Fishing EC Magazine April 2016

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FISHING EC BAIT DEMO

CATCH COMPETITION

TIDES

APRIL 2016

WILD COAST

Warner Brothers

BASS CLASSIC Results

KAYAK CORNER

TARGET LINE

Brett Armstrong

E FRE Y COP

Freshwater Comp You can read the magazine on our website, find it on www.issuu.com or download the ISSUU app and read it on your phone.

ASE PLE ONE E TAK

WWW.FISHINGEC.COM 1 FEC | April 2016

ISSUE: 28


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CONTENT

Wild Coast 04 Bass Classic

FEATURES

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Bait Demo

Saddleback bait for Crackers.

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Kayak Corner Catch Competition 26 14

Target Line Prize Giving 21

Send us your photos and you could win.

Tides

Check the tide tables to make sure you fishing the right times.

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Keep our beaches clean.

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EDITORS

LETTER

MAGAZINE EDITOR Nigel Louw CONTRIBUTORS The Warner Brothers Clint Lentz Brett Armstrong Carl Henn Justin Du Preez

CONTACT ADVERTISING: email: nigel@fishingec.com Mobile: 073 690 2606 Website: www.fishingec.com

Find us on Facebook Search: Fishing The Eastern Cape

No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Fishing The Eastern Cape. The magazine is published monthly and cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies in articles. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the editor. Fishing The Eastern Cape does not accept responsibility for advertising content.

Like I been a continues and Kob

mentioned last month it has good estuary season and still to be. Guys are catching Kingfish in the upper estuaries even now.

The Warner brothers have had some great Transkei trips recently as you can see from the stunning River Snapper photo on the cover and the variety of species in there part 2 article this month. Don’t forget to send in your catch photos for our Catch & Win page. You could be the next winner.

Nigel Louw Editor

ON THE COVER

Paul Warner with a Good size River Snapper caught in a Wild Coast estuary. FEC | April 2016

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Wild Coast Fishing Part2: Words/pics: The Warner Brothers

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fter a very successful trip noted in last month’s Fishing EC edition, we couldn’t resist heading back to the Wild Coast the following weekend to target the variety of different species our Transkei estuaries have to offer. We woke up in the dark on Saturday morning eager to get the boat on the water. The darkness faded as the sunrise braced us with a spectacular setting. The river resembled a glass surface with a thin layer of morning mist hovering over the water. We broke the silence as the motor putted along pulling some lures. It didn’t take long before we were reaching for the tagging kit as we tagged a handful of juvenile Kob. As the tide pushed, the Eastern Cape wind

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picked up and the sun made himself proud, we thought we would try something different. We headed up the river with the tide to target species like Snapper, Kingfish, Pick Handles and Skipjack. We generally target them using a variety of artificial lures and live swimming prawn. Swimming prawn is our outright favourite bait in estuaries as you can catch just about


any species on them. If they fished correctly, the fish just can’t seem to resist. We fish swimming prawn on a float when targeting species like Garrick, Skipjack and Snapper. This keeps the bait off the bottom and away from any rocks, logs or anything that could result in a snap up. If the area we working is deep then we might change up and just drift a prawn on the bottom with no more than the swivel and hook weighing it down. This allows the prawn to swim with ease, keeping it alive for longer and the fish don’t get a chance to “feel” you as they show an interest in the bait. By sundown on Saturday we had managed to land a numerous amount of river snapper, a pick handle barracuda, kingfish and unfortunately lost two skipjack shaking the hook loose as they acrobatically jumped from the water. A magical sight. (Worth more than FEC | April 2016

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that of seeing it lying on the deck of the boat.) On Sunday we decided to do much of the same but hoping for some bigger fish. We spent most of our time targeting one of our favourite fish in our estuaries, the River Snapper also known as Nkulunkulu. We have the utmost respect for this fish as landing them is never easy. Being fishing addicts, we are firm believers in the fact that there are no rules to fishing, however when hunting river snapper in an estuary, it is important to know that they like to feed in and around any form of structure, from rocky expanses to the roots of the famous mangrove trees. They are extremely dirty fighters, and will cut you off in a flash. They are well known for the way they aggressively “smash� their food and head off in the opposite direction back to their hideout. We managed to land some fairly decent sized snappers as well as the odd kingfish in between. We were lucky enough to land a PB river snapper, the fight was exhilarating but there was nothing more rewarding than releasing it back to its natural habitat. The legal size for a river

snapper is 40cm and the bag limit is 5 per person (Ridiculous‌.we know!!) but we believe this is a fish we need to nurture in our rivers, as it would be so awesome to see more of them this size come out. All in all, we put in some long hours and were rewarded with some beautiful fish. The Transkei Wild Coast continues to impress us. FEC | April 2016

