KAYAK BONEFISHING:

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KAYAK BONEFISHING A REVOLUTION !
Serge Thomas, IGFA/SFFFC Dania, Fl, 03/28/06
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What percentage of yakers/canoers?
Over 80 of recreational boaters also fish.
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KAYAK TYPES
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Sit-On-Top
Plastic (cheap) Fiberglass Carbon fiber
Sit-In
Kayak types
Inflatable / folding yaks etc.
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Some plastic kayaks suitable for flat fishing
Heritage
Cobra kayaks
Emotion
FD
Redfish/Marquesa
Marauder
Fisherman
Hobie
Wilderness Systems
Outback Fisherman
Tarpon 120/130/140/160
Quest
Tarpon 130 tandem
Outfitter fish
Adventure fish
Tribalance
The Ride
Sport fish
Malibu kayak
Ocean kayak
Extreme
Prowler 15/13
Caper
Pro Explorer
Malibu 2XL
X-Factor
Drifter
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Some plastic kayaks suitable for flat fishing
Heritage
Cobra kayaks
Emotion
FD
Redfish/Marquesa
Marauder
Fisherman
Hobie
Wilderness Systems
Outback Fisherman
Tarpon 120/130/140/160
Quest
Tarpon 130 tandem
Outfitter fish
Adventure fish
Tribalance
The Ride
Sport fish
Malibu kayak
Ocean kayak
Extreme
Prowler 15/13
Caper
Pro Explorer
Malibu 2XL
X-Factor
Drifter
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KAYAK SPEED Varies from 2-3 mph to 5-6 mph Easy
to carry on top of a car to visit multiple spots
the same day (as long as spots are close to each
others) KAYAK PRICE 350-1,000
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REMEMBER ANY KAYAK IS BETTER THAN WADING!
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BONEFISHING !!!!
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SUBDIVISION ELOPOMORPHAElopiformes (8 spp)
Elopidae, MegalopidaeLeptocephali (tarpons,
bones) forked tail
Albula vulpes
(Albula neoguinaica)
Expected temperature range 70-72 F to 86 F
(22 C to 30 C)
Feed on small crabs, shrimps, smaller fish, clams
and other items, OPPORTUNISTIC
Elusive silvery, a perfect camouflage Feeding
behavior strongly influence by the tide
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• To find fish
• - Be in the tropics
• - Temperature should be suitable
• - Not too brackish water
• Food in great supply (watch wading birds)
• Deep water nearby (channels)
• Structure that concentrates fish (e.g. submerged
  pile running from shore)
• Right tide

structure
flat
Channel
flat
flat
edges
flat
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SPOTTING FISH
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Sun is low better to stay seated Sun is
higher, fish in deeper water, better to stand
high ? poling/casting form
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STANDING IS GREAT TO SPOTTING FISH ? OUTRIGGERS
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BE INVENTIVE !
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BE INVENTIVE !
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I prefer to keep it simple. Less stuff on the
deck less snags
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My current yak.
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• Moving around to spot fish
• Polarized glasses / hat
• Push pole
• Paddle/push pole
• kayak wading
• Drift (no drift chute for bones)

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DEALING WITH THE WIND THE WIND IS YOUR FRIEND
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Wind
Shore
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Wind
Shore
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Wind
drift
drift
Poling
Poling
Shore
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APPROACHING BONEFISH
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APPROACHING BONEFISH SOME OF THE BIG
ADVANTAGES OF A KAYAK ? Stealth ?
Maneuverability ? Speed
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School of fish (tailing or cruising)

• NEVER RUSH TO MAKE A CAST
• Determine where the pod is going (easier when
  water is moving mid incoming or outgoing tide)
• Spot the lead fish(es)
• Try to spot satellite fish(es) in deeper water
• Position the kayak

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Escaping school of tailing/cruising fish
Clearance depends
As far as possible
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Yes
2
Best
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Single /small group of fish (tailing or
cruising) TOUGH

• Spot fish
• See where the fish is heading
• Spot other fish and pick the closest to you
• Position the kayak

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Mudding fish EASY

• Spot the mud, drop the fly
• and hang on!

