Fishing EC Magazine November 2016

FISHING EC BAIT DEMO

CATCH COMPETITION

TIDES

NOVEMBER 2016

BIG KOB

Small River

MAZEPPA Thorntail Ray

KAYAK CORNER

Brett Armstrong

E FRE Y COP ASE PLE ONE E TAK

You can read the magazine on our website, find it on www.issuu.com or download the ISSUU app and read it on your FEC | November 2016 phone.

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CONTENT

Big Kob, Small River 04 Mazeppa Thorntail

FEATURES Bait Demo

Baby Squid on circle hook.

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07 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 Neville Barnard Nigel Louw Brett Armstrong Carl Henn

CONTACT ADVERTISING: email: nigellouw@gmail.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 fish have been on time this year with Kobtober producing some nice Kob. Lots of good size ones were caught in Wild Coast and I am sure there will still be some more and now in November the Garrick will be on the points as well. So tackle up and get out there.

If you have some nice photos of a fish you caught recently then send them in with an article. If your story is used in the magazine it will then be entered into a draw for a prize.

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

Nigel Louw with a 10kg Kob caught in a local estuatry.

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Big Kob

Small River Words: Nigel Louw

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recently took my small Fluid Buddy fishing kayak out on one of our local blind rivers. The idea was to pump some sand prawn and drift fish for Spotted Grunter.

After pumping some prawns, I rigged my trace with just a small power swivel, fluorocarbon leader and a 2/O circle hook. I used a nice thin trace so the Grunter won’t feel it. After paddling a short way to the edge of the drop off I put out my first cast with a sandprawn on. There was a few small bite, probably Cape Stumpnose biting.

Second cast same thing. Then I put out my third prawn and it was a small one too as I was saving the bigger ones for later. I had drifted about ten meters and felt a bit of movement on the line so I let some line out and then tightened up using my finger. The line jerked tight with a force so I quickly clipped over the bail arm and then the action

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started. Screaming drag and a big splash as the fish breached the surface. I could feel this was a big fish as it had some serious weight on the line and I couldn’t pull to hard

Nigel Louw with a 10kg Kob caught in a local blind river.

with the thin trace. It cam close to the kayak and then screamed off about thirty meters again. There must have been about fifteen runs like this and I thought it is too strong for a Spotted Grunter so must be a Pignose.

I did not think Kob at all, as it felt to fit and too fast to be a Kob and also it didn’t have too many headshakes, which Kob are known for. After about thirty minutes the fish was getting tired and then swam around the reeds so I had to put the rod down with slack line and paddle towards it to try untangle it. This happened twice. Finally it surfaced and I saw it was a big Kob. A very nice fish for a blind river. The 2/O circle hook was just hanging on in the corner of its jaw. So never underestimate our smaller rivers in the Eastern Cape. They also hold big fish.

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Mazeppa Bay Thorntail Ray Words/pics: Neville Barnard

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I

had a very slow week, here at Mazeppa.

Got smoked a few times early in the week by big Blacktips. The one afternoon the wind turned NW and i put out a big Occie. My buddy got bitten off by something on 900lb steel. He used a 4 kg live cob as bait. My rod was second to go. A slow take resulted in me hitting into what felt like the African continent. The fish took a slow run of about 300m. I used the mighty drag of the Tiagra 50LRS to stop it but that was not the problem. I was fishing of shark point at Mazeppa in the Transkei.

At this spot you cant bring in big fish to the side. I gave line hoping it would swim left to the beach. It decided to rather swim right to the island. I had to follow the fish. We made our way to the island but this is were the real fight started. It didn’t swim around like we hoped it would. After another hour of trying to get it to go right we decided it was time to try our luck and

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bring it to the garage to the left of the point on island. I pulled myself silly to get that fish in. We saw it was a huge Thorntail. I landed a smaller one (95kg), early the week after a 5-hour fight but this one looked like a monster in comparison. When it came close I gave the rod to my gillie, Zola, and I ran to grab the leader made

by SHARKBAIT. The waves took it over the point but I had the leader, and with waves crashing over me I just held on. Everything held and after the set passed we were able to pull the huge stingray into the gully.

We took photos and removed the 20/0 circle and waited for the waves to pull it back to sea. It swam off strongly. It measured 186cm witch gives you a weight of 124.5kg. It was a buss ray and my new PB for a flat fish.

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CORNER K A Y A K FISHING

Words/pics: Brett Armstrong

H

i there all you Kayak Fishing enthusiasts! Who would have thought the year would have flown past so quickly. It’s November! So far it’s been an awesome year, and October was especially enjoyable if you happen to be one of the lucky ones who ventured out on your kayak this last month. Beautiful weather, awesome company and what a great sport we enjoy.

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In the market for a kayak?

With December on our doorstep, I know there are many people getting ready to spoil themselves, and perhaps their children, buy splashing out and buy a kayak or two. The festive season, otherwise known as the silly season, gives us the opportunity to just spend some of that hard earned money on a few “feel-good toys� and why not! So if you are considering getting a kayak, and you are new to the sport, there are a host of products and brands out there.

