Bait Shops in George/Wilderness for Sardines

S

soupcan

Member
Hi Guys

I've been fishing in Ballots Bay - just off George for the last few summers and I always get stuck when it comes to fresh frozen Sardines.  I'm told there are 4 or 5 tackle shops in George that sell bait.  So far I always end up going to Sports Centre in George - that has a nice selection of rods, reels and tackle, but the bait is shocking.  The last 2 years I've bought "pap" sardines/pilchards that literally comes apart when you cast - and that's even with heavy salting the night before to get it to toughen up a bit - but it's just awful quality.  Never shopping there again if I can help it - I've been ripped off.

I also know of the garage/cafe as you enter Wilderness, on the left, that is supposed to stock bait in a chest freezer - but I couldn't find it.

So if you know of a supplier that sells 1kg or even 2kg fresh froze pilchards - please post:  Name, Location/Address and Tel number - I'd be most grateful.

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I have read this post below, and the only useful numbers are for Outdoor Extreme in the Langeberg Mall - which is on the way up to George from Mossel Bay and too far for a 1kg box of pilchards.
http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=54933&forum_id=1
 
A

A007M21

New member
Thats quite sad - I've often bought bait from Sport Centre (sardines included) and have never had a problem like yours.

There is a new guy running the fishing section (Jaco) - might be getting better quality stuff now.

Otherwise try Xtreme Fishing at the bottom of York Street - across the road from Checkers, next to the garage and Romans Pizza
 
S

Spool-Song

Sealiner
Yip

Extreme Fishingis the place to go for the freshest individually wrapped sardines in the Southern Cape! There tjokka is also just as fresh!

And whilst you are there you can get your reel magged too:cool:
 
S

soupcan

Member
Great guys - thanks for the loyal supporters of Xtreme Fishing! 

Any other places that I should know of?  Can anyone confirm that drop freezer in the garage/cafe in Wilderness or any other lesser know freezers in George/Wilderness.

I must say, regarding Sports Centre - there is an old saying "Once - shame on you.  Twice - shame on me!"  I don't think it's fair to try a third time - regardless of whoever runs that shop.  All it takes is a careless employee to turn off the freezer for a day and the batch is a gonner.  But 2 years in a row is obviously a bigger problem.

So, any other places please?
 
E

EXTREMIST

Sealiner
Drive to Go Fish in Mossel Bay.. Buy ENOUGH fresh bait for the season and keep it in your freezer at home.. Problem solved..
 
P

Psy

Sealiner
Xtreme fishing in York street George, is probably your best bait! His sardines are alway individually wrapped.

Arms and tackle, who are close by also stock bait...but are more tackle orientated than bait.

Tackle traders in George (Hope st) has a very good selection of good quality baits, like Octopus, Tjokka, Sardine, red bait, mussel,prawn, bonito and mackerel.

Go Fish Mossel Bay will sort all your issues out in one breath. Shawn has the widest range of tackle and freshest baits in the area.

Mossel Bay has also Viking fishing who stock big boxes of sardine mainly used for the skiboat fisherman.

Robberg fisheries in Plett will also have fresh sardine.

Wilderness cafe is good for nothing!!

Tight lines!!
 
S

soupcan

Member
Excellent info - thanks to all for helping.  So far we have QUALITY providers in:

George:
Xtreme Fishing: 1 York Street - across from Checkers and Romans Pizza
Arms and tackle & Ourdoor World: Shop 10-12, Redefine Boulevard, York Street
Tackle Traders: 80 Hope Street

Mossel Bay:
Go Fish: Shop 12, Bayview Centre, Marsh Street
Extreme Outdoors: Shop 58 Langeberg Mall
Viking Inshore: Quay 3, Mossel Bay Harbour
 
S

Spool-Song

Sealiner
Psy wrote:
Xtreme fishing in York street George, is probably your best bait! His sardines are alway individually wrapped.

Arms and tackle, who are close by also stock bait...but are more tackle orientated than bait.