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ANCHORING // STAKING OUT
STOPPING THE YAK VERY IMPORTANT
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ANCHORING (right-handed)
Two anchor system
eyelet
knot
Lance cleat
One anchor system w/ traveler
eyelet
eyelet
pulley
carabiner
eyelet
pulley
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ANCHORING
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ANCHORING
Wind/current
Stern anchoring
Wind/current
Bow anchoring
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ANCHORING
Lance cleat
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STAKING OUT RULE ALWAYS SET THE POLE
AGAINSTTHE DIRECTION THE WIND IS BLOWING!!!
Wind/current
Stern anchoring
Wind/current
Bow anchoring
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PRESENTING THE FLY
ACCURACY _at_ short and long distances SPEED TO
DELIVER A FLY IN A MINIMUM OF FALSE CASTS
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Escaping pod
NO!
X
Clearance depends
X
X
As far as possible
1
Yes
2
Best
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X
As far as possible
2
Best
Why position 2 is best? - odds to spook fish is
minimum - Narrow angle of view of leader and
line - Can make several casts - Lead fish is
often the biggest (Grin)
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Fly line
Fish can see leader
Leader
OK
No No
Fish focuses on fly
Fly
Fish can see leader and fly attacks fish!!!
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Single / small group of fish same as with a pod
The hardest is to see how the fish is oriented
(tailing fish)
NO!
X
Clearance depends
X
2
1
Yes
Best
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THE FLY
Hooks Sharp, strong, thin wire, tiny or mashed
barb
HOOK POINT UP!
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MOVING THE FLY RIGHT
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Once the cast made ? Spot where you dropped
the fly ? Tight line ? Keep an eye on BOTH fish
and fly impact ? Count to guess when the fly has
reached the bottom ? Move the fly at the
right moment (not too close, not too far)
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Moving the fly ? No move or little twitch
crab fly ? Tiny, tiny strips (pulsating action)
shrimp fly w/ optionally some pauses ?
long fast strips (fast cruising fish) If you
did not present well, or if the fish is about to
pass the fly Stop moving the fly.
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STRIPPING THE LINE IN THE KAYAK
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THE STRIKE!!! (my favorite) Strip strike rules!
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THE RUSH AND THE
FIGHT Clear the line (look at your
line) Keep your rod high while clearing
line Remove the anchor ( closer to fish) Apply
maximum pressure on mouth fish Fight the fish
fast - fish released in better condition -
less chances to spook other fish - more fish to
catch
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LANDING THE FISH Drop the anchor Grab firmly
the fish tail Remove hook, take picture RELEASE
THE FISH, KEEP THE MEMORIES
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FLY GEAR
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FLY LINES AVAILABLE TO THE BONEFISHER
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Different tapers
SW taper
Triangle taper
Inversed triangle taper
28 to 52
85 to 110
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LEADER At least 12 often 14 sometimes 16-18
Butt section For 6 wt 30 butt section For 7-8
Wt 40 butt section For 9 WT 50 butt
section Formula I divide the length of the
following section by 2 E.g. 6 40, 3 30,
1.5 20, 0.75 16
Tippet Grand Max FC from Seaguar VERY
SUPPLE, NOT KINKY, LOW MEMORY VERY HIGH STRENGTH
RATIO 2-3 feet of 2X (0.09/12.5) or 1X
(0.010/14.5) or 0X (0.011/16.5)
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Fly rods From 6 t 9 wt 9 Fast to extra fast
(10if you remain seated) Glassy conditions
6-7 wt 5-15 mph 8wt 15 mph 9wt
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Stout reels I like to oversize ( better
retrieve) Good smooth reliable drag (draw bar)
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THANKS TO