Seward 6/27 - a short trip on the Dark Side

Well, I took a walk on the dard side... or should I say a cruise halfway into powerboat territory.   Saturday a good friend loaned me a Mokai and we took a look around some of the more accessible and kayak friendly areas of Lowell Point to Caines Head.

First time in a Mokai for me, so assembling them and getting the power systems connected was fun, er maybe a bit of a pain.  But after 45 mins of work we had the boats more or less rigged to go.  We set out for Caines, but were determined to fish our way there, so stopped in to chat with ROD at or near Tonsina.  (will be looking for your report later Rod).

Fished Tonsina from 100' depth to over 400' depth, largely on the botton and found both juvenile Black cod schools down in the 200' range and some gray cod at near or mixed deeper depths.  Kept a few of the black to try later - largest fish were 16 to 20", methods - dual snelled octo hook and a 2 to 4 oz sinker.   (Was trying to keep my rig easily convertible to mooching if we found a school of salmon).   I had to rig an 8oz cannonball once I got to 300'+.   No joy on halibut, though over the day we pulled up 3 or 4 ping-pong paddles, no eaters.

We kept on a while longer and out near/past Derby cove in in/over 150 to 200' depths we started marking schools of fish 50' to 90' down.   Quick conversion from trolling (no downrigger) to mooching, and withing a few seconds I was stripped of my red size herring.   

RE-Bait.   Down it goes, and bam - game on.   I brought one super nice 8 to 10 lb salmon to the boat and discovered I had no net... left in the truck.   I got it on the Boga grip (not ideal), and removed the hook from it's mouth., and sure enough it looked like a red salmon.   Just as I am about to boat the thing and start to lift it - big thrash and it popped out of the boga grip - must not have had it all the way locked on... not sure - thats a first for me to have one pop out.

In any case we chased schools for a bit, got a few more strips and strikes, and I was regretting also leaving my spare rod in the truck as my Avet lost it's hande nut, which somehow backed out despite the 'keeper' nut lock still being screwed onto the handle.   Clatter, tink, clunk just as I go to set the hook I have a parts-valanche into my lap.   

/sigh.   Cold wet and ready for a burger at Reds, we headed back to the launch at Lowell Beach.  It was roughly 4 or 430, and we marked several more big schools at low tide moving around off Tonsina Creek, still in that 100" depth, and cruising deep.   

Came home with fish, so that's a plus, but didnt find halibut and lost my red salmon at the fish-grips.    To make matters worse, my camera ran out of battery around 1.5 hours into the trip because I forgot and left it recording full time, so I missed the whole salmon battle (which was entertaining). 

I heard a few good stories of boats much farther out hitting good silvers, not limits, but the story line went 'fish are there if you work at it"

My first impression of Mokais - fun by NOISY. 

Well Rider those Mokai looked like fun but they did sounded like a weed whacker on steroids. I caught a hand full of Back Cod(10) and some of the largest, nastiest looking P-Cod I have ever seen. I was fishing down to 250 feet and the Black Cod anywhere from 30 feet to the bottom. I did not stay around the creek area as I was just taking a short trip and intended to drop off the Nash Road area and fish around the snagging area. When I got to the rec area it appeared that small city had sprung up and I could nor see any easy path to pull my yak to get to the water so I watched for a while and saw a few bright and sassy Reds caught. I could not however reconcile myself to commit to combat fishing in Seward so I left and headed home. I got home after a great drive home. I did see and honked at Fergy at Summit lake as I passed by. I was a nice day trip that started the wheels turning for a camp-out in the Bay at some point this summer.

Nice.  I wonder if you hooked a bright chum?  They stage out near Tonsina.  I'd think the reds should be done but if they are reds, that is a GREAT find!

How was the stability on the Mokai's?

I've heard they work great as shallow water set boats for river running. 

Great report.  Thanks for posting.

Nice.  I wonder if you hooked a bright chum?  They stage out near Tonsina.  I'd think the reds should be done but if they are reds, that is a GREAT find!

How was the stability on the Mokai's?

I've heard they work great as shallow water set boats for river running. 

Great report.  Thanks for posting.

Good point on the Reds, but word is they are still snagging them closer to the head of the bay, so could be a few trailing fish out near Derby I suppose.  Chum is possibility, I was thinking it was a bit early but have caught them in July in Resurrection, so possible. 

The scales and coloring was not that of a silver though it made a few really spicy runs and turned me around a lot.  If it was a chum is was super bright, I did not see the characteristic banding in the sides that I more commonly see later in the year.   

More on Mokais:  equipped with 8 hp subaru engine, accelerated well but not like a jet-ski I am guessing with my 200# on board I could do about 11 kt.  Pretty sporty compared to a pedal drive.  Maneuverability was good - turning radius quite small, so I would guess they'd be fun on rivers.   Not on whitewater!   Draft is very shallow, a few inches, and with Jet drive, no issues running smaller moderate flow rivers.

First impression was that they were less stable, as they rock a bit on on shorter chop, but the width is pretty similar to an outback, maybe a bit more, and after that first bit of lean, they stabilize on the outer strakes.   Stability seemed OK, but the seeting position felt really low.   You sit on 2" foam seat pads, comfy enough, but the interior height from the hull to the gunnels is something like 15".   Throttle control is top outside rail, so your nright arm is resting at shoulder height on the gunnel while cruising.  Seat back is up against a dry-hatch, with an awkward angle (too far back).

When Reeling a fish in (15 or 16 cod, 1 salmon, a couple rockfish and some 400' bait checks for this trip) I noticed this rail height in that I had to hold my pole quite a bit higher and sit up as high as I could (I am about 6').   This bothered me - felt odd - like reeling a fish in with my shoulders hunched way up and the reel far too close to my chin.

Turning around (to dink with the engine, if needed, or untangle line fromt he jet drive) was also quite awkward, no side-saddle - once your lean out on the 15" high rait it feels far less stable again!

Had fun though, and will do it again if invited.   In the mean time I'll be providing free advice as to how Larry can rig out his new craft!