Author Topic: Eastern Cape spinning in the surf (Read 46567 times)

Tommo · « **on:** May 24, 2011, 09:55:06 AM »

Just back from an amazing trip to the Eastern Cape. We started our trip fishing the Woody Cape area, north of Sunday's river mouth. We were spinning for Kob in the surf zone. The kob fishing was mainly done over the low tide periods, when we could wade out onto the shallow sandbanks and cast spoons, dropshots and bucktail jigs out to the inside edges of the deeper banks and work the white water along the edges of the banks and the channels.
I must say that this is very productive and exciting fishing, with some great fish to be caught. The kob are pretty aggressive and hit the lures as soon as they come off the bank and into their zone. We caught fish on all lures, but possibly the most effective were the bucktail jigs. I guess mainly because they cast a bit further than dropshots, due to their smaller profile. The size that we did well on were one and a half ounce, with a white head and olive tail.
The most important aspect of this type of fishing is reading the water, so that you are concentrating your efforts in the right areas. I was with some guys who really know their business when it comes to reading water in that environment, and I learnt a lot from them. We were using pretty light tackle, Shimano Aerocast 9' rods, along with Stella 5000 reels and 20lb sufix performance braid. This set up is ideal, as it is light enough to cast all day, yet still has plenty of power to handle the fish that you catch and the ability to cast the lures the distance required.
My mate Chris Schoultz got a nice surprise garrick as well on a bucktail jig while targeting kob in the early morning, which gave him a lovely fight on the light tackle.
We were filming this trip, so you can look forward to seeing all of the action on Inside Angling at some stage in the near future.

Kumz · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2011, 10:03:20 AM »

..Super Stuff Tommo...

... :shre: ...

Homie · « **Reply #2 on:** May 24, 2011, 10:04:15 AM »

Great stufff Tommo !

Jakes · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2011, 10:39:23 AM »

Tommo, I say this again, you definitely did something SUPER right in a previous lifetime because you really have the "Ultimate Angling" job.

As always, FANTASTIC cathces ...

and :shre:

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2011, 10:50:06 AM »

Great stuff Tommo, looking forward to the episode... What technique were you using when fishing the bucktails? Thats a lovely Kob

REEFMAN · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2011, 10:57:45 AM »

Tommo....

Providing a great inspiration to us all, as usual!

SAfish · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2011, 11:46:30 AM »

Great stuff!!

Tommo · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2011, 11:57:43 AM »

Just casting the bucktail out onto the bank, allowing it to sink to the bottom and then twitching it back, with enough pause between twitches to allow it to make contact with the bottom. Most times the hits come just after the bucktail has come off the bank on the edge of the channel in the churned up milky water.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #8 on:** May 24, 2011, 12:57:28 PM »

Quote from: Tommo on May 24, 2011, 11:57:43 AM

Just casting the bucktail out onto the bank, allowing it to sink to the bottom and then twitching it back, with enough pause between twitches to allow it to make contact with the bottom. Most times the hits come just after the bucktail has come off the bank on the edge of the channel in the churned up milky water.

Tommo + cred!

AD97 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 24, 2011, 12:59:08 PM »

Well done again Tommo- Hey Gareth you thinking what I am thinking mate?

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2011, 12:59:59 PM »

Quote from: AD97 on May 24, 2011, 12:59:08 PM

Well done again Tommo- Hey Gareth you thinking what I am thinking mate?

haha YEEEEEES BRU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BigG · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2011, 03:36:55 PM »

:shre: Tommo !!

Makes me miss home !

tyrrell · « **Reply #12 on:** May 25, 2011, 12:12:13 PM »

Hectic stuff! I live in the EC and I'm

! Sounds like you guys had a great couple of sessions. If anyone's going to get you onto the fish in our water it's Chris

Tommo · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2011, 11:25:09 PM »

