Fishing EC Magazine, December 2014

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FISHING EC BAIT DEMO

CATCH COMPETITION

TIDES

DECEMBER 2014

KOB ON PADDLETAIL

Fishing The Rivers

KAYAK CORNER

Safety First

ROCK & SURF CHALLENGE RESULTS

F C RE O E P Y

FISHING EC

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ISSUE: 12


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CONTENT

Kob On Paddletail In Rivers 04 Yellowtail Adventure 07

Sundays Alive On Lures 10

Fishing EC Comp RESULTS

FEATURES Bait Demo

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The double hook dingle dangle bait.

Catch Competition 26 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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18 Kayak Corner With Brett Armstorng

Safety First: Be safe during this season on your fishing ski.

20 Bongola Dam Queenstown

Carl Henn from Target Line lands a good size Barbel at Bongola.

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EDITORS

LETTER

MAGAZINE EDITOR Nigel Louw CONTRIBUTORS Nigel Louw Bridget Rodgers Malan Horak Brett Armstrong Carl Henn The Alcock’s

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.

Summer is here and I have already started having some fun at the upper EC estuaries. This is the time for Kingfish, Leerie, Pickhandle Barracuda and Kob. I managed 10 Kob the other day trawling the upper reaches of a river . They were small but still fun on the 7ft rod and the Sardine colour Strike Pro lure. This month we feature the results of the Annual Fishing EC Rock & Surf Challenge. We managed to raise some money for Reach For A Dream and CHOC this year. Don’t forget to send in your catch photo and details to stand a chance of winning a monthly prize.

Nigel Louw Editor

ON THE COVER

Theo Ferreira with a 42.5cm Bronze Bream caught during the Fishing EC Rock & Surf Challenge 2014. FEC | December 2014

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Lando with a large Kob caught on McArthy paddletail dropshot.

CATCHING KOB

ON PADDLETAIL IN RIVERS Words/Pics: The Alcock’s

O

ther than lead heads the McArthy paddle tail is probably the best and easiest way of catching Kob where the lure does all the work for you. Here is a little tip – if you consistently catch Kob on bait in a specific area, target Kob on paddletails and I guarantee that if you get the paddletail down to the fish’s feeding area you are going to catch. Now what does this tell you? Most fishermen are not getting their lure down to the right depth because they are scared of losing the lure and I always say – rather fish with bait if that is the case. Just the other day my brother and I took off a morning to go and target Kob on paddletail at Gam and what a morning it turned out to be! After launching the boat we headed to our favourite reef with it’s steep drop-offs. I positioned the boat on a half incoming

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Chad with another good Kob on McArthy Baits.


tide so that we would drift over the reef as we could pull our paddletails over the drop-off. Lando and I both cast, let it sink to the bottom and began our slow retrieve. We both said at the same time that it’s now in the perfect spot – and Lando was vas. After a nice dogged fight, he landed a 6kg fish. Quick photo and back to the reef. We put our paddeltails in the same place and just when our lures are halfway down the drop-off we get a double hook-up. Lando lands his first of about 8kg and he slips the net under mine of 12kg after a lovely fight. The day went on like this until almost full tide. We landed 17 fish all in the region of 6-14kg and this day will stay with us for a long time as the weather conditions were perfect and the fishing to match. This is not a once-off occasion, it happens in all our rivers if you read the conditions correctly and you hit the weather patterns perfectly. The 4 and 5 inch McArthy’s are best for this purpose and the best colours are Orca, Baby Elf, Coppertruse, Lavender (for clear water).

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YELLTAIL ADVENTURE! Offshore St Francis Words/Pics: Bridget Rodgers

ers with a Bridget Rodg il. ta w llo Ye e larg

E

ver in the pursuit of adventure it’s easy to see why fishing St Francis and surrounds has become one of my favourite leisure activities. Having fished with St Francis Safaris for the past year, I have learnt plenty, laughed lots and battled a variety of fish. It’s not surprising that I jump at every chance to get back out for another fun filled, action packed day. Our last trip can only be described as Epic! We left port late afternoon with a light berg wind warming us from behind, the sun low in the sky colouring it a glowing magenta. The sea was glistening gold as the last rays tinted the horizon. Visibility was perfect and expectations on board were high. We weren’t going to be disappointed. Arriving at our mark, we were treated to one of the first sightings of Whale this year. Breaching only meters from the boat a majestic sight that even the keenest fish-

erman will stop and watch in ore. Pulling our eyes away it was time to concentrate on the real reason we were there, to target Yellowtail, or what is locally referred to as the Widow Maker. This species can be allusive and many a year has gone by where fishermen have left their partners at home in pursuit of “The Tails” arrival in our bays. As luck would have it, within minutes of dropping lines the action started. Yells of delight echoed around the boat, “On” “On” “On”. The Tail were running thick and chaos pursues as we battle these beauties up from 30m. Adrenaline is running high, the fight is on, bottom fishing Yellowtail could well be fishing at its finest! Fishing a new Vertical jig stick with 80lb sufex braid line and Shimano power grinder, christened that day my lucky Pink Bling Bling rod was so much fun. That rod can bend and then bend some more, treating FEC | December 2014

