The bitou and keurbooms

[David Taylor]

I don't know that area either but I think if you follow a few basic rules when fishing any estuary or tidal system/river that you should find fish,just please release fish caught in any closed/blind river system,as that is all the fish there is and if removed will spoil the fishing for the next person and destroy the systems' fish stocks...what I meant by not fly fishing is that you mentioned...and unfortunately no idea what those are...  

Sorry what I meant is will skipjack bunnies and olive clouse type things work for them not one or the other.

Don't worry about myself and conservation. The only fish I ever keep are elf and then only 2 max to eat. I feel very strongly about killing leeries/kob/steenbras/grunter of any size in any place. If I had my way the only fish anyone would legally be allowed to kill would be stocked fish/ farmed fish. All fishing in saltwater would be with barbless hooks and no fish would be kept. I just hope I can educate enough people before it is too late. I also realise that estuaries are particularly important as they are nursing grounds and often a healthy estuary will mean good fishing in the bay into which it flows. I guess I am one of the few people my age who is looking ahead rather than looking for instant gratification and on of the very few that really appreciates the outdoors.

[David Taylor]

Here comes my 2 cents....

Both Keurbooms and Knysna will be very busy and the worst thing is that most of the boaters just don't understand what a line in the water actually means. I swear that I have had guys come so close to me before that they could look into my boat and see if i cut my toenails last night. I always fish outside of the channels, but I never understand why people think my boat is the biggest buoy on the lagoon...! Occasionally I have a giggle because they beach themselves so badly, then to get off the sand bank, they use POWERRRR! all I see is mud flying for 20-30 meters behind them in the air. 

To get to the point, fish 04h00 (Yes, that is morning) and after 19h00 (depending on tides ofcourse). Anything else is almost a waste. unless you find a very quiet spot away from the traffic. The boats on these two waterways at that time of year is baaaad! I always find that apart from moving around (Which is essential), if you fish really early in the morning and very late evening, you will catch and you will get a small bit of tranquility.

Just be warned that when fishing at night, some of these guys will see your nightlight on and assume that you are in the channel. If you are like me, fishing outside the channel or fishing shallows like I do sometimes, then sit back, sip the coffee and enjoy the show as they come roaring toward you.  Then clap and cheer  . Give credit where credit is due.

Hey David, I know both waterways quite well, so let me know if I can help you with info.

Haha I fish Hermanus quite a bit and below the maanskynbaai slipway there is a 10km/h speed limit and it is a channel. Every December I fish a few mornings at Kettle point where the channel turns. Almost without fail there are vaalies with big boats thinking they are too cool to obey the rules and they come screaming down the river and then hit the sandbank right in front of me at speed (sorry to pick on the vaalies but no smoke without fire  ). There is then a rain of sinkers and loud cheers from the Hawston fishermen. Amazing what it does to the morale of fishermen :)

[RobinF]

Don't worry about myself and conservation. The only fish I ever keep are elf and then only 2 max to eat. I feel very strongly about killing leeries/kob/steenbras/grunter of any size in any place. If I had my way the only fish anyone would legally be allowed to kill would be stocked fish/ farmed fish. All fishing in saltwater would be with barbless hooks and no fish would be kept. I just hope I can educate enough people before it is too late. I also realise that estuaries are particularly important as they are nursing grounds and often a healthy estuary will mean good fishing in the bay into which it flows. I guess I am one of the few people my age who is looking ahead rather than looking for instant gratification and on of the very few that really appreciates the outdoors.


  Well done and very well put David!