:fswim Hi to everyone, For many years I have been

[Noddy]

this is the one he got.
Fought 1hr05min to land.

location: Oumans Gat (on the Strand Reefs) - that is behind GReenways in Strand.

On the High Tide, and note, you only have about 1meter of space to move left and right, and nothing to the back (coz then u chest deep in water) standing on that specific spot.

Time: approx 00H30

 

[syd]

[color="#006600"]Flippie[/color] wrote:

U can move the hook backwards into the body hide the hook more

here it is only freehand

Thanks Flippie. You have some drawing talent there!

 

[johand]

had a bit of luck with those on the plaat on a few occasions wind on my back blowing like shit,rolling water not breaking,the wind almost holds the wave back it must stand up and wind blows the spray.. cast on outside bank is my target,prawn/blood/red.my 3 biggest was on (red bait.fresh).light trace,long hook trace short sinker trace.not a running trace.2 o or 4 0 hook.med size float(long thin) on line not hook..the one in photo was 19kg

 

[kraken]

The good old days!

 

[Johan S]

i've only got one experience where the steenbra's went on the bite (still a novice). they started going for our baits an hour after the tide started dropping (this was about 9pm, December) right where the river met the shorebreak. two hours before this we got hit by shad that finished our entire box of pilchards very quickly. we caught the steenbras by using the shad steel traces (i was too lazy to remove it; this for me was a big surprise) with 5/0 vmc live bait (the short shank) hooks with chokka. it was all we had left! we flavoured it by squeesing out the oil/blood of the remaining pilchard heads, and cottoning the pilchard gills to the chokka. this goes against what i've read steenbras prefer, but it happened and i'll never try targetting a steenbra without at least some pilchard oil/blood flavour ever again...

 

[rofflign]

caught my biggest with pilchard....also was targetting kob.

 

[Noddy]

so steamers on pilchard is no longer an exception to the rule, infact, there is no rule!

 

[kraken]

During a run of snoek just off Fish Hoek Bay in the early 90's, we would at times hook large steenbras on our bait lines.

Bear in mind that these fish were hooked on 11/0 hooks and half pilchards. There's no stopping a hungry fish! 

 

[syd]

[color=#006600]Noddy[/color] wrote:

so steamers on pilchard is no longer an exception to the rule, infact, there is no rule!

Maybe "exception to the rule" was the incorrect choice of words!

What I have learnt from this discussion is that the bigger steenbras can be targetted with pilchard from the beach, but knowing the sandies on the Plaat, I will put some float on the hook trace.

 

 

[syd]

[color=#006600]johand[/color] wrote:

had a bit of luck with those on the plaat on a few occasions wind on my back blowing like shit,rolling water not breaking,the wind almost holds the wave back it must stand up and wind blows the spray.. cast on outside bank is my target,prawn/blood/red.my 3 biggest was on (red bait.fresh).light trace,long hook trace short sinker trace.not a running trace.2 o or 4 0 hook.med size float(long thin) on line not hook..the one in photo was 19kg

Was that to the rivermouth's side of the entrance to the Plaat? Any reason for not using a running trace?

 

[Simen]

Syd. The best bait for Steenbra is a fresh Octopus leg or a octopus cutlet. ( just bait up as you would with a worm bait and push till over the eye of the hook and tie only above the eye with cotton ) However should you not have octopus with you and the steenbra are on the bite use a sardine cutlet but tie it onto the hook with the meat on the out side.
The trace I use is a running trace. Hook 2.0 . hook snoot 30cm.
What I am a firm believer in. When fishing for steenbra fish with as little pressure as you can on your mainline. ( not a tight line from sinker to rod ) just enough to feel the bite.
When you get a bite I even slacken the line more. Big steenbra are very sensitive and will leave the bait if it resists. By using the running trace and slackening the line you generally just get a run. Dont strike hard but just lift your rod and stiffen the line . This should be enough to set the hook. Dont bully the fish but take your time a most of these guys are only lip hooked. ( also make sure that the hook you use is razor sharp and of good quality )

 

[kraken]

In previous years, Struisbaai plaat has yielded very good catches for me. Mind you, this was when one was still able to drive on the beaches.

What I found used to work for me was to fish any likely looking areas and if nothing happened within the first couple of casts, I'd move on to the next likely looking spot. Best conditions were a moderate sea with no dumpers on the banks. Working sand was always a good sign.

I favoured the spring tide period as this is also the best time to collect bloodworm. Going to the plaat without bloodworm is an exercise in futility. I used fresh bloodworm bled and wrapped individually in newspaper to keep them alive and in a state of suspended animation(!). Keeping them in a cooler box is essential.

I used .40mm mainline with a .60mm leader exclusively. A running trace with the smallest possible swivels-Power swivels are ideal. Hook snoot was .62mm flourocarbon with a 4/0 or 6/0 daiichi 3111. Whilst that may sound too big, anyone who knows these hooks will understand that these are light,strong and razor sharp. The fact that I've caught many fish on them is good enough for me.

I found the larger fish of over 10kg to be more loners. Interestingly enough, when I've been fortunate enough to find the fish shoaling and where every cast has produced a fish, I've noticed that some of the fish have been literally stuffed with young black mussel. This make sense as these mussel banks are often exposed by wave action. The most notable example is the wreck to the right of the entrance to the plaat which can often be seen at low tide.

Make no mistake, a steenie will cut you off on these banks. Too thin a hook snoot is asking for trouble.

I will definitely be making an effort to target this awesome species again this winter. Maybe I should get a horse! 

