Author Topic: gwe gwe/mkambati (Read 19694 times)

kevf · « **on:** January 05, 2014, 06:22:14 AM »

Anyone stayed at gwe gwe recently? I would like a long weekend at the end of January down there. I've got mixed messages about being allowed to fish in the reserve, I know either side of the msikaba mouth is closed to fishing and that's about it, not sure how far up from the mouth is closed on the mkambati side though

Rory · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2014, 02:13:21 PM »

The way I understand it is that there is an "Inshore Controlled Zone" around Gwe Gwe. This is the only area in the reserve where fishing is allowed, but only within a defined demarcated area. Nowhere else. If you have the time to burn, look under the Pondoland MPA in the Marine Recreational Brochure, they stipulate the areas where no land based fishing is allowed with GPS co-ords.

kevf · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2014, 03:46:53 PM »

ya thanks Rory, will do so! I fish msikaba quiet a lot and they've moved a marker over the river mouth from the mkambati side to a few hundred meters down from the msikaba mouth, pity the msikaba mouth was leka light tackle fun. Rondavel booked for the month end anyway at gwe gwe

kevf · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2014, 05:59:58 PM »

off to stay at the Gwe Gwe rondavels this Friday for the weekend, hopefully have a good report back. some nice fish came out at Little Goss this last weekend so hopefully things are on the up that side! by the way is there anything worth fishing for in the estuary/river by the river lodge?

kevf · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2014, 06:06:41 AM »

So Friday morning the wife and I left early for a weekend at the gwe gwe rondavels, stopped for a wimpy breakfast at kokstad and back on the road. Was misty and heavy drizzle most of the way down. The first few kms of the dirt road was just mud, it got better but the road is pretty rough. as we arrived at the mkambati gate it had cleared up, plenty blue sky over the sea. Most of the road down to gwe gwe is concrete strips, they had some big rains in dec/jan and are busy repairing the damage.

Got to the rondavels at about 12ish, unpacked quickly and my wife still got a bit of morning sickness had a nap! I went straight to the point and started scratching around, second cast I picked up a +- 40cm bigeye kingy. Been some good GT's coming out down there so I slid it out, got a few eeltail barbell after that. After an hour my rod went away, ran across there but was to late, trace came back all chewed up and so sent out a mackerel, hour later the same thing happened! bloody pension pipes a fishermans best enemy! got soaked in a few squalls but otherwise a very pleasant afternoons fishing! such a nice point to fish aswell.

Had some friends coming across to join us for the weekend but the rondavels had been booked so they booked the main lodge which overlooks the msikaba island. We went across there for a braai, got there just in time to help them unpack. That house there is just incredible, fully furnished, clean, comfortable, we were mindblown when we saw the place, would like to find out a bit more about the place, whether it was the doctors house or some other larney. Enjoyed a few beers and some banter and headed off at about 12 for the 15min drive back to the rondavel.

Got up at 4-30 to go test out my new amia/stradic setup. It casts like an absolute dream, that braid just slides through the eyes. threw a bunch of stuff for about an hour with no luck. by then Nick an scoota had arrived and where keen to get stuck, so we slid some chokka and a mackerel, couldn't find a livebait anywhere! Nick soon got into a hammer that dragged him into a reef and sat there for a while, he did well to get it out there and onto the side. Out came the 18/0s and the hammer went back in looking for that big zambi. In the meantime things where quite for us, scoota got picked up on his chokka but the hooks didn't set. In the mean time nick had put out a big bait looking for a brusher and put his rod into the pipe and came across to us when all of a sudden his poseidon 5 bent in half and the reel screamed for a few seconds and that was it, no idea what it was but could have been the fish of a lifetime, much

followed and the curse of the pension pipes struck again. Reeled that hammer back in and released him safely and then called it for lunch.

