ULTIMATE ANGLING - the Ultimate SA Fishing website
General Angling Topics => Species targeting articles => Topic started by: Willie on July 12, 2011, 03:16:20 PM
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This topic arrives from WK's :fshn: report. The stonebream is a vegetarian and feeds red seaweeds. I have been pondering on this one and what can a person use that will resamble the red seaweed. As I have mentioned I have been catching them with a small piece of sardine and untidy wound cotton always leaving a few strings hanging, but their must be a way these can be targeted? They are excelent to catch as they give a good fight on light tackle.
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CAMO -WORM !!!
Thats the only way I have ever caught them !
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CAMO -WORM !!!
Thats the only way I have ever caught them !
Do you get a good success rate?
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Superb fighting fish...
From what I have learned about this fish while trying to catch more of them is that you are right Willie, about 75% of their diet includes red seaweeds where the other 25% includes green seaweeds and small organisms as well as other creatures that are accidently ingested while feeding on the seaweed.
They readily take chokka and sardine baits along the Natal coast, generally these are juvenile fish and not bigger than 25cm, but shrimp and redbait is said to be the best bait for this species, which might explain why I caught the Stonebream on a few small sand prawns hooked through the tail...
In my many years of targeting them I have thrown all sorts of baits and used different techniques... Both my Stonebream were caught on float about 1 hour before low tide...
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wouldnt really call it good... I got a few small fish that day... all on camo worm... but Ive onle ever caught stonies on the camo.
Biggest was about 25cm or so
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CAMO -WORM !!!
Thats the only way I have ever caught them !
Hooked and lost one small Stonbream last year July on Camo Worm fished on the bottom with a light sinker and just letting it drift in the current...
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Always hear of people catching them on redbait?! Or maybe it's a different species...
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Always hear of people catching them on redbait?! Or maybe it's a different species...
I think it is the Stonebream Marcos because I have heard it is probably the best bait to use in the Eastern Cape for them off the rocks, I just can never find any <:
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I will think that red bait will work just have to present it in a way that the fish will want it. So Marcos how do I make red bait look like seaweed?
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In KZN the local guys usually only use the green sea weed as bait. This is where I was schooled in Stonie fishing.
Pinning the green lettuce as its called locally it in the stem or threading the thicker leaves through the hook.
Smaller strong hooks with a light ball or bottle sinker.
Throwing nearby in the rocks in less than a metre water sometimes. Best fishing for them on the incoming high tide.
I've caught and seen some really big ones come out. Pushing between 2 and 3kg and bigger.
They will readily take sand prawns and in my opinion is probably the best bait for them having had much success on this bait. The big ones are probably only second to a brusher in fighting strength, from having lost some big ones! Have also had a few straightened and broken hooks fishing for them!
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Thanks Deonb I was at the coast last year October and I thought that using seaweed as bait sounds duh but there will give that a try as well. I even bought a red plastic squid and used the thin pieces but with no luck.
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@Willie: red bait is kinda "meaty" and when cut in strips would resemble red algae, I suppose....
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The Stonebream often proves a very tricky fish to catch. Perseverance and patience is required when catching this hard fighting salt water fish species. Areas to fish for the Stonebream are primarily rocky areas with quite a bit of white water, although they are often caught in large tidal rock pools and in white water close to the shore.
The best bait for catching Stonebream are worms extracted from the rocky areas where they thrive at low tide. These worms are often amongst sea weed or mussels. Redbait and Shrimp are also 2 very good baits for catching Stone Bream. And with my many hours of perseverance I still have yet to catch one of these fish with Squid (Chokka) although the Dropshot fishing methods prove to land a lot of these fish! Camo Worm is a must for Stonebream on Dropshot!
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Here's a pic of a 2kg stonebream caught on prawn/pencil bait mix. Fish was released. (clap)
Caught by an aquaintance of mine...
Congrats to the angler WB.
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Great info guys, will try it out as well!
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Great info guys, will try it out as well!
Ok so next week i want to you with a 2kg stonebream in the hand, or 2 x 1kg atleast..... Get out there and catch 'em all.
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How are these puppies??? ..Caught on Sea weed ..... :clwn
38 & 44 cm ...
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Kumz, those are great catches!! How did you put the weed on the hook? Thread it on like you do a blob bait?
Great thread this!
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How are these puppies??? ..Caught on Sea weed ..... :clwn
38 & 44 cm ...
Go Kumz, our own resident weed expert.... I mean sea weed expert... :crzy
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Thanks Reefer ..nah you tie it as if you putting on a chokka bait with tassles ... Tie it on shank of hook & leave some extra hanging below ....
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Those are both probably very close to 2kg's each ... The 44cm one def....
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Go Kumz, our own resident weed expert.... I mean sea weed expert... :crzy
:tkx: ...what can i say i have many talents .... :clwn ........ :hehe:
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Those are both probably very close to 2kg's each ... The 44cm one def....
I never checked ... but they cud not fit in my 12 lt chiller .... w;k
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I never checked ... but they cud not fit in my 12 lt chiller .... w;k
According to the fish weight/lengt chart.....
38cm = 1.2 kg
44cm =1.9 kg
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thanks J-Rock ...
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thanks J-Rock ...
No problems!!! :hehe:
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Kumzie those are two proper Stonies, have you caught any other species on seaweed?
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Kumzie those are two proper Stonies, have you caught any other species on seaweed?
