Author Topic: Blue Water Charters - Fishing Reports from Fat Girl and Nawty Girl (Read 111084 times)

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #80 on:** August 19, 2018, 03:17:09 PM »

Tuna for Fat Girl and Nawty Girl.
Fishing Report – Durban – 19 August 2018
The last few trips on both our boats have seen a large amount of Bonnies, Frigate Tuna and Sarda Sarda coming out along with some nice bottoms and some Yellowfin Tuna. Water temps most days have been just under and over 20deg.C and the Bonnies have been thick. Yesterday I don’t think there was a moment when someone was not fighting a Bonnie or all the lines out on the light tackle these are great fun, the Bonnies have all been in the 1.5-2kg range, the Sarda Sarda have been quite a bit bigger than the Bonnies, so great sport and they do give a good fight. Mornings have been very cold and there has been a strong reverse current.
Today both boats went out and even though the NE was blowing relatively hard the sea was not big but was rather choppy, this however did not deter the fish and the new Rapala X Rap Xtreme 160s produced the goods and both boats got good Yellowfin Tuna hook ups and a lot of Bonnies of which many of the Bonnies have been released to be caught another day.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #81 on:** August 19, 2018, 03:17:52 PM »

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #82 on:** August 21, 2018, 03:21:36 PM »

Tuna Quadruple Hook up.
Fishing Report – Durban – 21 August 2018
Today the weather forecast was wrong yet again, but for a change it was in our favour. Forecast showed a strong SW wind and some rain, but we launched this morning with a very light SW which only picked up as we were heading back to port, there was no rain but sunny skies and we had a stunning 5 hour morning trip. Water temperature is cold averaging at just over 20deg.C with a reverse current. Fishing was good today but the fish would only bite if the boat was going in a specific condition so one would see the showing on the finder, mark it and then make a turn and come back over the mark in the right direction. Bonnies were plentiful with over 20 being caught for the morning and we also released some, the Yellowfin Tuna were also around and going over one showing we had 5 reels screaming and we landed 4 at once making for great excitement, especially the one that took the ultra light rig which gave a really good fight. The fish were not behaving normally today and most were biting the lures very close behind the boat and not the ones further back, they were also jumping out the water at the lures making a great show and one could watch them jump and hit the surface lures and then watch the road bend and the reel zing. We also had a double hook up on the Rapala X Rap Xtreme’s but one came off and we landed the other. Then as we were heading back to port a few Kilometres out, we had another Yellowfin Tuna hooked up from one of the bullets running far back. Great fun all in a 5 hour morning trip.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

dugong · « **Reply #83 on:** August 22, 2018, 11:26:22 AM »

Don't want to sound like a stickinthemud but those look undersize larnie

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #84 on:** August 22, 2018, 05:00:30 PM »

Quote from: dugong on August 22, 2018, 11:26:22 AM

Don't want to sound like a stickinthemud but those look undersize larnie

That's the problem when you just look with your eyes and a picture does not show true perspective.
All those fish were between 4.2 and 4.5Kg and all measured 63cm and more.

For your information in case you do not know, minimum size for YFT is 3.2kg which equals a 56cm fish, whilst we cannot weigh whilst out on a choppy sea, but we do measure and anything under 57cm goes back.

Besides all this, if you look at the pics you will see that these pics are taken out at sea and so you do not know if they were released or not.

We also cannot control what size fish will actually hit our lures.

And lastly, do you really think that I would risk my whole business by bring back undersize fish?

This is the problem with social media, fish to big, fish too small, fish not that weight, too many fish, too little fish. No matter what one posts there will always be someone with something to say even though he was not there and has no actual knowledge except for an uninformed opinion.
And these comments are totally out of line because they all have no substance.

So yes, you do sound like a stick in the mud

Hammer · « **Reply #85 on:** August 22, 2018, 05:04:56 PM »

Correct, well said..........

Quote from: Capt. Hook on August 22, 2018, 05:00:30 PM

Quote from: dugong on August 22, 2018, 11:26:22 AM
Don't want to sound like a stickinthemud but those look undersize larnie
That's the problem when you just look with your eyes and a picture does not show true perspective.
All those fish were between 4.2 and 4.5Kg and all measured 63cm and more.

For your information in case you do not know, minimum size for YFT is 3.2kg which equals a 56cm fish, whilst we cannot weigh whilst out on a choppy sea, but we do measure and anything under 57cm goes back.

Besides all this, if you look at the pics you will see that these pics are taken out at sea and so you do not know if they were released or not.

We also cannot control what size fish will actually hit our lures.