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Amatola Bass Classic

2015

Words: Clint Lentz Pics: Jill Lentz, Lyndon Hall and Jacques Cooper

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T

he annual Amatola Bass Classic held at Wriggleswade Dam over the weekend of the 12’th & 13’th March attracted some 59 boats with 120 anglers competing to win R50 000 for the biggest fish and many more terrific prizes to which the loyal competitors have become accustomed. The weather was unkind to the anglers with rain, wind and storms causing havoc with boats on the water and vehicles off the water. A delayed start due to mist and for safety reasons was once again experienced on the first morning and this has become synonymous with Wriggleswade during autumn. Although the area was experiencing a green drought, the dam was full and the water the clearest in many years. Unfortunately the organizers were unable to offer a bass boat with a motor for the second time this year although plans are afoot to bring such a great prize back. This may have contributed to fewer entries but did in no way quell the thrill which FEC | April 2016

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Hatfield’s Shopfitters from KZN and owned and represented by Matthew and Carmen Jannekar, have supported the Amatola Classic for many years and religiously compete in the event. Their sponsorship is always dedicated to the Ladies and Junior prizes and they are to be commended for their continuity in this regard, especially since the youngsters are the future of our sport.

The junior anglers who competed and received goody bags: fltr Carmen Jannekar (sponsor), Cyril Schwartz (Border Chairman), Mitchell Bennett, Michael Kleinhans, Sean Craigie, Matthew Lentz, Luke Eberhardt. Front – Nathan Lentz, Cullum Rea and Dian Coxen. 10

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is what the Amatola Classic is all about. Local angler and a newcomer to the sport, Harry Bezuidenhout held the lead on day one with a fish of 1.905kg. Hot on his heels was Jarryd Pieterse with a fish of 1.855kg and Olaf Weyl with a fish 1.795kg. Many other good fish were caught despite the conditions. With fish over 3 kg’s now becoming quite a common occurrence; nobody would have ever imagined that Harry’s fish was safe. Sunday dawned with some sunshine and a blustering wind to liven things up somewhat. Anglers explored all the corners of the dam and no-one managed to weigh in a bigger fish than Harrys. Somehow a rumour reached him that a 2.1kg odd fish was weighed near the end of closing and it was a somewhat distraught man and his fellow fishing mates that attended prize giving. Only when the second biggest fish was announced did it dawn on him that he had won. His excitement and nervousness was a sight to behold and Harry credits his success to his fishing partner, Noel Sparks, for putting him on the fish at the right FEC | April 2016

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time. Harry also scooped another two big fish prizes and his angling skill is progressing in leaps and bounds after only joining Wriggleswade Bassmasters during 2015. The organizers would like to thank participants and sponsors alike for their continued support of this event, notwithstanding all the hard working ladies and gents who continue to put in their time and effort to make this event a success year on year. See you all again next year.

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CORNER K A Y A K FISHING

Words/pics: Brett Armstrong

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i fellow kayak fishos!!! As predicted March gave us a few great days on the water with some better conditions for sure. April is looking good and one can tell by the amount of Bird life around that there is plenty of bait fish activity around at the moment, which as we know bring larger predator fish like Garrick, Yellow Tail, Bonnies and Yellow Fin Tuna, so lets hold thumbs.

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Product Review – Fluid Bamba I was fortunate recently to spend a few hours on the Fluid Bamba in both the Ocean and the River. What can I say, but truly a versatile kayak. This kayak has been designed with the idea of allowing the user, so many options in terms of storage, accessibility and all round fun. The Hull design seems to some how allow the Bamba to be both fast and stable. Quite often the


FLUID BAMBA

two don’t go together. Speed is usually sacrificed when building a kayak with great stability. The interesting thing is that the Bamba is very at home in both the ocean punching through, and surfing the waves as well as on the tranquil river. At a little over 4.3m, for me, the Fluid Bamba is a very versatile kayak, with loads of storage, plenty of options to personalize your kayak layout and all round great value for money. For more information and pricing checkout http://www.wildcoastkayaks. co.za. Kayak Fishing Checklist Kayak fishing will put your organizational skills to the test. Having all your necessary gear ready when you are on the water will make the whole experience much more enjoyable. Safety should be your main concern - bringing safety items on each trip should not be optional, but more a necessity. Of course, everyone is different, so people have different needs and bring different items to fish on their kayak. The list below is just what we have found to be a bare minimum, so make a note of these items and even keep them stowed FEC | April 2016