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me to some great sport and the privilege of landing one of the bigger fish of the day. To describe the elation landing a 10 -12kg Tail is something you will have to come and experience for yourself, but I can tell you it’s one of those feeling you know will be relived and retold with a huge smile and sense of satisfaction for years to come.

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SUNDAYS RIVER Bursting With Lure Action Words/pics: Malan Horak

PART2:

River Gurnard caught on a leadhead.

I

n part two this month we look at the tackle used, rigging the tackle, how to retrieve and what lures are working.

Tackle: For river dropshot I prefer using

very light tackle as this makes it easier to feel the initial strike of the fish , you have a more direct and more fun fight and it causes virtually no strain on your arms throwing lures the whole day. I use the Daiwa Laguna 7ft medium spinning rod paired with a Daiwa Laguna 2500 spinning reel which is spooled with 10 pound Sufix braid. The Laguna combination outfit is exceptionally balanced, strong and fairly inexpensive. This outfit is strong enough to pull some really big fish, yet sensitive enough 10

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to make catching small fish fun aswell.

The rig:

The terminal tackle that works best for me is a small power swivel attached directly to the braid with an improved clinch knot, which follows to roughly 50cm of 10lb fluorocarbon attached at the swivel and to a lure clip. For fluorocarbon I Prefer to use a figure of 8 knot, but any sturdy will do. I believe the lure clip is essential for getting the best action your lures have to offer and it makes it much easier and quicker to change between lures.

The retrieve:

For specific species you would have different retrieve speeds, but the basic principle of leadhead fishing stays the same throughout. Always be sure that


A variety of colours and sizes in leadheads.

na d to feed o n te u o lj e b Ka r retrieve. much slowe

your leadhead sinks right down to the bottom before you start your retrieve and then remove all the slack in your line. Hold your rod almost parallel to the water and with a smooth swift motion, without reeling your line in, jerk your rod to the eleven o’clock position and give a small tweak until your rod tip reaches the 12 o’clock position , then reel up your slack whilst lowering your rod back down again. For leervis and skipjack I use exactly the same technique, but I jerk the rod much quicker allowing my leadhead to ride higher in the water column. Kabeljou tend to feed on a much slower retrieve as your leadhead is brought in hugging the bottom. Gurnards on the other hand prefer a dead slow retrieve as your leadFEC | December 2014

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Garrick on an orange/yellow leadhead.

head is almost pulled right at the bottom.

Lures:

The leadheads I use are all purchased at Alcock’s Fishing Tackle in Port Elizabeth and weigh ½ ounce. The head is actually made from tin opposed to lead, which sinks slower than lead. It also insures that the head always stays shiny and never fades like lead after a few uses. Colourwise I have had the most success on plain white and olive and white coloured hairs. Blue and white works well in the winter months. You can never predict which colour the fish would prefer on a specific day so be sure to carry an extra few colours around for that day that fellow fishermen are catching fish on a colour that you don’t normally use, you will spare yourself the frustration of getting very few or no strikes even if the fish are feeding vigorously. I have found that a low tide provides the best results when I fish with lures. Your best time is 2 hours before the low tide right up to an hour after the low tide, especially if it is early in the morning or late afternoon. The wind also plays a big role in working your lure as it is not that effective working a lure if the wind is blowing a bow in your line, especially with the light tackle. Leadhead fishing and dropshot is an extremely fun and effective way of catching a vast array of different species, which is often much more effective than bait if you master the retrieve. I urge everybody to pop into your nearest tackle shop , buy some leadheads , have tons of fun and remember to practice catch and release! Tight lines… FEC | December 2014

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FISHING EC ROCK & SURF CHALLENGE RESULTS Words/pics: Nigel Louw

2014

Ashley Sangerhaus with the winning Kob of 3.9kg.