 

[syd]

[color=#0066cc]Simen [/color]wrote:

Syd. The best bait for Steenbra is a fresh Octopus leg or a octopus cutlet. ( just bait up as you would with a worm bait and push till over the eye of the hook and tie only above the eye with cotton ) However should you not have octopus with you and the steenbra are on the bite use a sardine cutlet but tie it onto the hook with the meat on the out side.
The trace I use is a running trace. Hook 2.0 . hook snoot 30cm.
What I am a firm believer in. When fishing for steenbra fish with as little pressure as you can on your mainline. ( not a tight line from sinker to rod ) just enough to feel the bite.
When you get a bite I even slacken the line more. Big steenbra are very sensitive and will leave the bait if it resists. By using the running trace and slackening the line you generally just get a run. Dont strike hard but just lift your rod and stiffen the line . This should be enough to set the hook. Dont bully the fish but take your time a most of these guys are only lip hooked. ( also make sure that the hooh you use is razor sharp and of good quality )

Thanks Simen. You guys are most generous in your advice. I must say the amount of info that has already came in, makes for good reading and I am certainly going to experiment with it all to see what works on the Plaat and what does not work. Positive results will be posted!!!

 

[Walt]

I remember thousands of HUGE steenbras trekked in Simonstown in front of old Marine Oil refinery.They were all monsters,really big.But never saw any caught from the shore in Simonstown and found this very odd.Cheers!

 

 

[Walt]

Simon-You make mention of bait on hook with meat on the outside.I've always placed my fish bait with skin on the outside to prolong the bait when fish start biting and also for fish to detect bait by the skin sending off reflections.Would meat of fish bait on the outside lure fish easier as perhaps the skin would prevent fish picking up scent of bait especially when wrapped up with cotton?Would skin and cotton wrapping insulate and slow down attraction by fish as they can't scent it as easily as with meat on outside?You've raised an awareness that perhaps meat on outside would be more effective.Got me thinking.Cheers! 

 

[Noddy]

[color="#006600"]Walt[/color] wrote:

Simon-You make mention of bait on hook with meat on the outside.I've always placed my fish bait with skin on the outside to prolong the bait when fish start biting and also for fish to detect bait by the skin sending off reflections.Would meat of fish bait on the outside lure fish easier as perhaps the skin would prevent fish picking up scent of bait especially when wrapped up with cotton?Would skin and cotton wrapping insulate and slow down attraction by fish as they can't scent it as easily as with meat on outside?You've raised an awareness that perhaps meat on outside would be more effective.Got me thinking.Cheers! 

Walt, out of experience, and taking the advice of the Old timers in strand, when we go fishing anywhere there, and the fish (kabeljou/elf/geelbek etc) are on the bite, and you have fresh Harder, hook up with the flesh outside, instant hookup compared to you conventional style with sardine or so...

 

[grunter]

Im no expert but have been lucky enough to catch a few steenbras , the largest was on a whole bloodworm sewn on with the hook snoot , so that it extends 10 cm up the line whth a small sliding float with a 5/0 diatchi  hook. sliding trace .I caught another two on moonshine worms and another on a choka strip. I have  was allways told to  fish on the banks and look for small sandy patches where the sand is kicking up. I really think that they patrol long stretches of beach and you need to be  lucky for them to  discover your bait, as when they come past they may be deeper or shallower, my experience with steenras is long waits.

my 2 cents

Ants

 

 

[johand]

HI SYD most  caught at the old wreck at the entrance to plaat u can only

see on very low spring.not the old wooden wreck on the beach,the wooden job is only about ten years old..the biggest galjoen was 5.75 kg same place for the last 40 years plus if i enter the plaat thats the first stop and u can try for cob gal steenbras.

the one problem u get stuck about every 2 throw.i put about 3 lines in diff baits.

fresh sea cat leg.not been in a freezer ..fresh  fresh

red bait fresh fresh

blood worm  fresh

fresh vrot red bait that one u put your hook in and turn the juices on.must never come out of freezer..so vrot witblitz does not remove..when i still had a contact on the farm we had a thing get home from fishing wash your hands with witblitz burns the shit out of all the cuts but no infection on the hands (hope your wife belives that shit drink the f in stuff..

dont know if u have fished DE HOOP fished many years ago got smached i will enquire about permission, the ground (farm)was in our family great grandfathers grave needs a clean up then fish for few days..will stay in contact

 

[syd]

Johand, That sounds like a plan!! I've never fished De Hoop. Have heard from my dad about fishing at Koppie Alleen (that's in  De Hoop is'nt it?). Never had the opportunity as the SANDF closed the area off.
If you gonna clean your great grandfather's grave, I'll bring the flowers!!!
I've heard about the wreck, but never seen it. How far more or less from the entrance?

 

[syd]

[color="#006600"]grunter[/color] wrote:

Im no expert but have been lucky enough to catch a few steenbras , the largest was on a whole bloodworm sewn on with the hook snoot , so that it extends 10 cm up the line whth a small sliding float with a 5/0 diatchi  hook. sliding trace .I caught another two on moonshine worms and another on a choka strip. I have  was allways told to  fish on the banks and look for small sandy patches where the sand is kicking up. I really think that they patrol long stretches of beach and you need to be  lucky for them to  discover your bait, as when they come past they may be deeper or shallower, my experience with steenras is long waits.

my 2 cents

Ants

 

:fishn Can't agree with you more...... that part about the long waits, but I have heard that time spent fishing are not added to one's lifespan.... so why not use it?

Do you always use a light float on the hook trace when fishing for steenies?