ULTIMATE ANGLING - the Ultimate SA Fishing website
General Angling Topics => Rock and Surf Fishing Reports => Topic started by: ianf on June 28, 2016, 11:32:43 AM
-
We set off on the 16th of June for yet another trip to Hole in the Wall, once again with a bunch of guys from our church. There were 16 us in 4 cars, with 2 trailers. After a bit of asking around, we found there were road works, with stop / go's between Kroonstad and Bloemfontein. Checked the map, and if you go via Welkom, it's only 5km further. The road was excellent, but you pay an extra toll fee of about R138-00. Also one or two slower sections, but hey, you miss the stop / go's. Hit some more of these between Aliwal North and Elliot. Bypassed them on the way back by going from Elliot to Dordrecht and then to Aliwal North, a bit longer distance wise, but flatter (no mountains), so faster.
Having the correct licenses was drilled into everyone, especially for those wanting crayfish.
About half of the crew had not fished before so we took them to the Queen early on the Friday morning (and most every morning), because that's where the shad bite. Best way to get a newbie hooked on fishing, is to make it exciting fishing! We fished with drift bait (the newbies don't get hooked up on the rocks), and we caught enough each day to lay out for breakfast the next day, with some to spare, which allowed the maids at the cottage, and the gillies, to take some home with them. All the newbies caught at least one fish.
Fishing on the Queen is hectic, with a lot of lines everywhere, and sometimes quite a few tangle ups. Patience is the key!! Sometimes lots of patience. But the fish do bite there. New technology is working well down there. My gillie (Dumpie) was talking to his mates, getting updates on where else the fish were biting!
One of our guys hooked into a hammerhead (about 1 meter long) off the Queen, after sliding out a live bait. He managed to land it in the pond next to the Queen, and it was safely released.
A number of blacktail were also caught from the Queen, some on drift bait, some off the bottom.
Some of the guys (excluding me) went down to Little Shelly, and one beaut of blacktail was caught, along with other small bits and pieces.
I fished at the Hole one late afternoon after coming back late from Coffee Bay (picking up the guys who had hiked there), and landed what was for me my biggest bronze bream, on my revamped Berkley Air Extreme. Didn't get to weigh it, but it measured 45cm plus. It was delicious.
Fished Black Rock on the Thursday, but the water was flat and very clear, and nothing was biting. They guys did some snorkelling, both at the Hole, and off Little Danger, catching a few crays.
Friday was a beaut of a day, also flat like a pancake, and crystal clear water. Fish were not biting. More snorkelling and spear-fishing. Two large crays were caught, amongst the other average sized ones.
When going down that way, make use of the local gillies. They carry your stuff, will bait you up, clean your fish, help untangle your line and unhook you when you get caught on the rocks. They are well worth it. We paid R130-00 for the head gillie and R110-00 for the others (we always use the same guys). Sometimes this is all the work they can get to support their families. Take down some 5/0 hooks and some line / leader line for them too. They can't get that stuff down there without paying a hefty premium.
Did not see too much sardine run activity. Some whales and dolphins every day. Some diving birds now and again. Much less than the same time last year.
Will be going back for a week in August, this time with my wife Carol, and maybe a friend or 2. I know it's hard, but someone has to do it.
Will attach some pics.
-
Fishing the Queen, early morning
-
More on the Queen
-
And more. It's always great to fish the sunrise
-
My son Simon. Didn't realise that pic would come out so well.
-
My son Simon, and my roomie, Roy on the Queen
-
Sorry, not my roomie, but the gillie Alfred
-
More shad for breakfast
-
My bronze bream, caught at the hole, on some prawn bait
-
Great idea for the rods
-
Some of the crays
-
(clap) great stuff Ian , those :shd: look good .. :Like:
-
That's a tough life Ian!
Crays for dinner and shad for breakfast, the suffering you endured!
-
Wouldn't have been so bad if it was only crays for dinner. We had roast leg of lamb the one night, and roast chicken twice. Some of the guys think this is a culinary experience trip......... not complaining mind you.
Managed to keep the weight gain down to about 2kgs
-
Absolute minus cred swr
-
Great report Ian! Some nice fish too! :+ cred:
Is that Liverdos wearing socks and sandals on the rocks?! :rotfl
-
Very nice Ian!
-
So how did the magged reels work?
-
:tkx: Nice report Ian. (clap) Does not help that I missed my annual trip to the Transkei this year :envy
-
Tony, indeed that was John Liverdos wearing socks on the rocks. But he always does that, so we don't notice any more.
I had 1 overwind when casting in heavy wind, but after that, no issues. Sure beats having to unpick a birds nest
-
Sorry to hear about your missed trip Ettienne. I try really hard not to miss these things. Our church has a regular once a year trip to Hole in the Wall, and I have only missed 1 trip in the last 15 years. I also have a wonderfully gracious wife, and an employer that has a generous leave policy.
-
Thanks for Sharing and the report !! :tkx:
-
Great report back :tkx:
-
Great report thanks for sharing (clap)
-
Awesome report! Thanks....great fishing, great food... Blessed!