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Yak Talk

Donkey Fishing!

Over the past seven weeks we have had a non stop flow of visitors who have between them sampled many forms of fishing sport - fly, coarse, specimen, shore, spinning, float and of course the kayak fishing. The interest in kayak fishing has steadily built up and that side of the business is getting busier and busier. The preparation of equipment alone takes time to ensure clients have the best possible chance of success, cleaning reels, checking line, renewing terminal rigs lost in action and of course where saltwater is concerned washing all equipment in freshwater as soon as possible to prevent total loss. The kayak fishing was always going to provide a new learning curve and after travel journalist Marcus Waring had visited and broken a rod and reel it should have been a time for a re-think on what type equipment to use from these specialist craft. Until the present time we have been using Grauvell’s excellent MG Spin 2.4 metre spinning rod coupled with the 10 ball bearing Matra spinning reel. The soft tip section of the rod meant that playing the fish to the surface was a sheer joy as utilising light tackle always demands a softer and more patient approach. The worry has always been in the back of my mind though, what would be the outcome when a larger specimen took the bait? It was inevitable it was going to happen - question answered last Wednesday! Andrew Glaister, an experienced kayak fisherman from Pembrokeshire, had joined me for a two day insight into the sport here in the Mediterranean. We had paddled out to a shelf off the Bolnuevo National Park and as both of us enjoyed our tranquil environment in thirty metres of calm sea we hit on a shoal of Pez Ballesta – known locally as the donkey fish. I was first to have my rod tip hit the water and after several minutes lost the battle. I put this down to masses of weed floating around after the recent storms. These can replicate a larger fish and, as they move up and down with the swell, it is all too easy to mistake the experience for the one that got away scenario. As Andrew and I discussed the experience the fish finder was going crazy, bleeping non stop, indicating a large amount of fish below together with the fact that they were a lot bigger than usual for this depth. Andrew’s rod bent over and he fought to gain some control as the fish stripped line from the small reel. As he gently persuaded the fish to the surface, being careful to let it run when required, his reel started grinding, bearings collapsing one after the other. He managed to net the hard fighting fish with a burnt out reel and we were both surprised to find that it was only a small example. A lesson had now being learnt and it was off to Luigi Mateos at ANJU Sport Fishing to discuss stronger tackle with Grauvell. As Luigi quaintly put it “Gary, you will not land the donkey with this rod and reel” This was the man who a fortnight earlier commented on what perfect fishing equipment I had for the kayaks! After much deliberation we went for a small 1.8 metre boat rod and light shore reel. Back to sea and more Pez Ballesta, no problem this time…………another valuable lesson learnt.     

Malibu Visit

Last week was always going to be a kayak week. I was very disappointed not to have been in the States as I had been invited by Tom Stubblefield of www.texaskayakfisherman.com to take part in the first ever televised kayak fishing tournament in Port O’Connor Texas. This was the first of a two round inaugural Texas Kayak Series organised by Simrod Outdoors, the television production company who produce the Texas trout Series and the Texas redfish Series. Unfortunately the invite was a little late for me to organise sponsorship for the trip. The prospect of an English rookie who lives in Spain really had wet their appetite for some serious kayak sport. Next year this will be a full tournament series and if the seven thousand dollar prize fund available to contenders for this event is anything to go by then I will definitely be making the trip over. Congratulations to Noel Guerro on his victory with a 6.54lb Redfish. The sport in America is obviously growing at a staggering rate and I am sure Europe will follow. Not everyone has this train of thought and having come across some comments and decisions, regarding kayak fishing, that are just plain stupid. I suppose any pioneers of new forms of sport are easy targets for critics who have never even tried the discipline. Eco friendly is the buzz phrase at the moment and it does not get any more friendly than this.

It was great to welcome Rui and Jose who arrived on Wednesday from Diver Kayaks of Porto in Portugal. They are the distributors of Malibu Kayaks for Spain and Portugal. Rui is passionate about the brand and with good reason. The range is just perfect for all disciplines of kayak sport. After an article I wrote on kayak fishing for the June issue of Spanish fishing magazine Trofeo Pesca the response has been overwhelming and Rui was eager to show me the new range of equipment now being distributed for kayak anglers. These included ultra lightweight carbon paddles and saltwater proof floating onboard tools to aid anglers whilst out on the water. An evening barbeque followed by hours of excited talk about the future of the sport and finally at three thirty in the morning we got some sleep. An early start followed to show Rui and Jose the areas we use for fishing and in particular where the first kayak fishing tournament took place, but not before several strong El Duende coffees had been sunk to bring us back to life. Then a quick look around Puerto De Mazarron and back home for more chatter about the forthcoming national kayak fishing tournament we are seeking permissions for, that will hopefully be held in October, again in Puerto De Mazarron. Rui will be able to field a team of ten for this and it is a breath of fresh air to hear someone with so much enthusiasm for a project rather than criticism. Anyone requiring more information on the Malibu Kayak range, either for fishing or pleasure use, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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