On Saturday the 7th May, At van Tilburg, Marius de Wet and I launched At’s 21’ Yeld “AVANTI” at the Richards Bay Ski Boat Club. We were competing in the Umlalazi Couta Classic as we do each year. The previous year, we managed to win the competition and were defending our title this year.
The weather was terrible with strong SW winds and frequent rain squalls. The sea was very uncomfortable and we were unsure as to how we should approach the day. After heading out the harbour mouth, we ran to the pipeline to look for livebait. After an hour of battling, we decided to move to small highpoint where we would target the unspecified prize.
After a bumpy 45minute ride, we finally arrived at small high. The water was an off green and not too promising. We put out a few rapalas and surface lures to look for bonito. At trolled around the pinnacle a few times before 2 reels went off. Marius and I pulled in 2 bonito of about 4kg each. We continued trolling while I started sorting out the cuda traces and baits. I had just about finished the prep for slow trolling when 1,2, 3 reels took off. We all grabbed a rod and started pulling in the fish. The boat was still in gear to keep our direction when a 4th rod went off. We each pulled in a bonito then Marius took the last rod. The fish came in relatively easily, but did not fight like a bonito. I was expecting to see a short fat shine under the boat when suddenly a nice cuda popped its head out from under the hull. It was the fastest I have ever looked for a gaff in my life! After a frenzied search for a gaff, I leaned over and gaffed a 12kg cuda. Now if that was not luck, then I don’t know!
We headed back to the pinnacle after drifting off and put out some cuda baits. I had a bonito and mackerel on surface and a wala-wala and silkie (wolf herring) down deep. One on a sinker and the other on the down rigger. Slowly we approached the pinnacle and as the sounder started picking up, the downrigger rod flicked and the reel ran a bit. I wound in the down rigger then took the rod. Marius and At pulled in the other lines as I slowly gained line o the fish. It felt very strange, as if it were fowl hooked. There were no headshakes or runs. I assumed it was a small cuda that had eaten the silkie and the row of trebles had caught it in the side resulting in the fish being pulled sideways. About 15mins later, the double line and leader came out the water. I looked down to see what it was when I saw a huge silver shine! The water was quite dirty so I could not get a good look. At then shouted that it was a big kingfish and grabbed a gaff. The fish circled twice before the gaff went in and it was hauled onboard. It was a beast! Nothing near what I was expecting. This was surely the best unspecified fish for the comp! We took a few photos and continued trolling.
The wind dropped throughout the day and the sea got better and better. At about 1pm, we had had no further action and pulled in the lines. I put on a few feathers and rapalas and At trolled around the pinnacle. The sounder constantly indicated big showings. As we trolled over the showing, every rod went away with small bonito ... perfect cuda baits. We continued trolling and stocked up on the baits before heading back to the weighin at Zini SBC.
Our cuda weighed 12,6kg and the kingfish pulled the scale to 31,9kg!!! Unfortunately this was not big enough to take top unspecified as there was a sailfish of 38kg weighed just before we arrived.
It was a great comp and congrats go to all those who organised it. The biggest cuda was 26kg followed by a 24kg fish. Well done to the winners!
