Not so long ago we talked with a wonderful Croatian fisherman, Miro Jovica, a fan of fishing with topwater lures, in the article “Topwater lures, sea basses, bluefishes, and leerfishes”. Keeping track of Miro’s new hobby, that is, fishing with topwater lures, but this time from a kayak, adriaticnature decided to ask Miro some questions about the way he got into kayak fishing.
(Miro Jovica with a bluefish. Foto © Miro Jovica)
Hello, Miro! Thanks for being eager to participate in conversations on the adriaticnature pages. Last time we talked about topwater lures, sea basses, bluefishes, and leerfishes. Recently, kayak fishing has become your favorite hobby. Has your approach to fishing changed?
Hi! It gives me great pleasure to talk and simply be among wonderful authors and anglers who share information and their opinions on the adriaticnature pages.
Recently, after joining the team of Yuki Fishus by Lurenzo pro staffers, a great brand worthy of the best praise, I was looking for a watercraft that could meet my requirements for it. As I said before, I live near the mouth of the Neretva river delta, in the immediate vicinity of the Baćina lakes, where one can catch largemouth basses, next to the vast water areas of tributaries and channels, and perhaps in the best place for sea fishing in the old continent.
(Miro Jovica with a sea bass caught from a kayak. Foto © Miro Jovica)
Motorboats can be used only in 20 percent of potential places with excellent fishing, my goal was to find a boat that provided the ability to use all 100 percent of the potential. So I came up with the idea of buying a fishing kayak.
In search of a specific model, I began to keep in touch with the manufacturers of Hobie kayaks occasionally. They have surely been one of the best in this market for a long time. For me, a long-time professional cyclist, Hobie kayak turned out to be the perfect combination of cycling and fishing.
My fishing proceeded to a completely different level. Now I can easily get to the places that used to be inaccessible to me. A kayak changed the approach to fishing dramatically and made some techniques almost perfect.
(Kayak Hobie Pro Angler 12. Foto © Miro Jovica)
Tell me, please, if we talk about spin fishing from a kayak, is it necessary to change the usual tackle – rods and reels?
Actually, no. I use the same tackle as I’ve been using when fishing from the shore. The only thing that changed is that now I can approach the place, where the predator preys, quietly, without the sounds that frighten it.
Which kayak model did you choose and why?
I have several models at my disposal, but my favorite one is HobieProAngler 12, designed by anglers specifically for anglers. It means that it’s made for achieving the best possible result. It is equipped with an excellent drive. It’s so simple that it’s impossible to put it into words. You just have to try it and see. The model has a rudder and keel, which add incredible maneuvering ability without additional effort.
(Miro Jovica with a sea bass caught from a kayak. Foto © Miro Jovica)
Tell me, please, with what additional equipment did you equip your kayak? And which equipment is necessary for the angler, in your opinion?
Hobie kayaks have infinite possibilities for improvement with various supplements, thought out to the last detail, whether it is the ability to complement the kayak with built-in batteries, an echo sounder, various options for racks and holders for various conditions and purposes. There is a built-in solar-powered night signal lighting, a sail that facilitates movement in the open sea, a lot of compartments for storing various items, and other options that I initially have and that are important to me.
Before you got into kayaks, you often caught predators from a motorboat. Now you fish from a kayak almost all the time. What are the major advantages of a kayak over a boat?
Of course, boats have their advantages. But they don’t come to the fore when you compare them with professional kayaks designed for fishing. You can come close to the predator on a kayak and improve the efficiency of spin fishing to the maximum. Since I mainly fish with topwater lures, the visual effect of a predator’s attack provides unbelievable emotions when fishing from a kayak. And every time I go fishing on a kayak, it brings a new unforgettable experience.
(Seabass caught on a popper from a kayak. Foto © Miro Jovica)
Let’s talk about catching your favorite predators in relation to a kayak. Sea basses, bluefishes, leerfishes. What new opportunities did the kayak provide you with?
Fishing from the shore has a large number of restrictions, as well as fishing from a boat. There are no such restrictions when you go spin fishing from a kayak. And you become almost free to choose any places for fishing.
Sea basses require a more subtle approach, unlike leerfishes and bluefishes, which are more aggressive and assertive predators. When fishing from a kayak, a fisherman can choose the best possible position to feed the lure for sea bass. It’s often impossible to take such a position from the shore. I mean such things as the fisherman’s shadow cast on the water that frightens this careful fish, the ability to take a position on the leeward, etc. That’s why the efficiency of catching sea bass from a kayak increases significantly.
The behavior of leerfishes, bluefishes, and other large predators is often unpredictable. Often you have to unhurriedly look for a place and time when they are active, which in most cases is not an ideal option for fishing from a motorboat. And that’s the perfect time to use a kayak. You can come close to the feeding fish, which are not afraid and don’t pay almost any attention to a kayak.
(Miro Jovica with a sea bass caught from a kayak. Foto © Miro Jovica)
When you move from one site to another, do you fish using a trolling?
No. Being a sportsman, and fishing for me is solely a sport that I’ve been doing professionally for a very long time, I’m interested in fishing techniques, in which I can turn on all my sensations to the maximum. For me, fishing with topwater lures is the top of spinning disciplines, which I’m trying to perfect. I’m not interested in trolling.
I respect fish as a worthy adversary, and very rarely, or rather almost never, keep it. I kiss it, wish it good luck, and being careful with lures. Then I release it and enjoy new fishing adventures.
Did you add new lures to your kits, thanks to a kayak? Are there any new lures that you wouldn’t have bought before?
As a Yuki pro-staffer, specializing in topwater lures, my kits continue to be filled with the stuff I used before getting into kayak fishing. I use a large palette of both types and sizes of topwater lures. In addition to the fact that there are more opportunities for fishing now, the range of lures remains the same. I get only new models.
(Seabass caught on a popper from a kayak. Foto © Miro Jovica)
Many anglers are afraid of starting fishing from a kayak on the sea because they are not sure that it’s safe. What is the situation really like?
My kayak was designed for fishing in the ocean. Several times I went fishing on it in such weather, in which I wouldn’t go fishing on a boat. Due to its incredible stability, the waves only add positive emotions to fishing adventures. Most often, I fish from my kayak from a standing position, feeling absolutely confident and safe.
At the same time, on the average, I move at the speed of 4.5 knots, which enables me to cover a large area during a fishing day and to get far out to sea.
What are the main recommendations you can give to anglers who plan to start practicing kayak fishing?
I wish all the anglers to feel the freedom of movement and the opportunities that a kayak gives us. Take care of nature, treat fish with respect, and you will definitely receive a reward from them in return. And stay tuned for new fishing adventures!
(Foto © Miro Jovica)