FISHFINDER – June

What to target in June

Whether holidaymaker or competitive surf angler, knowing where to find fish and what bait and tackle to use is a great help. Here top surf anglers graciously give readers their hints and advice. We will be expanding this feature as we progress through the year.

INLAND GAME FISH

LAKE JOZINI – PONGOLAPOORT DAM KZN

Tigerfish

Winter is not the time to pack away your fishing gear, at Pongola Dam in the cooler months – from April to September – we get some of our largest tigerfish. At Tiger Hunter Tours and Safaris we have a strict catch and release policy that ensures the survival of this protected species. South Africa regards the tigerfish as a unique and endangered species and it is our responsibility to always apply safe angling practices to conserve it for future generations. So – what are you waiting for – don’t let the winter blues get you down!

• BOAT
• WHERE TO FIND THEM: Shallow drop offs, depth ranging 3-7m.
• FAVOURITE SPOTS: Entrance to main lake on north western shore, pump house and rocky bank on eastern side along mountain.
• WHAT BAIT TO USE: Tilapia, chicken hearts, sardine, copper spoons.
• TACKLE: 4000 Penn Battle grinder, 7ft m/h Sensation power plus rod, 22lb Abrasion mono line, 12-inch carbon-coated steel wire, orange beads & 8/0 Linx powerplus hooks.
• FISHING REGULATIONS: Catch & release only.

Info supplied by: Philip van Wyk, Tiger Hunter Tours & Safari. 072 976 6002 www.tigerfishingsouthafrica.co.za info@tigerfishingsouthafrica.co.za

SALTWATER FISH

KZN NORTH COAST

Wave Dancer at St Lucia: +27 84 628 1162

North Coast

Yellowfin tuna

• KAYAK: Stealth Profisha 575.
• WHERE TO FIND THEM: Where the birds are diving and fish jumping.
• FAVOURITE SPOTS: Cape Vidal, Mapelane and Chidenguele & Ballito.
• STATE OF THE TIDE: The state of the tide makes no difference.
• WHAT BAIT TO USE: Live mackerel, maasbanker, sand soldier and poppers or small silver spoons.
• TACKLE (LINE CLASS, LEADER, HOOKS, SINKERS, KNOTS): 100m of 35lb Maxima marine green monofilament line backed up by 300m, 40lb braid with no leader. With live bait, a 5/0 to 8/0 circle hook is used. The easiest way to bait up is to hook the hook through the live bait’s nostrils. (Further details on baiting up with circle hooks will be provided in a next edition of Trace Talk). On spoons use 4/0 single hooks and for poppers 2/0 treble hooks. No sinker is used. The monofilament is attached to the braid with a FG knot.

FISHING REGULATIONS: The minimum weight is 3,2kg and a maximum of 10 fish per license holder per day.

Info supplied by: Manie Combrinck, Contributor for Tight Lines.

North Coast | Cape Vidal

Reef fish (rock cod, lanterns, speckled snapper to name a few)

• BEACH OR BOAT? Beach
• WHERE TO FIND THEM: Rocky areas.
• STATE OF THE TIDE: Two hours before low tide, two hours after low. This enables you to reach deeper reefs.
• WHAT BAIT TO USE: Bloody, fleshy, fish bait with a 3-way trace with 6/0 circle hook and bottle sinker as they don’t hook on the rock that easily.
• TACKLE (LINE CLASS, LEADER, HOOKS, SINKERS, KNOTS): Medium tackle is adequate to target these fish. An 18kg leader with 11kg main line – this helps to get distance.
• FISHING REGULATIONS: I’m urging everyone to PLEASE RELEASE these magnificent fish!

I tag all my fish. Please send recapture info, namely the tag number, the date and length, to: oritag@oir.org.za

 Info supplied by: Jeff Asher-Wood, Rock & Surf Charter. SMS only: 082 978 1098

WILD COAST RIVERS

Spotted grunter

• BEACH OR BOAT? Boat
• WHERE TO FIND THEM: Along mud banks upriver or along drop off next to sand banks.
• STATE OF THE TIDE: High tide
• WHAT BAIT TO USE: Mud prawn and pencil bait.

