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Kayak Fishing the Open Water Flats

By Jacob Iedema

Fishing from a kayak can be frustrating at times. Once the appropriate approach to this style of fishing is established however some great fishing can be unlocked. Fishing open water flats and depth changes on a kayak can be extremely effective, especially when fishing shallow clear water as the stealth factor will work to your advantage. Fishing low light bite periods in the shallows will further increase the chances of landing some of those larger and more wary predators.

Using the wind to drift you through likely areas is very effective, as noise and other disturbances are kept to a minimum and it's an easy way to cover ground. The primary target species around these shallow bay areas in my region consists of snapper, flathead, trevally and bream. Fishing off a kayak, in the many bays found right around Australia, is also a great way to fish for a feed.

Where to Start

Fishing away from areas that get consistently hammered by recreational anglers can mean a long paddle when kayak fishing, however the effort is usually rewarded with the ability to sneak into untouched areas, utilising the stealth of the kayak. Slight drop offs, adjacent to flats, often produce good fish, especially as dropping tides flush the bait off the flats and toward the waiting mouths of larger predators. Water deeper than a metre will produce snapper, however don't think that shallower water won't produce good fish with the right conditions. Drop offs with additional weed, rock or reef are better habitats for snapper, however even sandy and mud bottoms can produce the odd snapper, along with the usual species.

Boat channels that lead out from canals or marinas can provide some surprisingly good fishing, however boat traffic can completely shut down any active fish. Fishing on weekdays, or other periods of reduced boat traffic, is best for artificial boat channels. Channel edges can be a depth change of only 30cm, however this is still enough to attract a huge array of different species. Fish in these channels will sit head first into the current and work their way along the edges of the channel, as water flows out from large estuarine systems or off the flats and into the deeper water of the channel.

Beacons and channel markers often attract baitfish, so predators often concentrate around them. Snapper will hug the bottom, picking off at weaker baitfish and digging around for crustaceans. Flathead can be found in their numbers around the markers, providing some great fishing if nothing else is biting. Bream work their way along the edges in schools and can be extremely aggressive towards larger lures, even up to four inches. Pelagic predators are also not uncommon around these channels and will often feed around the edges, forcing baitfish up onto the flats.

Tides

Tides heavily impact fish activity in these areas and whether fish will be on the flats or in deeper water. Generally, fish will push up onto flats or move into channels with a rising tide and make their way into deeper water ambush spots, or feed more actively as the tide drains off the flats.

Despite this, sometimes the turn of the tide can trigger fish to feed in the slack water as it takes them less effort to grab a meal when the current is reduced. This is clearly seen in the feeding patterns of jewfish. On a turning tide fish such as bream and snapper spread out and actively search for food and when the tide starts running again they will look for ambush points to hold in and wait for food to come to them.

Neap tides are often easier to fish, due to reduced current flow, however neap high tides often don't cover the flats enough for predators to feel comfortable moving up to feed. As well as this, the bait often doesn't move up onto flats on neap tides, especially on mangrove flats as the given structure isn't submerged on these smaller high tides. For these reasons, larger tides often fish better in these areas, however you will have to be prepared to fish with more current.

Wind

Wind can be a nuisance or it can be favourable on any given day. It can blow in weed and destroy water clarity or it can make the simple task of drifting impossible. However, when the conditions are right, wind can aid a drift into an ideal location. Wind is a massive factor when fishing open locations, with no protection, that are prone to becoming choppy and miserable. Even a light fifteen knots fanning the seas can leave fishing off a kayak out of the question. It's important to learn how different wind strengths and directions can impact the areas that you fish and when kayak fishing use the wind and tides to your advantage, assisting your drift to and from your fishing destinations, along with your drift while fishing.

Often afternoons can fish differently to mornings, in the exact same location, on the same day. This can come down to tides, bite periods and many other factors, however wind has to be one of the most influential factors of fish behaviour or presence in shallow open water environments. Mornings more often than not have clear water, if the wind hasn't been blowing overnight, while afternoons can be windier and the heat of the day creates sediment to spread throughout the water column.

