9 minute read
Spotted Grunter on fly - Deon Stevens Rarer than Permit
Expressions like “fish of a thousand casts”, “paying your school-fees” reinforce the view taken in the introductory passage in FOSAF’s Vol 2 handbook on Spotted Grunter that Pomadasys commersonni is and remains one of the most difficult fish to catch on fly.
Estuary Grunter feed primarily on the various prawns found in our waters, bloodworm, crabs, an assortment of small fish and yes, seahorse too. Not being a marine biologist, there are certain to be other items on the menu, but prawn patterns remain the main focus for fly fishermen. There are a number of highly innovative fly tyers constantly experimenting and exploring new patterns to try to improve catch rates, using any number of materials to come up with
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I was first introduced to sight-fishing to Grunter by ex-Tourette guide Pierre Swartz about 5 years ago. We stalked tailing fish in mid-calf to knee deep sandflats on Sedgefield’s Swartvlei, throwing Prawn Charlies and Tan Shrimps of various design at any fish that came within range. Needless to say, we blanked on our day out, but not being one to give up, I was out each day until I finally managed to pouch one. It stuck and I was hooked. Our family was living abroad at the time, but the intrigue of anticipating the swim path of a Grunter in knee deep water and somehow convincing it to suck in your chosen pattern stuck with me.
In 2017 we made a decision to return to South Africa, which would have had many raising their eyebrows and asking what were you thinking, but coming home for family reasons got the better of any logical thought. But there’s more …. I gave up a successful career in finance with Caterpillar Australia to try my hand at providing a fly fishing guiding and instruction service on the Garden Route, with primary targets being Grunter, Garrick and Kob. Tidal Loops was up and running.
A few years on, and yes, I have been fortunate enough to have caught quite a few Grunter, and guided a number of clients onto catching these elusive shadows, mostly sight-fished. But just as lady luck seems to be smiling on you and you start believing that you have cracked the code to consistency, a couple of blank days can quickly bring you back to earth and your confidence starts to wane. Welcome to the concept of fishing for Grunter as opposed to catching them.
The estuaries from Plettenberg Bay to Sedgefield tend to have exceptionally clear water, which probably explains why catching Grunter can be such a challenge. Many locals and visitors would rather throw a lure or fly at Garrick that readily smash anything thrown at them, and then there are a few that choose to cast a surface stick bait at Grunter, which for some inexplicable reason produces better than expected hook-ups.
Then there are those who take up the challenge of casting a Tan Shrimps, Prawn Charlie, Articulated Deer Hair patterns, AGHA’s, Iron Man imitations, and whatever else they believe to be the one that will work at our beloved Grunter. There are also a number of crab patterns, even bonefish flies that can, on the day, get you a result. A number of highly accomplished fly-tiers, both commercial and local innovators offer a range of patterns that on the right day, deliver results, often best suited to the waters they themselves fish.
But in my opinion, having success consistently in these estuaries relies on a number of important considerations
Fishing with confidence – this applies to all fishing.
Observe what is going on around you – there are often fish closer to you than the one that you see tailing 20m away. Lining these fish close in will send all fish in the area bolting for the security of deeper water, and give away your presence. It is important to fish productive water, or water where there is activity. Casting over “dead” water will just leave you despondent.
Fishing a pattern that represents the main food source on the water you are fishing, (if need be, get a prawn pump) and put out your best representative pattern.
Switch to stealth mode when you see Grunter activity - stalking may sound a little over the top, but it certainly improves the odds. Clothing and fly line will make you less conspicuous.
Fish fine and improve presentation - a 7# - 9# rig with a pale coloured or sky blue or similar floating line that ties in with the sky and a standard 9ft nylon leader with another outstretched arms’ length of 6 – 8lb tippet will do the job.
Assorted Grunter patterns
Ideal conditions for me are a rising or dropping tide, preferably on clear sandflats, with the sun behind you, and a slight ripple on the water for ideal spotting. A good idea is to explore the area you are planning on fishing at low tide to look for the tell-tale blow-hole excavations made by grunter. That would indicate the fish frequent this area. As the sandflats get flooded, the Grunter move into the shallows and actively feed, leaving these behind.