Tackle traders in George (Hope st) has a very good selection of good quality baits, like Octopus, Tjokka, Sardine, red bait, mussel,prawn, bonito and mackerel.

Go Fish Mossel Bay will sort all your issues out in one breath. Shawn has the widest range of tackle and freshest baits in the area.

Mossel Bay has also Viking fishing who stock big boxes of sardine mainly used for the skiboat fisherman.

Robberg fisheries in Plett will also have fresh sardine.

Wilderness cafe is good for nothing!!

Tight lines!!
Click to expand...

_seal1_((goodp_ Now here is a man who knows the area well!!
 
S

stormchild

Senior Member
EXTREMIST wrote:
Drive to Go Fish in Mossel Bay.. Buy ENOUGH fresh bait for the season and keep it in your freezer at home.. Problem solved..
Click to expand...

I was there in January......same story, 3rd grade pilchards at 1st grade price. The tjokka was good though
 
S

soupcan

Member
Hello again everyone

Just an update on this - as I have now had the opportunity to give these Garden Route bait suppliers a test.  I think with frozen bait, it probably all arrives at the shops in a similar state and it depends how long it stays there for.  If it was pap and bloody when it arrived, then it doesn't matter how well it was stored.  This is my personal experience, in order of preference:

Xtreme Fishing, George: Head and shoulders above the rest in terms of quality baits.  Turns out the owner runs a fishing fleet and supplies his own bait.  The pilchards and chokka are of a  VERY high quality, with half the shop being deep freezers full of blue pilchards.  Honestly, I would eat the squid and sardines they look so good. Reasonably priced too. Cnr of Plattner Boulevard & York Street - In a petrol station forecourt.  Diagonally across from Checkers - didn't see the Romans Pizza as described before.

Arms and tackle & Outdoor World: I purchased pilchards here before I walked across the road to Xtreme.  They were of a good quality, and really nothing wrong, but hard to compete with a shop that supplies it's own bait to the fleet. They have a great selection of tackle - def check them out for your next rod...

Tackle traders - Hope Street:  Not tried yet.

Extreme Outdoors, Mossel Bay, Langeberg Mall: Nothing wrong either.

For now, I see no reason to go anywhere but Xtreme Fishing for pilchards and chokka, if you are in the George area. 
 
S

SPARRABOS

Sealiner
Enigste plek waar ek aas in port elizabeth koop....mooi pillies......tjokka eet ons sommer gereeld....oom snorre......dis sy aas daar by extreme in george....in pe kom sommer by sy huis om in cosmos straat. linton.....klein vertrek aan sy huis....verkoop aas en bietjie gereedskap...;)
 
L

Lofty

Senior Member
soupcan wrote:
Hi Guys

sardines/pilchards that literally comes apart when you cast - and that's even with heavy salting the night before to get it to toughen up a bit - but it's just awful quality. 
http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=54933&forum_id=1
Click to expand...

So I assume you defrost your pilchards the day before you use it and then salt it to use the next day? I'm talking for myself here but I will never buy expensive pilchards and let it defrost the night before,why is there a thing like a quality baitbox to keep your bait fresh and cold...just my 2 zim sents.
 
S

SPARRABOS

Sealiner
Ek stem saam jou...ek haat sout op aas....alles is taaai.....daars genoeg sout in die see.....sout is vir as jy braai vir tjops en vis....of n noodgeval....:)
 
L

Lofty

Senior Member
SPARRABOS wrote:
Ek stem saam jou...ek haat sout op aas....alles is taaai.....daars genoeg sout in die see.....sout is vir as jy braai vir tjops en vis....of n noodgeval....:)
Click to expand...

haha ek stem saam ou maat,veral pilchards is so duur nou haal jy al die bloed en juices uit..dis nie meer die ou dae wat die vis so baie was dat jy hulle op enige visaas kon vang nie en vandag se aasbokse hou dit so mooi vars.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top