Blue Water Charters - Fishing Reports from Fat Girl and Nawty Girl

[Capt. Hook]

About the Turtle and the Yellowfin

Fishing Report – Durban – 29.01.2018

This weekend was very frustrating with the weather reports getting it totally wrong, On Saturday light NE winds were forecast and we launched early for a 5 hour trip, as we started heading out the wind picked up and by the time we got out to the 100m we had almost 20 knots of wind from the NE. The water was green and cold and completely different to what we had the day before where we hooked up some really nice fish and we were not able to find any game fish and ended up doing some bottoms which was also difficult in the cold water with ice cold sinkers.

The forecast showed 30 knot SW winds for Sunday and so we cancelled the trip for another day, and then the day turned out to be stunning with no 30 knot winds and very fishable.

Today we had a short 4hr inshore trip and the conditions were really stunning with smooth flat seas and even though the North was still green and cold we found some nice clear warm water down South shortly after we crossed a current line and saw a stunning and very large turtle who gave us a boost as moments after we saw him we hooked up our first Yellowfin and ended up with 4 for the day. They were not large with the smallest measuring 60cm but on light tackle gave us some good sport.

 

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[Visenvryheid]

Cheers man..

[John F]

and saw a stunning and very large turtle who gave us a boost as moments after we saw him we hooked up our

Looks more like a "her"

Male turtles have a long tail which looks absent from your pic... always a nice sight!

[Capt. Hook]

and saw a stunning and very large turtle who gave us a boost as moments after we saw him we hooked up our

Looks more like a "her"

Male turtles have a long tail which looks absent from your pic... always a nice sight!

LOL

Thanks Marcos, I must admit I have no idea about that so just called it him. Thanks for the lesson, I learnt something new today.

Usually they dive before one can get close enough for a good pic, today I consider myself lucky to get so close to such a magnificent creature.

As you say it's female so one should exercise caution as with the human species 

[Capt. Hook]

A Big Lady, the one that got away, the Tuna and a Shark.
Fishing Report – Durban – 2-4.02.2018
We had 3 long trips from Friday through to Sunday with various guests from the UK and Austria, our team consisted of Erik, Kurt and myself.
On Friday we launched very early so we could be back well in time before the big South West wind came through and this worked out well and were back an hour before it hit Durban. On Saturday we launched very late to allow the big swells to die down and the sea just got better and better all day, we did get caught in some rain twice on the day. Sunday was normal hours and nice seas and the water had cleaned up nice after Friday afternoons big West but left us with a reverse current.
On Friday water was green cold and dirty up to the 200m and so we first went deep and found the Agulhas current was screaming well over 8 knots so we came back in closer and fished the colour line that we found on the 200m, we had 2 Marlin strikes and landed 3 Yellowfin Tuna.
Saturday was a cool day and overcast with some patches of rain and we managed 2 Dorado and a Yellowfin Tuna, the 1 Dorado was a large Queen and was the biggest fish the angler had ever caught, she put up a good fight and aerial display for us. It’s so awesome to be part of someone getting a new personal best and sharing in their excitement.
Sunday was a very frustrating day with 2 lost fish, we landed a Dorado and then Grand Dad (94 years old) had a go at a really large Oceanic Bonito (Skipjack Tuna) and for a while I could actually see the young boy in his face. It gives me great pleasure to see people filled with such delight. Later on in the day we hooked up into a fairly large Black Marlin which took a lot of line and did some really good jumps bouncing away like a bunny being chased by a fox, when it was about 400m away during the fight, the hook pulled and we lost it. I was really bummed and struggled to compose myself for a short while after that, so I had my sulk and then got on with the day. I really hate losing a good fish especially once you have seen it. We got back into action and then we hooked into a good size Yellowfin Tuna of about 15Kg with a Rapala X-Rap and it was right there at the boat just out of reach of the gaff when a very big and greedy Shark took it right before our eyes. At first I was not sure if I had seen this correctly, but this was confirmed by the angler who said the same thing.
Long trips are really great as one has time to interact and get to know each other, the trips are not rushed as it is with shorter trips, lots of jokes and stories are told and it all makes for a really fun day and an enjoyable time at sea.
Besides the fishing we got to see Dolphins several times on all three days and also some Turtles, we also saw a Dorado chase something as it rushed past the front of the boat and change colour in the process, the speed of the Dorado in action was impressive, there were loads of little flying fish and we saw them regularly along with a good variety of sea birds.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[Capt. Hook]

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[Capt. Hook]

