When and Where did you Fish?

[RiyadhEd]

My apologies if there is already and existing thread, but I cant find one.


So last weekend my friend has the urge to go fishing at Dawidskraal. I am in no mood to go fishing at all, cause of time and financial investment involved as well as not being in too good of a headspace.
I tell him all this and thats its low tide and it will be tough fishing that area and am like no maybe closer to home, however an hour or so later I am all in and tell him that I will meet him there.
Anyway all in all, we had lots of enquiries on 1.0 hooks, bait was redbait, chokka, muscle and sardine. I am a prawn and worm guy but last minute prep was out of the question. We did not catch anything but it was a nice relaxing day. I enjoyed feeding the baby fish. The group that was a few meters from us enjoyed catching their 5 to 10cm fish, whatever it was.
This frustrates me, as the fish are well undersized and I like to return fish and only keep what I eat. At the same time one helps in keeping the numbers healthy. Anyway, I dont know the situation of those folk. They most likely need it to put food on the table considering todays economic climate.

[ianf]

The plan is to go fishing at Hole in the Wall in Transkei in June. Will let you know how it goes........

[RiyadhEd]

Nice, I have an open invitation to go for the last few years, but with the damn short time and short pay at work it is far from a realisation. Hope you catch plenty!

[ianf]

Only missed 2 trips there in the last 22 years. We always try to go around about June. As a rule of thumb, fishing is reasonable to good. There are no rules for how good (or bad) it will be. Too many variables like rainfall, weather, wind, snow on the mountain, water clarity, tides, etc.
I heard yesterday that there was a big shoal of sardines off Port Alfred, so hopefully these will move up to Hole in the Wall way over the next 3 weeks or so. Even when they are 'out of casting reach' it's great to watch the birds diving and all the dolphin, whale and game fish activity.

[hrogers]

My booking is at Tugela Mouth on 2 of June ( 9 days of fishing )

[ianf]

Just heard this morning, that the pass between Ugie and Mthatha has been closed indefinitely, due to heavy rainfall and heavy trucks causing damage over the years. This has always been on our route of choice.... Will have to give this some thought. There are always alternatives, but one is never sure of the road conditions on the alternative routes. But the good news is that the price of petrol / diesel looks like it is coming down next month....that will help the budget. Hope it comes down more than just a little bit

[hrogers]

Hi Ian.
You can use the back road to HITW. It's past Port St Johns. not sure how these roads are lately.
Problem is you can not drive very fast.

[RiyadhEd]

I believe petrol should be coming down by almost a rand. It is unconfirmed though. But hopefully....

[ianf]

Googled it yesterday, while doing the budget for the trip.


Biggest single cost for the trip is fuel. JHB to Hole in the wall is around 1100km, depending on the route you take. So a round trip is plus minus 2300km including 100 km of riding around down there. Average consumption for a bakkie / large SUV is around 12 - 15 L / 100km (four people to a car, towing a trailer). And the biggest factor in that pile is the speed you travel. Anything over 120 and the fuel consumption goes up proportionally.
Throw in toll fees (via Bloem, double if via KZN) and R150 per vehicle for the guys to have their cars cleaned when we get back, and you are in for R8k per car

[RiyadhEd]

Indeed, biggest reason why we dont do as many road trips any longer. At some point something needs to change as there is just way too many markups and tax payments on a single product before a consumer gets to buy it!

[hrogers]

The last trip I did was from Kriel to Winkelspruit, we were there for 3 days and from there we travel to the (Hole In The Wall) Coffee Bay.
I missed the Kokstad turn off and decide I will use the backroads to Coffee Bay.  (That was a very slow drive)
You cross the Mthatha River. to go to Coffee Bay

[Big B]

We fished the Mosselbay area in April, caught a 100 kg Raggie and got into some bronzies, most of wich was lessons learnt, managed to land two(135kgs and 165kgs) of the nine pick ups in our group, will go back to that area as soon as we get another oppertunity, very good fishing waters, must be honest had a friend with local knwoledge, so that helped a lot I'm sure.
Our next trip will only be in November to Jaybay fishing a league, but like IanF says, the cost of getting down to the coast and back is the biggest issue. But fish we will fish.
Regards
B
 

[RiyadhEd]

after being delayed yesterday, we managed to get to Pearly Beach this morning. Caught 2 bundles of kelp and a crab. Further more nothing else.