So take your time, do some research and make sure you get the right one for your current needs. So here are a couple important questions, which I know I have mentioned before in previous articles, but feel it appropriate to mention just a few again: - Will you be fishing mostly in the rivers or the ocean?

- Do you need a double or single seater kayak?

- Are you an advanced paddler or just completely newcomer to the sport?

- How will you transport the kayak, on the roof of your car, back of your bakkie or on

a trailer?

- If you will be fishing mostly in the ocean, how is your launch area, off a nice sandy beach, or off a rocky more treacherous beach launch area?

Essentially these questions, although they may seem obvious, are critical to allowing you to make the right choice of kayak that best suits your individual requirements and circumstances. So, be honest and thorough in your answering and in your thought pattern. There are lots of kayak enthusiasts around, so get some advice on what guys are enjoying and experiencing at the moment.

Also ask specialist kayak stores, like Wild Coast Kayaks. This is what they do and their knowledge and advice can save you making a mistake and buying the wrong kayak.

Please feel free to email us at info@kayakfishingec.co.za or checkout our Facebook page. We would be all too happy to help.

Kayak Fishing Club of East London: As you may or may not know, Our Kayak Fishing EC club is growing from strength to strength and it is amazing to see how much FEC | November 2016

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fun everyone is having. The group outings are amazing. 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. So we have now introduced a Club membership number system for every kayak who is registered with our club. Registration is free and you will receive two registration stickers with a membership number as well as a 2016/17 - membership sticker. The idea is that we develop an ac12

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curate database of members and kayak enthusiasts. So contact Mark Kimble of Kayak Fishing EC on 083 555 3741 or Nigel Louw of Wild Coast Kayaks on 073 690 2606.

Look around and pay attention: Over the last few years, I have been amazed at how many people just don’t pay attention when in the ocean. Being aware of some basic, yet essential things could mean the different between life and death. So here are some important things to mention. You should know how long it takes you to paddle to a certain spot. You should ALWAYS be aware of your location and surroundings. In addition to this, pay attention to the direction you are moving, where land is, wind and current direction. So if all technology (your GPS) fails, you should have a very good idea of which direction to go and how long it should take you to get there with all the above in mind. NEVER be caught in fog with no idea where to go. BUT if that happens. Through anchor (preferably a drogue anchor or a proper anchor if conditions allow) and stay put until the fog clears or a boat passes. Just be very aware of your surroundings, especially if close to the shore

near the waves. It would be a good idea to call someone if stuck in the fog and just advise them and share your location (via whats app) this will create a safety net and allow for a proper search should this be needed.

Kayak Hatches and Important things to remember: You will want to periodically check that your hatches are watertight. Manufacturers generally use a very durable sealant for bulkheads and hatches, but the flexing that occurs during transport and paddling may wear them out over time. If your storage compartments are wet, first identify where the water is getting in.

Ask yourself the following questions: - Are your hatch covers intact and securely fastened?

- Are your bulkheads/hatches sealed well?

- Are there any deck fittings that have broken or which may have come loose?

If the source of the leak is not obvious, do a “reverse leak test.”

- Begin with a dry boat.

- Put about a few liters of soapy water in

the suspect hatch or in the main hatch of the kayak, seal the cover, then roll the boat around and see where the water comes out.

- If the leak is coming from a bulkhead, simply clean and dry it, then reseal it with a good marine sealant.

Preferably do not use silicone, as it does not stick well to plastic or composite materials.

Replacement deck fittings which may be leaking or damaged and check screw which are used for securing them as sometimes water will find its way through these items.

Some basic ideas of how to improve your Kayak Skills: Over time, we tend to stick with what we do best, not wanting to risk too much or push the envelope, but sometimes, doing what we don’t want to do can actually help us grow as paddlers and kayak fishos. So here are a few things to remember and hopefully some of them will help you grow as a kayaker.

- Switch it up by paddling in different conditions, in new places, in even with different boats and with different groups of people. Remember safety must always be FEC | November 2016

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your primary concern.

- Hit the road and head to a new area and beach, which you may never have been to.

New launch conditions can always be interesting and challenging. Take the time to study the wave pattern, currents and rock formations before going out at a new spot.

- Trying new kayaks can be a great way to expand your comfort level and paddling skills. Test your skill on some more challenging kayaks or even jump onto a surfski and see how you fair up..

- Go out fishing with guys who are more experienced and even better paddlers than you, they are all eager to part with knowledge and advice. Push yourself when paddling back to the car.

- Plan a longer than usual paddle outing with friends and take some extra food and drinks along. It’s great to increase you endurance and fitness now and again.

Remember, safety in numbers when kayaking in the ocean. Take the time to hook up with a regular group of guys and this way your time on the water will be much more rewarding.

Kayak Accessory tip of the month: Dry Bags, you can never have enough.

They come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. I always take a few with, one for my cell phone and the others for tackle and some other goodies, e.g. food, flares etc. They work very well and are relatively cheap. Make sure you stow them in a place that easily accessible and by adding a bungee tether to them to make sure you don’t loose it overboard is always a great idea. For more information on sizes available and pricing contact Nigel Louw of Wild Coast Kayaks on 073 690 2606.

