2016 Mapelane Junior Interclub

On Saturday 9^th July, we launched Tyron Gruar’s “Kaskasi” off Mapelane. We were fishing in the Mapelane Junior Interclub and I was the manager of the U/16 Richards Bay team. Hannes and Gideon Steenkamp and TJ Jacobs were in the team. After a bit of a wet launch, we headed for St Lucia swimming beach where we filled up on live bait and then headed for the 50m ledge.

TJ with a nice Wahoo

Gideon pulling a yellowfin

There had been a lot of small tuna around the previous week, so that was part of the game plan for the day. We put out 3 large halcos, a small kona and a smaller rapala then trolled north into the current. After about half an hour, we went on with a small yellowfin which was quickly boated. I happened to look at one of the lures that we had been pulling and saw some proper teeth marks on it. It must have happened in the last few minutes, as the lure was brand new. Trolling commenced and every half an hour or so we would get a pull from a small yellowfin. By the time we were at the northern tip of the reef, we had 6 small tuna. We were only allowed to weigh 3, so we needed to look for a different species. I suggested that we run back to a mark that we trolled over earlier that had some good showings and make a drift. Maybe for a cuda. Tyron came into the area and slacked off the speed to look for the showing. In the meantime, I put out 2 halcos just in case… As we were nearing the marks, the close lure went away at speed! Hannes took the rod while TJ started retrieving the other far line. Almost immediately, the rod was pulled flat and the reel smoked off as a second fish grabbed the lure! Unfortunately, Hannes’ fish pulled hook while TJ fought his. There were a few good smoking runs along the surface, leading us to believe that the fish was a wahoo. Sure enough after about 20 minutes, I gaffed a really nice one.

Richards Bay U/16 Day 1

Being a species comp, we needed to look for another species to double the points. But even though we tried really hard for a cuda, we never had another pull and headed back to the beach at 2pm. The wahoo weighed 18kg and the small yellowfins were between 4 and 6kg. Enough for 2^nd place for the day.
On Sunday 10^th, we again headed to the livebait spot and caught some bait but didn’t want to spend too much time as the day was shorter than the previous day. Again we headed to the ledge to troll for the yellowfins. Relatively quickly, we got out 3 weighables but then had a shark tax a tax us and take the best halco with it.

 We opted to look for another specie as the 3 yellowfins would not win us the comp. Tyron lined up the boat for a drift and while he checked the GPS, we let out a livebait on surface. While still freespooling, the reel took off and we went on to a better size yellowfin which unfortunately pulled hook at the boat.

Day 2 Mapelane Junior Interclub

With the drift line sorted, we ran to the top of the reef and drifted back. Knowing there were a few bigger tuna around, we put out a fluorocarbon rig with a livebait. While TJ was feeding it out, it was picked up but after a short run came off. On closer inspection, the flouro had been bitten off. Unlucky! We put on a piece of wire and made another drift. This time it took a few minutes to get a pull and after tightening up, the fish made a few good runs before it was at the boat where I gaffed a cuda. Now the hatch looked better. Unfortunately after a few more drifts we only got a shark.

At the weigh in, the 3 yellowfins weighed between 4 and 5kg and the cuda went 12,6kg. There were a few other nice fish that were weighed, and we ended up maintaining our 2^nd place. Thanks to everyone involved.