Author Topic: Western Cape 2015/2016 Season (Read 50570 times)

SAfish · « **Reply #60 on:** December 14, 2015, 07:44:25 AM »

Quote from: travelmember on December 14, 2015, 07:38:37 AM

TOMT is 14-20 Feb.

Mr. SNR Sir, marlin don't eat yellowtail or mackerel - they are scavengers like barbel.
Your best bet is delicate, light line, (about 3kgs, with a 1/0 mustad) and half a small chicken liver. This should be fished on the bottom, just behind the breaking surf.
One of my secret spots is just out of the harbour and turn left. Drop anchor in front of the blue house (so called due to the prevalence of blue marlin in the area).

It is very important to chum and this is best done by consuming at least 3 packs of beer, 2 bottles of red wine and one bottle of the Cape's finest brandy each evening (we won't complain if you substitute that northern peat water stuff).

Marlin feed best when it is a bit breezy so don't bother going out unless the wind is at least 25 knots.

If you follow these simple guidelines I am sure you will have a comp to remember.

He will definitely remember it!!

shagnrelease · « **Reply #61 on:** December 14, 2015, 07:57:54 AM »

Quote from: travelmember on December 14, 2015, 07:38:37 AM

TOMT is 14-20 Feb.

Mr. SNR Sir, marlin don't eat yellowtail or mackerel - they are scavengers like barbel.
Your best bet is delicate, light line, (about 3kgs, with a 1/0 mustad) and half a small chicken liver. This should be fished on the bottom, just behind the breaking surf.
One of my secret spots is just out of the harbour and turn left. Drop anchor in front of the blue house (so called due to the prevalence of blue marlin in the area).

It is very important to chum and this is best done by consuming at least 3 packs of beer, 2 bottles of red wine and one bottle of the Cape's finest brandy each evening (we won't complain if you substitute that northern peat water stuff).

Marlin feed best when it is a bit breezy so don't bother going out unless the wind is at least 25 knots.

If you follow these simple guidelines I am sure you will have a comp to remember.

Always quick with some well constructed advice TM I shall look forward to some chum preparations with you then.

Please send co-ordinates for barbel grounds a shall arrange some up country chicken livers in preparation.

Might I suggest I make the tripe sandwiches for your crew Tim?

Lenny · « **Reply #62 on:** December 14, 2015, 09:42:30 AM »

Lol travel member.

travelmember · « **Reply #63 on:** December 14, 2015, 11:12:40 AM »

Your kind offer to provide sustenance is much appreciated but as you of all people are well aware, to keep our fine physiques in such prime condition means one must be careful of so called "Suzies" bearing gifts!

On a serious note, the tail can range from 2-20kg fish, and generally like sized fish swim together and the smaller ones tend to be higher in the water column. As the comp gets closer it will be well known as to what is where. Apparently the tail have arrived though and quite a few bins are coming out.

Mackerel are much more hit and miss. Whilst they can be found, and are a bonus if you do, I wouldn't bank on it. Maasbunker are more common and can be found in most places.

The problem with Struis is that changing position means a long run (Alphards / 45's excepted) so you need to find the bait in the spot you are fishing unless you have a first class livewell / tubes.

Seventenths · « **Reply #64 on:** December 15, 2015, 08:10:53 AM »

Forecast and SST for Agulhas...

travelmember · « **Reply #65 on:** December 15, 2015, 05:27:45 PM »

Warm water everywhere - from 18 in the Gordons Bay harbour out to 21.5 in the canyon.
Tail are inside the bay from Smits to Kalk Bay - can be a bit frustrating as they have other things on their mind! Snoek are on Rocky Bank and the odd fish at Herolds.
Small tuna from the 2nd ammo dump and the bigger fish still around the canyon. Had a couple of shoal fish jump on some marlin lures early this morning before the NW blew us back.
Billfish have been seen but not hooked....yet.

Lenny · « **Reply #66 on:** December 15, 2015, 06:50:43 PM »

Fresh to moderate wind , no action to report for today form this side , that I know off

Bt There'sbeen some good tail around ,somegysgetting fully tallies , also some bek.

So I have my glowie beads on 2 yoyos.

travelmember · « **Reply #67 on:** December 19, 2015, 02:49:17 PM »

Now seems to be the time to jump on a plane and catch a Cape tuna - they are thick at the moment.

Went billfish hunting yesterday (unsuccessful, but its still early!) but seeing as one of the crew had not caught a decent tuna before, stopped after a backline pull, put in 2 baits and both went vas within 30 secs. 2 x 50kg fish. Moved away as we wanted some smaller fish for bait but got more of the same class. Seems like they were over a wide area. Also picked up tail and katonkel on the way out at the Point and mackerel and chokka in the harbour after launching.