This month’s catches (and releases) worth mentioning: This last month, was absolutely awesome with some great catch and release stories popping up and we have been blessed with some amazing weather. Black Stembrass, Geelbek, Lerrie, Kob and a few not so common species have been caught and re14

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leased this last month. Of course some have been kept for the pan as well, but most importantly, well done boys and keep up the amazing efforts and conservation. It’s still good to see that most of the people we spend time with fishing off kayaks release 85% of the fish they catch. Great stuff boys!

Prevention is better than fixing later: Just as a last minute bit of advice, after you have been out on your kayak, give it a good wash, while washing it and your kit off, pay special attention to cracks, broken attachments, leaks and even other more serious problems with your equipment. Sort those problems and concerns out then and there. Alternatively, make a list of things to sort out so as not to forget them. Deal with this list as soon as possible; avoid a mad rush 20 minutes before wanting to go out fishing with your mates. It will only stress you out and potentially put you at risk while out in the big blue ocean.

Rather be properly prepared and organized.

My last words…Catch and Release goes along way to securing the future of our estuaries and oceans 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

6th Freshwater club results Words/pics: Carl Henn

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n Saturday 01/10/2016, Target Line Freshwater Angling Club met in Queenstown for our 7th club competition for the 2016-2017 seasons. This was to be an overnight comp starting at 10:00 and ending Sunday 02/10/2016 at Xonxa Dam, about 30km outside Queenstown. This dam has always been fruitful for the club and we knew this was going to be the case. With many anglers, myself included, coming off winter was a long wait.

It was a long drive from home and only 25 anglers managed to attend. The last time we were here, we got hammered by all four seasons in one day. We hoped that this would not be the case this time around. The day started a little windy with the sun not knowing whether to visit us or just stay in hiding. From the offset the lines were tight for many anglers and the keep nets quickly

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started journeys to the water. I however only got my first bite after three and a half hours. Never the less, the fish were biting.

By sunset almost all had their nets in the water and with a beautiful evening like this, sleep was for me a no-no. I managed to get the fish on a good steady pace that prevented me from sleeping even a wink.

We were greeted with some early morning mist rain that persisted for a while in the early hours, but that did not slow down the fishing. By the time 10:00 came around, everyone that fished through were past tired and only running on fumes.

Thank goodness for good old coffee…

There were some nice catches from several anglers with Martin Piek’s barbel of 7.353kg, Jacques van der Schyf’s eel of 1.886kg and me, Carl, with a yellow of 0.877kg.

The carps mostly averaged here about

1kg mark with a handful reaching 3kgs. In total 444 fish were caught for 241.238kg.

Most of the fish were of the smaller sizes and battled to pull the scale to 0.500kg.

Here are the results Seniors: 1 Martin Piek 2 Jacques v/d Schyf 3 Carl Henn

58 fish 47 fish 38 fish

40.907kg 30.069kg 32.562kg

Masters: 1 Jack Sutton 2 Andy Warren 3 Reaan Geyer

39 fish 22 fish 21fish

11.553kg 6.463kg 7.317kg

Ladies: 1 Petra Piek 46 fish 2 Lezanda Engelbrecht18fish 3 Nicky Warren 17 fish

30.716kg 7.088kg 5.637kg

Juniors: 1 Macayla Castanho 2 Jordan Barnard 3 Adam Barnard Jnr

of the competition:

10 fish 6 fish 2 fish

2.785kg 3.664kg 0.738kg

Now with this comp behind us there is only a few more evenings ahead before the Target Line FCA Carp Bonanza 2016; that’s from 28-30 October. That is gona be a hummer of a comp. unfortunately the club’s committee cannot fish as we have to work, but that is part of the game. This 40 hour comp at Wriggleswade Dam will be the biggest comp in this part of border when it comes to carp fishing. Hope to see all there.

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.

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X O B T I TIPS BA

THE

SPARGS MALL BEACON BAY 043 711 7700

BABY SQUID ON CIRCLE A simple bait to rig and very good for targeting Kob.

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Words/pics: Nigel Louw

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All you need is a baby Squid and your circle hook rigged on your trace. I use about a 6/O for Kob.

Thread the circle hook through the end of the Squid body and then repeat so it is through twice.

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Then pull the Squid up over the shank of the hook. That’s it, ready to cast in the river. Some people like to thread it on further, but I find then if the Squid slides down it will close the gape of the hook.

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CATCH & WIN October Winner

Angler: Noah Klopper Species: Black Steenbras Location: Mazeppa Deep Sea Bait: Chokka/Pilchard Size: 72cm Noah wins an assortment of Triton lures, Sponsored

by Bilimoria.

Angler: Cadon Redcliffe Species: Silver Steenbras Location: Eastern Beach Bait: Pilchard/Squid Size: 4.5kg

Angler: Morne Coetzee Species: Ragged Tooth Shark Location: Gonubie Bait: Spotty Head Size: 210kg

Angler: Craig Hurn Species: Kob Location: Kei Mouth Bait: Pilchard Size: 4.8kg

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 | November 2016

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TIDE CHART November 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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