Fishing EC Magazine June 2016 by Nigel Louw

FISHING EC BAIT DEMO

CATCH COMPETITION

TIDES

JUNE 2016

WHALE SHARK Saved AREENA GTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

KAYAK CORNER

Brett Armstrong

RASSPL

Border Blacktips 2015/2016 season round up

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 | June 2016

ISSUE: 30

FEC | June 2016

CONTENT

Whale Shark Rescue 04 Areena GT’s

FEATURES

Bait Demo

Border Blacktips 10

Trennery’s Comp

Mackerel cutlets with chokka tails.

Catch Competition 26 Send us your photos and you could win.

Tides

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

Kayak Corner With Brett Armstorng Target Line Kayak club and hints and tips on rigging.

Freshwater competitions results and standings.

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EDITORS

LETTER

MAGAZINE EDITOR Nigel Louw CONTRIBUTORS Justin Du Preez Shane Smit Morne Nowers Brett Armstrong Carl Henn

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

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Winter is settling in nicely now and the Shad have started showing themselves. All the fishing points come alive this time of year with Shad and Leervis which are also chasing Shad. I hope we have a good season with some nice size Shad coming through. Make sure you got your sardines and polish up all those spoons too. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to send in your catch photos for our Catch & Win page. You could be the next winner.

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.

Nigel Louw Editor

ON THE COVER

Gordon Chinn with a nice Black Steenbras caught from a kayak off Cintsa. FEC | June 2016

Whale Shark Rescue Cannon Rocks

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young Whale Shark beached itself recently at Cannon Rocks. Luckily there were some fisherman and friends around to try help it back in the water. After a bit of a struggle the Whale Shark was manouvered into deeper water and it swam off. The Shark then swam around the bay for quite a while before taking off into deeper water. A research team then kept and eye out along the coast incase it washed up again, but nothing was found so it seemed to be a successful release back into the deep blue. Well done to those involved on saving the life of one of our great ocean creatures.

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Areena

GTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Words/pics: Morne Nowers

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recently went to Areena after reading the article in the Fishing EC February 2016 issue. We stayed at the Larks Timber cottage and the main mission of the weekend was just to relax.

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I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resist throwing some top lures to try and catch whatever was splashing so much. I managed to land a GT Kingfish (+- 50cm). This fish smashed my Alcock Brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grunter Hunter lure hard and it was a lovely 5min fight on my 11ft drop-shot rod. The fish was safely released after some quick photos. Another interesting catch was a Thornfish. I had to google this species because none of my Eastern Cape fishing buddies have seen this fish before. I used a size #2 demon circle hook with a sardine/pink prawn combo. Size was +- 20cm. I initially thought it was a spotted grunter after landing a couple of them just before this one. I released this beautiful fish right after taking some quick photos.

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Border Blacktips 2015 Season Summary

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Words/pics: Shane Smit

he Border Blacktips 2015/2016 season wrapped up in Cefane on the 2nd of April and what an enjoyable season it turned out to be! We had some very good attendance figures totalling 614 anglers at 8 comps at an average of 77 anglers per competition. In total there was a staggering 1349 fish caught and more importantly released with a total combined weight of 1.77 tons. These figures speak for themselves and paint a healthy picture of what RASSPL stands for with regard to marine research and conservation. We are thee only such Rock and surf angling league in South Africa that practice 100% catch and release at any event we have and remain the leaders in Saltwater angling catch and release programs working in conjunction with marine conservation and research both at ORI and

