Joint effort

On Saturday 13^th September, Tammy, Tjokkie  and I launched “ABF” off Richards Bay. There was a small weather window in the morning before the NE was supposed to pick up so we were keen to try for Tammy’s first garrick… and we were using 3kg line to do it.

At 6am we left the harbour and stopped at the pipe. Tammy and Tjokkie went down with jigs and a small bottom rig hoping for some shad. The first few downs produced a mix of pinkys, maasbanker and mackerel. Finally we managed 2 shad on one string but as they came to the surface, the rest of the shoal followed them up. Tjokkie went down and got a full string. This went on for 2 drifts before we had more than enough bait for the day.

We headed for the south pier, but the water was brown so I ran further south into the backline where the water was a bit cleaner. We rigged up 2 shad on light 3kg spinning rigs and trolled north into the wind. After an hour, the water at the point of the pier started to improve with the outgoing tide so we opted to troll through the dirty water to get there. I happened to be looking back at the lines when there was a big boil as a Garrick chased one of the baits, in the brown water. Tammy fed the fish for a while but when we tightened up, it spat the bait. Talk about unlucky. I made a turn in the same area but had no pulls so continued to the point.

Tammy and I both fighting the same Garrick on 3kg line

The water was much better, but by 10am, we had still had no more action. Plan B was not working, so plan C came into play and we ran north, into the wind, to 5 mile. The water there was like mud and so plan D took action. We entered the bay and slow trolled along the channel dropoff working into the harbour. The wind was not pumping and we had little time left. I turned around and trolled into the wind and white horses not expecting anything to happen.

Tammy releasing a 10,5kg garrick

As we trolled over a nice bait showing, the deep rod went away. Tammy fed the fish while I cleared the far surface line. As my shad neared the boat, a Garrick came flying in from behind and chased the bait. I tried to keep it away from it, but my fisherman instinct kicked in and I opened the bail of the reel to let the Garrick eat… I mean, how bad could a double hookup really be? Both Tammy and I tightened up and went on. There was a big commotion as the Garrick shook its head on the surface. The 2 lines crossed over and we tried to untangle them before burning off, but no matter what we tied they stayed twisted. Only then did it dawn on me what was happening... we were hooked up to the same fish! From then on we had to work together to pull the fish. After 20 minutes, Tjokkie took both leaders, grabbed the fish by the tail and lifted it into the boat. The hooks were removed and a tag was inserted. I took a quick weight on a hand scale before releasing a healthy 10,5kg fish.

The wind was blowing 25 knots by then, so we headed back to the club. It took a long time and perseverance to get that fish, but it was worth it. 

Upcountry Success

On Saturday 6^th September at 7am, At, Danie, Les and I launched “Avanti” out of Richards Bay. Danie and Les were visiting from upcountry for the day and they were keen to fish a bit. The wind was a good 15 knot Northerly and the sea already had a few white horses. There had been a few Garrick in the area, so we decided try and tick this species off Danie and Les’ list.

Les' first garrick

After a bumpy ride to the pipeline, three of us went about looking to catch livebait while At held us on the spot. There were massive showings almost to the surface and it was no surprise when all three of us went on before hitting the bottom. Danie had a few maasbanker, which we released, while Les and I had full strings of mackerel. This seemed like a great time to stock up on bait for the coming summer months. Over the next hour or so, it was operation mackerel and the cool box quickly filled up. These prime baits would later be vacuum packed and stored for when the gamefish showed up. 

By 9:30, the mackerel had dispersed and we headed to the pier to look for a Garrick. The water was quite dirty so we slowly trolled south along the backline towards the New Mouth area. There was a nice colourline that had formed and At slowly worked alone it. On the first pass, we never had a pull so At turned into the wind and headed north, back up the line. This slower speed seemed to do the trick as the far surface bait went away. I fed the fish before tightening up and going on. The line angled into the backline, a tell tail sign of a Garrick. I passed the rod to Les and he fought his first Garrick to the boat. It did not put up much of a fight and only when it was in the boat did we see that it was hooked in the gills.

Danies first garrick

While the lines were in, At ran back to where we had turned. I quickly put out the 3 lines and just as I set the last line, the far surface bait was eaten. Again I fed the fish and tightened up on another Garrick that also headed straight for the surf. This time Danie took the rod and had a good tussle around the boat. After about 10mins, I managed to get a gaff into Danies first Garrick.

 

Upcountry boys with garrick

The wind was slowly picking up and the backline started building. At suggested we make one more pass before heading back. After setting the 3 lines, we sat back and had a bit of boat pack. I was looking back when I noticed a swirl a short distance behind the boat. When I shouted, everyone turned to look as the Garrick surfaced and chased the close surface mackerel. Despite the mackerel’s best escape attempts, the Garrick got hold of it and before the reel ran, I was ready to freespool. The line picked up and ran off the reel at a good speed. I tightened up and went on to a really solid fish. It went on a good strong run and I passed the rod to Les. The fish gave him a strong fight for nearly 20 minutes before I got the gaff in. It was the biggest fish of the day by far. With the lines already up, we decided to call it a day and headed back to harbour to watch the rugby.

Back at the club, the fish weighed in at 7kg, 8,2kg and 12,2kg respectively.