I chatted to some guys from East London who travel up into the transkei over weekends to target kob in the surf on leadheads dressed with paddletail plastics. They are doing very well with this form of fishing, landing half a dozen fish or so each in most sessions. What really worries me is that the guys are keeping these fish. Not only is this illegal, as we are allowed one kob each per day, but it is also a major threat to the kob stocks along our coastline. Fishing jigs for kob is a deadly technique, which can do a lot of damage if not done responsibly. I appeal to all who try this to please think of the future and release your catch. Keep the one that you are entitled to if you want a fish for the pot, but don't get carried away and ruin it for everyone else.
It worries me that by sharing knowledge in magazines, on TV and on public web forums I and others are enabling some of the wrong anglers to improve their catches. Please guys, it is very tempting to clam up and keep the information secret in order to protect the fish. At the same time it isn't fair on the guys who genuinely want to go out and enjoy themselves, and will treat the fish with respect. It is a tough one. I appeal to all responsible anglers to take a stand when you see others doing wrong. It is up to us to educate those guys or there will be no fish left for any of us or our children to enjoy.

Fish-Hunter · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2011, 09:52:20 PM »

I agree with you Tommo,just today I came across a group of Anglers murdering the shad. All sizes were kept,it was shocking,these guys had no regard for the bag limit of only 4 per angler.

I came up with an idea of telling one chap that the Parkies had just pulled up in the car park,he just informed me that that's OK they all have fishing permits. I could not believe my ears. I had to leave it at that as I was out numbered.

Does anybody know if there is a tel number one could call to report this sort of thing.

kalf · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2011, 11:21:40 AM »

I was just reading your article in Rock,surf and deep about grunters on surface lures and was thinking the same thing, very difficult for you guys to share knowledge openly when some guys misuse it. Thats why guys also dont want to give away to much info on catches made, lure type retrieve and stuff.

Been lucky lately with a couple of leery on lure and had guys asking me if they could have them, just made as if a didnt hear them and let the fish go, difficult when you alone and there is a mob wanting everything that comes out! Can never see myself keeping one especially after what we learnt from Chris and Paul about conservation of our rivers. Guys take grunter out Swartkops like there is no tommoro and dont realise those fish are resident and only spawn once a year.

Great fishing by the way, you guys really rock on lure!!

Tommo · « **Reply #16 on:** June 05, 2011, 03:09:59 PM »

Yep it is a tough one. This afternoon I went down to try and get some fresh shad for dinner. I arrived at a spot where there were a few Zulu guys fishing. They said that the shad weren't on the bite. I put on a really tiny little spoon and got a tiny little shad first cast. I ended up catching about a dozen shad, but they were all undersize. The locals fishing with sard and bigger spoons were not getting anything. They got a bit grumpy with me releasing the undersized fish and came over to ask me not to. They said I must rather give the fish to them. I said no, it is illegal and I wouldn't do it. I ended up packing up and moving to another spot a couple of K's away. The shad were really on when I got there, and much better size. There was already a group of about ten guys getting stuck in. Four casts with a bit of a bigger spoon got me four size shad, and I started to pack up. I watched how the guys were drilling the shad, and to be honest never saw a single fish go back, regardless of size. The guys also obviously had well over their limit and had no plans on stopping. To be perfectly honest I don't like my chances of not being knifed or something if I got involved, so I just left and drove home with my dinner. I phoned our south coast Parks board guy and told him what was going on, and he said he is just swamped. They have been recovering fish from various spots in the area, and his guys have worked their hours now and have to knock off for the day. It sounds like he is trying his best, but they are understaffed and under equipped to handle the slaughter that takes place at this time every year.

SAfish · « **Reply #17 on:** June 05, 2011, 03:48:15 PM »

Tommo, I saw this behaviour here as well when the guys were catching Garrick and ignored the bag limit. At that time I was sick at home for 3 weeks and kept a close eye on them. I would then phone my contact at parks board and they responded every time. They issued fines and send them the guys packing. I have now volunteered to become an honourable ranger and will be able to join them in their fight against these poachers. I believe that every little bit helps and will a difference.

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #18 on:** June 06, 2011, 09:11:03 AM »

It grates me that people murder the Shad like that, and it makes me even more angrier that the officials dont do anything either

aquadementia · « **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2011, 04:23:38 PM »

thanks for the info Tommo, nice kob man!

When I was still working as a tackle salesman, we couldnt keep up with the demand for bucktails, spinning rods and reels and soft plastics... Once the guys figured out that it works so well, it just exploded in the JBay area... As you said, the problem is that guys dont put them back! I know of at least 2 anglers who catch kob and crackers as a full time job!

We desperately need enforcement of our laws!!