FISHING EC BAIT DEMO
CATCH COMPETITION
TIDES
AUGUST 2015
YELLOWTAIL
East London to New Zealand
PIGNOSE GRUNTER
Eat Paddletail
TARGETLINE Club Comp
KAYAK CORNER
Brett Armstrong ISSUE: 20
E FRE Y COP ASE PLE ONE E K A T
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CONTENT
From East London to New Zealand 04 Pignose on paddletail
FEATURES Bait Demo
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Octopus wrap blob.
10 Catch Competition 26
Kayak Corner
Send us your photos and you could win.
Tides 17
Check the tide tables to make sure you fishing the right times.
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22 Target Line Club Comp
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EDITORS
LETTER
MAGAZINE EDITOR Nigel Louw CONTRIBUTORS Bradley Stevens Juan Wessels Brett Armstrong Carl Henn Justin du Preez
CONTACT ADVERTISING: email: nigel@fishingec.com Mobile: 073 690 2606 Website: www.fishingec.com
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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.
Well winter should be coming to an end soon. There has been some nice fish caught during the colder months. We had a pretty good Pignose Grunter season from all the posts and emails that I have seen. Next month is Spring and water should start warming up too, then it is time to have some light tackle lure fun again in the Eastern Cape estuaries. We had quite a bit of rain in July so hopefully that slows down and the rivers clear up nicely for the warmer months. 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
Johan Janse van Rensburg with a good size Shad caught in Gonubie. FEC | August 2015
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From n o d n o L East to d n a l a e New Z Yellowtail from the rocks Words/pics: Bradley Stevens
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n 5 January 2013, my wife, two young boys and I made the extremely tough decision of leaving beautiful South Africa for a better quality of life in Wellington, New Zealand. It was the first time in my 39 years of living in East London that I had left the shores of South Africa. I have tried my hand at everything, from rock ‘n surf to the delicate art of throwing a 4 weight line for trout. We’ve had a family holiday house at Kidds Beach for as long as I can remem-
ber and to this day, it remains my favourite spot for kob, bluefish and piggy’s. Unfortunately the rock ‘n surf fishing in Wellington is not nearly as good as the Eastern Cape. The sea here is very flat and normally very cold. In January 2014 we went on a road trip north to see what the rest of the North Island has to offer. We made plans to stay with family friends, Dirk and Nicci, Dirk is also an ex-East Londoner. They own a farm, FEC | August 2015
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about 2 hours north of Auckland. The farm is about a 30min drive to the coast. I had heard that the fishing is better further north, so I packed my gear into our Venter trailer that we had brought with us. I brought over all my fishing tackle from South Africa. We arrived at our friends at about midday. After lunch I mentioned that I had my fishing gear and would like to throw a line during our stay. Dirk found the tide table and calmly said “would you like to catch a kingfish?” (yellowtail are referred to as kingfish in New Zealand). I thought he was joking! He said, I’ll take you to a spot in the harbour where you’ll have a good chance of hooking one. Without hesitation, I said “let’s go!” Not many people know about the spot. It’s a 5 minute walk if you live, or know someone that lives in an access controlled private housing development. Dirk has family that live in the development. It is accessible to the public from one side, only on a low tide and it’s quite a walk. There is a shallow reef about 30m from the rocks and a deep chan6
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nel between the reefs and from where you stand. The yellowtail apparently waits in the channel between the rocks and the reef on the pushing tide and ambush the baitfish. The idea is to cast over the reef and as the popper hits the channel, wait for the strike! On the way to the spot Dirk told me that if the yellowtail were there, we would hook one within the first 10 minutes! He also said that the best time to fish the spot is on the pushing tide. We arrived at the spot and the tide was already high and the wind was blowing. We threw for 1520 minutes with no luck, so we packed up. The tide was high at about 07h40 the next morning. Dirk couldn’t make it, but I was up at 05h30 and at the spot just after 06h00. I was using my 10ft Fenwick Eagle
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GT dropshot rod, Diawa Regal 4000 with 20lb braid and one of Malcolm Botha’s 2oz Connoisseur poppers. On the first throw I had a chase! A few more chases after that and on the 5th throw was tight!! I couldn’t hold it and it took off towards the reef. After about 15-20 seconds it reefed me!!! That was my chance for the morning.......... they went off after that. I did go home with three size snapper, one of about 2kg.
