FISHING EC BAIT DEMO
CATCH COMPETITION
TIDES
AUGUST 2016
KAYAK CORNER
RASSPL
Border Blacktips
Brett Armstrong
KIDS Start Young
E FRE Y COP 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 | August 2016
ISSUE: 32
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CONTENT
Start Fishing Young 04 Border Blacktips
FEATURES Bait Demo
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Pink Prawn blob bait.
06 Catch Competition 19
Kayak Corner
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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16 Target Line
Freshwater competitions results.
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EDITORS
LETTER
MAGAZINE EDITOR Nigel Louw CONTRIBUTORS Nigel Louw Shane Smit Brett Armstrong Carl Henn
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.
The weather has been pretty cold recently. We had some reports of Shad coming out along the East London coast and most over 40cm, so some decent sized ones coming through. If you have children take them fishing. Nothing better than being outdoors and having some fun. See the article on Kayla’s first fish. Keep the tackle simple and get them out there with a smile on there face. 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
Kayla Louw with dad and her first fish, a Cape Stumpnose. FEC | August 2016
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Never To Young To Start Fishing
Kayla’s first outing at 2 1/2 years old. Words/pics: Nigel & Michele Louw
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W
e recently planned a trip to Areena for two nights and I decided that Kayla is ready to catch her first fish. She has played around with the rod and reel quite a bit at home so now it was time to see if she had the patience to wait for the fish to bite. On day one the goal was just to hook a fish and let her see what it is all about, she was quite excited to try catch her first fish. The rig was a small funtackle rod with a tiny spinning reel and 4lb braid. I used a orange float and some gumi-stops to keep it in place on the trace line. One tiny hook and we were set to go. I casted in for her and she sat with me on the rock and we manage to hook a Cape Stumpnose. I had to set the hook and then she reeled it in. So that was practice day. Day two the goal was to see if she can strike the fish hook it and land it all on her own. I did the casting as she is only two and a half, so didn’t want her to hook herself. After casting in I handed the rod to her and showed her where to hold. Suprisingly she had more patience than I had when I was young. I told her wait and she stood watching her float. As soon as the float dipped under the water I told her to strike and she did and had a fish on. She then carried on and managed to reel the fish in on her own. About five minutes later she did the same and had two fish in her bowl. We were also quite surprised that she wanted to hold them. The funny part is that she refused to blow them a kiss when we released them as her hands smelled a bit fishy.
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Border Blacktips Haga Haga Results
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he Border Blacktips held our 2nd league competition of the brand new season on the 2nd of July at beautiful Haga Haga seaside village. Boundaries for the event were 100m west of Pullin bay to the fence at Fish bay just east of Marshstrand. Weather for the day was absolutely terrible in the fact that the sea was huge at around 4m+ swell and the air temp was at times hovering around the 5 degree mark with a stiff morning westerly wind which made fishing conditions tricky but also re-
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Words/pics: Shane Smit
sulted in many of us freezing our behinds off! Nevertheless there were a few anglers that simply made the most of it and capitalised on the early morning bites with 80% of the days fish being landed by 9am already. One such angler was ever reliable member Greg Timm who was the only angler to land that 6th specie and the 200 bonus points by 8am netting him Top angler of the day with a total of 671.3 points! There were no real big fish around as we’ve seen at past Haga Haga competitions but member and committee
member Anthony Davis still managed to land a decent 2.5kg black Steenbras even after being washed off the rocks and losing his footing, fighting the fish with one hand at times, to take Top edible for the day. 2nd placed edible was a Bluefish of 2kg caught by Justin Lawson with a 1.4kg Silver Steenbras caught by Greg Timm rounding off 3rd. Most impressive of the day was young Arryn Sangerhaus in the Junior division landing a 2.2kg kob which won him Top Junior but had he been entered in as a Senior, he FEC | August 2016
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would’ve taken 2nd heaviest edible which is truly something to boast about considering the testing conditions we all experienced, Well done young Arryn! We had 53 entries on the day which on any other day would’ve been considered a poor turnout but considering the horrible conditions, we were happy with any figure and although 23 anglers didn’t catch a thing except maybe a cold, we all still had a good time and id just like to thank all the anglers that braved the cold aswell as Haga Haga Hotel for hosting us in their awesome facilities. Our next competition and 3rd for the 2016/2017 season will be the Kidds Beach area on the 30th of July with boundaries being from Gulu river to Ncera river. Morning registration will be at the Kidds Beach tearoom with the weigh in and prize giving happening at the Palm Springs Holiday Resort! For more information, pre-registrations and membership queries drop me a mail at shane.rasspl@gmail.com or visit our website at www.rasspl.com
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CORNER K A Y A K FISHING
Words/pics: Brett Armstrong
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i there all you Kayak Fishing enthusiasts! What a great month July was, endless days with great conditions on both land and water, with very little winter swell to worry about. I was amazed at some of the conditions; water visibility was at an all time best in my experience with of late and I had the pleasure of being out on the water where the visibility was around 25m, amazing. How blessed we are to live in the Eastern Cape. Choosing Kayaking Equipment that best suits your needs So you have a kayak, or are thinking of buying one, but you are really not sure what else to buy and with so many options out there, what do buy next? So here is a list of items and things to consider before spending money on the wrong thing for your needs:
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1. Paddle: Choosing the right paddle for your fishing is really important and should be a serious consideration before laying out the money. If you are fishing in the river, you don’t need the most expensive lightweight carbon paddle, you really just need something comfortable and inexpensive. However, I would recommend a decent lightweight paddle for ocean kayak fishing. As we seem to cover longer distances when fishing in the ocean, and need to be aware that conditions may change very quickly while out in the big blue, we need to conserve energy and a lighter paddle certainly helps in this situation. A paddle leash is also a must, which attaches the paddle to the kayak by means of a bungee type material. This is a not only a safety measure, it also assists in protecting your paddle from getting lost and if you happen to fall out of your kayak, you can keep in contact with the kayak by holding onto the paddle and the leash helps maintain that contact.