Spent this morning getting some bugs from Pringle bay - so the festive season will start today with a typical seafood braai - calamari and smoked mackerel to start with, followed by seared tuna and yellowtail with some nice size crays to top it off. Served with chenin blanc, sauvigon blanc and unwooded chardonnay.

When the Cape is generous, it is difficult to beat.

REEFMAN · « **Reply #68 on:** December 19, 2015, 04:40:59 PM »

You okes are doing a sterling job in keeping this thread current...

to you all!

Quote from: travelmember on December 19, 2015, 02:49:17 PM

so the festive season will start today with a typical seafood braai - calamari and smoked mackerel to start with, followed by seared tuna and yellowtail with some nice size crays to top it off. Served with chenin blanc, sauvigon blanc and unwooded chardonnay.

Oh and also a

to you Tim! Bastid.

SAfish · « **Reply #69 on:** December 19, 2015, 07:35:51 PM »

I agree with Reefs, I can't wait for the next post on this thread.

TM, you just made me green with envy and as you said, when the Cape is giving it is difficult to beat. Pure magic.

Lenny · « **Reply #70 on:** December 19, 2015, 09:41:47 PM »

Tail gone/ anton managed one after a long day .
The Comms also told
Me the bek on arniston side is down to just size but
Mainly under .

SAfish · « **Reply #71 on:** December 19, 2015, 11:25:50 PM »

Quote from: Lenny on December 19, 2015, 09:41:47 PM

Tail gone/ anton managed one after a long day .
The Comms also told
Me the bek on arniston side is down to just size but
Mainly under .

I wonder what caused this, did the water temperature drop a bit?

Lenny · « **Reply #72 on:** December 25, 2015, 08:10:43 PM »

Tony and anton has been gettin some fish mainly bottoms , heard of a big pw , Tony caught .

Spoke to holiday makers , they ran to de mond , and ran into a big piece of bek , they got full tallies of 2 a man. But released up to 30 .

Dont know what the following week holds , holing for easterly .

Oh and merry Xmas guys .

BETTYS · « **Reply #73 on:** December 29, 2015, 09:47:05 PM »

With the south Easter pomping now ,I don't know if any one can get their boat in the water, except the guys in Hangklip trying for geelbek.
At least the water temp is 22 in Bettys, great for the holiday makers ,but the surf not good for fishing, way to many currents and then crystal water.

SAfish · « **Reply #74 on:** January 02, 2016, 09:16:55 AM »

What happened the last couple of days, did anyone catch any fish?
I saw on FB that a couple of good Yellowtail were caught during the family competition in Struisbaai.

travelmember · « **Reply #75 on:** January 02, 2016, 10:16:27 AM »

With the warmer water it seems as if the tuna are far in the west and have deserted the normal grounds - but this is standard for this time of year.

However the good news is that the billfish have arrived with Errol on Blade getting a nice blue of 262kg that unfortunately died on them and a few others falling off.

Plenty of tail still around with very early mornings seeming to be the best bet.
Lots of bait in the bay with mackerel feeding on anchovies - we managed a few bins this morning to stock up for marlin season.

SAfish · « **Reply #76 on:** January 02, 2016, 11:41:48 AM »

Thanks for the update.

travelmember · « **Reply #77 on:** January 04, 2016, 07:58:24 AM »

Very quiet in the tuna grounds yesterday, we got one fish as bycatch, and didn't hear of any others. Water was between 21-23 degrees. Good tail very early at the Point. Lots of feeding fish but only for an hour or so.
Plenty of mackerel around both GB harbour / Boskloof and Simonstown.

Seventenths · « **Reply #78 on:** January 05, 2016, 03:05:08 PM »

Hi Gents,

Sorry fell off the radar a bit... Will update with some pics and reports.... We had awesome weather over the festive season but as I suffered a problem with one of my motors so I was limited to the days I got to sea and EVERYWHERE I did not go is where the fish were. We pulled the konas a few days but nada... We did have some awesome diving and will post some pics and video over the next few days. The kids also caught some nice fish and managed to see Lenny for a few mins and catch up a bit.

The commercials massacred the yellowtail on the five mile banks and the one morning we counted over 100 boats on the vlack bank.

We also managed to dive on the alphards and got some awesome pics of yellowtail and a mother and clad humpback that swam up to us in the water. My son Liam go it on video too with the GoPro.

Diving on skipskop resulted in a wild encounter with so very aggressive Raggies...I will also post this video. My son almost filled his wetsuit he got such a fright!

Despite the motor issues - water in the fuel! We had a very good Time.

Seventenths · « **Reply #79 on:** January 05, 2016, 03:30:48 PM »

More pics