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ht row was tig
th On my sixth again!!
I was back at the spot earlier the next morning, with my two boys (Daniel and Callum) and told them to watch for the strike. This time I set up my 13,6ft 3-piece Elbe Waverunner with medium tip and Diawa Saltist 40H with 40lb Kingfisher hi-abrasion and put on a 3oz Connoisseur popper. On my 6th throw was tight again!! The fish took off for the same rock and I tightened the drag and held on! I managed to turn him and he then swam left towards the deeper water. I had the fight of my life and then landed a 1100mm (35lb) yellowtail!! My son, Daniel took some action photos while I was fighting it. I had a few more throws after I landed it, but had no hook ups.
We were leaving for Wellington the next day, but I had to go back for one more throw. I was at the spot just after 06h00 again and it was spring tide, but only high just before 09h00. It was still a bit low, but I couldn’t wait to get my line in the water. I went tight on the first throw!!!! During the fight, I got the fish close to the rocks and there were 3 other yellowtail following it! This one was smaller at 860mm (16lb) and was released. One of my best 3 days of fishing ever!!!
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PIGNOSE GRUNTER ON PADDLETAIL? Yes they do eat it! Words/pics: Juan Wessels
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fter having fished with bait for many years, I decided I need a change. So I started fishing with artificial lures or crank baits. I was in two minds to do so as I would be leaving behind my favourite target species, the Pignose Grunter, Witsteenbras. Piggy’s have been taken on most baits such as Pilchard, Chokka, Occi Leg, etc. but the real hardcore Pig Hunter will use FEC | August 2015
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sand prawn or Mussel Worm. These fish get to well over 20kg and are caught almost anywhere along our coastline. Some will target these fish only when the water is cold and dirty, but I have seen many a Pig caught in clean warm water. They are normally caught right through the year but seem to come on more regularly in the winter months from around April to July. Things to look for are deep holes in the surf line with sand turning on the lip. River mouths especially when there are swimming prawn about. Blind rivers that have been recently washed open due to heavy rains, these fish feed off prawns that get washed out to sea. After changing to paddle tail I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I could still catch these fish, by slowing my retrieve down. If you feel hard knocks or short runs and you fail to hook up, check the paddle tail for teeth marks and if there are none there’s a good chance there’s a pig around. FEC | August 2015
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K CORNER A Y A K FISHING
Words/pics: Brett Armstrong
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Why is kayak fishing becoming so popular? Very simple, it is an exciting, inexpensive, simple, and healthy sport where you set your own pace and also catch great fish whilst out with some family and friends in nature. Kayak fishing, although it’s been around for some time, is still developing and evolving with great equipment and accessories and models to make you kayak experience so much more enjoyable and exciting.
both the river and ocean. Now this topic is essentially one of personal choice and preference, it is one of importance. Whilst anchoring in the river for some is not a big deal, drifting being the choice of a lot of kayakers, for some anchoring near a deep hole and making the most of the conditions is the way to go. An anchor trolley system is the way to go for sure, allowing you to be protected from the wind and face the correct direction. With a strong current in the river, a drogue anchor would be the best option to slow that drift motion down. If you don’t have a proper drogue anchor system, throw a bucket over the side and a length of rope around 1.5m long and you set for a slower controlled drift.
Over the last month I have had quite a few discussions with guys on anchoring in
However, when it comes to anchoring in the ocean, this is a completely different concept,
i there fellow “fish-yakers”. The weather has certainly been showing its ugly side the last few weeks. August and September will hopefully bring some amazing conditions, so dust off that kayak and get out there with some family and friends.
