Galjoen Gurus

[Zane]

Dear Galjoeners,

A group of us fished for Galjoen and other reef fish at Die Dam, the reefs adjacent to the Hoe Walle at Buffeljags, Pearly Beach reefs and Uilkraalmond this last Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

We had big seas with great looking working water, with winds progressively changing from N West to S East yesterday, at some of the best reef set ups that I have ever seen for galjoen.

Despite our best efforts we could only catch one galjoen between the lot of us. I only observed one angler who managed to catch two small galjoen.

We used combinations of red bait collected on the beaches, fresh wonderworm, white mussel and prawn. The only fish biting on the reefs were gobbies.

Any speculation as to what we may have done wrong?

Regards

 

[Bungi]

Hi Zane...I went down to Cape Point today thinking that the conditions would be perfect for Galjoen. After trying very hard I only managed to catch 2 under size fish!!! Would also like to know whats up from those who know the area well (used White Mussel & Wonderworm) The colour of the water @ the one spot was a dirty light brown colour (GK) and at (PB) it was better. Swell was quite big and lots of rolling white water.

 

[Pslatarix]

Look at the barro guys! I've found its a big deciding factor when hunting for gallie. My 2c . Early saturday would have been best but the barro could have dropped steeply and sent the fish into hibernation. This is just a theory as I'm no expert.

 

[Bungi]

Thanks Pslaterix....that explains the poor fishing. Ive heard about this phenomenon but never really took notice of it.
So.....you are saying its best to fish when the barometer is at its highest?

 

[grootvis]

because there was no fish??????????

Just kidding, what was the water temp? galjoen, believe it or not can be very sensitive to temp. changes.

Maybe a new reef washed open nearby???.....

 

[grootvis]

Pslatarix wrote:

Look at the barro guys! I've found its a big deciding factor when hunting for gallie. My 2c . Early saturday would have been best but the barro could have dropped steeply and sent the fish into hibernation. This is just a theory as I'm no expert.

Good point, definately couldve been.

 

[i want fish]

Normally I'd say that's fishing.but considering the strech u guys fished and how little came out I would have to agree with grootvis,sudden temp drop.That's fishing,part of it anyway

 

[Bungi]

Thanks guys........its amazing that I have been fishing since 5 years old (nearly 45 yrs) and I still learn something new every day I go out. I think this is what keeps us all going back for more!!!!

 

[speartackle]

Bungi wrote:

Thanks guys........its amazing that I have been fishing since 5 years old (nearly 45 yrs) and I still learn something new every day I go out. I think this is what keeps us all going back for more!!!!

Howzit M, check PM

 

[Pslatarix]

I watch the barro religiously and in my past experience most fish prefer a dropping pressure. BUT, it must be a gradual decline and not plummet rapidly. If you look at windfinder you will see they have barro pressure forecasts there too. So to give you an example if there a slow decrease ie from 1021 down to 1016 in the space of 12hrs the fishing will be best in those first 4 to 6 hrs, and then as the barro hits its lowest the fish tend to go off the bite. Sharp or sudden declines usually put the fish off completely. This is my experience anyway, but I find Kob like to feed on a rising barro too. When the pressure is stable the fish will settle into their usual feeding patterns but when it drops (often just before a cold front comes through) they really chow as they won't be able to feed well in the colder conditions due to a slower metabolism. Works for me lol

 

[speartackle]

Pslatarix wrote:

I watch the barro religiously and in my past experience most fish prefer a dropping pressure. BUT, it must be a gradual decline and not plummet rapidly. If you look at windfinder you will see they have barro pressure forecasts there too. So to give you an example if there a slow decrease ie from 1021 down to 1016 in the space of 12hrs the fishing will be best in those first 4 to 6 hrs, and then as the barro hits its lowest the fish tend to go off the bite. Sharp or sudden declines usually put the fish off completely. This is my experience anyway, but I find Kob like to feed on a rising barro too. When the pressure is stable the fish will settle into their usual feeding patterns but when it drops (often just before a cold front comes through) they really chow as they won't be able to feed well in the colder conditions due to a slower metabolism. Works for me lol

Spot on Pslatarix, "When the pressure is stable the fish will settle into their usual feeding patterns but when it drops (often just before a cold front comes through) they really chow as they won't be able to feed well in the colder conditions due to a slower metabolism".

I have found that most often 1-2 days prior to the onweer, then you need to pay attention.

 

[Zane]

Thank you for your feedback forum members,

The strange thing is that when I fish Cape Point Reserve or the Hangklip Betty's Bay area I normally fish during the foulest, biggest cold fronts.

It does make sense though that we had a number of big fronts this past weekend, however the weather conditions were consistent with at least 3 days of solid NW to SW winds with BIG swell, normally a winning recipe...

