Damian with a 20 pound snapper

It's been a while since we featured an angler from the big land down under. Damian contacted us about submitting some articles. We look forward to his contributions as we're all curious about what goes on down there.  

1) When did you start kayak fishing?

I started kayak fishing about 3 years ago.

2) How did you get started kayak fishing?

I first started kayak fishing because I wanted to combine my two loves together, fishing and fitness. Now I have discovered the advantages of the kayak for accesssing locations which a hard to get to or impossible by boat.

3)  What was your first kayak and what species of fish did you catch first? My first kayak was a finn paddle yak designed in Perth Western Australia It was a good fishing yak but it wasn`t long before I upgraded.

I then upgraded to a hobie outback with mirage pedals and I liked it so much I bought another so I can take a friend.

4)  Where do you do most of your fishing and what species do you target the most?

I live in Margaret River ( on the coast) in the South west of Western Australia so I kayak fish there quite a bit and target pretty much everything from herring and squid right up to bigger species like sharks, samsonfish and snapper. I also travel up to Exmouth which is a 16hr drive up north.

In Exmouth anything is possible from surface lures over crystal clear coral for spangled emporer and giant trevally to large pelagics offshore. Even marlin can be caught only a few miles from sure. I have caught marlin from my small boat so obviously it is my next goal from my kayak.

5) What’s your most unusual catch?

I caught a 40lb samsonfish on a popper which was pretty unique as they are normally a bottom feeder. It was also one of the best rides too.

6) Would you tell us about one or more of your most memorable kayak fishing experiences? I can tell you a memorable moment I would rather forget although I did learn a valuable lesson, I hooked a small bronze whaler shark which normally I release but I was hoping to take this one home for dinner. I was lucky to get it on board as a large bronze whaler was trying to eat it which was quite intimidating in the kayak. I had a lot of trouble landing it as I had nothing to knock it out with. After wresting with it for some time trying to fit it in my front hatch I tipped my kayak for the first time. I jumped back in pretty quick knowing that a big shark was right there. I laugh about it now but at the time it wasn`t much fun as I was alone and 3 miles out and I lost some gear including my rod and reel and my dinner. Other then that I have had so many great experiences I wouldn`t know where to start such as catching 40lb Spanish mackerel in Exmouth or 20lb snapper in Margaret River.

7) Anything else you'd like to share?

I have fished all my life and have been writing fishing magazine articles for years and since discovering kayak fishing I now rarely use my boat or fish from shore. I like to fish and travel so it`s hard to always take a kayak but the kayak fishing addiction has fully engulfed me so it is what I do most. Kayak fishing makes catching small fish easier and catching big fish more of a rush.