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

[Trophy]

Hiya Guys,

I used to love targetting Steenbras and have fished for these guys from Melkboss, Blaauwberg, Milnerton, Flasebay, Hermanaus, Die Dam, Struis and Arniston.

Before moving to the Eastern Cape I was more of an Ed's fisherman and have spent countless hours in the company of guys like Chris Leggit, Julian Maastrecht and 'Blaauwberg Ben'...to name only a few. These guys were masters in the art scratching out giant steamers!

For me the biggest mindset was always getting over the fact that Steenbras feed shallow and 9/10 times anglers cast straight over the feeding fish. I have been blown away by some spectacular catches made in knee deep water!

On the West coast and at 'Die Dam' I have always caught my best fish targetting areas that have scattered rocks or perm rock channels with sandy bottom. Working water, either pushing or dropping, with puffs of sand around the structure was always good. Plumb the area and make several casts in and around the structure. This is where you can imaging all the food being churned up by the water. Baits typical to what you would naturally find...pink prawn, bloodworm, occie leg...

I like using a slide sinker inthese conditions and NEVER a grapnel sinker as I like having the bait roll around the in the current. Slack line and rod Never in the pension pipe. I also only leave the bait in the water for about 5-10 minutes before making a cast just a few meters either side of the first one.

I found that if the Steenie is there you will get a pickup within the first few minutes when fishing around structure. Much like bass fishing the more ground you cover the more fish you find.

My rig would be my STD trace. I may add a small white foam float above the tralier hook. When fishing worm or occie I love leaving a 'tail' to the bait.

 

[Trophy]

Steenbras from the surf I would often target the same areas as I would for Kob?

I love finding bottom structure in the areas I choose to fish. Being able to read the features is something I enjoy and have spent allot of time getting to understand. Once you can spot structure its important to understand the effects that tide and water currents have on the area.

Get these factors linned up and get the right baits into the water and the results come. The old rule of thumb in fishing...'match the hatch' will often reap better rewards, but I have seen just as many 'exotic' baits do the business.

Off the surf I love finding areas that have a nice gully running along close to the beach. If there is a rip then all the better. The spot comes alive when there is a nice bank comming off the shore break and into the gulley. This type of feature will hold almost everything.

I have often caught steenbras, grunter and Kob in one session once I have found this type of beach feature. I find these spots work better on pushing or dropping water. In the good old days of beach driving it was much easier to find features like this and we would often drive miles up the plaat to find potential spots. looking around as the tides changed often put us onto even better spots. These days where we have to walk...well it's def more difficult!!

Here is the typical spot I would look for when beach fishing.

 

 

[Trophy]

From the surf if the Steenies were clearly about then the top bait was always Bloodworm for me, but I've caught my largest fish on either white mussel or w/mussel and pilchard combo.

I recon the larger steenies go for the more solid baits like pilchard because its a filling meal. A big fish will have to work very hard to sustain a diet of small prawns and worms. I believe that as Steenies grow they change thier diet greatly and often target the oppertunity to feed on small fish and fish fry. Just see how many large steenbras have been caught on fish baits...

On beach features I also like to plum around and try to drop a bait on the edges of the rip, the working bank, edge of the gulley... I start fishing with a bottle sinker, but if conditions dont allow I use a grapnel. It's been on these feature where I have seen steenies caught 10 meters from the shore in the shallow water of the gully!

Just a typical bait I use most of the time, def Kob, often a steenbras...drop out the pilchard and fish straight w/mussel and it works great for Steenies and Grunter. Sometimes I would build the base from well hammered chokka and then add w/mussel.

 

 

[Trophy]

Another bait.

Here is a link to an article on my steenie fishing at Die Dam.

http://nutshelltravel.com/NutShell%20Fishing/New%20Template/content_temp/Articles/article_die_dam_white_steenbras_fishng_tours/articel_die_dam_white_steenbras_fishing_tours.htm

 

[Chris Shelton]

Brilliant stuff!! Thanks so much Trophy, I suddenly feel inspired to go Steenie hunting again!

 

[Plastic-sinker]

This might not be saltwater but I had some good pickups with tigerfish on sardines with the flesh turned outside where guys all around me didnt even get movment on their lines, I just tried this for the heck of it and found it wprked well! Sure this could aply to saltwater angling too!