Hentiesbaai and Walvisbaai area

[SAfish]

My best friend gave me a call yesterday and told me he was going to Walvisbaai and Hentiesbaai at the end of the month. His parents will be there from the 18th for a month and he wants to go and visit them. Just a quick trip with the Defender and roof top tent: 3 days driving there from Pretoria; 3 days in Walvis and Henties and 3 days driving back. It sounds like an epic trip and I was jealous as hell!!  Then he asked me what am I doing that week. My immediate answer was that I will be at work and then it dawned on me........we are closed for that week. My heart started to beat faster. Gary said that he was planning on going alone but it would be awesome if I could join him. My heart jumped out of my chest, my mind was working overtime going over the dates etc. and then I realised that I still need to get the go ahead from my wife.
Well to make a long story short I need some advice on fishing in Namibia because I am going to Hentiesbaai!!! 
I am jumping the gun a bit with this post as I still need to find the funds for the plane ticket to GP and money for food and drink. Gary will also give me confirmation tomorrow but the trip is 95% a go! I am super stoked as I have never been to Namibia and we have been talking of doing such a trip for years.
I am not going to take a lot of tackle (we are only going to fish for 3 days) and will only take one rod and reel. As we are going to fish for eds I will only take my Exage 110H and My SL30. What would be the best way to pack my rod for transport on the plane? What fish can we expect to catch and what would be the best bait, hook size etc. for them? Any info and advice will be much appreciated. 

[SAfish]

bump

[WalkersKiller]

Hermann well done that should be an awesome trip boet Im jelous! I have never been to Namibia but I have seen some fish from there and the fishing looks unbelievable...

Lots of big Kob and Pignose that side, no idea on what baits to use but in terms of hook size 2/0's to 6/0's should be sufficient! If you can maybe try take some shark tackle there, there are massive bronzies and gully sharks that side, a friend of mine caught a 120kg Bronzie last week in Henties!

[Kumz]

Just spoke to a mate of mine today .

He was there recently ...
He will register here & load his report .

Cheers

[SAfish]

Thanks guys, I appreciate your help. I am pulling all the strings I can to make it possible. 

[Mohammad]

Hi SAFish,

See some pics i posted on the General angling topics: "Namibia at its best"

The big Cob i caught in February, but don't except to catch these sizes as they moved away by now.

However, fishing in Namibia is good provided you can read the water. Look for ginger coloured water close to the shore (between 20m and 60m from the beach). Yes, 20m is correct. The fish play very close to the shore so be carefull not to throw over them. The steenbras sometimes play as close to 10m and this is very common.

I caught 3 Bronzies about 30m from the size back to back.

Fish to expect: Cob, Steenbras, Spotties and bronzies. I suggest on this trip target edibles and get to know the coastline. on your next trip you can target the bronzies.

Tackle: 1/0, 2/0 and 4/0 hooks should be all you need. Take Grapnel sinkers. The lighter the line the better. I fish 0.40 thickness and sometimes drop to 0.37 if theres no reef. 0.43 is an excellent choice if you not confident with thinner line.

Traces: double hook traces for steenbras as you don't have to cast very far (2/0 at the bottom, 1/0 at the top). Trace line of 0.50.
For cob a standard 4/0 single hook trace. Trace line of 0.50.
You will even land a spotty on this trace, do not use steel for spotty but rather a heavier trace line of about 0.8mm.

Bait: Sardines (I suggest taking a few 1kg boxes from here as they can get expensive in Namibia). This works well for all species except galjoen.
White mussels, this works well for all species.
Baby crab from the locals for steenbras, but not really neccessary.
Crayfish which is the ultimate bait for steenbras, but not worth the price.
Chokka and octopus leg.

My 3 baits: Sardines, mussels and octopus leg.

Hope this helps

[Mohammad]

Hi SAfish,

I just re-read your post and you mentioned Pta - Hentjies in 3days.
Here's a thought as i've done this many times:
Pta - lobatsi border (Botswana)        approx: 2.5 hrs
Lobatsi - buitepos border (Namibia)  approx: 10 hrs
Buitebos - Hentjies                            approx: 7 hrs
Total journey:                                    approx: 20hrs

You can do this in 2 days. This would leave you with 2 extra days to fish.

[Mohammad]

Something to look at while you there.....

From: Cashbox van Wyk [mailto:stainles@mweb.com.na]
Sent: 04 April 2011 14:34
To: Gerrie Hough
Subject: Easter Angling Bonanza

 

Aan alle Hengelaars:

Die Hervormde kerk (Kus gemeente) bied weereens die PAAS HENGEL KOMPETIESIE aan OP SATERDAG 23 APRIL TE HENBTIES BAAI. Baia pryse te wen. Geen kaartjie, geen prys.

Ek sal kaartjies saamvat na Horingbaai. Sal alle klubs asb. hulle hengelaars inlig ivm. die kompetiesie. Die kaartjies kos N$30-00 elk. En Jy hoef nie daar te wees vir die gelukkige trekkings nie.

So geen verskoning nie. Koop tog asb almal n kaartjie of meer, dis tog vir n goeie doel. Miskien kan die kapteins elk sommer n hele boekie of 2 koop, daar is 5 kaartjies in n Boekie. @ N$150-00

per Boekie. (TOTALE PRYSWAARDE IS +- N$20,000-00) SLYP JULLE HOEKE.

Ek dank julle by voorbaat vir die Ondersteuning.

Cashbox/Mako

[SAfish]

Thanks for all the valuable information. I am at work now and will read it again thoroughly tonight. Have some cred in the meantime. 

[SAfish]

Mohammad, thank you for all the information, I really appreciate it. I almost forgot ... 
Just a couple of questions and comments:
- Will I be able to catch octopus myself or do I have to buy it?
- With your standard trace will that be sliding sinker or fixed?
- My friend wants to make a whole journey of the trip and he also wants to visit some of his friends on the way. If I had my way we would drive the 20hrs straight and only stop for fuel.  :sml:
- What would be the best way to pack my rod for transport on the plane? I suppose I would need to put it in an additional tube?
Thanks again and I will ask more questions later if you don't mind?

[SAfish]

I heard today that my trip to Henties is cancelled.  Thank you to all the guys that provided me with information, I will keep it for the day I get to go there. 

[WalkersKiller]

I heard today that my trip to Henties is cancelled.  Thank you to all the guys that provided me with information, I will keep it for the day I get to go there. 

Sheesh unlucky Hermann that really sucks bud! 

[REEFMAN]

Nawt bru!  That sucks. 

[SAfish]

I just couldn't get everything sorted out in such a short time. I told my wife that I would rather save the money and try and see if I can make the Vidal trip. I am working on a couple of strategies to get the time off from work but it is not going to be easy. 

[REEFMAN]

Herman... if you can get yourself to Vidal, your accomodation will be sorted and paid for, courtesy of UA... so just get your leave and transport sorted.

[PH]

Herman... if you can get yourself to Vidal, your accomodation will be sorted and paid for, courtesy of UA... so just get your leave and transport sorted.

     

[SAfish]

Herman... if you can get yourself to Vidal, your accomodation will be sorted and paid for, courtesy of UA... so just get your leave and transport sorted.

Reefman, I don't know what to say. You guys are great and I will try my bestest best to be there!!!      x 1000000000000000000000000!!