Author Topic: The Gap- Port St.Johns (Read 22658 times)

Action Man · « **on:** July 10, 2012, 06:13:32 PM »

The Gap at Port St johns (PSJ) is one of the most renowned fishing spots on the transkei coastline, yet many a person fears it. The reputation it has from its famous blow hole claiming lives from a few people in the past.

I venture to this spot a few times a year an have amazing days where you land every fish you hook and days where you lose everything. A number of my trophy fish came from the Gap and from my experience you should be grateful for every fish you can get out. So I thought i would share a few of the tips and give a write up of the the spot preferred baits and times to fish.

From when you arrive in the parking spot at the top of the gap the view is mind blowing, but this is only the start of what is sure to be a good day. But before you can start fishing you have to walk down the mountain and when you get half way this is when things start getting very tricky. Unless you screwed in the head like me, this is a spot you have to take a gillie to help.

As amazing as this spot is it doesn’t really produce in k*K conditions. The prime time for this spot is the summer months and you want a couple days of NE winds to push the colour up from the north where the river mouth is.

Below are pictures of the path down to the gap

Action Man · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:15:01 PM »

more pics

Action Man · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:16:52 PM »

So for those of you that survived the walk down to the brick, you now have to decide to get all your rods set up. Seeing the walk down you now know you can not take to much tackle down, the bare nesseccary is all you really need. I would not take more than 2 rods down as you can only fish 1 at a time as there is pension pipes to hold rods. So you need rods that can handle big fish for me the 2 rods I bring along is 365/7+1 hmg and Assassin heavy hmg with a short heavy tip. The nice thing about both these rods is that they are a good length (13’6”) for the rocks and plenty of backbone to pull the fish when they get around the rocks and they are well balanced with the reels i will take down with me. I take 3 reels with me so i have 2 rods set up at all times and 1 spare in case anything happens while you down there cause i don’t take spare nylon down to the rocks takes up to much space in your bag and you have to try pack light remember. The reels I bring with are my Trinidad 30, 40 and 50. My 30 will have a .52 double X mainline with a 1.2mm wind on and my 40 an 50 will have .55 with a 1.4mm wind on. Anything weaker than that you don’t stand a chance. The rocks in the front cut through your mainline like a hot knife through butter.
Now that you have got your rods set up with either your throw or slide trace, this for me depends on the size of the sea and whether or not i can get down on the bottom ledge or not, cause if you on the bricks and have waves like this coming your way, you kinda wasting your time haha.

Action Man · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:19:21 PM »

Now once on the bottom ledge you need to stick to the right hand side as it can be very slippery and one wrong foot an you could end up sliding down to the front which will not end well, find a spot where you comfortable to cast and give it your best shot. Now remember you fishing a point that is flipping deep so distance is not everything iv had bites with casts iv stuffed up an bait lands up 50m off the front. So don’t try throw you sinker in the horizon cause for all you know you throwing over the fish just get a bait in the water at a reasonable distance and you stand a chance. Lets say the point is 12 o clock i like to put my baits in from 10-1.30. that is my preferred casting spots that has bought me my success in the past, reason for this i like to fish close to where i need to land my fish, and the gutter along the right hand side is prob the only place for people who don’t know the brick well enough to land there fish. And to do so you need a gaff, whether you like it or not or you not landing any fish. From the brick to the water is a 5m drop so landing a 15kg+ fish without a gaff is near impossible.

Action Man · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:21:43 PM »