Tight lines

Z

 

[flippy]

Zane wrote:

Dear Galjoeners,

A group of us fished for Galjoen and other reef fish at Die Dam, the reefs adjacent to the Hoe Walle at Buffeljags, Pearly Beach reefs and Uilkraalmond this last Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

We had big seas with great looking working water, with winds progressively changing from N West to S East yesterday, at some of the best reef set ups that I have ever seen for galjoen.

Despite our best efforts we could only catch one galjoen between the lot of us. I only observed one angler who managed to catch two small galjoen.

We used combinations of red bait collected on the beaches, fresh wonderworm, white mussel and prawn. The only fish biting on the reefs were gobbies.

Any speculation as to what we may have done wrong?

Regards

howzit,

some nice posts here by the guys that helps a lot

also if not mistaken i think conrad notes in this post http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=92924&forum_id=25 did a nice write up in complete fly fisherman magazine on using a barometer to target fish or when to

also there are watches available that tells you when the barometer is dropping as it has one built in http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=10409&forum_id=1&highlight=barometric+pressure

some more quality posts here http://www.sealine.co.za/search.php?s=1&q=barometric+pressure

 

[grootvis]

flippy wrote:

Zane wrote:

Dear Galjoeners,

A group of us fished for Galjoen and other reef fish at Die Dam, the reefs adjacent to the Hoe Walle at Buffeljags, Pearly Beach reefs and Uilkraalmond this last Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

We had big seas with great looking working water, with winds progressively changing from N West to S East yesterday, at some of the best reef set ups that I have ever seen for galjoen.

Despite our best efforts we could only catch one galjoen between the lot of us. I only observed one angler who managed to catch two small galjoen.

We used combinations of red bait collected on the beaches, fresh wonderworm, white mussel and prawn. The only fish biting on the reefs were gobbies.

Any speculation as to what we may have done wrong?

Regards

howzit,

some nice posts here by the guys that helps a lot

also if not mistaken i think conrad notes in this post http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=92924&forum_id=25 did a nice write up in complete fly fisherman magazine on using a barometer to target fish or when to

also there are watches available that tells you when the barometer is dropping as it has one built in http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=10409&forum_id=1&highlight=barometric+pressure

some more quality posts here http://www.sealine.co.za/search.php?s=1&q=barometric+pressure

Just to add my last little bit of change I have in my wallet regarding baro's

The barometric pressures effect different fish differently, I do believe this is from different size air bladders and most importantly otoliths. Cob can be very prone to these changes as they can have large otoliths, but other fish, take smaller fish like blacktail,galjoen etc, still seem to bite during these times, smaller air bladders and otoliths.

When i fished tuna pole boats many years ago, the yellowfin, showed very specific eating times generally on the slightest changes on the Baro.

But again, although I have seen this, Im still a believer that you fish whenever you feel, because we ahve also seen, that fish can get caught in the times you dont expect them too! I think the fish were not there, maybe feeding deeper or something, look at cape point, theres always gallies, but sometimes when you go dive those spots, theres not one to be seen, so they move.

Im not an expert, but some things I think if you look at it logically makes more sense.

 

[grootvis]

moon phases are very important, I think this is almost directly related to feeding, look at the current moon phase or what it was when you were fishing?

 

[stinkmossel]

i agree with grootvis. on occasion i would fish one of my regular spots, with no luck, and as soon as you move around and find a freshly open hole, you would have a smash.(gallies).
all the fish in the area would be actively feeding in that hole.
water temp dropping to quickly(falsebay especially), affect gallie fishing in a huge way.

 

[Strepie]

Apart from the baro water temp plays a big roll as well. I was there about 3 weeks ago and we had the most perfect weather you can ask for. Water was working nicely BUT when touching the sinker after retrieving it was burning your hand so cold was the water temp!

 

[grootvis]

Here's another one for you guys, I know I will get alot of negative comments about it, but it has certainly worked, I still dont know why exactly but it does, and I will definately vouch for it. Especially gallies, I have caught hundreds of gallies in cape point, Pslaterix will confirm this, now, do you guys ever read the Stywe lyne magazine? if so, you will all be familiar with the "best fishing times". Each and every time, conditions depending, if you fished for gallies on those days, you could catch plenty, the real dik sessions, on other days, you would catch, but they certainly were not as committed and in numbers, this happened each time I fished on those days, and to this day, i still try plan my trips on those days. I know everyone has there perspective on things, but for me, these days are spot on, and it does work, and as we were saying earlier, its related to moon phases, so just keep that in mind, try it out, and see, but obviously you must have the right conditions to start with in the first place.

 

[Bungi]

Grootvis-what edition of Stywe Lyne was that article in.
Thanks for all your info...I see you know the CP area well. I'm new to CP but have fished for Gallie all my life in Stilbaai.

 

[Bungi]

Sorry Grootvis....one more question I have been wanting to ask the CP oldies (Speartackle included) have any of you had any luck fishing with Red bait (vrot or not)at CP.
We catch 70% of our fish (bigger) on red bait in Stilbaai. I wish I had some with me yesterday as it just felt the right bait to be used in yesterdays bad conditions.