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on your kayak, so as not to forget them: - Phone, in a dry bag - Paddle and paddle leash - Rods and rod leashes - Waterproof Tackle box - Life Vest PFD - Fishing Knife and pliers - Drogue Anchor - Water - Food to nibble on - Mirror or signaling device - Sunscreen - Pencil Flares in a dry bag - Tow/teather rope - Hat and warm/waterproof Jacket Mdumbi Kayak Fishing Trip – 27 April – 1 May As previously mention and advertised, the Kayak Fishing EC Club is really excited about the planned trip to Mdumbi in the Transkei late April. Besides the fact that it has to be one of the most amazing places I have been to, it has an amazing river and even better ocean. The guys attending will stay at Mdumbi Backpackers and plans are already on the way to make this the best trip ever. Both experienced and novice kayak fisherman are encouraged to book your spot as place is running out really quickly. To book your spot and find out more information, please email Mark at admin@kayakfishingec.co.za. Kayak Safety Tip of the month Maintenance: Over time certain components on your kayak can become cracked, loose, and worn out. Make sure to check your Nylon pad-eyes for cracks, bungee cord for being stretched out, screws, nuts, & bolts for being loose, and even cracks in your hull. There is nothing worse than getting out on the water and you have equipment failure, besides the obvious safety related concerns, it is extremely frustrating. Learn how to strip and clean your reel – Most are fairly simple and you need to have it cleaned and greased at least monthly (depending on usage & certainly ASAP after a flipping

or dropping in the water). Try to also have your reels elevated off the bottom of your kayak while stored in your hatch and always wash them off in fresh water after use. Kayak Club for East London East London kayak fishing enthusiasts have a club under which we operate, namely, Kayak Fishing EC. We have a very informative and interesting website (with more updates to follow) at www.kayakfishingec.co.za and a Facebook page with the same name, Kayak Fishing EC, and would like to encourage you to go and checkout our site and to also Like us on Facebook and then share/spread the news. The club is focused on both ocean and river kayak fishing, so there is something for everyone here. We have a host of information and galleries available on the website, so check it out and join us on the water. This month’s tip on rigging your kayak: Despite the fact that most kayaks have a good amount of storage, additional storage is always welcome. For me the best way to do this, depending on the type of kayak and space available and more importantly, the amount of space needed, is by adding a cooler box or container. The additional storage can also be modified and adapted depending on your needs. It is also really important that the container be adequately secured on the kayak. If you flip the kayak while paddling in or out of the waves, the last FEC | April 2016

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thing you want is to loose all your stowed items because you container is not properly secured to your kayak. Normally bungee cord, although strong, is too stretchy, so if this is the only formed of tying down of your container you will probably loose it, a quality webbing, either 20-35mm wide will be more than adequate if properly attached with a strong buckle system. I use two webbing sections on either side and two bungees on the front and back. I am yet to loose anything‌..touch wood. I use my additional storage container to keep a bunch of stuff like my anchors, rope, water, bait box etc. It comes in handy for sure. The way my cooler box and containers on my two kayaks are setup allows them to be used as live bait tanks as well as fish catch storage devices. I believe being organized and having enough storage which is out of the way, but yet handy and easily and accessible. For more information on kayak fishing and related aspects, please do not hesitate to contact me at info@kayakfishingec.co.za. Also checkout our website at www.kayakfishingec.co.za. To join our Whats app kayak fishing EL group, please email us and we will add you. It’s a great way to meet new guys and plan fishing trips and chat about our amazing sport. Remember: Safety first and always respect our environment. FEC | April 2016

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TARGET LINE

Freshwater club prize giving Words/pics: Carl Henn

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n Saturday 26-03-2016, Target Line Freshwater Angling Club had its 2nd annual prize giving. This season past was much closer in results and finishes compared to the 2014-2015 season. Many anglers were very anxious to find out where they ended and of course, who won what. Here are the top finishes for 2015-2016 season: Seniors: 1 Martin Piek 178pts 2 Adriane Domoney 165pts 3 Carl Henn 146pts 4 JJ Koch 140pts 5 Jacques Husselmann 118pts

Masters: 1 Chris Engelbrecht 2 Anthon Henn 3 Chris Koch 4 Andy Warren 5 Jack Sutton

