Catch Your Own Bait - Karanteen

[WalkersKiller]

The Karanteen, also known as the Strepie in reference to the yellow/golden horizontal stripes running along its body, is a superb bait fish that one can easily obtain. A fresh Karanteen fillet will rival any fish bait when fishing from the shore. And Kob, Sandsharks, Musselcracker and Ragged Tooth Sharks love this fish when it is used as a live bait.



Remember that you are only allowed 10 per person per day, and they have to be at least 15 centimeters in length from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail.

The Karanteen can be found in all sorts of areas and are common along the KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape coast lines. They prefer gullies, large tidal pools, and estuary systems with structure or on drop offs. The best place to target them is close up against the rocks where there is a bit of white water and weed in the water, Strepie's main food items are red and green seaweed.

When fishing for them I would use a very sensitive 6-7 foot rod with a 2000-4000 size Grinder. If you do not get any bites within 10 minutes, move spots. They are shoaling fish and if they are in the area they will be the first fish at your bait.

What you will need to target them:

Size 10 Mustad hooks
1/4 - 1/2 ounce bottle sinkers
10-15lb Line
Bait Knife
Sardine
Chokka
Cotton
Small barrel or 3-way swivels
Ruler
Bucket

The trace is very simple. All you need are two pieces of line, one for the hook (15lb Double X) and one for the sinker (10lb). Attach the hook and sinker lines to your swivel, make the sinker line 5 centimeters longer than your trace line. Then attach your sinker and hook respectively.

Once you are rigged up, take a small piece of chokka, cut it in a thin strip. Do not mallet or tenderize it. Just stick it straight through the hooks so the point is proud. then take a small piece of sardine fillet (Take a piece close to the tail section), place it above the chokka and cotton 10-15 times around it to secure the bait.

Now you are set!

WK 

[TUNAMAN]

Great baits ..... thanks Gareth!

[WalkersKiller]

Thank you Tuna 

[SAfish]

Great post, WK.
No self respecting Shad will swim past a fresh Karanteen fillet. 
I got this 72cm Leerie on a live Karanteen. The wind was pumping that day and I was on my way back to the boat club when I made one more stop. The live Karanteen was in the water less than a minute before the Leerie picked it up. Live or dead, Karanteen makes an excellent bait.

[WalkersKiller]

Awesome Leerie Hermann 

[SAfish]

  It was not a monster but the Karanteen was big and the Leerie gulped it down. The circle hook got it in the corner of the mouth. Sometimes the Leeries prefer only Karanteen and you get nothing on live Mullet.  why?

[REEFMAN]

Excellent post WK!! Really a good one! 

Just a headsup... For Legal length limits, it's always total length, not fork length.


www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=780

[Kumz]

  .... Nice 1 WK ...  ... 

[WalkersKiller]

Thanks guys, will fix that Reefz 

Hermann I have heard stories from a couple of guys that fish the Kariega River and they will throw a live mullet and a live Karanteen, and on the day the Leeries will only eat one of the two, the WHOLE day 

[Kumz]

For u lazy guys like me ... if you want an easy trace .... use a Sabiki jig ....
 
Sowy WK ... 

[WalkersKiller]

For u lazy guys like me ... if you want an easy trace .... use a Sabiki jig ....
 
Sowy WK ...

Sabikis nail the Karanteen!

You are also allowed to throw net for Karanteen, same limits, between sunrise and sunset only.

[SAfish]

Thanks guys, will fix that Reefz 

Hermann I have heard stories from a couple of guys that fish the Kariega River and they will throw a live mullet and a live Karanteen, and on the day the Leeries will only eat one of the two, the WHOLE day 

They will normally prefer the one that I don't have.   

[WalkersKiller]

Thanks guys, will fix that Reefz 

Hermann I have heard stories from a couple of guys that fish the Kariega River and they will throw a live mullet and a live Karanteen, and on the day the Leeries will only eat one of the two, the WHOLE day 

They will normally prefer the one that I don't have.   

Same with me, hence why I have to refer to other anglers catching Leeries and not me 

[J-Rock]

  Gareth...

Will test this next weekend...

I need my 100kg+...

[WalkersKiller]

  will do!

Hopefully we can get you into a 3 digit!

[deezynking]

on a different note, ushaka shark tank, you should see the monster size karas there. the 1 or 2 are like half a meter 
 
nice 1 gareth  :shre:

[WalkersKiller]

Those are buses DK, the biggest one I have caught was 31cm...