2014 Amatikulu Cuda Classic

On Sunday 16^th March at 5:30 we launched Andrew Saville’s 19ft Tom Cat “Mye Babo” out of Richards Bay. We were fishing in the Amatikulu Cuda Classic, but due to the mouth being closed, we could not launch out of the mouth so alternative launch sites were allowed. Fishing in the team was Gert Nel, Peppie van Rooyen, Andrew and I.

We headed out for the pipeline and caught a few livebaits before heading south to Petingo. The reverse current had come in overnight and the water was not a good colour. We had no other options as the water was bad past 200m so we decided to persevere on the wreck. I put out a few dead baits and 2 livies then trolled over the wreck. There were a few boats there, but they soon left as it was stone dead. With the wreck to ourselves, I could work every inch of it to see if we could scratch out a fish. After 4 hours of trolling, we finally had a strike on a livie. Gert fought the fish which came in relatively. The water was a bit murky, so only when it was really close, could we make out what the fish was. It turned out to be a nice size queenfish of 9kg. At least we were not “mombakkies”.

I rerigged and continued trolling. An hour later, the deep livie went away with a nice fish. It took quite a bit of line before doubling back and heading straight for the wreck. I stayed on top of the fish while Peppie tried to keep it off the bottom. Unfortunately the fish managed to cut the leader off in the rigging leading us to believe it was a kingfish. I rerigged the rod and kept at it.

It felt like the day was dragging, but finally, at 2pm, one of the surface wala was eaten and the reel took off. We cleared the lines and Gert took the rod. The fish came in relatively easily and swam parallel to the boat where we could just make it out. In the dirty water, it looked quite small but it was giving Gert quite a good fight. I turned the boat toward the fish to close the gap and when the fish was in range on the surface, I put the gaff in. When I lifted the fish over the gunwale, I was pleasantly surprised at the size. Back at the club, it weighed in at 17,8kg. Not bad considering the poor conditions we had to fish in.