O

n the 15th November 2014 we held our 6th annual Fishing EC Rock & Surf Challenge. All the planning went well, but one thing that we have no control over is the weather and it really put the anglers to the test this year. It was a challenge with wind gusts up to 55kph. Despite these conditions the event was still very well supported and Team Fishing EC would like to thank all 125 anglers that took part. Without you guys we would not have a competition and we would also not be able to raise the funds for the charities. Another huge thank you goes out to the Fishing EC Team and our sponsors. Without the gen-

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erous prizes that were sponsored it would also not be possible to hold such a big event. The wind started blowing at around 2am on Saturday morning and then luckily just after lines in at 6am it dropped slightly, not much, but it was at least fishable. After the registration we took a walk on the rocks to try getting some photos and seeing what’s being caught. There were some nice Bronze Bream coming out and we also heard of some Kob being caught. This was great news as I was worried that not much would come out in the conditions. After lines up at 2pm I think most anglers were tired and beaten by that wind. They handed


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in their scorecards and relaxed in the pub at Haga Haga Hotel. While we entered the species of fish into the computer system it was great to see that sixty-two fish were still caught. All fish are caught and released in our Fishing EC competition. They have to be released to be eligible for a prize. We had one Kob that was kept and we had to disqualify that one unfortunately. The reason for catch and release in the comp is that you have 125 anglers catching sixtytwo fish and if they all kept that could be quite damaging to one area. Imagine the results if we had good conditions. Some of the species caught were 7 Kob, 23 Bronze Bream, 17 Blacktail, 2 Silver Steenbras and 3 Zebra. Always put anything you catch in a competition onto your scorecard, you never know what is being caught. I think a lot of anglers missed out on prizes as they thought a fish was to small and did not write it on their card. The two main prizes were won with small fish; it is very difficult in those conditions to find the bigger ones. Ashley Sangerhaus with a Kob of 3.9kg won the R15000 Mozambique accommodation voucher and a stainless steel braai. Ryan Openshaw won the non-edible category; Ryan won a Chest Freezer plus R500 and a Mazeppa Bay Hotel voucher for catching a 0.7kg Sand shark. Thanks again to everyone involved and for helping raise funds for CHOC and for Reach For A Dream. We managed to raise R4000 for each of the charities.

Nigel Louw of Fishing EC handing over R4000 to Nan Gravett from CHOC. 16

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COMPETITION GALLERY

Nigel Louw handing over R4000 to Sinta Reynolds of Reach For A Dream Foundation.


PRIZE WINNERS

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K A Y A K CORNER FISHING

With: Brett Armstrong

Safety First!

With the terribly sad news that a surf ski paddler was lost at sea during a race in East London in November, it is a strong reminder that we need to ensure certain basic, yet necessary steps and regulations are followed, thus limiting the potential dangers of kayak fishing in the ocean. No matter how experienced we are, irrespective of the conditions, the following safety items should always be taken along on your self and in the kayak: Life jacket, Phone, Pencil flares, Tow Rope, Water for hydration, Sunscreen, GPS if you are going to be paddling further than normal, Paddle leash and Anti-histamine tablets are also a good idea for when bluebottles are around. In addition to this always go fishing in the ocean with a friend and ensure that you inform you family or friends of your destination and approximate return time. Remember to be responsible and check the conditions before going out. If the surf is to rough, there will always be another day of good conditions. Safety First! Product Review – Project Stealth Supalite: I have been extremely fortunate to have had some time to put my Stealth Supalite through some very interesting tests in both the river and ocean over the last month. The conditions varied from perfect calm early morning to gusting South Easters, so I can honestly say I have had the best point of view from a testing perspective. The Stealth Supalite 2010, is the smallest and lightest of the Supalite range, weighing a mere 23kg. It is 4m long and 62cm 18

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Fishfinder, GPS, Cup Holder and rod Holder mounted in hatch lid.

wide and is perfect for an angler weighing up to 95kg. Over and above the anglers weight it can take a whopping 70kgs more of equipment and fish, way more than is of course necessary or achievable. The Supalite is compact and exceptionally stable in all conditions. The rocker (the curve of the underside of the hull) is perfectly suited for better response in the waves, turning and carving is an absolute dream and negotiating the waves when going out is made so much simpler and safer. In hectic winding conditions, the kayak maintains its maneuverability and I especially noticed that when drifting in the wind and tidal changes in the river, controlling the direction of the kayak with only the foot pedals was very easy and an absolute pleasure. The Supalite, like all the Stealth models has a very well sized fish and storage hatch with adequate fishing rod holders. I went all out on my Supalite, fitting a Flush Mounted hatch lid for the Garmin Fish Finder and eTrex GPS, additional bait up and rear rod holders, paddle holder, additional small storage hatch for tackle and