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Rhodes University. No need to brag, just plain facts so the question you have to ask yourself is….why haven’t you joined yet? Our top achievers were, 1st on points and Top master-Colin Scheepers 3417pts, 2nd on points Stuart Brill 2118pts and 3rd Craig Busse with 1905pts. Our top lady angler went to Stephanie Siebert on her debut season ending with 610pts and 32nd overall which is very impressive. Another very impressive angler was our Top Junior Kyle Busse who top scored with 816pts and 19th overall, the Good news for the rest of the juniors is that it was Kyles last season as a Junior so we will have a brand new Top Junior at the end of the new season. Juniors category is for anglers aged 14 and under. Our next competition and first for the 2016/2017 season will be on the Eastcoast side of East London on the 4th of June with boundaries being from Gonubie river to Cefane river where we hope to start the year

off with a bang! For more information, preregistrations and membership queries drop me a mail at shane.rasspl@gmail.com or visit our revamped website at www.rasspl.com Almost Last but not least, we must convey a huge thank you to all our National sponsors namely PENN, FINNOR and PENNYPINCHERS for their 1st class prizes that they provide to us for each and every competition and not forgetting by any means the local sponsors as well for making our competitions in the 2015/2016 season even more exciting. Without all these great prizes and support it simply wouldn’t be possible. Another big Thank you must go to all the Anglers whether visitors or members for all your continued support throughout the season, without you all none of this would even be possible so thank you and we hope to see you all again next season, remember that anyone and everyone is welcome! There is a very common misconception that because FEC | June 2016

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RASSPL is termed a “league” its only meant for the good or seasoned anglers or professionals but this in far from the truth, we cater for all anglers and by that we mean even the true beginners young or old! Enter our next comp and I guarantee you will be back again! From a Border Blacktips side of things id like to thank our wonderful committee for the amazing work you’ve all done and for all the personal time you’ve all sacrificed to make the Border Blacktips the successful team that it is, we salute you!

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Trenneryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fishing Competition Words/pics: Justin Du Preez

ell myself and mate Byron Vermaak decided to fish the Trenneries competition held on 16 april. Fishing times where 5.30 - 6. Rather long session but why not ...well after a couple weeks of planning and strategising the weekend arrived and we set off going via the pont at Kei Mouth. After setting up camp we took a stroll to scope out the conditions, fairly clean and flat and cold greeted us! Eish plan b. After a lekka braai and meeting some fellow anglers (Theo from quality baits had a bait shop set up for the guys looking for good stuff). We decided to target pignose and Kob, so early that morning still in the dark we hit a gutter on the surf, but after an hour nothing showed. We walked left to the high rocks hoping to nullify the surge

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and big swell that had developed overnight. Three hours there with a couple nibbles .We decided to walk back and came past a spot we had looked at earlier but it had been to empty. It was looking great now so in went the baits. First cast and an average size Sandshark bit well. Mmmm good sign, next throw while Byron was baiting up I got flattened on 6/0 eagleclaw circle and a dingle with chokka strips and makkie cutlets. Game on and I worked the fish out after a few runs at reef and landed a fairly decent Silver Steenbras. Yay at last a fish. We eventually landed up below the resort after hearing reports of almost no fish. We then managed a nice Yellowbelly a small Poensie and two Blues. It was only after weigh in we heard that 3 guys had hammered 10 Kob at our second spot after we left , Lol thats how it goes I sup-

pose. Well done to the guys that caught fish and won prizes. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have all the names unfortunatly. I believe Luke Gernetszky won heaviest Blue Fish. Biggest Kob was just over 6kg. Myself got fish of the day and biggest Steenbras. The Kob guys taking heaviest bag. In the end it was a much enjoyable competition under tough conditions Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll definetly go back next year to fish. FEC | June 2016

CORNER K A Y A K FISHING

Words/pics: Brett Armstrong

inter is certainly here guys! You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to wake up at 04h00 anymore to get out there, rather prepare the night before and sleep in a bit and get out there after a good cup of coffee or hot chocolate. May was amazing. We had so many great outings and I keep asking myself, how blessed are we to live in the most amazing region. We are surrounded by beautiful beaches and amazing rivers with an abundance of wildlife. Winter will certainly have some stunning days, but expect the surf to pick up and the fishing to. The Sardines, Shad and other game fish will definitely be popping up, but remember, with them around, you will no doubt see a few larger creatures who will be eager to snag your bait or destroy your catch. So be on the lookout for sharks. They are around and looking for an easy meal. Epic Kayak Trip â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mdumbi, Transkei A bunch of adventurous kayak fisherman recently travelled to the beautiful Mdumbi along the Wild Coast. We stayed at the Mbumbi Backpackers (an amazing spot which I highly recommend) for 5 days. Mdumbi is absolutely amazing. It is still as rural