Hopefully this happens, but some days you gaze across what appears to be a perfect piece of water, seemingly devoid of any activity. There is also often some nuisance value with free-floating water grass catching every cast, so try to get onto the water after the grass has pushed past your spot.
Many of the estuaries are often closed to the sea at some time during the season, with no tidal influence to consider. In that case, pick your time and make the most of the most suitable conditions. Present your fly as close as possible to a sighted fish and once you sense that your offering has been seen, start with a slow retrieve, increasing steadily should the fish turn and start following. You will feel a slight resistance as the fly is inhaled, and I like a short and sharp stripstrike to set the hook, and then it’s game on.
There is also some merit in fishing low light conditions, my understanding being that reduced visibility improves your chances, but this is not ideal sight-fishing conditions.
As for my patterns of choice, and depending on the water you are fishing, my go-to is a very basic neutral density shrimp / prawn pattern in size 4 or 6 in tan and various shades on olive as my first go-to fly. If I don’t have any success, I try a couple of the commercial sub-surface patterns, and then move onto the floating patterns. Try concentrate on presentation and dropping your fly where you want it to land. I often have conversations with fellow flyfisherman on the merits of imitative versus suggestive, and I would be the first to say that I tie what would only pass as a suggestive pattern, but they do produce results. The imitative school of thought followers would argue that the prawn patterns should swim head-first, but despite this, most prawn patterns are tied with the head trailing. My go-to pattern is no different.
Patridge CS54 Saltwater Shrimp or Gamkatsu B10S Stinger hook - #4 or #6.Both these hooks have a wider gape and assist with the profile shape of a typical prawn / shrimp body.
Tan or Olive craft fur, preferably with no flash. I also brush fibres out using a patch of Velcro, giving fly more pulsing fibres to present a more life-like impression.
A wrap or two of lead or similar in the bend of the hook to “swim” properly is optional. Micro-chenille in Tan or Olive.
Buggy Nymph Rubber Legs in Hare’s Ear Tan or various shades of Olive Tan or Olive Seal fur dubbing for underbody.
Eyes – use burnt mono or what I use are transparent orange and dark grey, superglued into position.
2 strands of trailing Gold or similar flash White fly-tying floss (similar to dental floss) or copper wire wrapping
It is not a difficult fly to tie, and open to your own personal tweaks, depending on materials at your disposal or what you want to fish.
The estuaries further down the coast don’t always have crystal clear water, and it is on these waters that the floating prawns imitations really come into their own. For some or other reason, the Breede Grunter readily accept a variety of foam and deer hair patterns on a dead drift or very slow retrieve. However you fish, it is important to keep contact with your fly at all times - these guys are difficult enough to catch, so every chance you get must be taken. I always have a number of variations of floating prawn in my box, but again I always start off with my pattern, a tightly spun articulated Olive deer hair pattern, with a pair of eyes tied in, and a trailing clump of rough untrimmed deer hair. For added floatation, I often dress the fly with fly floatant just to extend float-time. As long as the fly creates a small wake it is sure to be of interest to any passing Grunter, and all it takes is just one to decide that your offering is worth eating. But the challenge is often just that, finding that one who is willing to take your fly. As golfing great Gary Player once said something along the lines of the more you play, the luckier you get, and this is no different when targeting Grunter. Try to become acquainted with the waters you fish, or plan to fish, speak to the locals, use a guide if you have limited time, then get out on your own to apply the knowledge gained, and apply a few of the basic guidelines offered above, and you are giving yourself a fair shot at achieving success. It may not happen on your first day out, it seldom does, but the satisfaction when you finally hold a Grunter, also known as “Knorhaan” in your hands and hear that deep grunt that characterises Grunter out of water will keep you coming back. But one thing remains certain. Never for one moment, believe that you have all the answers to consistently catching Grunter on fly. They can put you back in your place in no time, leaving you in no doubt that this very special South African fish remains an enigma, and that you do not know all there is to know.