Another Black Marlin for Fat Girl
Marlin Report – Durban – 10.03.2018
On Saturday morning the clean purple water was back inshore and we saw a Marlin come bouncing into the spread from the side and 1 Tiagra start screaming and it was not long before the line was halfway into the backing with over 600m of line out before we able to turn the fish. We had to fight on a light drag because we had a small Blue/White Williamson Sailfish Catcher rigged with a 6/0 hook on a 1mm leader, so rather delicate for the fish at hand. 2 hours later and by that time the NE had picked up and turned the ocean choppy we released a large Black Marlin. What a great feeling, especially on such a small lure. Well done Sakkie on your Marlin.
It’s been a frustrating 3 weeks and the water has not been that great with screaming currents, green water inside and wind from every direction, water temperatures have varied from 22deg.C – 28deg.C and out in the deep the flying fish and squid are plentiful. We have not seen a Dorado or Wahoo since early February, but we have been catching a lot of Yellowfin Tuna, including a nice size one and the Skipjack Tuna have been around in large numbers and many multiple hook ups with 1 trip yielding 18. In the last 3 weeks we have been as far as the Tugela drop off and the continental shelf and have had 5 Marlin strikes, but all of them have not committing and hitting the leader far up from the kona. All the fish and the Marlin strikes have been coming in the colder green water with the warm purple water yielding nothing. With the amount of squid, flying fish and skipjack tuna around and added to this the amount of Marlin strikes we have had I am certain that Marlin are around in fair numbers especially the Blacks so we should see some more this season.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[Capt. Hook]

Autumn Game Fish Grand Slam
Fishing Report – Durban – 13.03.2018
With summer behind us we are now in Autumn, my favourite fishing time of the year. What a stunning morning with dead flat seas and a very slight wind we made our way out to the deep to look for a Blue Marlin by the mountain, the deeper water proved to be green and cold so we decided to come back to the ledge. With some good warm purple water on the ledge there was some good action to be had on Fat Girl, lots of squid about, flying fish and birds and so the area was worked well, it started with a double Dorado hook up but both came off and in the end we landed 2 Dorado, 1 Wahoo and 2 Skipjack Tuna. The fish were not committing to the bite and a few more Skipjack Tuna also came off. We were hoping for a Marlin as with all the action around we are expecting another one soon.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[Capt. Hook]

We got this award
 The Angler's Choice Award honours charter operators that deliver consistently great service, and Blue Water Charters fulfils all the requirements.

[stickleback]

 

[Capt. Hook]

Triple up Dorado
Fishing Report – Durban – 17.03.2018
Launching at 06h00 just as the rain started to lift the day started out wet and turned into a stunning day with crystal clear warm water close inshore and it was not long before the action started and a short 5 hour charter produced 3 Dorado and 10 Skipjack Tuna making for an action packed fun filled morning and everyone getting fish. Lots of happy faces on this trip, which was a 40th birthday gift.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[dugong]

Nice , just what I was looking for the other day

[DownUnder]

Great reports.
Congratulations on the award very well done and well deserved.

[Capt. Hook]

Good Bottoms in a Strong Current
Fishing Report – Durban – 25.03.2018
Launching at 06h00 the west wind was blowing stiff with a small but choppy sea we made our way out to look for some game fish. The reverse current was screaming at 6 knots, water was blue and warm. We had 2 strikes but they did not stick and the fish came off quickly, after about 4hrs we made our way to the shallows 30-40m depth to do some bottoms as there was no ways our sinkers would stay down on deeper reefs in that strong current. As the day went on the wind dropped making for a stunning sea and whilst we were bottom fishing I watched in dismay as the water went from a stunning blue to green. Bottom fishing was good and in 3 hours we caught about 30 fish and some good size Soldier Bream, Slinger and Englishman came out. We then ran some Rapala X Raps on our way back to port getting back just after 14h00. Am glad the weather held as it got very hot and so I knew there was a storm coming which started at 16h30 long after we got back.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[Capt. Hook]

5hrs, 4 Countries, 3 Fish.
Fishing Report – Durban – 27.03.2018
We had an interesting group of guys today from 4 countries to attend a wedding. Belgium, Australia, UK. We launched at 06h00 for a short 5hr charter, by 07h30 we already had 2 x Yellowfin Tuna of around 5kg and had dropped one. Water was green but warm. I tried for more Tuna but nothing so we went out to the ledge and managed to find a Bull Dorado which gave a very hard fight and had stunning colours, by this time the NE wind had picked up to 20 knots and we had to turn and head back to shore to be on the dock by 11h00, the water got greener and dirtier the whole time, we had a big strike on the shot gun on the 50m but nothing stuck. We heard a loud bang and then saw a huge log pop out behind the boat, it must have been submerged as I did not see it; fortunately we were trolling at about 7knots so no damage.
After the trip we made the newly married guy kiss the Dorado so he can start getting used to those nights when he will have to share the kennel with the dog. LOL.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[Capt. Hook]

Two Dolly Birds and a Hoo.
Fishing Report – Durban – 29.03.2018
Today I had the pleasure of hosting one of my oldest and longest standing customers and his 7yr old son who has been booking charters with me since my first small charter boat 10 years ago. Over many trips and years we are good friends. It was really great trying to remember all the different trips over the years.
Today we launched at 06h00 for a short 5hr charter using our lighter Shimano Tyrnos rigs and were back at 11h00, early morning as we made our way out the sea was very unsettled with steep swells coming from all directions even though there was hardly a wind, later on when the SW started blowing it flattened out the sea nicely so we had a comfortable ride home. Inshore was still green and the temperature has dropped by 2deg C since my last trip 2 days ago, deeper out after the ledge it was blue and warmer and we had some good action with the 7yr old boy claiming his first Dorado ever on his first deep sea trip ever, daddy was not to be left out and landed a slightly smaller Dorado and a good size Wahoo which was a really good fight on our lighter Tyrnos rigs, we also had another Wahoo on but it came off after a few minutes and we had a very big hit on another lure but nothing stuck. Another great morning out on the ocean.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[Capt. Hook]

