Author Topic: Mini UA meet up (Read 8848 times)

Half-Pint · « **on:** April 22, 2014, 07:15:29 PM »

So I have been down in Knysna for the last few days. My first stop was to contact SAFish. He very kindly loaned me his prawn pump and live bait bucket to save me some of my limited packing space

for that! Helped a lot!

I did some fishing around the lagoon on my fishing ski. I tell you what I have no clue how anyone fishes off those things

launching the damn thing is an absolute faff not to mention unloading it off the roof of a double cab is bloody difficult when you are 5 foot 6! Look out for a second habd ski shortly

Unfortunately didn't manage to bag anything in the lagoon other than nearly grabbing a jelly fish

reached over to remove a "packet" only to realize at the last second it was a jelly fish! Could have ended my holiday very quickly

SA and I decided to make a plan for easter Monday to head off and do some sliding.

YES! At least I know what I am doing with this

having heard about die blokke for many years I pushed for us to fish there.

Arriving around 7 we took the long walk down the many poorly designed stairs that require 1& a half steps

. We arrived on the point and slid some baits out. We settled down to wait for the pull. Quite a long time went by before SA got a pull. Die blokke is not an easy place to land a fish. Firstly the rocks are some of the most jagged I have seen. Even walking is hard! The entire left side is fouled with scattered reef so landing a fish is a no go. SAFish did very well to work his fish around to the right despite the fish running left at every chance! He got it into a small gulley and I landed SA's very first hammer

as well as his first fish using the slide technique

damn was I happy to have been able to help a bit! The fish worked out to 18kg so no baby! Forgot to check if it was a scalloped or smooth hammerhead thoug. Perhaps Reefz or JohnF can tell from one of the pics

I then slid another bait out while SAFish tried to slide one out unfortunately a very stretchy line meant the bait wouldn't go out

no prizes for guessing the brand!

I finally got a pick up awhile later. The fish took some line and then suddenly came off. After winding in I made some strange discoveries. My trace line was untouched not a single scuff or scratch. My sinker line and bite back line on the other hand were kinked and bitten up. I can only think that the fish picked up my sinker

Half-Pint · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2014, 07:16:21 PM »

Last pic

krissi · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2014, 07:28:22 PM »

Nice hammer there SAFish

Having a quiet chuckle about the ski at your expense HP

isivuba · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2014, 07:32:04 PM »

Awesome report HP

PH · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2014, 07:40:06 PM »

Nice report Brad! Fishing off a paddle ski takes some getting used to.

Hope you get a chance to take it on the ocean in front of the Beacon Island Hotel at Pett. Nice launch from the Plett Ski Boat Club. Ask nicely at the boom gate if you can use the slipway.

Nice Hammer Hermann!

MIKE PIKE · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2014, 07:45:03 PM »

... nice one Brad ...

, Hermann

on the hammer , looks like a scalloped from the pic , awesome getting the hammer on the slide ...

.

SAfish · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2014, 08:02:09 PM »

Thanks everyone and a very special thank you to Brad, without your help and expertise I would have not been able to catch the fish.

I can tell you one thing, Brad is not our 2014 Champion Angler for nothing!

That hammer did not want to go right and it was a challenge to try not to get cut-off on the rocks but with Brad guidance we got it out and I was very happy. First Hammerhead and first fish on a slide.

I got a wave up the backside when I went down to free Brad's hook from a black mussel bed and with the sifting rain we were both a bit wet when we got to the car. That walk back made me realize how unfit I am

and I fell behind Brad that went up the hill like a Dassie.

Brad, it was great fishing with you and I have learned a ton.

Charles · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2014, 08:11:23 PM »

Lekker report HP! Well done with the hammer Hermann!

isivuba · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2014, 08:16:57 PM »

Quote from: SAfish on April 22, 2014, 08:02:09 PM

I can tell you one thing, Brad is not our 2014 Champion Angler for nothing!

I had the privilege to see Brad at his best at Mapies and all I can say is he is a "Machine"

Lenny · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2014, 08:27:39 PM »

Lekker Report .

Eish SAFISH , kan super illusive wees , jy kan bly wees jy kon hom in die hande kry ....

SAfish · « **Reply #10 on:** April 22, 2014, 08:30:46 PM »

Quote from: Lenny on April 22, 2014, 08:27:39 PM

Lekker Report .

Eish SAFISH , kan super illusive wees , jy kan bly wees jy kon hom in die hande kry ....

Sorry Lenny, I will definitely make a plan to fish with you the next time I am is Struisbaai. Things have been very hectic the last couple of months and I did not fish nearly as much as I wanted to.

REEFMAN · « **Reply #11 on:** April 22, 2014, 08:46:51 PM »

Nice stuff UA!! Well done guys!
That's a great fish Hermann, a sizer Hammer too. It's a Smooth Hammerhead. The Scalloped has the bump in front of the mouth split into 2...

Was the line that SAFish struggled with the Seagrand by any chance?

Why am I not surprised!

SAfish · « **Reply #12 on:** April 22, 2014, 08:57:39 PM »

Thanks Reefman, I also think it is was a Smooth Hammerhead. It was Alpha line and it had a lot of stretch. My bait was a trimmed down YF head and had a lot of drag in the water. The waves and my "newbie to sliding" technique also did not help, but I did get my first bait out.

REEFMAN · « **Reply #13 on:** April 22, 2014, 09:02:27 PM »

Alpha line is Seagrand...

It's good line, but I've just got gatvol trying to use it for sliding, it just stretches way too much. End up walking up the dunes to try keep the line tight... eish.

SAfish · « **Reply #14 on:** April 22, 2014, 09:06:05 PM »

Quote from: REEFMAN on April 22, 2014, 09:02:27 PM

Alpha line is Seagrand...

It just shows you how much I pay attention in class.

The fish had a lot of "battle scars" and it just shows you how tough life beneath the waves can be.

Willie · « **Reply #15 on:** April 23, 2014, 07:03:37 AM »

Great report Brad. Hermann

on your hammerhead great catch

Half-Pint · « **Reply #16 on:** April 23, 2014, 07:42:39 AM »

Wooooaaah guys please I am no machine

I wouldn't even make water boy for a provincial side.

I just happen to really love fishing and try my best to catch a few through dumb luck and maybe help anyone else I can.

That seagrand line was odd stuff! Brilliant to absorb head shakes but impossible to get that second bait out. I tried winding up all the tension putting a big bow in the rod tip but it still stretched like hell.

Just to add Hermann landed that fish on .45 line

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #17 on:** April 23, 2014, 07:48:05 AM »

Awesome stuff guys well done!!!!

Charles · « **Reply #18 on:** April 23, 2014, 07:55:17 AM »

I have no idea how to slide but have seen Shawn Mey in action. He only uses T-Line Titanium for sliding and swears by it.

SAfish · « **Reply #19 on:** April 23, 2014, 08:03:16 AM »

I think I am going to change to KF High Abrasion as soon as possible. Maybe the guys at Bloukrans bungy would be interested in buying my old line?