Author Topic: How to Read the Sea - Read the Water - Part 1 (Read 173023 times)

REEFMAN · « **Reply #80 on:** January 31, 2013, 10:51:19 AM »

Not all that familiar with Eastern Cape waters, but that pic tells me there's awesome colour in the water - Kob water?! A nice long flat bank at the back where the waves break and continue to run through to a deeper gully, where they stop. Some patches of rock in the water for some smaller edibles... Stumpies, Blacktail, Steenies? Nice churning water in the gully... ?

adam · « **Reply #81 on:** January 31, 2013, 11:17:02 AM »

spot on Reefs!

Kob, steenbras, blacktail and belman. with the odd gully shark

REEFMAN · « **Reply #82 on:** January 31, 2013, 11:51:38 AM »

so where's my Noddy badge!?!

adam · « **Reply #83 on:** January 31, 2013, 11:55:06 AM »

Quote from: REEFMAN on January 31, 2013, 11:51:38 AM

so where's my Noddy badge!?!

that's the best I can do.

Nakkie · « **Reply #84 on:** January 31, 2013, 11:56:33 AM »

One day when my memory works again, I should be able to remember to read the water first and then start to fish a spot...

Weldone Tony. It's scary how you can get all that info of 1 pic.

Charles · « **Reply #85 on:** January 31, 2013, 12:04:31 PM »

Nakkie. When I look at pic's I seem to be doing OK. (I had basically the same as Adam except I missed the Belman and added a Cracker depending on the season).

Sadly when I'm next to the water it all looks the same!

bennie · « **Reply #86 on:** June 07, 2013, 09:01:35 AM »

Very informative. Thanks

wimter · « **Reply #87 on:** February 24, 2014, 05:13:00 PM »

Hey Reefz, one of the most simplistic and complete peace info on this topic.Thanks man

colin · « **Reply #88 on:** February 24, 2014, 06:06:09 PM »

most informative and clearly stated. Wish I read this 40 years ago.

Kleynhansa · « **Reply #89 on:** August 31, 2014, 12:32:37 AM »

Thank you reefman. Very informative

REEFMAN · « **Reply #90 on:** September 01, 2014, 01:53:42 PM »

No sweat. Glad you enjoyed it.

Torpedo Jack · « **Reply #91 on:** December 19, 2014, 11:14:06 AM »

Hi all!

Great article! From the information given, I have tried to sum up the "deep bank scenario" in picture form. Please forgive the kindergarten artwork!

Okay, here's the key...

A=Deep water
B=Bank
C="Cob Alley" ????
D=Trough (unproductive)
E=Foamy water
F=Shoreline

My big question is: Will the Cob be holding on the section marked "C", i.e. the shoreward side of the bank?

Thanks for your help!

Mike

Half-Pint · « **Reply #92 on:** December 19, 2014, 03:53:30 PM »

I think it would depend on the current. They would wait where food will be washed to them by current (Lazy buggers!)

Lofty · « **Reply #93 on:** December 21, 2014, 03:21:01 PM »

I would say between A & B as the swell will be forced upwards and will break because of the sandbank,forming foamy white water which causes cover for predators and baitfish alike,with the surging of the water,kob will patrole up and down this bank looking for baitfish to be washed off the bank...(that's if the back of the bank is in casting range...)Then also anywhere from C-F as Kob will come in very close to shore,mostly at night,to hunt on mullets in the shorebreak,as mullets will mostly hide in the shallows to stay away from predators like Kob,Elf and Leeries...0,5m of water is deep enough for these fish to hunt in as they will try trap the baitfish in the shallows...very often we as shorefishermen will cast over the feeding areas of predators,many decent fish have been caught when the cast was duffed or an overwind was casted...

especially when the "white water" covers the trough between B and F...especially Kob,as was mentioned,will mostly rely on ambushing prey where water conditions cause confusion amongst prey fish...

Lenny · « **Reply #94 on:** December 21, 2014, 04:55:43 PM »

My take on the sketch if I understand it correct .

A/B on a incoming tide , but in the same time , they would also hide in front of the bank .

A rule of thumb , is the kob will either sit on one side , but its rare to find them on both sides of a bank , on any given tide . They might be on one side on low , and on the other side of the same bank as ou fished on low .

If your fishing the sand for Kob , they are either feeding on worms , or Mullets , 95% of the time Mullet , where you find the mullet , you will often find Kob . If you see a shoal in the surf and they are moving quick its not ideal , but if they are trying to take cover under the foam , they theres something there keeping them there . Kob that actively feed , will patrol these edges , its convenient to see the tell tale drop off , where the foam ends .
On bright sunny days , Kob would sit on the bank in the foam , for some cover on high tides , they would then push the mullet into the deeper water , generally you are in for a dam good days fishing then ...

Most fish you often encounter in shallower water than one would think , we cast over the fish , its not always the case but happens a lot , its not true to think that the long cast gets the fish over the short cast .

The ideal situation is a gutter like in your picture that opens up to the back , basically two parallel banks one very shallow and the next one deeper , those deeper banks , find a place where they open up to the back [ deep ] then you cast a bait on the corners of the second bank where they open up . so the Kob would have an IDEAL place to just chill in th current , and wait for its food to come past , BAM ! vas

ANTON 1 · « **Reply #95 on:** December 23, 2014, 03:44:14 PM »

Great article and valued information READING THE WATER. Cool!

ravkiss · « **Reply #96 on:** January 02, 2015, 05:06:47 AM »

A brilliant explanation of the shore. Does this include where to luer fish for bass as well as baits?

REEFMAN · « **Reply #97 on:** January 02, 2015, 01:11:04 PM »

You mean Sea Bass? Don't know Sea Bass at all, don't think we get Bass in SAfrican ocean waters... but I'm sure the principles will be the same...

Torpedo Jack · « **Reply #98 on:** January 02, 2015, 02:34:59 PM »

Thanks for all your input, guys!

Does the author agree with the theories?

Reefs?

REEFMAN · « **Reply #99 on:** January 02, 2015, 03:54:31 PM »

I think everyone has some good points...

As far as Kob goes, look for the deep drop-offs, particularly where there is a bit of a swirling action in the water. Look for banks that are showing some foamies coming across, which then stop abruptly, indicating a deep and sudden drop-off; Rather than foamies extending over a larger area, which indicates a slow and gradual drop off.

At the back of the bank, where the churning is happening, Kob will feed here, but the water needs to be mild to moderate, with not much current or surge - bait fish will not be able to hold there in a strong current.

Fish more often will feed on the shoreward side of these banks, especially where the white water stops quickly. The depth of these drop-offs is important, giving the Kob more cover and the takes are often quite dramatic. I mentioned above the holding or resting areas, because on many occasions anglers successfully catch fish that are not feeding aggressively and not eating the baits, particularly size wise, that they normally would. Just like any animal, once they have fed, they are not inclined to take big bait, but will often just suck up a tit-bit. When Kob are not feeding in the churn on the back of a bank or on the shoreward deep dropoff, they can sometimes be found chilling in a hole and will be tempted with a much smaller well-presented bait.

Author Topic: How to Read the Sea - Read the Water - Part 1 (Read 173023 times)

ANTON 1