2. Life Jacket/PFD: This is a safety requirement for both rivers and the ocean and is a really important purchase. For me, it’s about comfort and practicality. The PFD must be as compact and lightweight as possible. I don’t like to feel like I am wearing PFD. I really enjoy my PFD, it has ample well-situated storage compartments and yet it is so compact and comfortable that it just feels so good. It also has sufficient padding not only for buoyancy, but also for protection again impact if I happen to fall off the kayak. Remember, the PFD is like a helmet on a motorcycle, rather get a good one, your life may depend on it, so why skimp on this. Storage in your PFD for cell phones, flares and other important things like chocolates (hehe) is very important. There is a wide variety of PFDs on the market and some are really well priced.
3. Gloves: Until recently, I never wore gloves while kayak fishing, I just didn’t think about it. Then decided, let me give it a go. I purchased a pair of half finger MTB gloves and hit the water. I actually had concerns that I may even get blisters after the first outing, this was not the case at all, instead, I felt really comfortable and after about 10 minutes on the water actually even forgot I was wearing them. The added protection when fishing was also really great, especially when trying to carefully remove the hook and release the fish. This is a great, added extra you should consider buying.
4. Rod Leashes: When fishing on the river this may not even be necessary, however, when it comes to ocean fishing a strongly recommend you purchase a couple good quality rod leashes. This not only prevents the possible loss of expensive equipment, but also makes storage in the hatches easier to access and when fitting the fish or trawling, you don’t face the risk of loosing that fish or rod when nature hits it hard.
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7. Plastic Container: I keep a plastic container in my kayak for bait and another for some additional stuff I would like to keep handy and organized. This is a personal preference and up to you completely.
5. Hook Remover: For me having a good quality hook remover or pliers is a must. A small bungee cord secured to it and your kayak is also important. But more importantly, safely removing the hook from the fish before releasing should be a priority. Limiting the potential harm to the fish is really important and the fish should be treated with the respect it deserves. Buying a good quality one is better as they last longer and remember to always wash your equipment after use to increase the life span of your stuff.
6. Fish Lip Grips: I am a little hesitant when grabbing and securing a fish with my hands, so I got myself a really nice fish grip (there are many on the market). This helps keep my hands safe and limits the damage to the fish and helps me secure and manage the fish to then remove the hook safely. This is a valuable tool and should be part of your equipment.
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8. Collapsible Bucket: Besides being used as a safety device to help remove any excess water, which may be in your kayak for some reason, a collapsible bucket is a great storage piece for your kayak. I use mine to keep my bait in and then wash it out when in the ocean and also to pick water up to clean the messy bait residue left on the kayak while out there. Very cheap accessory, which is easy to store and use. It should last you many years, unless you loose it overboard.
9. Fish Finder: Although this is not a necessity, it just a nice bit of equipment to own and add onto your kayak. I personally prefer Fish Finder/GPS combos so that I can mark waypoints and manage my trip and future trips. They come in various sizes and are relatively expense, but there are often specials and rather save up and buy the right one first time around. A 4inch screen is really perfect for your kayak, but a 5inch is just awesome. I would not go bigger than that as a kayak is about keeping things compact and practical.
