Kontiki/Drone fishing enthusiasts? Advice for someone wanting to try/buy

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Hatch

797 posts

Ultimate Geek

#198180 29-Jun-2016 15:01

I'm really keen to try out fishing via drone or Kontiki. My neighbour bought a Conrad Meier Fish Harvester (bought from TV shopping) which looked like junk to be honest and never worked.

I'm looking to buy used or build a kit set myself.

Drone fishing is also interesting to me as I could then utilise a drone for other projects.

Does anyone have any advice or recent experiences? Or is anyone selling?

I live in Papakura, Auckland.

MikeAqua

7773 posts

Uber Geek

#1582747 29-Jun-2016 15:46

Personally I think the fishing drones are a bit of a gimmick. They sound cool, but are poorly suited to their task

Details are scarce. In the videos I have seen, the baited hooks are flown out dangling in the air. A good recipe for catching seagulls especially while you are deploying hooks and the drone is moving quite slowly. The line used with the drone looks quite light - too easy to bust off.

The manufacturers say you can sue them in rough seas, but I would like to see how they cope in the strong winds that often accompany rough seas. Especially with all that line trailing behind.

Sea Horse Electric Kontikis work. I've fished with them. You still to have know when and where to go fishing, but people who do catch well with them.

You don't need an electric winch. If there are two of you, one can walk the line up the beach while the other winds it onto the reel.

Mike

Hatch

797 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1582777 29-Jun-2016 15:59

MikeAqua:

Personally I think the fishing drones are a bit of a gimmick. They sound cool, but are poorly suited to their task

Details are scarce. In the videos I have seen, the baited hooks are flown out dangling in the air. A good recipe for catching seagulls especially while you are deploying hooks and the drone is moving quite slowly. The line used with the drone looks quite light - too easy to bust off.

The manufacturers say you can sue them in rough seas, but I would like to see how they cope in the strong winds that often accompany rough seas. Especially with all that line trailing behind.

Sea Horse Electric Kontikis work. I've fished with them. You still to have know when and where to go fishing, but people who do catch well with them.

You don't need an electric winch. If there are two of you, one can walk the line up the beach while the other winds it onto the reel.

Thanks I agree, in winter especially when the wind is blowing I don't see a drone working well at all, probably a low thrust Kontiki would struggle too however.

In particular I'd like to know if anyone has any experience or views on the shore-thing device, which is designed so that you won't lose the Kontiki itself should a shark take a liking to any catch.

I probably wouldn't sent the kontiki out for more than a 1km so a hand winch would be fine, also a good workout too! However most of the time I'd just be heading out myself, is a hand winch not feasible for a one man band?

Stu

Hammered
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#1582789 29-Jun-2016 16:08

This is an example of the way it used to be done:

http://www.fishnhunt.co.nz/howto/build/kontiki.htm

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SATTV

1648 posts

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#1583021 29-Jun-2016 22:14

I have had a homemade torpedo and had limited success, it was too positively buoyant and would not go through waves, was great at Orewa however.

A good trolley system is essential, if you have a poor design it can make life hard.

I have thought about using a drone for rock fishing as it can take a line out further than I can cast and be 100m or so out in a few seconds.

There is a guy on trademe offering a demo of using the Drone as a kontiki, he will do a demo for you, they can fly over a km in a couple of minutes, I thought the bait my be freeze dried by the time it is dropped. As for the Birds there is a chance but there is always a risk when fishing ( the only time I got one was when using a shore thing )

If you do get a Kontiki / torpedo / drone I am happy to come and help you and teach you how to use it ( I have no drone experience but am keen to learn )

if you get a drone make sure it is splash proof, they are not cheap.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

Jeeves

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1583130 30-Jun-2016 09:07

Whatever you get, please be cautious using them on beaches regularly used by dog walkers. These things have been responsible for many dog injuries and deaths from perforated digestive tracts.

Hatch

797 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1583257 30-Jun-2016 11:55

SATTV:

I have had a homemade torpedo and had limited success, it was too positively buoyant and would not go through waves, was great at Orewa however.

A good trolley system is essential, if you have a poor design it can make life hard.

I have thought about using a drone for rock fishing as it can take a line out further than I can cast and be 100m or so out in a few seconds.

There is a guy on trademe offering a demo of using the Drone as a kontiki, he will do a demo for you, they can fly over a km in a couple of minutes, I thought the bait my be freeze dried by the time it is dropped. As for the Birds there is a chance but there is always a risk when fishing ( the only time I got one was when using a shore thing )

If you do get a Kontiki / torpedo / drone I am happy to come and help you and teach you how to use it ( I have no drone experience but am keen to learn )

if you get a drone make sure it is splash proof, they are not cheap.