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as you could imagine it has been since the beginning of time. The locals are great and the trip to Mdumbi was very pleasant. Our first day there was epic on the water, to start off Kelly Janse van Rensburg and myself hit the water at first light. Before we new it we had caught and released 6 species with a few more to follow. The rest of the gang, namely Mark Kimble, Gordon Chinn, Robert Venter, Clinton Summers and Tony Solomon joined us after lunch and they were treated to an abundance of species, which they released. The next few days proved to be quite challenging in bigger surf conditions and windy days, but all in all an amazing experience. There is nothing quite like spending 8 hours a day for a few days on a kayak on the ocean with friends. A great bonding and learning experience for all of us for sure. We released all we caught, except for 3 fish, which we kept for the braai over the 5 days. This is what makes the trip so memorable and enjoyable as well. We would like to make special mention and express our appreciation to Kirk and Jed Webber and Jason van der Walt for their amazing help, advice and support during the trip. They have grown up in this region

and showed us around and also explained the responsible steps they are taking along with other locals to protect the natural resources and this amazing area. It is great to share a passion for looking after our natural wonders with fellow fishos. Thanks guys. Nahoon/Gonubie Reserve Over the last month we have been inundated with discussion on the reserves and where they fall and this is particularly relevant to the fact that there are a lot more kayaks and even surfskis out and about at the moment with the annual influx of Shad and other game fish at the moment. The

result being, that some guys are seen to be fishing in the reserve, which is of great concern to us all. Although it must be said that the members of the Kayak Fishing EC Club are very much aware of the boundaries and reserve sections and know where to fish, it is more the casual fishing person who only comes out during this time or is new to the sport of kayak fishing. In trying to explain the reserve boundaries of Nahoon/Gonubie, if you don’t have the luxury of a GPS, this is the basic area guidelines. The Nahoon/Gonubie reserve runs from “The parking area’ at Nahoon Reef to the Gonubie Point (right side when facing the FEC | June 2016

ocean). So when you are on a kayak/jetski or boat and you are in the water at Nahoon Reef, you must not fish in an area of the water where you can actually see the Nahoon Reef parking lot. If you can see the cars, you are in the reserve. The actual regulations state the following GPS co-ordinates for the reserve: Nahoon Reef (S 32 59.778 & E 27 57.096) and stretching to (S 33 02.213 & E 27 59.119) and the points at Gonubie Point are (S 32 56.485 & E28 02.120) and stretching to (S 32 58.955 & E 28 04.125). For those seeking clarity on whether it is legal to trawl through sanctuaries in Eastern Cape, take note of the actual legislature from Marine Resources Act 1998 (Act no. 18). The answer is no craft or boat may do so, in fact all rods have to be stowed and not have any hooks or tackle connected. Please look at the regulations if you are not sure or disagree. We don’t make the rules guys, we just have to follow them. Please spread the word. Catch and Release For the record, I would like to state that in 20

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essence the members of the Kayak Fishing EC club are all in favor of and are encourgaed, to practice catch and release and probably do so 95% of the time. Of course we all would like to have something for the braai or the pan now and again, so yes of course we take home sometimes. But essentially we would like to say that we are promoting catch and release in both the rivers and the ocean. This is important for everyone to consider and practice, whether fishing off the rock and surf, a kayak, jetski or a boat. Let’s all play our part and protect our natural environment so generations to come may enjoy our wonderful waters. Kayak Safety Tip of the month For me, another really important “safety tip” which I would like to bring to your attention is the concept of always stowing your rods, cell phones, cameras, GPS/Fish finders when either launching or coming back to shore through the surf. It is so easy to just say, “well the surf looks small so it should be fine”. Before you know it you are upside

down and have lost that rod or camera or cell phone etc. It can happen so easily. Don’t be blasé about it. Rather be safe than sorry. There is nothing like loosing a valuable item to spoil your outing. Also make sure that all rods, paddle, cameras, cell phones, GPS Fish Finders and any other valuables or even simple items like knife and gaff have a leash which will protect it from falling overboard. 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 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.

which are extremely strong around and remember to invest in a good rod leash, which helps keep it safe from falling overboard.

