Hole in the wall trip no 2 in 2024

[ianf]

That time of the year again, when we take a bunch of guys from the church down to Hole in the Wall for a week. This time we got 8 guys together, a fair mix of people who have been before, and some newbies, who have never rock and surf fished. Ages tended to be more older than younger.
We left Friday morning 7 June with one car leaving from my house and another from a house in Northcliff, (a Hilux and a Fortuner, and 1 x Challenger off-road trailer), and we met up at the Engen 1 stop just after the 1st toll road on the way to Bloem. An interesting thing I discovered while coming back on the last trip, is the the fuel at Reddersberg, just 50 km other side of Bloem is quite a bit cheaper than at Bloem, and after some research, found that it gets progressively cheaper at each town until you get to Mthatha. Our 1st stop was at Bloem for a quick loo break and leg stretch and to swap seats in the car. We then stopped at Reddersberg for fuel, as I was paying with my card (being the planner and budgeter), and I only do Caltex / Astron so as to maximise my Ucount rewards. Next stop was at Elliot, also to fill up at Caltex, loo break and leg stretch and seat swap. Passed snow on the mountains and also surprisingly on the sides of the road between Lady Grey and Barkley East. The Barkley pass was not an issue. Turned right at Elliot then left to Cala, and left again to Engcobo, and left again to Mthatha. The Engcobo road is about 1km longer than going via Ugie, and the Ugie pass is now closed due to damage to the pass, and the road conditions while not great are not that bad.
A quick stop at the big general dealer near Coffee Bay / Hole in the Wall to pick up sardines (15 boxes at R50 per box, plus 2 that I had left at the cottage from the last trip), some bread, and we were on our way. Arrived at the cottage around 16:30.
Too late and too tired to fish the afternoon, we prepared the rods for the early morning session, had a fantastic lasagne dinner, played some cards and hit the sack.
An early start (early for us) at 05:00, time for a cup of tea and a rusk, and we hit the trail to the Queen. Surprisingly few locals, and we were not disappointed. Wind is always a bit nippy when you see snow coming down, but shorts with a windbreaker, buff and beanie, were OK. Plenty of shad and bream around, and we feasted like kings at breakfast. I know some people don't enjoy the Queen as it can get crowded, but I have the attitude that I am there for fun, whereas the locals are there to put food on their tables.

[ianf]

Snow on the way down

[ianf]

Fish for breakfast

[ianf]

More fish for breakfast

[ianf]

The early start on the Queen went on every day, and we watched the sunrise from the Queen and went back for a 09:00 breakfast, often eating what we had just caught

[ianf]

Another beautiful morning

[ianf]

And then John caught this. Some of you may remember John from UA.

[ianf]

On the Wednesday morning, my roomie was fishing on the Queen, as we did every morning. His 1st trip to Hole in the Wall, using my spare rod and reel, and he hooked into a mussel cracker. With the help of our 2 gillies, they managed to get the fish out. Normal rig - 3 way swivel, hook and sinker. Sardine bait and a 5/0 hook for shad.

[ianf]

Thursday morning produced this for my mate also on his 1st trip. He had done some boat and beach fishing as a missionary in Moz, and was also on borrowed tackle, fishing with sards for shad

[ianf]

85cm in length

[ianf]

Sadly for us, the moment this guy came out of the water, the fish just disappeared. Much speculation as to the cause (they were all attending the memorial for grandfather mussel cracker), but the real reason was that the SW had been blowing for a while, which warmed the water up considerably, pushing the sards out to sea, and with them, all the other fish. The wind did turn on Friday morning, and the fish came back on to the bite on Friday afternoon. Some nice bream were caught at Little Danger. Best bait for bream is the East Coast Rock Lobster, but we also took some pink prawn with especially for the bream.
Water, while slightly chilliy, was warm enough for a swim or 2, even before the SW wind had warmed it up. There was plenty of activity of dolphins, whales and to a lesser degree diving birds. I count my blessings that I have had so much opportunity to visit this place pretty much every year since 2000.
We are already planning our trip for next year (open to the members of the Crossing Church, opposite Leeukop Prison, just in case you are interested. 
We left there around 04:00 on the Saturday morning and did the reverse  trip, with the same stops on the way home, arriving back at my place around 16:30

[MIKE PIKE]

  great report Ian , looks like everyone had a great time and some nice fish caught .

[REEFMAN]

 
Some excellent catches Ian! Brilliant stuff!!

[hrogers]

Thanks for the report and photos Ian

[victorius]

Congrats Ian on the catches and a Great Report 

[Nooduck]

Thanks for the report Ian, nice catches!
Gosh, the last time I had a freshly caught Shad for breakfast was 2001- MUST change that soon.