Unfavourable Conditions

On the morning of Saturday the 21^st August, Michael, Divan and I Launched “Lihann” to fish for Garrick. The SW had blown for most of the week and there was a lot of rain. This resulted in very dirty water in the backline and unfavourable conditions. Knowing it would be a difficult days fishing, we decided to give it a try regardless. The NE was predicted to blow 16-19 knots.

We headed for the south pier to look for some shad, but they were not interested and we were forced to try another spot. Other boats were on the pipeline but were battling for bait so we stayed shallow and managed to get a few shad and pinkies before heading north to fish the rips in the backline. After pulling baits around for about an hour in dirty water without a strike, we made a call to move about 10km north to Hlobane mouth. The closer we got to the mouth, the better the water conditions became. When we arrived, there were a few good rips and working water with a few birds dipping over the area. Divan and I rigged baits and had just put out the second rod when the first bait was eaten. I fed the fish for a few seconds and then set the hook. The fish splashed around on the surface for a while then came within gaffing range where Divan lifted the +- 7,5kg garrick into the boat.

We went back to the start of the drift and set the lines. On the edge of the rip, we saw a Garrick clear the water while chasing baitfish. A few minutes later, a Garrick ripped into a shoal of bait under one of the dipping birds... something had to happen. Near the end of the drift, as we were coming out of the rip, the deep bait revved and I freespooled the reel. Something ate the livie and I fed it for quite a while before setting the hook. As the line came tight, the Garrick came to the surface splashing trying to throw the hook. I handed the rod to Divan as the fish thrashed on the surface throwing a lot of blood because the fish was in the gills which made it an easy fight. As the fish came close, Michael gaffed the 6kg garrick and lifted it aboard. Again we headed to the start of the drift and set lines. After about 30mins, the pinky on the Scarborough started revving and was eaten. Divan fed the fish for a while but the bait was dropped before he could set the hook. There were no more strikes on the rest of the drift so we headed back up and rerigged. As we entered the area that we had dropped the previous fish, the Scarborough bait was eaten. Divan fed the fish for a few seconds then set the hooks. The fish took off at speed while I cleared the other lines. The fish fought hard and deep with big head nods and when it came to the boat, we saw that it was a nice kingfish of about 11kg. I quickly put the gaff into the fish’s head and lifted it into the boat. This was Divan’s biggest kingfish.

The wind was now blowing about 20 knots and we decided to make one last drift. We had no further strikes and at 2pm we upped lines and headed back to the harbour. There were no other fish caught at the club and we felt satisfied with a good catch in unfavourable conditions.