10 minutes too late, but worth the wait!

On Thursday 1 May at 6am, Tjokkie and I launched “ABF” out of Richards Bay. We were keen to see if we could get a snoek or two. The weather forecast indicated that there would be a big SW coming through at around 1pm, so we were hoping that the fish would eat just before the turn.

On the way north to the snoek grounds, I noticed a few birds working on the 20m line so I went closer to investigate. As we moved into the area, I saw a snoek jump, followed by another. I slacked off to trolling speed and rigged up 3 redeyes, a fillet and a mackerel with 2 baits deep and 3 on top. I tacked the area and while I was turning, one of the surface redeyes were eaten. Tjoks took the rod while I cleared the deep lines. The fish sounded and then the fight change to a heavy weight that steadily took line. A few minutes later, there were a few big nods before the head of a big bonnie came to the surface. Obviously the sharks were around too. I wanted to check the other baits just to be sure everything was ok. While I was retrieving the far bait, I felt the line go heavy so I tightened up and went on. The fish came in relatively early, but then stopped and gave a few head nods before going on a good run. Unfortunately, as the fish slowed down, the hook pulled. Well at least we were in the right area.

I rerigged the baits and set the lines before working the area. Again, on the turn, the surface redeye went away. Tjoks took the rod and after a good tussle had a nice snoek next to the boat where I gaffed our first snoek of the season. Talk about a relief.

Tjoks with a 7kg snoek

Things went a bit quiet so I made a few shallower turns. On several occasions, I saw a few snoek swimming on the surface but they showed no interest in the spoon or baits. Something had to change. I increased the trolling speed and was rewarded with the surface fillet being eaten. The fish almost immediately tailwrapped and made a commotion on the surface. I pampered the fish closer, not wanting to break the light wire. Eventually I had the fish at the boat where Tjoks gaffed it. I suggested we change the baits to 3 fillets and 2 rapalas and see if the increase in speed would make a difference. We made the switch and worked the area where we had been seeing the fish, but had no pulls. The wind had dropped to nothing and the SW was close.

I turned to head to the harbour when we noticed a few birds dipping deeper out. I made a turn in the area and we were rewarded with a shoal of snoek chasing baitfish. Tjoks cast the spoon into the shoal a few times and a few chases and misses. While this was going on, one of the fillets went away with a snoek. I fought the fish while Tjoks threw spoon. When the fish was at the boat, Tjoks gaffed it.

Trolling on "ABF"

We were now just in gear and moving slowly forward while sorting out the deck and rerigging another bait when I saw the rod with the close fillet keel over and the reel screamed. Tjoks took the rod and had a good fight with what turned out to be our biggest snoek of the day. By now we could see the SW on the horizon so there was no time to waste. The lines went out again as I made another few turns over the same spot. It was no surprize when another rod went away and Tjoks brought in another nice fish.

By now the SW had arrived and despite upping lines and running for port, we were about 10minutes too late and ended up having a wet and bumpy ride back. The smallest snoek was 4,5kg and the biggest 8kg. Not too bad considering it was so early in the season.