Had a nap and went over to have a look at the waterfalls with the missus that afternoon, was feeling buggered so spent the rest of the afternoon with the feet up. Nick, scoota and their wives came past at 5ish and so went back to the waterfall with them and had a few sundowners, awesome spot to sit and just appreciate the area. Ended up back at the main lodge with them that evening for a potjie and ended up staying the night there in one of the spare rooms. Woke up at 4-30 to a howling south wester so went back to bed, got up a bit later and decieded to give it bash as the wind seemed to have died. I took my little setup and scratched around in the rocks next to the rondavels and got a pile of stone bream and a black tail, put him in the bucket for later and carried on, parkies came by to check licence and measured the black tail (21cm), very pleasant bunch. Went across to the point and slid it out, after a few hours we called it with no luck and went back for breakfast.

Went back, had a swim a chow and got onto the road home. They stayed an extra night but no more fish came out. Also saw quiet a lot of game - eland kudu hartebeest zebra and baboon. Spoke to the guys that fished Grosvenor that weekend and they also had their best fishing on the Friday. Will absolutely be going back there, some pictures to follow

isivuba · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2014, 07:13:59 AM »

Yoh!!! awesome report Kev........R&S has some strange terms could you please explain "pension pipes"

kevf · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2014, 07:29:29 AM »

shot isi
they are essentially rod holders, bits of pipe that have been concreted into the rocks. handy for putting rods into when baiting up, or have put a big bait out and can put it in there with the ratchet on and carry on fishing with another rod or if you just get tired of holding a rod

Shaun17 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2014, 07:33:30 AM »

Lekker report Kev, sounds like an awesome spot as well! Looking forward to the

Half-Pint · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2014, 08:05:53 AM »

Lekker report! Thanks Kev

maganything · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2014, 08:28:11 AM »

awesome report Kev...

We heading down to Laplat this weekend, hoping the fishing is decent, like you guys seemed to have it!

krissi · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2014, 09:51:39 AM »

Great report Kev

- didn't you get that big cob or was it one of the other lighties?

kevf · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2014, 02:54:17 PM »

krissi, I think that was mike b at bimms.
maganything, some good fish came out at Little Goss weekend before last,13kg gt on a live blacktail slide, some nice kob and rock salmon(on paddle tail) casting into the bay

maganything · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2014, 02:59:09 PM »

Quote from: kevf on February 04, 2014, 02:54:17 PM

krissi, I think that was mike b at bimms.
maganything, some good fish came out at Little Goss weekend before last,13kg gt on a live blacktail slide, some nice kob and rock salmon(on paddle tail) casting into the bay

awesome to hear!
actually just stocked up on my paddle tails and dropshot stuff this morning!

kevf · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2014, 05:16:32 PM »

inside of the main lodge

kevf · « **Reply #14 on:** February 04, 2014, 05:20:31 PM »

outside

kevf · « **Reply #15 on:** February 04, 2014, 05:38:07 PM »

gwe gwe point

kevf · « **Reply #16 on:** February 04, 2014, 05:41:19 PM »

strandloper falls

krissi · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2014, 06:43:00 PM »

Great photos Kev - the lodge looks awesome! The point and waterfall bring back memories of new year a few years ago ....

MIKE PIKE · « **Reply #18 on:** February 05, 2014, 09:17:07 AM »

Nice one Kevf , the lodge looks really good , whats the rondawels like .. ??? water , power etc ... for future refrence , would be nice to do a trip there one day .

dugong · « **Reply #19 on:** February 05, 2014, 09:30:19 AM »

Quote from: MIKE PIKE on February 05, 2014, 09:17:07 AM

Nice one Kevf , the lodge looks really good , whats the rondawels like .. ??? water , power etc ... for future refrence , would be nice to do a trip there one day .

Nice report, I would also like to know about Gwe Gwe?? stayed there many times in the late 80's early 90's, they used to be very basic and good but the last time I was there thye were shot, the place took a serious dive after that and mates had a nightmare there with the beds full of lice etc....

BTW this SA record couta was shot just off Gwe Gwe (point rocks in background)