Going old school - Handlining for big snaps and carrots in the little FC - Prt1

Well what can I say - going old school gave me one of the best days I've had in a long time 👍
About a year ago I brought a couple of Pro Hunter hand-lines and the plan was to fish them at one of our spots in the north when the fish were in numbers. They had been sitting up the front of the little FC's storage compartment waiting to be used but I never got around using them.
With perfect conditions and Stevo keen on a catch up fish in the little FC430, I made the choice to go chance the hand-line on a few big Snaps. I had been talking to Stevo about it for ages and I didn't know if he believed me when I said I had left the rods at home. After scrounging around up front and taking the plastic off one of the hand-lines, he relised I was for real.
Over the years I had fished on and off with hand-lines, I did it as a kid and also when fishing off a friends yacht. I said to Stevo today is the day we chase some solid Snaps on the hand-lines and even though he looked a little weird at me he was keen as mustered.
We launched just after 9.30 in mirror like conditions as we headed off to a spot I wanted to try first. It's about 4-5mtrs deep and perfect to start with on the hand-lines. We set them up with a little half once sinker straight to the hook, the tide was already coming in and there wasn't as much current as I thought there would be. After dropping the berley and giving it a good crank I threw out my first bait, we fished half pillies to start and was hoping for a fresh Kahawai also.
I sat my hand caster down in the corner as normally it takes a while for the fish to come on the bite. Every now and then I gave the berley a good crank to get that trail going and if the fish were to turn up all the berley leaking out would hopefully keep them here. There was zero wind and we sat in quietness and felt fishy. Watching my line it started to move side ways and grabbing it, it went tight and I struck. I felt that heavy pull you get when hand-lining and I was hooked up to a sold fish on my very first bait. With not a lot of current I didn't have to fight it hard and just gently pulled on the line but let it run when it wanted to.
I told Stevo it was a solid fish but I don't think he believed me as it was coming in pretty easy, not fighting it hard I was waiting for it to wake up and go nuts but I just gently fought it. Every now and then it would pull and pull hard and the line would flick through my fingers, I thought maybe it was going to be a big Kahawai until I got a quick glimpse of a big pink and whit tale "It's a big fish Stevo a big fish" I told Stevo to grab the net but he still didn't think it was big because of the ease of the fight until he got to see it. Man it was a good fish and even better on hand-line, it would of gone 70cm easy.
We took a couple of quick picks and watched it disappear as I dropped it back into the gloomy green water - yea boy that's what I'm talking about....We were off to a good start on out little Reel Kiwi Fishing hand-line adventure. Stevo was next to hook up but this time it was a Kahawai, that was all good as it gave us some fresh bait if the Snaps were to come on the bite. Stevo dropped another bait and pretty much hooked up straight away. It looked more like a Snapper this one but we wouldn't now as he dropped it mid fight. He was starting to enjoy the hand-line but it was pretty slow to really have fun. My line went tight once again and I was hooked up to another nice little Snap around 50cm which made it's way to the bin. After that it went a little dead and with the tide still rising we went to one of my favorite incoming tide spots.
Our second spot was around 8mtrs and there was a little more current which I liked. We sat through the tide with very little action and only picked up the odd fish to 45cm, I said we should sit tight and try the turn as sometimes the fish can really come on after the turn. We did manage a couple nice fish and every time I mentioned moving we would get a good hit or catch a nice fish. With 3-4 nice snaps in the bin it was time to shift to our outgoing spot were we target gurnard more - so we up anchored and moved off.
Pr2 - do we get onto the carrots? all I can say is absolute mayhem so keep an eye out for our end of the day handlining Reel Kiwi Fishing adventure....
Tight lines

[@shaphyshaphy]

Handlining is way more fun. And you sir are a certified pro.

[@fullcrusade6635]

Great video mate. That took me back to when my grandad took me fishing for the first time no rod just a handline .

[@vinniebarbarino-1]

This made me laugh as me and dad used hand lines in the 70's & 80's , my uncle one day decided to bring his Jack Russel on the boat for a fish , well what a disaster ! the dog made a mess of our lines , we spent more time arguing and untangling line than fishing as soon as it was ok , the dog messed and tangled the lines again & again & again ... the Jack Russel was on speed man LOL , and when a rare fish did land in the boat , Jack the dog was the Iki spike too haha lol , that crazy dog !

[@TheExtinctBird]

Great video, cant believe it doesn't have more views.

[@brentbowler4890]

That could be your best yet Jason, I was having fun just watching it. Gotta love the Kaipara too

[@Reel-Kiwi-Fishing]

Cheers BB Was a lot of fun doing it and will be doing more of it in the north hopefully this Oct trip Tight lines

[@brentbowler4890]

@@Reel-Kiwi-Fishing I'll look out for you Jason, I should be back into it by then, black and white Alicraft 5.8 metre KathrynLucia

[@bemybeeby]

Nicely done, sir.

[@blueocean6671]

This is the way my grandpop use to fish decades ago in his whaler at orere point. He got towed around the bay by a huge shark once that got caught up in his anchor rope. He managed to cut the rope with his knife.

