DIY Improved Live Bait Tube using PVC pipe

So now I know live bait tubes work for my fishing style (previous post) I go about investing more time into a better solution. I go to Bunnings and pick up a meter of damaged 6cm diameter poly. I had a look at the standard fitting for each of the types of PVC tubing. I ended up getting the 'high pressure' sort that fits rounded caps. The walls are a bit too thick making it a bit heavier but with the streamline caps I think it moves easier through the water. With the 2 rounded caps this set me back $10.

I cut a 50cm length off the undamaged end with a saw and cleaned the edges up with an old file. I then marked out a 15x5cm rectangle on this piece and using the angle grinder cut it out (this could also be done by drilling lots of holes and a small saw). I then cut a 20cm length to act as the cover for the hole that will slide over the main piece. As this bit is the same diameter as the main length I need to widen it to get it on. I make a straight cut lengthways to open it up. I was hoping I could stretch it over the main but but this proved too hard. Poly has a melting point of around 90 degrees I think so I used boiling water slowly poured over it to soften it and slip it into place. It slides on easily, I then continue to pour boiling water on it to get it sliding nice and easy but still firm enough to stay in place. I then drilled holes in the caps and one line running length ways on the main piece.

Happy with the smooth sliding action now I clean up all the edges again with a file to remove any sharp bits. Not happy with the color I foolishly decided to spray it black, this was a mistake as it caused the sliding cover to stick. The paint is scratching off with use and will in time be white again.

 Bait Tube Closed

 Bait Tube Open

Bait Tube with Line of Holes


Verdict is that it works very well, keeps bait fish alive and tracks nicely behind the kayak. At the moment it sinks which is not a big problem but I am thinking it could get snagged in low water, or disturb fish so I might add some buoyancy to it. One one occasion it got wrapped around the mirage drive but making it float prevent this from happening. I also have it trailing behind the yak now to prevent it banging against the side. One thing to note is that you don't want to put one big mullet in there with 20 small herring, the mullet will slide up and down damaging the herring.

DIY live bait tube using plastic screw top container

To see how successful fishing with lives was from a kayak I opted for a simple and cheap design. A cylindrical Tupperware style clear container with a twist lid for $5 from Big W. I then drilled some holes in the ends, attached a piece of cord from a broken cast net and another piece to tether the lid to the container. For good measure I sprayed it black and left a stripe clear... for speed, things with stripes go faster.

Bait Tube Closed

 Bait Tube Open

As it turns out lives work very well and very suitable for the fishing style that comes with the peddle powered hobie outback. The livies stayed alive but the tube itself is rather large in diameter and despite the speedy stripe it is like towing anchor when working against the tide.

Shimano Symetre 2500 on a Graphite Rack Raider II

This is my new combo I picked up from BCF for estuary work. I also picked up some 6lb Finns Braid and 6lb flurocarbon leader. I have tested it out several times now and landed a 50cm GT and a 63cm flathead on it without any dramas. The reel when I bought it was very nice to hold and wind, smooth and quiet and the drag works very well.



After several trips I did notice a slight noise (bearing I think) when winding. I have oiled it and took it back to BCF to get them to look at it but they could not fix it. I may have to take it back for repair under warranty. I would not talk anyone out of getting this reel despite this, for the money it is a very good reel and from what I have hear this is a one of case. I did however wish it came with a spare spool and may have to pick another up for chasing snapper on light gear.

Cotton Tree on the Maroochy River

Trip #2

Had the day off today and managed to squeeze in a fish, put the Hobie Outback in the Maroochy river @ 7am just before high tide and trolled some deep diving lures around the caravan park for 1 1/2 hours without a hit. My legs were getting a bit sore so I pumped some nippers and tried drifting over some holes, landed a small bream and a nice whiting.

I have realized now that the mouth there is pretty hard to drift with baits when the current is ripping through there and got better results further back near picnic point last time.

