed him have a right old
tussle with a large, strong fish. It had to be an Amberjack from the way it was
fighting.
Jeff's Amberjack
Sure
enough, as we got a look there was no mistaking it, well over 20 lb too. Jeff
was made up and I realised that now was my chance to complete the 'Slam'. Once
I'd done Jeff's photos for him I got straight back on the mark and dropped my
jig down with renewed enthusiasm.
It
took a while, but after ten or twelve more drops I got the 'smash and grab' hit
that I was looking for. Undoubtedly an Amberjack, all I had to do was keep it from
getting back to the reef below and finding sanctuary....which is easier said
than done from a kayak! These fish really do pull and they never give up,
typical of the Jack family.
An absolute belter of an Almaco Jack
After
several minutes of tense battle, I finally got the upper hand and managed to
start cranking the fish up from the depths. Reluctantly, the fish eventually
broke the surface and laying there beside me was an Almaco Jack of over 30lbs.
Once on the grip, I knew I'd done it and achieved the 'Slam'. I couldn't
believe it to be honest. Pascal came over in the safety boat and took a few
snaps for me, offering congratulations as he did so. I never set out to achieve
a 'Slam' on this trip, I always keep my expectations low. It's too easy to be
disappointed otherwise. That's the thing about fishing....you just never know!
CLICK BELOW FOR FULL VIDEO OF A LARGE ALMACO JACK TAKEN ON A JIG
As
incredible as the events of these recent days had been there was one final
surprise in store for me on our very last afternoon. With only an hour left on
our final day, Paul and I found ourselves fishing a gnarly headland with a
large swell rolling in. It was risky, but as long as you kept your eyes on the
swells it was possible to fish safely. There was white water smashing all over
the point and by now we had worked out these were the 'hot spots' to be
fishing.
Hard fighting Pompano
After
taking a couple of small jacks and a pompano, I got the kayak into position in
front of the point and sent my popper flying in to the danger zone again. After
two pops of the lure I saw a huge black shape appear behind the lure and chase
it down. Then I noticed the characteristic dorsal of yet another monster
Roosterfish as it smashed the lure and all hell broke loose.
Loading the kayaks after a long day on the water
This
fish slack lined me and headed straight out to sea. Once I finally caught up,
it towed me with it before then turning and heading right back towards the
thundering swells again. Jeff had now joined us and was following me with the
camera offering words of encouragement and advice. It was a titanic battle and
at times got a little too close to the rocks for comfort. Fortunately, everything
played out okay and besides a close encounter with a rather large wave I
finally managed to get the fish out beyond the swells, to play it out in
safety.
Giant Roosterfish #2
After
a fight of some twenty minutes, I was able to boat my second giant Roosterfish
of the trip. Just a fraction smaller than the first and estimated around the 65
lb mark, I honestly never expected to get a chance at another of these
incredible creatures. After a few photos and a little reviving, the fish was
released. That was my last cast of the trip.
CLICK BELOW FOR VIDEO OF A GIANT ROOSTERFISH BEING RELEASED
I
still have to keep pinching myself now when I look back at the moments from
this incredible adventure. It's hard to believe really. It makes everything
worthwhile when it all comes together after all the planning, anticipation,
research and hard work. To share the magical moments with friends old and new
makes it all the sweeter. That's what it's all about - until the next
time.....Tight lines!
This is what a Cubera Snapper does to a Bonito Livebait!
If
you'd like to find out more about these trips or fancy joining me next winter
in Central America, please do get in touch. I'm acting as the UK agent for the Panama Kayak Camp with places to fill next February (Peak rooster and cubera time!) and also various other operators out there now. I can help you make your
fishy dreams come true. Contact me on 07813 640066 or Samwadman@hotmail.com or search for 'Sam
Wadman' on Facebook.
I'm running Panama Kayak Adventure Fishing Lodge & am an all-rounder enjoying all disciplines of angling. I was a finalist in the BBC recent televised fishing competition - 'The Big Catch'. Also a consultant for tackle co 'Masterline Walker'. I write articles and supply photos for fishing magazines around the world. Freshwater or Salt, Big or Small - I love them all! Tight Lines!