And lastly, do you really think that I would risk my whole business by bring back undersize fish?

This is the problem with social media, fish to big, fish too small, fish not that weight, too many fish, too little fish. No matter what one posts there will always be someone with something to say even though he was not there and has no actual knowledge except for an uninformed opinion.
And these comments are totally out of line because they all have no substance.

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #86 on:** August 22, 2018, 05:24:27 PM »

I also want to add something here.

We were the first charter operator in Durban to practice catch and release with our aim at responsible and sustainable angling, we been in operation 10 years now and have always run this way.

On our boat it is compulsory to release all King Fish, Queen Fish, Garrick, Sharks and Billfish and any fish caught by spinning or fly. This is not an option for our clients it is a condition for booking with us.

We do not allow over quota or undersize fish and have turned down many requests for people who want to book in this way.

And even more importantly we do not sell any fish and trust me I get calls almost everyday, especially from the shore shark fishing fraternity looking for bait.

We also do not even target Geelbek or Daga Salmon because the pressure they face and the amount that get eaten by sharks when you hook them up.

We also focus much more on game fish than bottom fish to keep our impact on the reefs at a minimum, but yes we do have to do it some parts of the year when game fish are not a possibility.

We also release a lot of fish, an example would be bonnies, in the last month we have hooked up a few hundred, more than 75% were released.

Our business is taking people fishing and many of these people on fish once a year, some even less so they do want to take something home to eat as it is part of the experience to eat what you have caught.

dugong · « **Reply #87 on:** August 22, 2018, 08:43:08 PM »

Quote from: Capt. Hook on August 22, 2018, 05:00:30 PM

Quote from: dugong on August 22, 2018, 11:26:22 AM
Don't want to sound like a stickinthemud but those look undersize larnie
That's the problem when you just look with your eyes and a picture does not show true perspective.
All those fish were between 4.2 and 4.5Kg and all measured 63cm and more.

For your information in case you do not know, minimum size for YFT is 3.2kg which equals a 56cm fish, whilst we cannot weigh whilst out on a choppy sea, but we do measure and anything under 57cm goes back.

Besides all this, if you look at the pics you will see that these pics are taken out at sea and so you do not know if they were released or not.

We also cannot control what size fish will actually hit our lures.

And lastly, do you really think that I would risk my whole business by bring back undersize fish?

This is the problem with social media, fish to big, fish too small, fish not that weight, too many fish, too little fish. No matter what one posts there will always be someone with something to say even though he was not there and has no actual knowledge except for an uninformed opinion.
And these comments are totally out of line because they all have no substance.

So yes, you do sound like a stick in the mud

Don’t get so grumpy, that’s why I said ‘look undersize’ ........I suppose that is the problem with social media......if you post something then expect to get an answer(positive or negative) and the answer is ‘usually’ an opinion(imagine a forum with no opinion/subjectivity/debate)
IMO (with some knowledge and not totally uninformed

) some of those fish ‘look’ undersized, especially rooibaards

anyways you are 100% right I wasn’t there

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #88 on:** September 03, 2018, 07:18:59 PM »

Good Tuna in a big swell.
Fishing Report – Durban – 3 August 2018
We launched late this morning at 08h00 for a short 4 hour charter after the strong SW wind slowed down, the swells were still on the big side but got better as the morning went on. It was a few minutes after we set our lines that we had the first Bonnie on deck and this was to be one of many to come for the morning. Once a bit further out we hooked into a nice fish but 30m from the boat it came off the hook. About 2 hours after we launched we had a good hook up and boated a lovely Yellowfin Tuna and had some more fun with double, triple and quadruple hook ups with Bonito.
The Bonnies have been thick this year and on our trip on Saturday afternoon we had some wild and crazy Bonnie action which broke all our previous records landing 34 Bonito in 30 minutes which was awesome fun on light tackle and the chaos and mayhem of so many fish happening at once just got everyone’s adrenalin pumping, thinking about it gets me excited, we were getting more than 1 fish per minute in that 30 minutes of wild action. The Bonnies are averaging the 2kg mark now.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

HooknCook · « **Reply #89 on:** September 03, 2018, 08:02:47 PM »

Nice and well done!!

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #90 on:** September 04, 2018, 09:23:07 AM »

10 Years of charters. From humble beginnings on the 1st of September 2008, a small boat and 6 fishing rods we have overcome many obstacles to be here today. With well over 1000 charters operated, more than 6000 happy guests aboard our boats and countless fish caught. Today we run 2 boats and are one of the leading charter operators running out of Durban. I would like to thank all those who have supported us over the years, our service providers, those who lent a helping hand in times of need and my team. Most importantly I would like to give thanks to God.

