The Over 30's Club

On Saturday 17^th June at around midday, Hansie, Terence and I launched “Buoy Oh Buoy” off Richards Bay. The NE had been blowing most of the morning and started showing signs of dissipating. There was a strong SW predicted for the evening, so we decided to chance it and fish the small window.

We stopped on the pipe and managed a few livies before heading for Petingo. The water was a bit dirty so we headed deeper to Danies. We put out 2 livies, a wala and a bonnie. I had just set the bonnie and was still holding the rod when it keeled over and we were on. I passed the rod to Terence and started clearing the other lines. The line angled towards the surface and a blackfin shark jumped out the back spinning the leader off. I rerigged the bait and Hansie trolled onto the marks. I saw a splash in front of the boat and while we were all looking forward, the reel with the surface livie screamed off. I took the strike and had a good fight with a 15kg cuda. Finally, a better size cuda for the season. After resetting, Hansie put us back on the spot and it was no surprize when the same rod went on. Unfortunately, the fish pulled hooks a few minutes into the fight, much to Terence’s disgust.

There were obviously a few fish around so we were confident that there would be a proper one in the area. It was just a matter of time. The wind had settled to only a few knots and the water started cleaning up as the current moved in. There were a few good showings near the bottom and a few minutes later, the bonnie went away with a smoker. I took the rod out the holder and announced that I thought it was a big fish. Hansie asked if he could take the rod, much to our amazement!

It was great to see Hansie on a rod as he more often than not just drives the boat. I cleared the other lines quickly while Terence followed the fish. It made several long fast runs and eventually settled into big deep circles. When it came into view, it was obvious that it was a trophy fish and I took the first shot on the gaff that the fish gave me. It took some effort to lift the crocodile into the boat but what a fish! This was without doubt Hansie’s personal best (previously 29.8kg). We had to wrap it in a wet towel as it did not fit into the hatch.

The vibe on the boat was electric knowing this was a fish over the 30kg mark. After a short while, the lines went out again and trolling resumed. Each time there was a showing on the bottom, I dropped a bucktail hoping to lift the fish into the spread. On about the 3^rd drop, I connected to a fish for a few seconds, but unfortunately pulled the hook. There were some serious teeth marks in the lead so I assumed it was a cuda. Hansie worked the marks a bit and I saw the rod with the deep wala bump a few times. I thought it was a bottomfish and started winding the reel. There was something there, but it was not fighting. Only next to the boat did the fish take a quick run and we realized it was indeed a small cuda of 9kg… bonus.

Complete glass off

By now there was no wind and the sea had glassed off totally. The livies had been very quiet so we switched the maasbanker out with a shad and put the rod in the T-Top. Not long after, a reel went off but it took a while to register that the noise was coming from the roof. Terence took the strike and managed a 12kg cuda. All of us had a fish for the day so things were looking good. With about an hour and a half left of light left, we ran a bit north and set the lines again with fresh baits. The last line just went in when the wala was eaten. Terence took the strike and caught another 15kg cuda. 

Hansies 31.1kg Cud

The showing was still on the reef so I quickly rigged another wala and put it in position. A few minutes later, the rod keeled over and the reel smoked off. I took the rod while the other lines were cleared. This was obviously another good fish judging by the sustained fast run. It seemed too good to be true. The fish finally slowed down and just when I was about to start gaining line, the line parted! I was shocked considering the comfortable lineclass. On closer inspection it looked like something had swam into the line, possibly another fish that ate the sinker… but we’ll never know. With the last bit of light left we made a last pass over the reef and to our surprise, the deep bonnie went away. Terence took the rod but it was short lived as the hooks pulled. The bait came back and it had only been squashed on the head where there were no hooks. My guess was a billfish, but who knows. With that, we headed back to harbour in the dark. The SW came through just as we were on the washbay so our timing was good. Hansie’s fish weighed in at 31,1kg. An awesome fish! Welcome to the over 30’s club Hans!!!