Mothership trips

Pole,BS, or anyone else who has Ocean fishing experience.

What is the deepest you have fished on a Kayak? How the heck do you fish 300+ feet without just having a miserable time hauling a big fish up from that depth.

I was thinking a 300 yardspool of 30 pound or so Power Pro on a big reel on my 5 ft stout tuna pole. still gotta reel 'em up though.

What about something like this for the weight, you could fashion some 1-2 pound weight from cheap metal to get down there and it will(hopefully) release when you get a fish on? or maybe to change bait, if you use bait

http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/store/Legendary_Products_Pin_Popper_Release.htm

I don't know, just  considering options. I don't want to have to drag any rockfish up from that depth to have to throw back to die also. Might just make the trips inshore, until Tuna, that way we can catch anything.

I have fished offshore halibut a ton out of a PB.  The norm on the north coast is about 48oz of lead, sometimes more sometimes less for 300-600ft deep depending on drift.  Its a serious workout to crank that up without a fish, add an angry halibut and the fun drains out of it fast, best thing I ever did was buy a fighting belt (probably not worth it in a yak) and one of those contractors back support wraps/braces.  I consider it a lot like packing an elk out of a canyon, all part of the experience but after a while you just want to get it over with .  To dodge the rockfish use BIG baits (I used 16/0 circles)..  Another trick is to use a Large glow scampi/squid/etc above your baited hook(s), that way if you miss a fish you still are in the game with the plastic and don't have a 400ft bait check to look forward to. 

I have fished offshore halibut a ton out of a PB.  The norm on the north coast is about 48oz of lead, sometimes more sometimes less for 300-600ft deep depending on drift.  Its a serious workout to crank that up without a fish, add an angry halibut and the fun drains out of it fast, best thing I ever did was buy a fighting belt (probably not worth it in a yak) and one of those contractors back support wraps/braces.  I consider it a lot like packing an elk out of a canyon, all part of the experience but after a while you just want to get it over with .  To dodge the rockfish use BIG baits (I used 16/0 circles)..  Another trick is to use a Large glow scampi/squid/etc above your baited hook(s), that way if you miss a fish you still are in the game with the plastic and don't have a 400ft bait check to look forward to. 

that's alot of weight. Kinda sounds like offshore Hali fishing would put you in a world of hurt, but if you could bring up a 50+ pounder to the boat,  the pain would be worth it..

I'd potentially be interested in a tuna trip - although I think I'd need some instruction on how to deal with them from a kayak - even after gaffing them and pulling their gills they flopped around on the deck of the boat I was on last summer for a good five minutes.

but if you could bring up a 50+ pounder to the boat,  the pain would be worth it..

It would be worth a lot, but that's a big if! 
I'm worried about my arm being too tired from bouncing 3 lbs. of weight and a couple of 400 ft. bait checks that might not have it in me after that to fight even a "chicken". After fighting that halibut back in August, my arm was hurtin' pretty good. And that was only around 100'. Granted, that fight went on a little longer than it had to, but... just sayin'...

It might have to be one of those could-do-from-a-kayak-but-why? kind of things.

 

Roy, you should pick up one of these..
http://technotren.qcommerce.com/
 

It might have to be one of those could-do-from-a-kayak-but-why? kind of things.

lol, well..you know, because it's there.

dude, where'd you put the power source for somehing like that?

Roy, you should pick up one of these..
http://technotren.qcommerce.com/
 

Hmm, maybe i can rent one....

Those are some crazy reels!!  What's next ROFV's(remotely operated fishing vessel's).