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with safety being your primary concern, especially near shallow reefs and in rough conditions. The wrong kayak anchoring system in the ocean can be the difference between a successful outing and an extremely frustrating and dangerous experience. The ocean anchor system should include an anchor trolley system of pulleys, latches and bungee cord. This allows you to anchor the kayak from bow to stern depending the conditions. For me, I want an anchor system that is safe, easy to use, quick to release and extremely easy to store on my kayak. There are lots of styles and options out there, but not all work as effectively as you hope for. Recently, I had an amazing experience with a friend and we tried tandem anchoring. This is where the front kayak anchors and you connect a tether bungee anchor cord to the front kayak from the front of the second kayak allowing both kayaks to be anchored with one anchor. The advantage is that you both stay on the same reef; you are in close contact with each other and, depending on the conditions, can even be safer. This worked extremely well and proved to be very successful. It is also more personal and allows you to maintain contact and company with your fellow fisherman buddy. Essentially, you need to ensure you have the right equipment when anchoring, enough anchor rope to ensure you allow for enough swell height, tidal changes and drift ability. You should have some quick release latches and floatation buoys to allow for quick release of the anchor system should you experience a sudden surge or dangerous hook up of a big fish. A strong fish can easily cause complete chaos around an anchor system and despite the possibility of loosing a catch of a lifetime; you could easily get sideways and capsize. Nothing like falling off your kayak in the ocean‌. you learn to walk on water super fast. Talk about an adrenalin rush. Essentially you need a 750gram grapnel (folding) anchor, a whole lot of rope and an anchor trolley system with pulleys and a few quick release latches and a few floats. Checkout You Tube, there are so many systems available. FEC | August 2015
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Anchor pulley system fitted to the front of a Stealth fishing ski.
Now onto some river kayaking and lighting‌.there is nothing better than getting up really early, having a coffee or some hot chocolate and hitting the river at 04h00 on a chilly morning with a couple mates. Although there are many options for getting some light for you kayak on the river, for me I have two basic lighting tools I use. The first one is a head torch, which is great for general navigation and directional lighting and the second, a Railblaza base mount on a mini extension pole. This provides perfect lighting for the main surface area and working space on the kayak as well as allows other craft to know where you are. The light from the Railblaza is not too bright, but the perfect amount to allow the required lighting to get the job done.
Railblaza light installed on the river kayak.
The advantage of river kayaking to me is very simple; it is a much more controlled and safe environment for your fishing experience. The conditions are so much more predictable and inviting. So for me, it is an opportunity to just chill and go FEC | August 2015
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Kayak seat with rear storage pocket.
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with the flow, I don’t need to worry about changing conditions, sudden wave bursts and hectic currents. It’s just me, my kayak and the awesome natural surroundings of our beautiful region. Don’t get me wrong at all, I absolutely live for fishing on my kayak on the ocean, but the dangers are far greater, but the rewards far bigger. But sometimes you just want to chill on the river and drift for some spotties and enjoy the environment without thinking too much. It is for this reason I decided to build myself “my ultimate’ idea and version of a river fishing kayak. My base weapon of choice, the Feel Free Moken 10 Angler. One of the most important safety points to remember when fishing off your kayak in the ocean is to always go with a friend. Safety in numbers! I am always concerned when I hear of mates fishing on their own, I have only gone kayak bottom fishing on my own once in the ocean, I felt so vulnerable and uneasy, I believe I know the ocean well. So rather be safe than sorry and go out with some mates. It’s just easier and actually more enjoyable and sociable. Lastly, I have seen quite a few guys fishing with “normal “ 9ft and similar fishing rods off their kayak. Essentially each to their own, but there are lots of smaller, kayak specific fishing rods available for around R100 that are so much easier to work with
