Targeting Raggies

[krissi]

Hi Guys - please can anyone advise me on this subject. I have googled (not much there except anatomy and feeding habits), read Rudolph S article in Stywe Lyne but there is nothing like hands on advice from anglers
 
1.  When do raggies pup? I know that the Keiskamma Mouth (Hamburg) is a pupping ground
 
2.  What wind must blow before they come on the bite (eg Castsa advising the NE must blow for 2/3 days in Zululand before the flatfish come on the bite)?
 
3.  I believe the water temp must drop - what is the desired temp?
 
4.  Do raggies feed when they are pupping? IOW is one wasting one's time over pupping targeting these fish?
 
5.  Where is the best place to look for them ie around structure, gullies, washes, etc. I believe they have been caught in shallow water (30m from the shore)
 
6.  From my googling, they seem to feed more at night, but we won't be fishing at night, so I need to be conversant with their daytime habits.
 
I am comfortable with baits and traces - I am more interested in their habitat, habits etc. I know we have guides, etc when we fish Nationals, but I would rather go there armed with knowledge than green 

[WalkersKiller]

Hi Guys - please can anyone advise me on this subject. I have googled (not much there except anatomy and feeding habits), read Rudolph S article in Stywe Lyne but there is nothing like hands on advice from anglers
 
1.  When do raggies pup? I know that the Keiskamma Mouth (Hamburg) is a pupping ground - Raggies pup from October to March, in most large river mouths along the Eastern Cape coast
 
2.  What wind must blow before they come on the bite (eg Castsa advising the NE must blow for 2/3 days in Zululand before the flatfish come on the bite)? To my knowledge and experience the Raggies are always around, but the wind blowing from Cape Town up the coast for 3 days is the best...
3.  I believe the water temp must drop - what is the desired temp? The colder the water the better I believe 16-19 degrees is perfect, although we have caught plenty in the complete opposite co0nditions when the water is 23/24
4.  Do raggies feed when they are pupping? IOW is one wasting one's time over pupping targeting these fish? They feed very aggressively and very actively
 
5.  Where is the best place to look for them ie around structure, gullies, washes, etc. I believe they have been caught in shallow water (30m from the shore) We have caught them in water no more than 2 meters deep, 10 meters from the shore... River mouths and the surf zones adjacent to big river mouths are the best, deep water points always have a few Raggies as well
 
6.  From my googling, they seem to feed more at night, but we won't be fishing at night, so I need to be conversant with their daytime habits. Very active feeders at night, otherwise on an incoming tide in the late afternoon is good!
 
I am comfortable with baits and traces - I am more interested in their habitat, habits etc. I know we have guides, etc when we fish Nationals, but I would rather go there armed with knowledge than green 

[krissi]

Thanks WK very informative and helpful 

[WalkersKiller]

Thanks WK very informative and helpful 

No prob Krissi 

[Hooch]

Krissi
My biggest rag of 210cm (179kg) were cought in a dropping bara meter with a south westerly pumping at St Lucia. The fight is not that great, hence we call them Bags
All the months with a "R" in them are good for targeting these bags. They love swimbaits, deadbaits, almost anything you throw at them. They normaly have only one pup. The female might be pregnant with two or three, but the stronger one of the pups will eat the other pups to survive.

Attach, please find a article written by Dr ML Dicken.

Sure this will shed some light on all your questions.

[Hooch]

One More

[krissi]

One More

Thanks Hooch - guess bedtime stories are the order of the day    (Will print and read) I believe the fight is not good, but the points are - they will be one of our target species at nationals - no slides/swimbaits    so gonna have to make bloody, biggish (so I can cast it) baits on FMJ.
 
PS I really appreciate all the help UA members 

[krissi]

Just out of interest - there is a guy who is based at Kaysers Beach in the EC who is studying raggies - anyone from down there know who he is and if I could contact him?

[Hooch]

Just out of interest - there is a guy who is based at Kaysers Beach in the EC who is studying raggies - anyone from down there know who he is and if I could contact him?

Try Meagg from SASC, she has been very helpfull in the past.