Wrestling with sharks… from a yak!
One of the ultimate fighting fish to chase from your kayak right here in Victoria is the legendary GUMMY SHARK! Known by many names—smooth hound, rig, or doggie—these beauties not only put up a sensational fight but also taste fantastic on the plate. The flesh is perfect for a crispy beer batter, and it holds up beautifully in a mouth-watering curry.
Getting these big dogs onto the kayak is nothing short of a thrilling mission. Landing a gummy in the 13kg to 25kg range is an absolute challenge—a wild, exhilarating ride! Trust me, it can get dangerous; one wrong move, and your yak could flip in an instant while you’re trying to bring them on board.
I usually fish for these bruisers while anchored, running a hefty burley trail to draw them in. My hook selection ranges from 7/0 to 8/0 KLT hooks, baited with chunks of trevally, rasse, and salmon. I use 50lb rainbow braid and an 80lb tough trace leader to give myself the best shot. Then, I kick back and wait for the action to unfold—a real adrenaline rush!
The biggest encounter I ever had with a gummy was after I had already boated two nice, eating-size fish. As I was retrieving my line, preparing to call it a day, I noticed a monster head following my bait coming up to the surface. What I initially thought was a bull shark—recognizable by its massive head (even though we don’t get bull sharks in Victoria)—turned out to be a MONSTER gummy! This behemoth surfaced right in front of my kayak, devoured my bait, and my reel SCREAMED OFF!
I knew I was in for a serious battle. My kayak began spinning in circles as I got dragged around on the anchor line. After a hard-fought struggle, I finally got the giant gummy near the surface. Just when I thought I had it worn out, I slid the first quarter of this colossal shark into my net—but wait! It blasted through the net and took off again, dragging my gear with it!
I brought it back up to the side of the kayak and managed to grab hold of my net’s handle, attempting to pull this muscle-bound beast across my legs. It was like trying to hug a freight train! No sooner had I done that than it wriggled free and splashed back into the water. My reel started screaming again as the fight was far from over.
Soaking wet, I was fully engaged in the wrestling match of a lifetime! With hooks flailing everywhere and barely any room to manoeuvre on the yak, I fought tooth and nail to control this shark. Just when I thought I was getting the upper hand, it kicked off, broke off and vanished into the depths! This estimated 28kg catch has haunted my dreams ever since!
Catching gummies in the 15-20kg range on a kayak is thrilling, but once you start wrestling with those in 25kg bracket, you’re in for a real showdown! When it comes to holding onto these hefty gummies, it feels like an all-out wrestling match!
To make things a bit easier (and way safer), I’ve crafted a straight spear designed for dispatching them in the water. For that full adrenaline rush, gummy sharks from a kayak are unbeatable—these tenacious fighters never give up! Full respect to this amazing fish and may your own shark wrestling adventures be equally epic!
