Author Topic: St Lucia - and rest of North coast this next two days - good weather/swell/tides (Read 20181 times)

sardinella · « **Reply #20 on:** August 06, 2015, 02:35:33 PM »

The next 3 - 4 days looks very promising again. If windfinder holds true in terms of swell hight, some good natal snoek action can be expected. Monday morning would be my pick.
http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/cape_st_lucia

Debbie · « **Reply #21 on:** August 06, 2015, 08:14:51 PM »

Quote from: Rory mundy on July 02, 2015, 06:56:19 AM

boat trailer revamped, boat almost done with tidy up heading for St Lucia Saturday

Rory are you going to be around St Lucia this coming week, 8 to 16 August?

Debbie · « **Reply #22 on:** August 06, 2015, 08:17:13 PM »

Quote from: sardinella on July 08, 2015, 02:16:48 PM

Thanks for feedback - pity about the fishing.
I can agree on St Lucia. Very laid back and relatively crime free.
Go out of season if you can and avoid christmas and new years

Just keep a look out for the wondering Hippos

Debbie · « **Reply #23 on:** August 06, 2015, 08:18:22 PM »

Quote from: sardinella on August 06, 2015, 02:35:33 PM

The next 3 - 4 days looks very promising again. If windfinder holds true in terms of swell hight, some good natal snoek action can be expected. Monday morning would be my pick.
http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/cape_st_lucia

im there from Saturday

Rory mundy · « **Reply #24 on:** August 06, 2015, 08:33:49 PM »

Quote from: Debbie on August 06, 2015, 08:14:51 PM

Quote from: Rory mundy on July 02, 2015, 06:56:19 AM
boat trailer revamped, boat almost done with tidy up heading for St Lucia Saturday

Rory are you going to be around St Lucia this coming week, 8 to 16 August?

sadly not

Debbie · « **Reply #25 on:** August 06, 2015, 08:38:14 PM »

I will catch the

for you

j.s.smith · « **Reply #26 on:** August 07, 2015, 06:09:42 PM »

I am leaving for st lucia in about an hour. Going to try spinning from shore. Have to leave on mon to be back behind the tools on tue.

sardinella · « **Reply #27 on:** August 08, 2015, 03:40:21 PM »

Go for it Johan, travel safely

j.s.smith · « **Reply #28 on:** August 10, 2015, 07:25:39 PM »

Just got back home from st. lucia did not get what I went there for but still enjoyed except for early this morning when it raining

and I wasn't prepared for it.
Also learned a few things a long the way.

Got my quota of shad on sat and sun and 2 this morning but just in size. Lots of small ones in between.
I was using my normal "shad slayer" Halco twisty with no results until I put on a Wiliamson thunder jigg (40g I think - too damaged by now to see the weight.) Not sure what they call the color but silver body with brown back. This thing really looks almost exactly like the sprats found on the beach and same size. So spoon makes a difference I think.
Cought a nice blacktail on prawn and my biggest sandshark ever (estimated 900cm) on sardine.
Had a few issues with the new braid I'm using (suffix 832 20lb). Actually had no issues until my spoon (couta casting) went halve-way to Australia when the braid broke on the cast. Upon closer inspection I saw that the spool didn't wind properly (maybe caught between bail arm and line roller.)
I put a new leader on the braid and attached the spoon with no swivel to save time. After the 5th cast I had 3 wind knots in the braid. Attached a swivel and no problems for about halve a day until the next spoon went to Australia.
Braid had another wind knot.
Put on my spare spool with 20lb Power Pro and never any problems again.
Anybody had issues with the 832 20lb or should I just fork out that 200 more for Power Pro ?.
I was using a shimano scimitar 10" rod and sedona 4000.

I had no luck catching snoek from the shore though. Baitballs must have been there on a few occasions with all the bird activity. The snoek is probably there as as a few came out during the week along with some bonnies.

I could not cast to where the bird activity is with my setup and 1oz couta casting spoon. Would need another estimated 50m.(Just before the backline).

Should I get a rod like amia siera or whatever can it realy cast that much further with a 1 ounce spoon?. I have the the older stradic 5000 with spare spool to mach. Any suggestions please.

Sorry no photos still have to learn how to upload.

Ocean basket in st lucia produced once again never thought sardines (bait) could taste so well Portuguese sardines for starter- next time I will order 8 of it for main meal.

