Cape Town update

[travelmember]

Things have been very busy on the offshore front  but the season as a whole and the new year have seen some memorable catches.
Opening day we (myself and two other skippers who alternate as  skippers and crew on each others boats) had 2 x 80 plus yft, and within the  first 2 weeks had 4 fish over 90 including one over 100. Since then we have  lost count, although some days that stand out have seen 19 fish, 17, and 14. We  have also released plenty.

Plenty of yellowtail and snoek in between then and the February  hot water.


As the tuna normally disappear with this hot water, we turned to  billfish. Released a 450/500lb black on a 30W and dropped another the same day –  both on live longfin.  When the water has been right, we have continued to  search up until yesterday - and raised fish every day.We also did very well with some big dorries and plenty of smaller  15-40 class tuna.With good numbers of fish showing, I managed to get son 3, aged  10, into his first tuna on stand up.He  and his bud landed a couple each.

And then he got stretched by a bigger fish on bait.With  the cooler weather now, we can expect the return of the bigger fish.

[isivuba]

Nice one boet.... man the boys faces says it all

[REEFMAN]

Lovely stuff Tim... nice to get the lighties into fish!! He looks great in his UA shirt too!! Pro!

 

[Maximus26]

 

[Maximus26]

Anymore updates to be shared on this post  ?

[travelmember]

The tuna season is winding to a close (if it is not already too late....) although it has been a very good one. April and early May saw lots of smaller class fish with the odd big one and May / June saw fewer fish but generally larger. Largest one for the last two months only reached 60. Most fish have been on bait. It has been a waiting game though - one day we chummed 9 boxes before getting a fish, but then had 12 in 2 hours!


One thing that I changed this season is the terminal tackle. I generally fish light so my go to outfit is now a 30W on a STP / Tuna stick  or Tiagra all roller. 500m of 80lb powerpro, catspawed to a top shot of 200m of 24kg maxima. This is then catspawed via a very short bimini to a 6m windon of 130lb Sufix. This is then back to back uniknotted to a bite trace of 130lb fluoro. Unit knot to a 10/0 tuna hook, or rapala knot to a lure. No tackle failure this year on maybe 40 fish per outfit - incl a couple of big ones.


For the inshore guys the focus is now on snoek and tail. Plenty of snoek on the West coast and they are making their way south. I am not a big fan, but they do give good drag practice and allow one to hone light tackle skills - and the kids have a jol catching them. Occasional catches off Hout Bay last week bodes well for Cape Point action after the next cold front.


 Yellowtail are here, then gone, then here, then gone - typical. With this weather now, I expect them to move to Rocky Bank and settle at the Point as long as the water stays above 15.


I am off the fishing water for the next couple of months unfortunately. Whilst releasing some sails on a trip to Thailand 2 weeks ago, the skipper reached for a camera, the strap got caught around the throttles and pulled them into neutral. The fish went vertical and then powered straight up at me whilst I had its bill in hand. It reversed my elbow and managed to detach ligaments - had the op to reattach them last week and now have three months recovery. Should be ready just in time for the start of next season!


In the meantime though I am getting the kids up to speed on rigging, reversing the boat, skippering (human autopilot) etc.
Will post more once the plaster is off and the inshore winter bite starts.

[Seventenths]

Hey TM, sorry to hear about the elbow and wish you a speedy recovery... thanks for the update and info... I will be away from CT till dec .... my boat already there for the next season so I hope to join it then and hope those big fish there at the start of the season like this past season.
 
7/10

[Maximus26]

The tuna season is winding to a close (if it is not already too late....) although it has been a very good one. April and early May saw lots of smaller class fish with the odd big one and May / June saw fewer fish but generally larger. Largest one for the last two months only reached 60. Most fish have been on bait. It has been a waiting game though - one day we chummed 9 boxes before getting a fish, but then had 12 in 2 hours!


One thing that I changed this season is the terminal tackle. I generally fish light so my go to outfit is now a 30W on a STP / Tuna stick  or Tiagra all roller. 500m of 80lb powerpro, catspawed to a top shot of 200m of 24kg maxima. This is then catspawed via a very short bimini to a 6m windon of 130lb Sufix. This is then back to back uniknotted to a bite trace of 130lb fluoro. Unit knot to a 10/0 tuna hook, or rapala knot to a lure. No tackle failure this year on maybe 40 fish per outfit - incl a couple of big ones.


For the inshore guys the focus is now on snoek and tail. Plenty of snoek on the West coast and they are making their way south. I am not a big fan, but they do give good drag practice and allow one to hone light tackle skills - and the kids have a jol catching them. Occasional catches off Hout Bay last week bodes well for Cape Point action after the next cold front.


 Yellowtail are here, then gone, then here, then gone - typical. With this weather now, I expect them to move to Rocky Bank and settle at the Point as long as the water stays above 15.


I am off the fishing water for the next couple of months unfortunately. Whilst releasing some sails on a trip to Thailand 2 weeks ago, the skipper reached for a camera, the strap got caught around the throttles and pulled them into neutral. The fish went vertical and then powered straight up at me whilst I had its bill in hand. It reversed my elbow and managed to detach ligaments - had the op to reattach them last week and now have three months recovery. Should be ready just in time for the start of next season!


In the meantime though I am getting the kids up to speed on rigging, reversing the boat, skippering (human autopilot) etc.
Will post more once the plaster is off and the inshore winter bite starts.

Great report there , travelmember and sorry to read about your injury ... As the old saying goes , every sport has its' injuries ... This being a costly one ...