 

Thanks Lee, I'll keep that in mind! 

ssssssttttttt.... Roy, they already beat ya to the punch.   check out the "my fishing buddy" remote control boat/ fishing assistant....


http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10208206_900007000_900000000_900007000_900-7-0

<i know there's other places to buy it but this store is bookmarked. >

 

I've been on a number of kayak mothership fishing trips, both on commercial sportfishers and private boats. We've hooked fish, mostly mako and thresher sharks, that would be near 100lbs or better, you could fight them for a while, usually you got spooled pretty quick. I've also hooked fish a little deeper down that snapped my 40lb test line, no telling what those were, black seabass or halibut maybe. I've landed a number of fish in the 40lb range, released most of them. For keepers, I have a gaff/club that does the job.
Fishing for halibut a few hundred feet down with big lead weights with the ocean conditions around here sounds like more trouble than it's worth. Albacore would be totally doable. There's a few ways to do it depending on how big a factor the mothership plays into it. Biggest thing would be the water conditions. Even a glassy day with a meager 5-6' swell(a mellow day during albacore season) would make for challenging conditions in a kayak. Hooking and fighting a 30-40lb albie on a kayak would be something you'd remember for a long time.
The way the mothership is rigged is also a factor. Getting kayaks on and off the boat at sea without a "swim step" kind of setup(see photos in the link above) would be a real challenge. I would think no matter how you go it will be more than $50. Even in an El Nino year; I reckon you'll have to go 15-20 miles out.

Pole,BS, or anyone else who has Ocean fishing experience.

What is the deepest you have fished on a Kayak? How the heck do you fish 300+ feet without just having a miserable time hauling a big fish up from that depth.

I was thinking a 300 yardspool of 30 pound or so Power Pro on a big reel on my 5 ft stout tuna pole. still gotta reel 'em up though.

We fish 2-300 feet regularly for Pacific Butts up in Alaska.  The key here is to use a comfortable rod and no more than 8 ounce jigs.  You can use more, but you won't be able to do it for very long.  See my review of a good rod choice (http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,4591.0.html).

Spectra line is key IMO.  It helps against fatigue since you are got pulling against the stretch of mono.  With mono, you jig up then wait for a few seconds to get the stretch out of the line, all the while exerting force.  With Power Pro, the stretch is gone and and you are not exerting as much force.  Plus, I really believe a quick darting lure off the bottom with a big sweep is a big attraction to the butts.

Tuna in late Sept?  I'm there!!!

-Allen

Pole,BS, or anyone else who has Ocean fishing experience.

What is the deepest you have fished on a Kayak? How the heck do you fish 300+ feet without just having a miserable time hauling a big fish up from that depth.

I was thinking a 300 yardspool of 30 pound or so Power Pro on a big reel on my 5 ft stout tuna pole. still gotta reel 'em up though.

We fish 2-300 feet regularly for Pacific Butts up in Alaska.  The key here is to use a comfortable rod and no more than 8 ounce jigs.  You can use more, but you won't be able to do it for very long.  See my review of a good rod choice (http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,4591.0.html).

Spectra line is key IMO.  It helps against fatigue since you are got pulling against the stretch of mono.  With mono, you jig up then wait for a few seconds to get the stretch out of the line, all the while exerting force.  With Power Pro, the stretch is gone and and you are not exerting as much force.  Plus, I really believe a quick darting lure off the bottom with a big sweep is a big attraction to the butts.

Tuna in late Sept?  I'm there!!!

-Allen

Thanks for the input Allen. Your opinions carry alot of weight, I am in the process of switching most my heavier gear with Power Pro anyway, love the stuff. I wanna do deep water, but the first trip will be in 100-150 feet most likely

I finally got a call from Captain Joe, i thought he was shining me on. He still is excited about the mothership trips, he was just busy and sick. But, this sunday is no good, sorry Issac...It's Mothers Day, i didn't even realize it.

But were good to go other days, we need to get a day that's good for the 4 , or 3 of us and run it by Joe. Most any day is good for me

Great news , the boat gets awesome fuel economy so for an inside trip, about 25 bucks each for fuel, that gives the captain extra too!! we can bring our own lunch or plan something to eat together.

Allen, would be an honor to have you aboard for a Tuna trip, your experience would be invaluable. It will be a learning experience for us all i'm sure, but will be fun trying..Have you targeted Tuna in a kayak before Pole? Well, Tuna starts here end of July, but i imagine pretty far out at that time, so maybe seriously think about end of August through September?

Here's a couple pics of the Misty Banks, couldn't get far enough to the back of the boat to take a full shot of the swim platform, but it's big and low to the water, it's a real sweet boat.