Mal Hannes · « **Reply #91 on:** September 04, 2018, 10:00:28 AM »

Quote from: Capt. Hook on September 04, 2018, 09:23:07 AM

10 Years of charters. From humble beginnings on the 1st of September 2008, a small boat and 6 fishing rods we have overcome many obstacles to be here today. With well over 1000 charters operated, more than 6000 happy guests aboard our boats and countless fish caught. Today we run 2 boats and are one of the leading charter operators running out of Durban. I would like to thank all those who have supported us over the years, our service providers, those who lent a helping hand in times of need and my team. Most importantly I would like to give thanks to God.

Congratulations Mike well done!!

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #92 on:** September 14, 2018, 03:27:34 AM »

Tuna, Tuna, Tuna, Fat Girl wins again.
Fishing Report – Durban – 14 September 2018
We launched at 2.30pm in the afternoon for a short fun trip and were back on the dock by 6.00pm.
It was one of those last minute trips and I must say I was not that optimistic about getting any fish in such a short time, none the less we gave it our best shot and I started to work areas that I thought would hold some Bonnies or Tuna. It was not long before we had our first bonnie on the line, then another and then another, the Bonnies are getting bigger now with a really nice one which was followed by a decent Yellowfin Tuna. After the excitement and 2 nice fish in the hatch and a bunch of others being caught I went to target my next spot and BINGO we all 9 lines go off at once with all 9 guests each fighting a fish at the same time and after some chaos and mayhem we managed to put another 9 Bonnies on the deck. Lines were reset and it was off to the next spot, I went over the spot and saw a great showing, turned around to the guys on deck and was about to shout when 4 reels started screaming at the same time and so after some more chaos and mayhem we landed 3 Yellowfin Tuna and dropped one right at the boat. So take 30 minutes out and 30 minutes back for travel time we landed 4 Yellowfin and over 20 Bonnies in 2.5hrs, not bad for an afternoon we were not optimistic about. With the 100s of Bonnies we have been getting and already some good Tuna I think we going to have a bumper game fish season this year, already one Marlin has been spotted in Durban and it is just a matter of time before the 1st Dorado comes out, especially since the water is warming up nicely, I reckon the first Dorado will come out this month. Hope I am right and we get a lot of fish, I am certain of some great Tuna fishing for the next while.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

dugong · « **Reply #93 on:** September 14, 2018, 08:20:39 AM »

Nice

Chigger · « **Reply #94 on:** September 19, 2018, 09:00:01 AM »

...They seem to be here today ..gone tomorrow..

Thats fishing I suppose..

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #95 on:** September 22, 2018, 08:02:24 PM »

Bonito are getting bigger.
Fishing Report – Durban – 22 September 2018
It was stunning conditions early this morning with light winds and flat seas when we launched for a short Inshore/Mini Deep trip on Nawty Girl. The forecast was showing a great day. It was not long before the first line went and we ended up the day with 4 nice Bonnies and 1 really nice Skipjack. Water was around 22deg.C. A strong west wind blew for about an hour during our trip and made for a very choppy sea and then all calmed down and the rain set in making us soaking wet by the time we got back to port. Weather forecasts have been so inaccurate of late we can’t even know the night before what the conditions will be the next morning.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #96 on:** September 23, 2018, 04:33:49 PM »

Marlin Food is here.
Fishing Report – Durban – 23 September 2018
Stunning conditions today but the water was cold, inshore was green water. We made our way out to some reefs and did some bottom fishing getting some Englishmen and Slinger, then we trolled 1.5hrs back making a detour out deeper along the way, swells were rather large but far spaced so comfortable and out deeper the water was warmer than inshore but still cold. We had an on/off with a small Dorado on the Rapala Xtreme and as we went along we picked up 3 Oceanic Bonitos. These Oceanic Bonito are Marlin food, and along with some flying fish that we saw, I am sure we will start getting Marlin early this season.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #97 on:** October 01, 2018, 06:57:48 PM »

Big Bull Dorado to open the season.
Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 1st October 2018
After yesterdays NE winds it was a bit choppy today but settled down as the day went on. We had a short morning trip and on our lighter tackle managed to land a really large Dorado Bull to open our Dorado account for the new season. Wow, what a fish to open the season account and congratulations to the young man who fought so hard to land it.

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

HooknCook · « **Reply #98 on:** October 02, 2018, 06:21:56 AM »

Well done, Nice fish!!

Hammer · « **Reply #99 on:** October 02, 2018, 09:36:43 AM »

Very nice Dorrie, well done.