John

Thanks for the offer of assistance John, much appreciated. Out of interest what would you have done differently with your torpedo to make it more effective?

At this stage I'm leaning more towards a Kontiki. Looking around you can get a basic kitset which looks relatively effective for around $1000k. GPS takes the price well over $2K.

Btw did you think the shore thing is indispensable? I've seen rigs without the shore thing just have much weaker line on the bait lines so that if a shark attacks the weak link will be the tracer line not the main line.

SepticSceptic

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#1583464 30-Jun-2016 16:50

Why not try a kayak ?

You wouldn't be so dependent on prevailing conditions, can get to more varied locations, and get a workout ?

It would be approx the same cost (2k)

Disclaimer - I don't fish from a kayak. I did try kite fishing. Boat /dinghy is better. :-)

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Hatch

797 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1583477 30-Jun-2016 17:04

SepticSceptic:

Why not try a kayak ?

You wouldn't be so dependent on prevailing conditions, can get to more varied locations, and get a workout ?

It would be approx the same cost (2k)

Disclaimer - I don't fish from a kayak. I did try kite fishing. Boat /dinghy is better. :-)

Are you youtube user Helterskelter4? I half jest, but this user has posted on every single Kontiki youtube video I've watched saying Kontiki is a load of sh*te and why don't we just get off our bums and go kayak fishing.

Respectfully, I have no interest in physically paddling out 1km+ into the open sea (in winter) with wetsuit, lifejacket, learning how to rescue-roll etc etc.

An electric kontiki on a small trolley with a hand winch, bait, and other gear is one type of adventure, but an open water kayak is a completely different beast.

But thanks for the.....er suggestion.

SepticSceptic

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#1583485 30-Jun-2016 17:18

Hatch:

SepticSceptic:

Why not try a kayak ?

You wouldn't be so dependent on prevailing conditions, can get to more varied locations, and get a workout ?

It would be approx the same cost (2k)

Disclaimer - I don't fish from a kayak. I did try kite fishing. Boat /dinghy is better. :-)

Are you youtube user Helterskelter4? I half jest, but this user has posted on every single Kontiki youtube video I've watched saying Kontiki is a load of sh*te and why don't we just get off our bums and go kayak fishing.

Respectfully, I have no interest in physically paddling out 1km+ into the open sea (in winter) with wetsuit, lifejacket, learning how to rescue-roll etc etc.

An electric kontiki on a small trolley with a hand winch, bait, and other gear is one type of adventure, but an open water kayak is a completely different beast.

But thanks for the.....er suggestion.

Lol, no, not helterskelter4.

Never said kayaks are bad, like you I aint keen on gearing up for a kayak. Too old and busted for that. Though there a couple of kayakers here on GZ.

SATTV

1648 posts

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#1583509 30-Jun-2016 18:05

If you are on your own you will need an electric winch.

The reels that are based on an electric fence reel are just to hole the line, if you try and winch in the knotiki with one you can put too much pressure on the spool and it can collapse.

A really good trolley with large inflatable tyres is key, I have seen hand trucks from the likes of super cheap used and were quite effective.

A kayak is a good way of getting the line out, I am looking at doing that myself. I saw a couple of guys who had no idea what they were doing get two goo Kawhai at Cornwallis a few weeks ago. I was surprised as they only went out 75m or so and got more than guys off the wharf who were further out to sea.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

SATTV

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#1583511 30-Jun-2016 18:11

Jeeves:

Whatever you get, please be cautious using them on beaches regularly used by dog walkers. These things have been responsible for many dog injuries and deaths from perforated digestive tracts.

Hi Jeeves,

I am always careful when out fishing however dog owners ( including myself ) do need to keep their dogs under control at all times.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

Ramboss

202 posts

Master Geek

#1583517 30-Jun-2016 18:30

You read my mind was just thinking I should ask this exact question.

I found this http://www.aerokontiki.com
Looks good but the autopilot takes a bit of the fun out of it.

I definitely admit it's not as practical as a water driven kontiki, but looks fun none the less.

And any kontiki you buy say $1000 or more you ask yourself how much fish from the shop that could have brought,
More about the fun I say

Jeeves

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1583994 1-Jul-2016 12:32

SATTV:

Jeeves:

Whatever you get, please be cautious using them on beaches regularly used by dog walkers. These things have been responsible for many dog injuries and deaths from perforated digestive tracts.

Hi Jeeves,

I am always careful when out fishing however dog owners ( including myself ) do need to keep their dogs under control at all times.

John

"Under control" and "stopping the dog from eating a tasty bait connected to an otherwise indivisible fishing line" are two very different things. Especially when the fisherman and reel are behind an umbrella or tent so you don't know what their doing.

But alas, off topic. I won't say anymore :)