[@asishnarayan7046]

Love this show nothing fancy just original fishing

[@Professor4555]

Fantastic video, one trick for handline fishing is to use a heavy mono like over 100 lbs, and for the hook snoods what ever you think is appropriate, it wouldn't burn or cut your hands for the most part

[@mattharrison9550]

Yeah bro! Old school styles! I bought the same but swapped the nylon for the green woven fishing line so it's easier on the hands, fingers. Such a great feeling being more in touch with the fish. I use one handline on the kayak and one rod. Most time the handline out fishers the $400 rod set up. Would love to see you target a kingi on the hand line. That would be epic bro. You'd be the first one ever! Unless I catch one first!

[@Reel-Kiwi-Fishing]

Nice one MH - yep lot of fun that's for sure, Might have to try for a king this season but I have caught one on a handline before many moons ago. Caught it out at Whatipu around 89. Spent the night out at the old lodge with the old man and step mum. Had one of the green line like you have with a home made tennis ball float (old schools again) caught a little Trev and had it on the handline all day with kings cruising by snubbing their noses at it right until dusk. Was pretty epic - I had been on the rocks all day catching a few snaps with the old man and step mum coming and going bringing me lunch etc - they went over to the 9pin rock to get a few mussels for tea. I was all alone and standing there as it was just getting dark I could hear this noise be hind me only to turn around to see the hand caster reel skipping around the rocks. Grabbing it burnt my hands gradually slowing it down - prob was it was low tide I was standing 10ft up on top of the ledge. I got it to the bottom and didn't know how I was going to get it up. By the time I thought about it, it took off again burning my hands and went around the one and only pylon from the old wharf that use to be there. I managed to slow it down again but pulling line back the tennis ball would hit the pylon and I couldn't get it past due to the tension. I had an idea - bit my line on the surf caster and re-tied the hook and hooked up the line opposite side but pulling it back so I could grab it the king would run - I pulled off 20ft of line threw it in the water, threw my rod back and grabbed the handline - by this time my adrenaline was pumping and once back to the bottom of the ledge I reached down as far as I could on the line heaved it up and the 20kilo king came flying over my head... I decided to keep it being my first ever landbase king and on handline so packed up threaded onto the butt section of my rod and started dragging it back to the lodge - this is when my dad and step mum seen me dragging it along the sand coming back from the 9pin - they thought what the hell has he kept a bloody shark for being low light until they reached me :-) Tight lines

[@mattharrison9550]

@@Reel-Kiwi-Fishing that's just awesome bro. What a experience! Only a few months and they'll be back patrolling the shoreline in big numbers. Good fishing bro🤙

[@mrincredible7930]

Now thats what i call Fishing. Not many people have the time or patience to catch proper sized fish on handlines. I have caught Kahawais, massive breams, big snappers and mackerels on handlines. Honestly you do not need a rod to perform art. You need skill. And that you have

[@onemoredeadman]

Made the mistake of handling as a bet just after xmas out near Kawau, caught one snap about 400mm. The mistake was trying to use 10 kg line. Took a week for the cut to heal :)

[@Reel-Kiwi-Fishing]

Yep a little to light or if you go light you need to use some rubber tubing - lots of fun though :-) Tight lines

[@guttavontusc3793]

Beauty bro 🙂

[@OutdoorsWithCWest]

haha good initiative to use the hand lines. alot of fun actually. i kitted one up with 60lb leader off the kayak. pair of gloves is the goods aswell. cool day out mate i enjoyed the vid

[@Reel-Kiwi-Fishing]

They are a lot of fun and great when your catching some good fish on them - great you enjoyed that one will be doing a few more handline adventures that's for sure. Tight lines

[@blakefitness2814]

Hey bro, i'm looking around at boats around 4 meters. do you have any suggestions ? and how much is one of those fc's ?

[@Reel-Kiwi-Fishing]

Hey BF The little FC430 is a pretty grouse little boat and for the size you can do quite a bit in it - can stand up quite comfy and move about - they are pretty wide beam so for the size pretty stable - being small still have to be careful. Depending on what you want to spend a second hand one maybe the go, new they are up there. There will be a few other makes to keep an eye out for but you want one that is at least 3mil bottom, fully welded so get no problems with rivets. The down turned chines help with the stability and ride so like a gull wing - the FC has under floor buoyancy - Pontoon are great but most times you lose your internal but if buying new can customise it to work better on space. OB wise the little 2stroke Mercs are pretty bullet proof or even a yammy. Hopefully that helps - tight lines

[@jameslim1202]

How many lbs line do u guys use?

[@Reel-Kiwi-Fishing]

I think it's about 20-25lb then I run a 30lb fluorocarbon leader.

[@sallysagar6112]

Where did you get those pants m8

[@Reel-Kiwi-Fishing]

They are Okuma pants - unsure if they do them anymore but your fishing retailer should be able to see if they can get them for you - they are like swan dry material. Tight lines

[@fishingwithscott1968]

Wast of bait and a good feed