• TACKLE (LINE CLASS, LEADER,HOOKS, SINKERS, KNOTS): Ultralight tackle. Rod: Shimano Clarus 5’6 ultralight; Reel: Shimano Symetre 1000FL; Line: Double X IGFA tournament rated 4kg line; Hooks: VMC bait hold size 1/0; Swivels: VMC power swivels. Trace line: Double X fluorocarbon; Knots: Double granny knot as it provides extra strength.

FISHING REGULATIONS: Size: 400mm minimum, 5pppd.
Info supplied by: Kyle Schmidt

WESKUS

Lambertsbaai, Elandsbaai, St Helenabaai, Saldanha en Dasseneiland

Snoek (Thyrsites Atum)

• BEACH OR BOAT? Boot
• WHERE TO FIND THEM: Snoek kom oor ’n redelike groot area voor en is nie altyd op een spesifieke plek nie. Beweeg ook vinnig en kan oornag verdwyn of na ’n ander gebied skuif.
• FAVOURITE SPOTS: Die woord versprei gou waar snoek is.
• STATE OF THE TIDE: Byt gewoonlik beter met donkermaan.
• WHAT BAIT TO USE: Sardien of pike.
• TACKLE (LINE CLASS, LEADER, HOOKS, SINKERS, KNOTS):
  Aaslyn (.90mm-1.10mm) met #10- of 12-hoek. Lyn vir bokstang of spinners (1.2mm-1.4mm). Met ’n stewige visstok kan Rapala’s gesleep word en spinners gegooi word.
• FISHING REGULATIONS: 10 snoeke per persoon/dag. Min lengte 60cm. Geen seisoen.

Info supplied by: Thys Basson, Saldanha.

MOSSEL BAY

Galjoen / black bream

• BEACH OR BOAT? Beach
• WHERE TO FIND THEM: Rocky areas with lots of current movement and loads of white foamy waters. Smaller sizes around extremely rocky areas and bigger trophy fish more on sand with broken rocky areas.
• FAVOURITE SPOTS: Blombos, Gourits, Kanon, Danabaai 1, 2 and 3.
• STATE OF THE TIDE: High tide
• WHAT BAIT TO USE: Red bait, sand bait and sand mussel.
• TACKLE (LINE CLASS, LEADER, HOOKS, SINKERS, KNOTS):
  30lb braid with a 4/5000 size reel 11/12ft rod 0.65 hook trace 40cm long with a small float sliding on hook trace on a 3-way swivel, 0.50 sinker line just longer than the hook trace.
• FISHING REGULATIONS: Size limit is 35cm and two per person per day.

Info supplied by: Shawn Mey from Go Fish Mosselbay Extreme Rock and Surf Angling Adventures.

STILBAAI | JONGENSFONTEIN TO BLOMBOS

Galjoen

• BEACH OR BOAT? Beach and rocky areas.
• WHERE TO FIND THEM: Rocky areas with constant white working water (‘Omo’ water).
• FAVOURITE SPOTS: Morrispoint, Bosbokduin, Heuningnesbaai and Blombos.
• STATE OF THE TIDE: Depends on the spot but more active on pushing tides and early morning, late afternoon.
• WHAT BAIT TO USE: White mussels, redbait, pink prawn, small crabs and various worms.
• TACKLE (LINE CLASS, LEADER, HOOKS, SINKERS, KNOTS): 30 to 50lbs Braid 0.65 leader to a 3-way swivel. Hook line 0.65mm (30cm). Sinker line 0.50mm (25cm) 2/0 hook. 2 to 5oz sinker. You can use a small linx capsule float 3cm behind the hook with two gummy stops.
• FISHING REGULATIONS: Closed season 15 October to last day of February; 2 ppd of min. 35cm total length. Galjoen is one of the slowest growing fish in our waters, so please rather release them.

Info supplied by: Stefan van Huyssteen – Stil Fishing in Stilbaai 028 754 3343.