Ladies: 1 Petra Piek 130pts 2 Lezanda Engelbrecht 93pts 3 Jacky Domoney 93pts

Juniors: 1 Liane Husselmann 98pts 2 Jordan Barnard 55pts 6 Nikita Nair 45pts

174pts 168pts 148pts 148pts 116pts

The Victor Ladorum was a different race all together with all the devisions battling it out with one another. Here are the top anglers for 2015-2016 season: 1 Martin Piek 2954.74pts 6 JJ Koch 1228.26pts 2 Chris Engelbrecht 2197.33pts 7 Anthon Henn 1119.47pts 3 Petra Piek 1645.21pts 8 Chris Koch 1118.59pts 4 Adriane Domoney 1592.19pts 9 Andy Warren 1024.02pts 5 Lezanda Engelbrecht 1418.10pts 10 Jacques Husselmann 701.83pts FEC | April 2016

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There were some new club records achieved for the season, but I am sure there will be more in the new season……. Here are the new records Moggel 0.868kg Tilapia 0.883kg Carp 6.465kg Barbel 13.500kg Eel 1.171kg

for 2015-2016 season: Jacques Husselmann Jacques van der Schyf Anthon Henn Chris Koch Reaan Geyer

Bridal Drift Dam 05/03/2016 Bridal Drift Dam 05/03/2016 Nahoon Dam 06/12/2015 Bridal Drift Dam 01/11/2015 Wriggleswade Dam09/01/2016

Many of these records are definitely gona be broken again, but who and by how much will be the question. For any enquiries on how to join our club or anything at all, feel free to call me on 073 857 2209, e-mail sales@targetline.co.za or join on face book at Target Line FAC, or send me a Whats app message. New on the shelves in Target Line, Vincent branch, East London…………. Gariep Super Dips, with ball dips and bullets, Magic Baits’ Liquid Gems to supplement the Floating Gem range, as well as other favorites, such as Conoflex ground feed. That is available in 2kg and 4kg bags. Super Cast SVB ground feed is also on the shelf in the next week. We also stock the complete Conoflex’ Louwtjie Signiture Series and Competition Series in dips and ball dips. Come and check them out. See you all reel soon on the banks… PS: Komani Gun Cellars (Powered by Target Line) in Queenstown, now also stock all your carping needs. 22

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X TIPS O B T I BA

THE

SADDLEBACK BAIT FOR CRACKER

Pecker proof saddleback (Armadillo) bait on a j-hook. Words/pics: Justin Du Preez

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You need bait, cotton and a sharp knife. Quality strong j-hook on decent snood knot and two saddlebacks.

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2

Remove by cutting the innards from around the outer edge and cut off the hard muscle.


Sponsored by SPARGS MALL BEACON BAY 043 711 7700

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Cotton on two “feet” with soft inners to the inside making sure the hook is nice and proud.

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Then cotton the two “lips” around the edge of the bait further protecting the soft inners.

Thats it and make sure you use a short hook and sinker snood with strong enough tackle to handle these dirty fighters between the bricks. FEC | April 2016

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CATCH & WIN Angler: Sean Dean Murdoch Species: Bass Location: Nahoon River Bait: Strike Pro Lure Size: 2 too small

Angler: Kieren Kelly Hempel Species: Leerie Location: Transkei Bait: 3� McArthy Dropshot Size: 40cm Angler: James Kingman Species: Bass Location: Stutterheim Bait: 5� Zoom Fat Albert Size: Not Measured Send us your best catch picture and you could win an awesome prize. (Photo must be of yourself holding the fish and preferably still alive. Photos of gutted fish do not qualify) Email your entry to nigel@fishingec.com with the following details: - Anglers full name - Species - Location caught | April 2016 26 - BaitFEC used - Size/Weight


March Winner Angler: Bradley Beamish Species: Black Steenbras Location: Deep Sea Bait: Catfish Leg Size: 5.2kg

Bradley wins himself an asortment of Triton lures. Sponsored by Bilimoria Fishing Tackle + an Alcock’s book.

Angler: Thelma Jonker Species: Zebra Location: Paradise Beach Bait: Cracker Prawn Size: 45cm

Keep sending in your catches and stand a chance of winning a prize plus a copy of the new Alcock’s trolling and spinning book. FEC | April 2016

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TIDE CHART April 2016 Information supplied by the Hydrographer SA Navy The Hydrographer is not responsible for any transcription errors.

TO ADVERTISE WITH

CONTACT: NIGEL@FISHINGEC.COM 073 690 2606 28

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