Custom rigged Stealth Supalite.

phone, Hatch hinges and holding system as well as a few other modifications best suited for my fishing style and preferences. I can honestly say this is the best fishing kayak I have ever owned, from both a style and accessory point of view, but especially from a handling and functionality point of view. See photos attached.

rivers and ocean, remember to always respect the environment, regulations and the conditions. Take care at all times and keep to the size and quantity limits in place. Catch and release is always best. Keep only the bare minimum if you have to. Respect each other on the water and enjoy. Have a great Festive season and keep safe.

Festive Season final note: With the silly festive season upon us and with a lot more people using our awesome

For more information on Kayak Fishing and products, contact me on brettflip@gmail.com.

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BONGOLA DAM barble fishing

Words: Carl Henn

Carl Henn with a 12.8kg Barbel.

R

ichard Ackerman, Jacques van der Schyf and Roes Geyer, all members of the Target Line Freshwater Angling Club in East London, had an overnight outing at Bongola Dam, just outside Queenstown. The conditions for fishing were perfect. Hardly a breeze and clear skies predicted good fishing ahead. Shortly after the lines were in, the first line showed action and we knew that

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this was the beginning of an exciting trip. These carps were hungry for good old earth worms and mielies. We caught about 15 smallish carps that late afternoon and during the night of up to 1.5kg. Evening turned its head and the barbells started biting. They were better sizes and all weighed between 3 and 4kg. They seemed to like the snails and fillets. I was lucky enough to have landed a big boy barbel pull-


Sunrise at Bongola Dam, Queenstown.

ing the scale on 12.810kg. That carp head was just irresistible at 04:30 in the morning and the 12’ Okuma Tournament Pro with good old Nite Hawk reel, worked nicely. The morning was quiet and this meant it was time for us to pack up and head home. With good memories and weather, how can u go wrong? Queenstown area has some beautiful fishing venues with Xonxa dam being probably the jewel of them all. Our club is lucky enough to have a club competition there in November and is bound to produce plenty of fish and large barbel. The freshwater seen in East London is growing at a tremendous rate with more enquiries on an almost daily basis. If anyone is interested in joining our freshwater bank angling club, please contact me on 073 857 2209 or drop me a mail at sales@targetline.co.za Thank you and keep those rods bent. FEC | December 2014

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X TIPS O B T I A B

THE

HOW TO CLEAN A CHOKKA (SQUID) Cleaning your Chokka the correct way will help you get a bait out of every piece. This is essential with the price of Chokka these days. Words/pics: Nigel Louw

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Place your frozen Chokka in a rock pool to defrost slightly.

Then grab both wings, push your thumbs into them to get a grip.

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Peel off the wings of the Chokka and the rest of the skin. 24

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Take your knife and cut down the spine of the Chokka, you will see a line down this side.


Sponsored by SPARGS MALL BEACON BAY 043 711 7700

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Open up the Chokka and remove the insides.

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Trim off the wide end of the piece of Chokka.

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Then you left with a neat sheet of Chokka to make your baits from.

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Never throw the insides away.You can tie pieces of this into your bait, especcially the ink which will give your bait more smell. FEC | December 2014

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CATCH & WIN Angler: Alan Jonker Species: Baardman Location: Kabeljous Surf Bait: Prawn Size: 70cm

Angler: Jacqu Species: Silve Location: Jeff Bait: Red Biat Size: 16kg Angler: Ryan Blane Species: River Bream Location: Umngazi Bait: Halco Hamma Lure Size: 35cm

Angler: Matthew Luck Species: Spotted Grunter Location: EL Estuary Bait: Mudprawn Size: 65cm

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) 26

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November Winner Angler: Wihan De Jager Species: Kob Location: Jikeleza Bait: McArthy Dropshot Size: 12kg

ues Fritz er Steenbras ffreys Bay t

Wihan wins himself 4 packs of McArthy baits.

Angler: Jaime Pickering Species: Kob Location: Cefane Bait: Paddletail Size: +50cm

Email your entry to nigel@fishingec.com with the following details: - Anglers full name - Species - Location caught - Bait used - Size/Weight - Released (yes/no) FEC | December 2014

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TIDE CHART December 2014 Information supplied by the Hydrographer SA Navy The Hydrographer is not responsible for any transcription errors.

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BAMBA

SYNERGY

CHUMANI

BUDDY


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