Consolation prize

On Saturday 22^nd March, we launched Jannie’s “Ohana” off Richards Bay. The NE was already blowing 15 knots and the sea was unsettled. Our first stop was at the pipe where we caught some maasbanker. During this time we tried to decide where we were going to fish for cuda but the options were few and far between. The water at the normal spots was dirty and the hotspots were just too far to run with the 20kt winds. We decided to fish the ledge south of the harbour.

The run there was with the wind so it was pretty comfortable, but as we travelled further from shore, the sea and wind picked up. Jannie held the boat into the wind while I struggled to get the 4 lines out. After about 20minutes we had lines out and were fishing. I took over the controls and tried my best to zigzag over the reef and showing. It was impossible to leave the steering to have a drink, something to eat or put sunscreen on. The second that you left the wheel, the wind and swell would turn the nose and push the boat over the lines. It was terrible! To make it worse, some of the crew was sick and I ended up getting helping of someone’s breakfast on my foot… not very pleasant.

Just when I was losing hope, I saw Jannie run to the back, only then did I see that the surface rod was bending. I increased the speed to get the line tight and let the drag run. There was a splash out the back as a dorado took to the air. Jannie fought the fish to the boat where we saw a second fish with it. I could not assist at all and hung onto the controls, trying not to ride over the fish. Jannie passed the rod to his brother and grabbed another rod with a daisy chain on it. He hooked a live maasie through the nose and flicked it out. Within seconds, the follower ate the bait and was hooked. Jannie’s son TJ took the rod and tried his best not to fall overboard. By this time, the first fish was next to the boat where Jannie gaffed it and put it directly into the hatch. TJ brought his fish in and it joined the first one in the hatch. Feeling much better about the day, we fished for another hour until the sea was covered with white caps. When the second wave broke over the nose, I suggested we call it a day… everyone agreed so we upped lines and headed home.

We ended up taking the 3^rd biggest unspecified gamefish prize in the Umlalazi Cuda Classic… a bit of a consolation prize I guess.