Nope ..i was shown by a loacl what to do ... they use it all the time ... i never fished again - Properly ??? hahahahahaa
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Anyone ever slid one and got a pick up on it?
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Kumz (clap) that is two nice looking stonies close to the record according to van der Elst which is 2.5Kgs.
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Kumz (clap) that is two nice looking stonies close to the record according to van der Elst which is 2.5Kgs.
:tkx: ... :corrct: ..i cud not claim record ... :-( ...hoping to catch some beega 1's soon ...put a few claims in ... w;k
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Congrats KUMZ & J-Rock's friend - :cgrts: Those are huge Stonies & the biggest i've ever seen . Aka "STINKERS" due to the smell of the guts when being cut open & the rotten seaweed. Gr8 fun on light outfit :fshn: :yipee:
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In Durbs the locals use to catch some monster's in South Pier (AKA West) and Cuttings in Merebank.They used Seaweed/Rock worms or Cracker Shrimps as bait.I saw many well over the 45cm mark.
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In Durbs the locals use to catch some monster's in South Pier (AKA West) and Cuttings in Merebank.They used Seaweed/Rock worms or Cracker Shrimps as bait.I saw many well over the 45cm mark.
:shre: Vernon (clap)
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In Durbs the locals use to catch some monster's in South Pier (AKA West) and Cuttings in Merebank.They used Seaweed/Rock worms or Cracker Shrimps as bait.I saw many well over the 45cm mark.
:corrct: Those 2 beeg puppies were landed @ Cuttings ... w;k
@ BJR ... :tkx:
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Kumzie those are two proper Stonies, have you caught any other species on seaweed?
I, myself have caught a few smaller Bronze Bream, Karranteen and even a couple of Blacktail believe it or not while trying for Stonies using the green sea weed (lettuce)as bait at Tiger Rocks (Isipingo) in KZN.
When you pluck the sea weed of the rocks, you get a lot of tiny crustaceans running about in there. I think that the fish actually feed or are attracted to the little crustaceans as much as the sea weed itself or more maybe even more.
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Awesome stuff Deon I will definitely give it a go! :shre:
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I, myself have caught a few smaller Bronze Bream, Karranteen and even a couple of Blacktail believe it or not while trying for Stonies using the green sea weed (lettuce)as bait at Tiger Rocks (Isipingo) in KZN.
When you pluck the sea weed of the rocks, you get a lot of tiny crustaceans running about in there. I think that the fish actually feed or are attracted to the little crustaceans as much as the sea weed itself or more maybe even more.
:corrct: .... :shre: .... :win:
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Hi guys, just thought I'd refresh this topic as my cousin caught these two beautiful Stonies at Tiger Rocks in Isipingo yesterday afternoon.
He was using the infamous Lettuce ( green seaweed) as bait. Targeting specifically Stone Bream. Landed five in total.
These two kept two for the pot. Lost 2, after what he described as the fights of his life. Small rod and reel combo. No. 6 Daicihi hook and standard bronze bream trace with no float.
The one measured 44cm and the other 48cm head to end of tail.
I am so jealaas!
I hope the pics come through as this is my first time attaching pics.
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:cgrts: the 48cm is equal to the SA angling record of 2.5Kg (clap)
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Wow!
Now I'm like the sea weed...... :envy
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Can someone please show a pic of this lettuce and how to rig it ?
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Can someone please show a pic of this lettuce and how to rig it ?
Uncle homie wants to catch a SA Record! :crzy
It would be good to know for future reference :vio
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:shre: Deon!
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Can someone please show a pic of this lettuce and how to rig it ?
How rude off me...
:cgrts: on the fish !!!
:udman:
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Will show u on Da 01 Oct Social ...
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hi guys , i fish at cuttings alot and in the late summer you can catch as many as 15 stonies in one day , caught plenty big ones, we call them kites , due to the shape.
the best baits for them are the worms your get with the mussels on the rocks, a word of caution, these are illegal in natal.
The second best bait and what i use all the time are sand prawn, crackers, the trick is to remove the big claw or the stonies will just pull them of the hook. Use no. 6 stainless hooks for best results. if you plan to release the fish, this poses a problem cos they tend to frighten of the shoal when you lose fish or release them.
incoming tide produces the most pulls, I prefer to use nylon cos braid is a bit too direct. the rods got to havea soft tip so he can pull you flat before you strike.
reading all these posts makes me wish i was back home........instead of being stuck in the middle of the indian ocean halfway to singapore......thanks to UA for making it easier
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:welc: String, great post there! I love targeting Stonebream! Have some cred :win:
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Listing to all the posts, in our comps (Common Venue) we do not use seaweed but cracker shriomps and as a last resort prawn to target the stonies. I was fishing on Saturday with a mate and we were shot for shot on wit the stonies only using prawn and crackers. I landed one of 2.4kg acording to weight to length, Just off the record and tagged and released it. But trust me these fish will take a live cracker and prawn.
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Wow 2.4 Kgs is a nice fish :cgrts: Thanks for the tip.
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Seaweed and the green cabbage/lettuce that you get on some of the rocks are favoured baits over here.
Black drummer and luderick are a much sought after species and the drummer reminds me a little of the Stonebream and Chub.
The weed is knotted and wrapped around a long shank hook (size 1 or 2) and used under a float.
Have not tried it myself, but the results are great!