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sardinella · « **Reply #29 on:** August 10, 2015, 07:48:42 PM »

Nice report Johan, thanks for the feedback
You should go for at least a 11 foot Amia with your stradic 5000 fi. I doubt the sedona's line lay ability. For best casting results load up with Gosen 1.5 or 2. Make sure you fine tune the line lay on the stradic using the small washers provided to set the spool higher or lower on the shaft.
Glad you caught some fish. It can be very frustrating when they are just out of reach.

j.s.smith · « **Reply #30 on:** August 10, 2015, 08:10:33 PM »

Sal seker een vd dae iets soos couta copter moet kry om ons lepels op die bait balls te drop as ons roofvis vd kant af wil vang.

Steenie · « **Reply #31 on:** August 11, 2015, 07:44:08 AM »

Very nice report Johan! I agree with the Sedona 4000. I use it as my backup spinning reel and windknots is an issue. On my Stradic 5000 I have absolutely no issues. An 11 ft rod like the Amia would complete your setup. For snoek casting distance is king. So high quality thin casting braid that lasts a long time is critical. I use Gosen Jigging Braid. 25 lbs (PE1.5). I use this braid - reel on an Assassin Sierra that gives me a bit more distance, but the Amia has proven itself over and over as a snoek slayer with the right reel - braid combination. The 1.5 oz spoons give optimal casting distance on that setup.

ianf · « **Reply #32 on:** August 11, 2015, 08:21:24 AM »

Heading down to St Lucia on the 21st of Aug for a week, but it will be more of a holiday time with my wife than a fishing holiday (had 2 of those already this year). But will take a rod or 2 and do a bit of spinning while we are there.

j.s.smith · « **Reply #33 on:** August 11, 2015, 06:58:05 PM »

Thanks for the reply's upon closer look I saw that the line layout on the sedona is not so good - there is a concave gap in the middle of the spool compared to my stradic 5000 and new symetre 4000 which is very even. I always take my sedona for spinning because I have a few spare spools for it (all the older 4000 spools fits from FX to Exage.) These don't fit onto the new symetre with its smaller shaft. Going to use the Symetre on my 10" Scimitar for lighter spinning and get the Goosen PE 1.5 for my Stradic 5000 and 11" rod. I have an 11" Shimano Vengeance rod casting weight rated 50 - 100gm which I got to cast pluggs for leeries but don't know how it will cast a lighter spoon (never used it before) otherwise I will probably end up buying the Amia.

Half-Pint · « **Reply #34 on:** August 12, 2015, 11:52:31 AM »

That Shimano will be great if you get the eyes redone. Imho much better than an Amia

j.s.smith · « **Reply #35 on:** August 12, 2015, 07:32:11 PM »

This thread is actually about st lucia and now I discuss tackle but I have to ask Half Pint (out of lack of knowledge) why the vengeance needs other guides is it poor quality, wrong size, type, or material? I have the 8ft as well.

j.s.smith · « **Reply #36 on:** August 12, 2015, 07:41:31 PM »

I had a look at the Gosen braid today the PE1.5 0.2mm is rated 17lb and the PE2 0.25mm at 25lb. I guess its the PE2 thats used on the stradic 5000?

Steenie · « **Reply #37 on:** August 12, 2015, 08:16:29 PM »

Quote from: j.s.smith on August 12, 2015, 07:41:31 PM

I had a look at the Gosen braid today the PE1.5 0.2mm is rated 17lb and the PE2 0.25mm at 25lb. I guess its the PE2 thats used on the stradic 5000?

I can strongly recommend that you go for the Gosen 8-weave Jigging Braid instead of the standard Gosen 8-weave. The jigging braid is more expensive but thinner for the same breaking strain. The standard Gosen 25 lbs is PE2, whereas the 25 lbs Gosen Jigging Braid is PE1.5. Or 0.24 mm vs 0.21 mm approximately. I have spin with bith and the difference in casting distance is marked, especially if it is breezy.

sardinella · « **Reply #38 on:** August 12, 2015, 08:17:32 PM »

I have been using Gosen pe 1.5 on my Stradic 5000 for the last 2 years with no regrets.
The stated breaking strain is way less than the actual breaking strain

Steenie · « **Reply #39 on:** August 12, 2015, 08:18:51 PM »

Besides the diameter difference, the jigging version also definitely lasts longer before it starts to get fluffy.