On Saturday 11th
April, Wayne, Tammy Lorenzo and I launched “Da Boys” off Richards Bay. We were
keen to get some fish to eat as the pickings had been slim. We stopped at the
pipe and caught a few livies before heading south to Petingo. The Northerly wind
was blowing a bit, but we were willing to take the punch on the way home.
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| Wayne and Lorenzo with some cuda |
The water was a nice green colour
and there was a 2 knot N-S current. We had to come right with a cuda. I put out
a few lines while Wayne crossed over the wreck. There were a few garfish
swimming with the boat and there was a good showing on the sounder. I was busy letting out a live maasbanker when
the line took off. I tightened up and went tight onto a baby cuda. Within seconds,
it was in the boat and chilling on ice. Trolling resumed for a few hours without
a pull. The wind had picked up to a 15 knot NE and we knew the ride home would
be bumpy. I made one last turn over the wreck and drifted with the wind. As we
reached the southern end, the surface livie went away but almost immediately
pulled hook. On closer inspection we saw that the fish had picked up the
leading wire before the bait and never hooked up. I rerigged and made the same
turn, drifting back with the wind. Again at the end of the wreck, the rod with
the deep bonnie bumped a few times but never came tight. I was busy telling
Wayne that it was time to go home when the reel with the surface bonnie smoked
off! I passed the rod to Wayne while Tammy and I cleared the other lines and
stowed the rod. The fish gave Wayne a good fight before coming within gaffing
range. I lifted a nice cuda into the hatch. Great stuff, but it was time to go
home before the wind caused problems.
After a long bumpy ride we
arrived at the club where the cuda weighed 18kg. ot bad for the first fish for
the season. Hopefully there are a few more to come.
