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  • New Member / Battle at Mattawoman

    As a new member to the forum I just wanted to introduce my self and what a better way then with a fish story.

    Late sat evening I decided to do some sunday fishing, just getting into the saltwater side of the house so I decided due to the wind maybe I should keep my 11' non-hobie kayak somewhere in a freshwater protected area. Mattawoman creek, "up the creek" canoe launch, done. A few weeks before I had caught some schoolie stripers in the channel so I thought, bass, snakehead, then drift some bait in the channel. Check.

    But what happened was nothing I was ready for, I was drifting some bait down the channel on a fish finder rig about 1/4 downstream of the mattingly launch when WHAM! Rod goes down, ok nothing our of the ordinary, circle hook let him get it. But then the back end of the kayak started to shake..haha, reached for the rod and the 12lb test screamed off the reel. Nice..

    After the second run I knew it wasnt a striper, must be a cat, a decent one at that - shook like a dog. 20 minutes later and about 300 yards from where I started, I found my self being toed past a guy fishin in a bass boat, guy was laughin as he saw my doubled over rod and me getting pulled past him. Luckly this guy was there, after the fished surfaced HOLY____! He helped to keep the yak straight as I fish gripped it. The kind gentleman promptly weighed it.

    Topped out at 34lbs, blue cat, a tad bigger than my 8lb channel cat record.

    I never knew how challenging a fish like that is in a kayak, bout flipped me. "We're gonna need a bigger boat" syndrome kicked in.

    So now that I'm officially addicted to yak fishin, I figured I'd join - now I'm on the hunt for a hobie revo.

    CB
    Attached Files

  • #2
    nice cat!! Welcome to the addiction
    14.5 ft Sand colored Malibu X-Factor "the promise"
    2010 Hobie Outback "the Gift Horse II"

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    • #3
      Welcome to the forum. This is certainly and addiction. I cannot believe how much fun it is. I cannot get enough. I've found myself not hunting and fishing instead.

      I've been promising myself all year that I'd get to Mattawoman to try for some LMB as well as snakeheads and the big cats that I know roam all over the Potomac. If I don't make it in the next few weeks, probably have to wait until spring. I cannot wait to hook into a large fish like that and go for the "ride". I also have big stripers on my "list" for next year.
      2012 Hobie Pro Angler 14

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      • #4
        Awesome ride I think you need an Outback.

        Glad you joined. Welcome to the forum!
        2015 Hobie Outback (yellow)
        2011 Hobie Outback (yellow)
        2009 OK Prowler Trident 13 Angler (orange)

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        • #5
          Originally posted by tufnik View Post
          Awesome ride I think you need an Outback.

          Glad you joined. Welcome to the forum!
          Welcome, Awesome Fish!! and Outback is the way to go haha!!! I got one for sale...

          Comment


          • #6
            That's a helluva first post. Well done and welcome aboard! What were you using for bait?
            Yellow Hobie Revo Rube Goldberg
            Yellow Tarpon 120

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            • #7
              Welcome to the addiction.
              2012 Hobie Revo 13'
              2012 Hobie PA12'

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              • #8
                X2 on bait? When you say fish finder rig... same thing as top/bottom rig?

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                • #9
                  Nice fish! Welcome to the forum.
                  Jim

                  Hobie Outback
                  TKAA member
                  Chesapeake Bay Kayak Anglers inc.

                  Everyone should believe in something... I believe I'll go fishing.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Nice Cat

                    welcome aboard
                    2013 PRO ANGLER 12
                    2013 Cuda 12

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                    • #11
                      Fish finder rig is a simple rig to make- just thread line through a snap swivel and let the first snap swivel slide up the line and tie on a second snap swivel to the tag end of your line. Attach the sinker to the free sliding snap swivel and a snelled hook to the snap swivel tied directly to the tag end of the line- When a fish strikes the fish takes line freely without dragging the weight of the sinker-

                      Cut bait on the bottom in the deeper holes on most any feeder creek/river in the Potomac will get you a big blue cat sleigh ride-
                      "Lady Luck" 2016 Red Hibiscus Hobie Outback, Lowrance Hook2-7TS
                      2018 Seagrass Green Hobie Compass, Humminbird 798 ci HD SI
                      "Wet Dream" 2011 yellow Ocean Prowler 13
                      Charter member of Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club

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                      • #12
                        Great fish and welcome to the forum. I look foreward to meeting you in person at one of our monthly Meet and Greets. Myself and many of the members to my surprise have Revo's and Outbacks. I think they are the best all around kayaks that leaves your hands free to fight the fish. Many of us started with a paddle yak, then moved up to a Hobie. You cannot go wrong with either. They both have their strengths......so Welcome. What bait did you use to catch the catfish?

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by CB kayak 02 View Post
                          When you say fish finder rig... same thing as top/bottom rig?
                          Only if you're Martin.
                          Yellow Hobie Revo Rube Goldberg
                          Yellow Tarpon 120

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                          • #14
                            Thanks for the welcome!! I'm looking forward to meeting (and hopefully learning from) the tenured kayak community. It looks like you guys really have your knowledge and gear tight - pun intended.

                            Yes the "blue-cat-sleigh-ride" - truly awesome

                            @ Ranaultmtd - right on the money, some people also use a lighter line that goes to the weight, so if you get snagged you'll most likely lose just the weight not the whole rig. Some I've heard use a rubber band attached to the weight.

                            I was reading everywhere I could on Maryland regulations, size, how you catch the bait and how many you can keep on board. I also asked around and I came to the conclusion that you can use bluegill as bait, just as long as you caught it with a hook and line and are using it in the same area in which you caught it. I hope I'm right in my assumption, because that seems to be a great bait in the tidal potomac.

                            So I started with a Shakespeare Angler 105 - knock off of an emotion kayak, Shakespeare just slapped their logo on it - nice kayak for the $$. Now I'm in the great debate - Outback or Revo??

                            Thanks again for the welcome! Looking forward to seeing you guys out on the water.

                            CB

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                            • #15
                              The Outback/revo question has been discussed ad nausea on this and other forums- I had the same questions before settling on my Outback. Kinda like the old Ford v. Chevy questions
                              "Lady Luck" 2016 Red Hibiscus Hobie Outback, Lowrance Hook2-7TS
                              2018 Seagrass Green Hobie Compass, Humminbird 798 ci HD SI
                              "Wet Dream" 2011 yellow Ocean Prowler 13
                              Charter member of Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club

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