Unfortunately when I was cleaning the yak up I noticed a small (2cm) cut in one of the rubber mirage drive blades, I doubt it is repairable and I am a little worried it will get longer. Might have to invest in the turbo fins sooner than planned.

Swan Boat Hire on the Maroochy River

Trip #6

Had an RDO Friday and was planning a sleep in but the fishing runs too deep and found myself on the water just after sunrise. I would be launching on the change of tide so I put the Hobie Outback in at swan boat hire so I could follow the tide out. The water was glassy and much clearer so I thought I would finally have a chance to work some surface lures, had a few quick casts before I launched from the bank in some slack water and got a couple of small but spectacular hits. This was promising. I took the opportunity to cast for some livies before I left and got plenty for the bait tube. I would have got no more than 15 meters from the bank with a livey on and my reel went off, fought it for several minutes on the light 6lb gear with some good runs and landed a 55cm flattie without much drama.

I worked around chambers island flicking a jaz zappa orange tiger surface lure against the bank. Towards the east side of the island I got some hits and then bam i'm on. I small 20cm bream. I hung around here for awhile having too much fun with these bream, they would follow my lure right to the yak in schools. I landed and released 4 in all. There were plenty more around but after seeing 4 of their class mates landed they went off the chew. I had gotten distracted doing this and forgot about the livie out the back which had been very quiet, must be time to check it. 2 or 3 winds of the reel and it goes off, 3 or 4 good runs and I started chase, thought it was a trevally as it was fighting near the surface and heavy in the water. Ended up squeezing a 62cm flattie into my undersized landed net. I had a scary moment trying to get him into my small cooler bag (35cm) and he wriggled free of my rag and propelled himself onto the front of the yak, nose over the front but just laying there taunting me. In such a rush, 3 times I tried to get up to grab him but couldn't get off my seat. Eventually I grabbed him again after nearly loosing it overboard.

The 2 flathead caught.

Not much after that, worked the surface lures a bit more, few hits and another small flattie.

Jaz Zappa Orange Tiger


The 2 fish in the cooler bag wern't fitting and I was worried they would get too hot in the sun so only 2hrs in I headed home.

Maroochy River maiden voyage

Trip #1

This is my first trip report, I just purchased a second hand Hobie Outback and took it for its maiden voyage in the Maroochy river, South East Queensland.

I launched from picnic point and rode the tide out to the mouth, trolling a small t-tail plastic and flicking a popper towards the south bank of Goat island. I lost a few tails of the plastic and got a few knocks on the little popper but nothing over the hour or so I was trying that. I pumped some nippers and drifed/slow troll down the main channel there with the change of tide and caught 3 flathead (1 legal), 6 bream (4 legal) and a large whiting.

It was a very successful first trip and looking to get a quick trip in this week. I am however looking to target something a bit bigger now so I need to work on a live bait tube and gearing up with some better rods, reels and some braid. As I can't do livies atm I think I might try twin waters outlet into maroochy with some lures for flat head and trevally next trip.

Picnic Point on the Maroochy

Trip #5

Went for a fish this morning in the Maroochy, launched at 6:30am at picnic point I had planned to work surface lures today but the water was very dirty so ended up pumping some nippers and netting some livies. Got to test out my newly created bait tube which worked very well. Slow trolled to the mouth and was very slow for several hours, found a nice spot north of the mouth on the change of tide that produced 6 bream, whiting and a trevally. One of the whiting was 31cm just 2cm shy of my pb. Something also bit me off clean (6lb fc) but didn't come back for seconds. Worked my way back with the clean water and picked up a 40cm flathead and a few small bream.

No pics sorry, beer makes my lazy and it's too late now, the misses is cooking thai fish cakes.

Was great weather today, at the mouth I saw a big bust up with alot of birds diving about 500m out to ocean. On a day like today it seemed a shame to not be out on the open water, If I had some heavier gear I would have given it a shot.

I also upgraded my outback to ST Fins and jumbo rudder and loving it, money well spent. Didn't get to test out the rudder yet but the new landing net worked a treat.