Kids Fishing - 3 Generations and over 200 fish
Fishing Report – Durban – 31.03.2018
We had a short Light tackle Backline Charter this morning on Nawty Girl and had Granddad, Son and Grandson on board with the trip being the very first boat and sea fishing trip of his life. He had a whale of a time and caught 44 fish with over 200 being caught for the morning. We got some Mackerel, Mozzies, Piggies and more than quota of Shad but most were undersize, an Undersize Salmon, and a Soldier Bream, but the bulk of the catch by far was over 100 Sand Soldiers which provided great fun on light tackle for the little guy keeping everybody very busy throughout the trip and some nicer fish in between. He kept 2 Mackerel, 1 Shad and the Soldier Bream so he could have a taste of fish from the sea, all the rest were safely released. With a light South West wind the sea was flat; we started out just South of the South breakwater and then later moved past the North Pier to the area in front of uShaka.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[Capt. Hook]

The Taxman cometh and taketh away.
Fishing Report – Durban – 03.04.2018
We had a short 4hr mini deep sea trip today with a Family from Jhb, was supposed to be yesterday afternoon by the NE was howling so we changed it to this morning. Typically on a mini deep sea trip we make our way out of port and troll over a few bottom spot and scan the bottom to see for fish and then we stop trolling and do bottom fishing where we found fish. Today had other plans for us, on our way out we first saw 2 pods of Bottle Nose Dolphins and then a little further out I saw schools of bait fish, I had just gone over a known pinnacle when I saw bait fish flying on my right and some big swirls and I swung the boat towards this and it was not long before the shot gun went of at a pace and in no time almost 400m of line was off the reel with a Blue and White Williamson Sailfish Catcher being taken. We were fishing light with the Shimano Tyrnos 30s paired with the light Tiagra rods and this made this all the more fun. 40 minutes later and we had a good size Yellowfin Tuna at the boat, the bird was out the water and I was leaning over to grab the leader with gaffs ready when I saw a big swirl and the water turned red with blood and we ended up with half the Yellowfin. So a big Shark had taken half our Tuna in one bite and we paid our taxes. The sea was calm and flat today but there was a double swell from 2 directions and this made all the children and ladies sick whilst we were fighting the Tuna and so they wanted to go back and we arrived back at the dock 2hrs after we left, I weighed what was left of the Tuna and it was 15Kg. I have been expecting the bigger Yellowfin Tuna to arrive in Durban at anytime. They are here.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[Capt. Hook]

Dorado on the bite today
Fishing Report – Durban – 04.04.2018
We had a trip with a family from New Zealand today on Fat Girl, we started out with the whole family on a cruise out the harbour along the beachfront and then dropped of those that did not want to go fishing and headed out for a late launch and fished for 6hrs (Supposed to be 5hrs) with our Shimano Tyrnos 30 rigs on the light Tiagra rods as per the customer choice of heavy or light tackle. The sea was calm and flat, like glass, it was too nice, it is the conditions we always dream about and when we actually get to fish these days which happen so seldom one has to change ones tactics to get more action on the lures and so we set the whole spread further back and ran at 9-10 knots to get the lures working very aggressively and in the end this paid off. We found nothing in the shallows but with our speed were out deep in no time and went as far as 400m depth; on the way out after we passed the ledge we had a Dorado hook up on the Rapala X Rap and it was the little girls turn and she fought her Dorado like a champion, we also had another hook up on the same X Rap but this came off right at the boat shot out the water and the Rapala hit my head. After this the deep produced no further action and we stated heading back with a course set for one of my favourite deeper pinnacles, before we reached the spot I was heading to we had a double Dorado hook up on a Williamson Sailfish Catcher and a Stripey Tickler and they 2 fish did and aerial acrobatics display jumping all over the show and tangling many lines. The one fish was much bigger than the other and took us well into the backing and after knitting the lines and sorting out the tangles we got them both on board with the bigger one giving an extremely hard fight. I went over my track again and we stayed out a bit longer to try get more fish after we had reset the spread and we managed to get another Dorado hook up on the same Stripey Tickler and with no tangles this time we got it to the boat. Shortly after that we brought our lines in and ran back docking an hour later than we should have.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

[Capt. Hook]

Sharks on Light Spinning Tackle.
Fishing Report – Durban – 04.04.2018
We had 2 Light Tackle Backline/Harbour Family trips on Nawty Girl today, a 3hr and a 4hr. These are fun trips for a family outing just to enjoy each other outdoors and have a blast, not serious fishing. We usually target Shad, Mackerel, Salmon and other small species on these trips with light spinning tackle. Today we had some really great fun with some Sharks on the light tackle making for real sport. All Sharks and fish were released.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za