At 8:30 on Saturday 8th
July, we launched “AVANTI” off Richards Bay. There had been a few Garrick
around and we hoped to get a one or two. The Northerly wind was blowing about
15 knots and the sea was uncomfortable. Our first stop was at the pipe but all we
could find was maasbanker. After puzzling around for more than an hour, we
moved a bit shallower. I changed up my rigs a bit and started getting some
shad. With a few in the live well, we headed north and into the backline. I put
out 3 shad and At trolled along a beautiful rip. Emil was throwing a stick bait
and had a Garrick chase it to the boat without eating. There had to be some
action… but after 2 hours of trolling without a pull, we were getting a bit
concerned. There were a few birds dipping in the backline near us. I had 2 rods
rigged up with small spoons just in case and when we came within casting range,
Emil and I both threw the lures under the birds. To our surprise, both of us
went on with snoek! Mine unfortunately pulled off but Emil managed his first
snoek. The birds moved a bit north so At turned around and trolled in their
direction. We saw a few fish in the swells and were busy casting to them when
the far shad was eaten. But because I was busy throwing spoon, I could not get
to the rod in time to let the fish eat. The shad came back with the tell tail
signs of a Garrick. By now the snoek were smashing sprats in the area so an
executive decision was made to abandon the Garrick and focus on snoek.
There were luckily 3 flick sticks
on the boat so I rigged up the third one and At headed for the closest shoal.
We fired 3 lures at them and I managed to go on with my first snoek for the
year. At the next shoal, Emil and I each got fish and missed a few. The fish
were a bit lazy with all the big baitballs so they were not too interested in
our lures unless they fell on their noses while they were swimming through the
sprats. After countless lure changes and hundreds of casts with many many
chases, I finally found a lure that seemed to get more interest and commitment
on the strike.
As the afternoon wore on, the
action intensified. There were chases and smashes everywhere and all you had to
do is get the lure into the boil and you were on. At 16:00, we decided to call
it a day. We were almost out of lures and our casting arms were buggered. The
fish were still going mental but we knew there was a lot of work to do so
headed back.