10. Knife and scissors: A must of for fishing is obviously a good sharp knife and scissors. Make sure you fit a bungee leash of some sort to both these tools. It is very easy to loose these overboard and then you are stuck‌.. keep your knife sharp and make sure you wash those scissors off after each trip. Bait Tip for those days out on the ocean As most of my fishing mates know, I am a little OCD, but the one thing a lot of them agree on is try and prepare your bait before going out. For example I pre-cut my chocca by cutting it all at home and placing them into ziplock bags. I then just take as much as I need and don’t need to worry about trying to cut it on the kayak. Besides being messy, it also waists valuable fishing time. Of course, there is not much to prepare if you fish with sardine, but why not make it as easy as possible on the ocean for yourself. There is nothing better than being organized on the kayak. Kayak Club for East London We are very proud of the fact that in East London, us kayak fishing enthusiasts have a club under which we operate, namely, Kayak Fishing EC. Our club has grown from strength to strength over the last few months. And it is amazing to see how much fun everyone is having. The group outings are amazing. We are also proud of our new affiliation to the East London Yacht Club. And we thank them for including us in their facility. Our group outings are also very important and no matter how many times you have been out, no day is the same. You will learn something new every time. Every experience allows for better FEC | August 2016
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preparation for the next trip. It is great to learn from those more experienced guys who are always happy to share their experience and ideas. As a club, we also have a very informative and interesting website 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 Kayak Rigging tip: We all need a safe, dry place to keep some valuable, so a great option is a waterproof hatch with a storage bag. These hatch compartments come in 4, 6 and 8 inch sizes and are simple, but effective options to add some much needed storage to compliment your kayak. I highly recommend this. 14
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For more information on what stock is available, fitment and options contact Nigel at Wild Coast Kayaks on 073 690 2606.
The last words…Catch and Release goes along way to securing the future of the ocean for you and others to enjoy tomorrow. Respect the bag and size limits. Let’s help make the oceans more sustainable. 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.
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Target Line
4th Freshwater club results Words/pics: Carl Henn
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n Saturday 09/07/2016, Target Line Freshwater Angling Club had its 4th club competition for the 2016-2017 seasons at Bridal Drift Dam, at the old slipway side. This comp from 08:00 – 16:00 was hopefully gona produce some nice fish. With water levels that has been steadily dropping at about 1% per week over a period of a few months, there were gona be plenty of obstructions in the water in the sense of old lines and bushes. That turned out to be true with many loosing tackle and fish. The weather was ok and even aloud a jacket to come off so every now and again, but with more than 30 anglers, there were not gona be much time to chill and relax. Conditions again showed that in the winter, the fish are few and far apart. Not one angler managed to get doublwe figures. It was so tuff that half of the anglers blanked with nothing to show at the scales. Even the barbels were away on holiday in warmer climates.
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Here are the results of the competition: Seniors: 1 Martin Piek 3 fish 2 Andries van Tonder 2 fish 3 JJ Koch 1 fish
2.702kg 2.124kg 1.417kg
Masters: 1 Chris Engelbrecht 2 Jack Sutton 3 Andy Warren
7.025kg 2.817kg 1.437kg
8 fish 3 fish 1 fish
Ladies: 1 Lezanda Engelbrecht4 fish 2 Jacky Domoney 1 fish 3 Petra Piek 1 fish
4.806kg 0.922kg 0.832kg
Juniors: 1 Liane Husselmann 2 Makyla 3 Adam Barnard Jnr
1.192kg 0.414kg 0.024kg
1 fish 1 fish 1 fish
In total, 31 fish were caught weighing 29.848kg on a day where many got blanks. Our next comp will be a overnight comp in August and the waders and warm clothes will surely be packed to go with the kettles and the fires. Keep 28-30 October open………………. We are hosting a 40 hour comp at Wriggleswade Dam with plenty of prizes up for grabs. This will be our second time to host the competition and it is gona be bigger and better that last year with prize money totaling about R 15 000.00 on the line. More details and the entries are available at Target Line in Vincent, East London. For any enquiries on how to join our club or on any of our upcoming events, feel free to call me on 073 857 2209, e-mail targetlinefreshwaterangling@gmail. com 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…………. 40mm and 50mm Bomb Moulds to help with making mielie bombs, William Petrie floaties, soft floaties and ball dips. And finally…. The Conoflex Signature Series Feed, the orange bags, ARE OUT ON THE SHELVES, together with a few new dips from the master angler as seen on TV. 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. FEC | August 2016
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X O B T I TIPS BA
THE
SPARGS MALL BEACON BAY 043 711 7700
PRAWN BLOB BAIT
Like a traditional blob bait, but with a bit of pink prawn added in for extra smell.
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Words/pics: Nigel Louw
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You need pink prawn and strips of chokka. Beat the strips of chokka well with a chokka hammer. They must be very soft, but just not that they fall apart.
Now thread a strip of chokka onto the hook about half way up the shank. Then thread a small piece of pink prawn on.
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Then thread the rest of the chokka strip on the hook. This will now leave you with a perfect looking chokka/pink prawn blob bait. 18
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CATCH & WIN July Winner
Angler: Wade Botha Species: Black Ray Location: Fish River Bait: Yellowtail Size: 199cm/255kg Wade wins an assortment of Triton lures, Sponsored by Bilimoria.
Angler: Kyle Bradfield Species: Spotted Grunter Location: Hamburg Bait: Mudprawn Size: 62cm
Angler: Timothy Du Plessis Species: Kob Location: Mazeppa Bay Bait: dropshot Size: 77cm
Angler: Daniel Minnie Species: Garrick Location: Van Stadens Bait: Mullet Size: 6kg
Email your entry to nigellouw@gmail.com with the following details: Anglers full name | Species | Location caught | Bait used | Size/Weight 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) FEC | August 2016
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TIDE CHART August 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 20
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