Hobie Fishing

After purchasing my 2012 Hobie Adventure Island I was keener than ever to take it out for a spin. Having a sail, mirage drive system, rudder and outriggers, this yak is by far a more advanced set up than my common paddle kayak.

The assembling of this yak took place where I unloaded it off the car, then used the wheelcart to transport it to the beach. On my first launch I waded out into the surf, jumped in and paddled out past the breaking waves. I then locked in the mirage drive, which on my first attempt was locked in backwards! After fixing up my pedals, I un-furled the sail, then cruised along the beach at a considerable speed. I practiced a few tacks, gybes and furling/unfurling the sail. The akas can be used to fold the amas beside the yak, which is vital when landing sizable fish.

My first launch

Being confident with the manoeuvrability of the yak I then let out my trolling lure and had a few quick runs of the beach. My trolling outfit was a 15kg Okuma Salina II Jig  rod  paired with an Okuma Salina II 5000 reel, spooled with 35Lb Sufix Tru-Braid.  With the possibility of a few mackerel hanging around, my lure of choice was the Rapala Countdown Magnum 11 in the 2012 released chrome colour. This lure can be trolled at a variety of speeds, having a wounded kicking action at slow pace, though has a tight wobble at high speeds without kicking out. This makes it a very versatile lure being used for a variety of species.

The 2012 released Chrome colour to the Rapala Magnum range

Deciding to head out towards a rocky island I locked in the dagger board and began my zigzagging tacks into the wind. When I reached the island I let out my trolling lure and continued to navigate around with both sail and pedal power.

As I passed a rocky point, the Salina II began to sing the mackerel song with a short burst run. My technique was to continue to steer away from the island, to first clear the rocks, and furl the sail. I then began to fight the fish. A small spotty mackerel was the result of the first pass of the point and my first fish from the new yak.

Travelling along the beach before heading out to the island

Gaffing through the mouth

I then headed back around and let out my trusty chrome Rapala and began on another troll past the point. Just like last time the rod bent in the holder as soon as I cleared the point. The Salina II however sung a different song as the fish hung deep in the water, pulling hard on the other end of the line in attempt to break me off on the rocky bottom. With the use of the mirage drive I was able to manoeuvre myself, rather than being pulled into the rocks. As the fish surfaced, having one look at me, made another screaming run for the rocks. With the high quality drag system of the reel, the fish was quickly subdued and brought alongside the yak. The ama was folded beside the main hull and a gaff through the mouth of the fish landed it with little fuss.

Measuring at 64cm this was my first Fingermark (Golden Snapper) and one hell of a catch from a Yak.

A great catch on my first AI trip

The Rapala CD Magnum 11 has once again proved to be an outstanding trolling lure. The chrome colour produces heaps of flash, being easy to see even in turbid water, making it a clear target for any saltwater predators.

The lure doing the damage

I can’t wait till the next trip in my new Hobie Adventure Island after having such a phenomenal experience on its maiden voyage.

Tight lines,

Rhett Thorne