Some fish species have a tendency to prefer dirtier water and windier days create this for the fish and the angler. However, when it comes to fishing these conditions it can be hard to get a lure in front of fish that will see it and attack. On calm days, when less sediment is suspended in the water, fish will move a long way to eat a lure, if seen to be natural or provide interest to fish. Once a fish has made an effort to hunt down a lure it will rarely turn off it and will almost always hit it with strong intent. Fish are in these shallow areas to feed, so they will often be inquisitive towards lures instead of shying away from them. In open areas the fish are less concentrated, so calm, clear days will often produce consistent fishing if the fish are present and feeding.

This isn't to say there isn't good fishing when the water is dirtier, however the approach and techniques used to fish windier conditions are more difficult from a kayak. When fishing from a kayak it can be near impossible to keep lures in the strike zone, if wind is creating a fast drift or on the other hand difficult to cover ground efficiently if there is near no wind on a particular day. Finding the right balance of wind direction and speed, for each location you fish, will prove rewarding in terms of positioning the kayak and fishing effectively.

Wind direction can impact water temperature, swell or chop and in some locations surface and suspended weed. If weed is blown into an area it can take some time to clear out, making it impossible to keep lures in the strike zone or work them effectively. Overall, wind can be your friend and assist you in covering water, making long casts and fire up some species, however it is important to understand how wind impacts the areas that you fish.

Techniques:

There is a plethora of lures out there, with different techniques that apply to each of them. One of the most effective styles of lures for this type of fishing is soft plastics. The key to soft plastics fishing is to use the lightest jighead possible, to suit each different scenario. Using just enough weight to get to the bottom or to keep a lure in the strike zone, will improve the action of the lure and keep the presentation as natural as possible.

For snapper and bream, the slowest sink possible will often produce more fish than a lure that quickly plummets to the bottom. This is because snapper and bream will almost always hit a lure on the drop (as it sinks). Keeping the falling action of a soft plastic as slow as possible more naturally replicates a dead or injured baitfish sinking through the water column.

The ZMan 3.75" StreakZ, rigged on a 1/8oz TT Lures HeadlockZ jighead, is a stand out soft plastic because of its natural gliding action on the drop and its realistic baitfish profile. Other great shallow water options consist of the ZMan 2.5" and 3" Slim SwimZ, 2.5" and 3.5" GrubZ, 3" MinnowZ and 3.5" EZ ShrimpZ.

Blades and vibes are also an effective technique, however they are more prone to collecting weed. Hopping TT Lures Switchblades and vibes along drop offs, sloping flats and drains is a great way to trigger a reaction bite from fish and they perform well on species like flathead.

Positioning a kayak correctly to be able to fish along channel edges or cast up onto flats and bring lures down the drop off is extremely important. It's vital that a lure is worked with the current and not against it, to replicate the natural bait moving with the tide. Setting up a consistent drift will enable lures to stay in the strike zone for as long as possible and have the best action achievable.

Fishing light to get the bite is essential for consistent results. Light line, under 10lb, will enable great casting, natural lure sink rates, increased lure action and increased sensitivity, as well as eliminating the risk of spooking more finicky fish. A 1-3kg or 2-4kg rod, matched with a 2000 or 2500 sized spin reel is a perfect outfit for these locations and target species.

Kayak fishing open water flats and the available structure, including weed, rock, drop offs, channels and beacons, is a great way to get hooked up to the wide variety of species that actively hunt in these areas. Get out there and give your local flats a go.

Cheers, Jacob Iedema

Gear List

TT Lures HeadlockZ Jigheads

ZMan 3.75" StreakZ
ZMan 2.5" GrubZ
ZMan 3.5" GrubZ
ZMan 2.5" Slim SwimZ
ZMan 3" Slim SwimZ
ZMan 3" MinnowZ
ZMan 3.5" EZ ShrimpZ