Now fishing the Transkei getting bites on most occasions is the easy part its landing the fish that is the hard part, my worst day at the Gap to date was a comp round earlier this year where i got 6 bites all hooked an fought for a decent time period and i walked off 8 hours later with out landing a fish. Yes a long day for me haha. Now the main thing to landing a fish on this rock is patience. Without that you might as well go sit on 2^nd beach an fish for lessors cause bullying a fish here wont work you will only bully yourself. Let the fish tire itself out in the deeper water and you can guide it alot easier into the channel to try an gaff it. The way i say it makes it sound easy but trust me it is definitely not. One of your main target species is your Scalloped hammer head and they must be the most stubborn fish to deal with, they will not let you take control of the fight, they will let you think you are winning and before you even realise what the fish is doing it has cut you off and trust there is alot of brick in the water for it to do this. Your greysharks, bronzies and spinners are alot more well behaved, yes they scream off an box hard but if you fight them correctly and take your time they will do exactly what you want them to do and before you know it you will have them in a position to gaff.
All this talk about the fishing spot I have completely forgotten about what bait should be packed for a days fishing. Don’t over pack your cooler box with bait, you need place for food and cololdrinks aswel as it gets very hot and there is not much shade to hide under. In my 18lt chiller i will take the following for a days fishing. 3x 30cm chocka 3x small bonnies an 4x mackerel. Even that is alot of bait for some but thats what i feel comfortable taking with me. And before i forget aswel don’t take to many sinkers, you only really lose them with fish and it doesn’t happen all the time. 80% of the time i will throw my baits so i will take 5 throw bait sinkers and 2 sinkers for sliding. You can leave more in the car and could send the gillie to get if you running low they very trustworthy there not to mention friendly and have a fair bit of experience. When in the parking lot employ one of the younger guys to watch the car, as long as you use the locals you will not have any problems there what so ever. Been fishing there for many years now and personally havnt had any problems
This spot is definitely not for the faint hearted and anglers should treat it with the utmost respect or your name will be on a plaque in the parking lot with the others. Tight lines hope this helps the guys that want to fish there in the future if not invite me with and i will guide you.

Homie · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:26:08 PM »

Awesome write up Stef !

And it's taken you to 500 posts !

Kumz · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:29:25 PM »

Quote from: Homie on July 10, 2012, 06:26:08 PM

Awesome write up Stef !

And it's taken you to 500 posts !

I agree.... Brilliant... Post of the month nomination for sure...

Luv da pics etc...

Rory · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:32:58 PM »

Awesome post Stef! Keep them coming man!

Action Man · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:35:25 PM »

Thanks guys, I did forget one pic its the best pic I have of the gulley in which to land you fish you can see behind me the opening to where to bring you fish into

CLS · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:38:30 PM »

Fantastic report, I have fished there a few times in my youth twice being with the famous Tony Oats, that man could pull a fish.

Kumz · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:41:52 PM »

Stef... All was great till u posted day pic..... Pls keep your shirt on..... Dis is a family site after all....

Action Man · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:43:43 PM »

Quote from: Kumz on July 10, 2012, 06:41:52 PM

Stef... All was great till u posted day pic..... Pls keep your shirt on..... Dis is a family site after all....

it gets dam hot on the rocks fighting fish man, you lucky i didnt post the ones with me running around with just my tights on

Kumz · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2012, 06:46:34 PM »

Quote from: Action Man on July 10, 2012, 06:43:43 PM

Quote from: Kumz on July 10, 2012, 06:41:52 PM
Stef... All was great till u posted day pic..... Pls keep your shirt on..... Dis is a family site after all....

it gets dam hot on the rocks fighting fish man, you lucky i didnt post the ones with me running around with just my tights on

Stef in tights....

.....

Lichia amia · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2012, 07:13:26 PM »

Brilliant report Stef ! Double cred !

MIKE PIKE · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2012, 07:25:41 PM »

.. great report and heads-up on the location Stef , and we all thought Brazenhead was an eye opener..

Half-Pint · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2012, 07:26:18 PM »

Awesome post bru!

Toppie · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:00:27 PM »

Very good report Stef and cred to you!

Please remember that some of us here on the forum are Ballies, so a nice write up on a spot or two that one can stroll to will be appreciated.

eric cotton · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:17:10 PM »

Great post stef, I'd rather stick to my boat fishing far more eaiser.....

Action Man · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2012, 01:31:57 AM »

Quote from: Toppie on July 10, 2012, 10:00:27 PM

Very good report Stef and cred to you!

Please remember that some of us here on the forum are Ballies, so a nice write up on a spot or two that one can stroll to will be appreciated.

Hey Toppie

I plan on doing write ups on a few spots along the kzn coast line but need to go take some pics before I can do that. So dont worry there a few places that are easy to get to for the old ballies

REEFMAN · « **Reply #19 on:** July 11, 2012, 06:58:55 AM »

Stef's back!! Yeeehaaa!

Great report Action! Quality info!