Treading lightly! In closing, one final tip, which you will thank me for lately. Invest in a good pair of booties or water shoes. It does not matter if you are fishing in the river or the ocean. Wear foot protection. There is nothing worse then stepping off your kayak and standing on a sea urchin or something sharper, which has been disregarded in the water. This will certainly leave a mark and have you wishing why you didn’t put something on your feet. So take care and spend the R100-R250 and protect yourself. An old pair of tekkies works also pretty well. 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.

This month’s tip on rigging your kayak When it comes to what Fishing Rod you use on your kayak, remember, your are fishing off a kayak, you don’t need a 10ft rock and surf monster rod, just a small 4-5 foot rod will work well. You just need to be able to store it in your kayak when you launch and beach. There are some great little rods FEC | June 2016

Target Line Freshwater club results Words/pics: Carl Henn

n Sunday 08/05/2016, Target Line Freshwater Angling Club had its 2nd club competition for the 20162017 seasons at Bridal Drift Dam, rural side. This comp from 08:00 – 15:00 was a later start than normal due to the later sunrise in the morning. We were all a bit edgy after a couple of days of rain and even more rain on the morning. Wet weather didn’t damper any spirits as 28 anglers nor did strong cold winds. The dam had lost a lot of water over the last two months and practices showed plenty of fish in the area we were going to fish, but with the rain in the last week before the comp, the water levels rose quite a bit. Positioning in the end of the day was key. The fish were looking for shallower warmer water and the rain brought in lots of cold water to the deeper fishing areas. All the anglers on the shallower side hammered the fish and their bags looked pretty good against the “deeper water” bags. In the end of the day, the Barnard family showed that farther and sons can fish if

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you pick your spot right, walking away with Seniors 1st and Juniors 1st & 2nd. Boelie Bischoff, a master and visitor from Pretoria, caught the biggest fish for the day, a carp of 4.324kg and also took the Masters group. Here are the results of the competition: Seniors: 1 Adam Barnard 13 fish 16.437kg 2 Lyle Skinner 9 fish 11.657kg 3 Gary Petzer 5 fish 7.6045kg Masters: 1 Boelie Bischoff 2 Chris Engelbrecht 3 Athon Henn

3 fish 2 fish 2 fish

5.950kg 3.142kg 2.332kg

Ladies: 1 Lezanda Engelbrecht2 fish 2 Petra Piek 1 fish

3.609kg 1.500kg

Juniors: 1 Adam Barnard Jnr 2 Jordan Barnard 3 Mieke Faure

4.110kg 2.782kg 2.181kg

4 fish 2 fish 2 fish

Here are the standings after 2 competitions: Seniors: 1 Martin Piek 47 Pts 2 Jacques Husselmann 42 Pts 3 Jacques Van Der Schyf 41 Pts Masters: 1 Athon Henn 48pts 2 Andy Warren 30pts 3 Richard Ackerman snr 28pts Ladies: 1 Petra Piek 48pts 2 Lezanda Engelbrecht 25pts 3 Riska Domoney 23pts Juniors: 1 Mieke Faure 48pts 2 Adam Barnard Jnr 30pts 3 Jordan Barnard 29pts Our next comp will be at Nahoon Dam in June and with winter starting to set, we hope that the bigger fish will come out. The dates are out………………28-30 October will be our fundraiser at Wriggleswade Dam with plenty of prizes up for grabs. Don’t miss it. More details will be available at Target Line very soon. 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…………. William Petrie floaties, soft floaties and ball dips. Conoflex Signature Series Feed, the orange bags, will be out soon……Watch this space. 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.

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X TIPS O B T I A B

THE

MACKEREL CUTLET WITH CHOKKA STRIPS Words/pics: Justin Du Preez

You need need 4 Chokka strips and 2 Mackerel cutlets depending on size of dingle. 24

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Cotton on the 4 strips, 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom.