DURBAN HARBOUR: Z-Claw wins

Cpt. Hook

Sealiner
Lure casting with light spinning tackle is one of my favourite ways to fish, especially when using my Z-Claw. I just love the way this lure moves and still remember the first time that I saw it and imagined all the fish I would get with it, perhaps I just understood this lure immediately and knew what to do with it. Since then my Z-Claw has produced some good catches and today was no exception.

 

I feared that I was going to fish in the rain again but when we launched at 15h00 the weather was stunning with a light NE wind, we decided to shoot quickly off-shore and cast lures for some Kawakawa and hopefully we could find a Yellowfin Tuna or Dorado lurking in the shallows. The sea was gorgeous and the weather stunning making a lovely afternoon and a superb evening.

 

It was not long before 1 of the guys hooked up a nice Kawakawa on drop shot, but he came off. I cast out an 8 inch McArthy chartreuse minnow and decided to let it sink and whilst the boat was drifting I fed out a fair amount of line and then proceeded with a slow jerk retrieve and when I was about halfway up; BANG the reel started to scream and my Aerocast had a serious bend to it, unfortunately there was not enough butt power in the rod and I was not able to put enough pressure to turn this big fish without breaking the rod and when the spool was ¾ empty and still peeling I decided to straight stick and break off instead of loosing a spool of braid.

I then decided to put my Z-Claw on once I had tied on a new leader and shortly after I was ready 1 of the guys hooked into a nice Kawakawa with an Onda Onda.

The Z-Claw produced another Kawakawa hook-up and a Garfish hook-up.

 

By now the tide was falling and we decided to go into the harbour to try for some Springer (Lady Fish) and King Fish (Jacks).

Once back in the bay and within a few casts 1 of the guys hooked up a nice Sand Gurnard (Flat-Head).

Then as the sun started falling I put a long cast onto the sand bank and hooked up a nice sized Sea Pike (Pick Handle Barracuda) on the Z-Claw. This was not the end because the Z-Claw then produced 2 little GT’s (Giant Trevally).

Shortly after this another decent size Sea Pike was landed on a BassArrow.
 

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Harry

Senior Member
Good one. It's been ages since i last fished in the bay. Nice to see the fish is still around.
 

MSAS

New member
Nice catch. Pardon my ignorance but what is a z claw.can you buy it at any tackle shop. Maybe post a picture if you can.
 

Doublecab

New member
Hi...can you give me some advice..

I belong to a ski boat club here in Port Elizabeth and it now seems as though some guy has come up with the idea that we all need to change over to  VHF 2 way radios and go on an expensive course to pass the VHF exams....it may just be another way of some guy seeing an opportunity to make more money. ??

Question:

Durban Port - Can ski boaters leave port with the use of a 29 meg radio or do they use VHF radios...

Some boats are fitted with VHF and 29 meg...but my question is are 29 meg radios permitted in Durban to leave and enter harbour...

Do you have any knowledge of harbours now wanting to force ski boaters to change over ONLY to VHF ??

I have spoken to some poeople that say 29 meg is allowed and they know nothing about been forced to change to VHF...

 

Your comment will be appreciated,

 

Cheers

 

DC
 

Cpt. Hook

Sealiner
Doublecab wrote:
Hi...can you give me some advice..

I belong to a ski boat club here in Port Elizabeth and it now seems as though some guy has come up with the idea that we all need to change over to  VHF 2 way radios and go on an expensive course to pass the VHF exams....it may just be another way of some guy seeing an opportunity to make more money. ??

Question:

Durban Port - Can ski boaters leave port with the use of a 29 meg radio or do they use VHF radios...

Some boats are fitted with VHF and 29 meg...but my question is are 29 meg radios permitted in Durban to leave and enter harbour...

Do you have any knowledge of harbours now wanting to force ski boaters to change over ONLY to VHF ??

I have spoken to some poeople that say 29 meg is allowed and they know nothing about been forced to change to VHF...

 

Your comment will be appreciated,

 

Cheers

 

DC
 

Durban harbour is Only VHF as is Richards Bay, you need to have a license for the radio itself with ICASA and you need to write a Radio operator certificate exam for ICASA via SAMSA. This is not difficult or that expensive annually, the exam is for keeps and there is a once off fee for the radio with ICASA and than a small annual fee of around R25.00

The clubs in Richards bay that are based in the harbour do have 29Mhz, and only oprate these weekends but VHF is the standard, in Durban you have no choice but to go VHF, unless you launch from DSBC at Addington.
 

Doublecab

New member
Hi thanks for the reply...I appreciate it.

Are they also going to force the surf launch ski boat clubs like the one on South Beach Dbn and Shelly Beach to go the VHF route ? ( eventually )

It seems like their is a lot of speculation about this matter...The normal ski boat clubs have been operating for years and years with 29 meg radios...without any real problems...no more than boats fitted with VHF radios.

I was looking on the internet and it seems as though countries like Canada and USA allow restricted use with VHF without having to go and write exams of competency but your boat must be less than 6 met and it must be recreational...they do however insist that radios must be registered.

Anyhow...thanks for the info

DC
 

Doublecab

New member
Hi again...tks for comment...

I am actually a ex Durbanite ( and a BIG Sharks supporter )

Grew up in Port Shepstone from school days..then worked in Dbn.. I am thinking about relocating back to Natal...as there is nothing to keep me in PE...sold my businesses in 2008 and said F that...had enough...

I will be up in Natal at the end of next month as I want to go and look at houses at Shelly beach...put my feelers out...they also seem to have a great ski boat club.

I could also relocate back to Durban itself...but I would have to start all over with making friends...not that easy when you get a bit older like I am...63 in August but very fit, very active and still damm naughty.

I will be in Durban for a day or two to visit a old friend and his wife...maybe we can meet and chat.

Cheers,

Cliff

 
 

PH

Senior Member
Mike,

Could you please PM me the phone no. of the supplier of Z-Claws? I forgot to get it from you last time I saw you. Thanks!
 
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