off your kayak. When paddling out on your kayak to your favorite reef or spot through the waves and shore break, it is important to adequately store and protect your rods and equipment from the elements. So the smaller the equipment and rods, the safer and easier to stow away. Invest in some nice rod leashes or make your own from some bungee cord. You will be happy you did should the conditions get nasty and gnarly. Another kayak option, which I have gone for on my river kayak, is a kayak seat. I must admit the idea at first was a little foreign and I felt like an “old man”, but once I fitted it and got some hours behind me I realized what a great addition it was; so much more comfortable and relaxing. My seat has a rear storage compartment as well, which is great for keeping a few items in. The seats are relatively inexpensive and available at most kayak related stores. I have actually decided to fit one on my ocean going fishing kayak now and look forward to my first outing with it. Anyway, for more information on kayak fishing and modifications and setup, drop me an email at brettflip@gmail.com In addition to this, if you would like to join the kayak fishing Whats app group, please also send your details through and I will link you. A great way to meet guys who share your fishing experience and passion for the sport. FEC | August 2015
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TARGET LINE
Freshwater club results
Words/pics: Carl Henn On the 04/07/2015, Target Line Freshwater Angling Club had its 4th club competition for the season, this time at Nahoon Dam, just off the N2. Conditions looked good for us, but it is winter and fishing was going to be tough. Everyone knows that fishing in winter is slow and we were hitting it solid in the middle of winter. It was a beautiful day in the end with not much wind. At times the water presented itself with a beautiful mirror image of our surroundings. As the day went on, more and more fish came out‌.not your typical winter’s day. The fish size was as we all had hoped, decent. Chris Engelbrecht, who came 1st overall and in the masters, had the biggest carp at 5.797kg and the biggest bag of 12 carps at 39.794kg. 3 22
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19 anglers competed that caught a total of 74 carps with a total weight of 229.862kg (average of 3.1kg). Definitely not too shabby for a winter competition. Here are the top results of the comp: Seniors: 1 JJ Koch 9 carps 2 Martin Piek 8 carps 3 Adriane Domoney 8 carps
31.272kg 28.649kg 18.923kg
Masters: 1 Chris Engelbrecht 12carps 39.794kg 2 Chris Koch 4 carps 12.103kg 3 Jack Sutton 3 carps 10.187kg Ladies: 1 Petra Piek
6 carps
15.802kg
Here are the standings after 3 competitions: Seniors: 1 Martin Piek 77pts 2 Adriane Domoney 59pts 3 JJ Koch 46pts
Masters: 1 Chris Englebrecht 2 Anthon Henn 3 Chris Koch
65pts 56pts 46pts
Ladies: 1 Petra Piek 49pts 2 Lezanda Engelbrecht 30pts 3 Jackie Domoney 20pts
Juniors: 1 Liane Husselmann 2 Nikita Moodley
35pts 20pts
Our next club competition will be Bridal Drift Dam in August and many fish are waiting to hit our scale. Our date is out…….16-18 October 2015. 40 hours of thrilling fishing at Wriggleswade Dam. Ticket prices to be announced very soon. Some nice prizes up for grabs with lucky draws and more….. For any enquiries on how to join our club, feel free to call me on 073 857 2209, e-mail sales@targetline.co.za or targetlinefreshwaterangling@gmail.com or join on face book at Target Line FAC. See you all reel soon on the banks. FEC | August 2015
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X TIPS O B T I A B
THE
OCCIE WRAP BLOB
Words/pics: Justin du Preez
1 You need a nice semi frozen chokka ring (beats and fluffs better when slightly frozen) chokka legs optional.
2 Now beat the chokka strip to the desired consistency.
3 Cotton legs onto dingle if wanted then wrap beaten strip around dingle and cotton to secure.
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Sponsored by SPARGS MALL BEACON BAY 043 711 7700
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Clip and cast. You can add anything to this bait if u want like a Mackerel cutlet or Sardine.
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CATCH & WIN Angler: Wade Botha Species: Grey Shark Location: Mazeppa Bay Bait: Blacktail Size: 180kg
Angler: Justin Staude Species: Englishman Location: Deep Sea Bait: Squid Size: 3.74kg
Angler: John McKay Species: Kob Location: Port St Johns Bait: Live Bait Size: 12kg 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 | August 2015 26 - BaitFEC used - Size/Weight
July Winner Angler: Johan Janse van Rensburg Species: Shad Location: Gonubie Bait: Shad fillet Size: 91cm / 6.5kg
Johan wins himself an assortment of Triton lures/spoons.
Angler: Julian Maastrecht Species: Kob Location: Shixini Bait: Dropshot Size: 89cm
Keep sending in your catches and stand a chance of winning an assortment of Triton lures.
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TIDE CHART August 2015 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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