Has anyone done any diving at Hole in the Wall in

[Normmaxwell]

Has anyone done any diving at Hole in the Wall in Dec? I have dived there several times in the past but always June/July during the sardine run when conditions have generally been very good.

I know in Dec it tends to be a little more hit and miss??

Heading out there for a week in Dec and would like to know if it is possible to shore dive or if a boat is NB to find clean water?

 

[tkei]

HITW has the best diving over dec for the whole stretch of coastline. The nearest big river is the Umtata river and if it pumps mud out, it usually clears around HITW. if you have a small duck or the like, take it as mbolompo is closeby and the tail and leerie are usually around then. I have dived the pinacles quite a lot over dec and seena nd shot some nice fish. Blackrock is also good when sea is calm and clean. Seen and missed a big yellowtail there before in dec.
On the whole though, Dec is very hit and miss over dec due to lots of east wind and rain. Even the small rivers can make the sea muddy after a dopwnpour, but these tend to clear quite quickly. I hope this helps. I am based just North of Umtata river and the sea is rarely up to spearing over dec due to a few big rivers around there.

 

[jb2]

I had a very hectic dive about half a km out off Mapuze Bay.

Current was thumping along and the boat went off to take people out to see dolphins off the HITW.

I was just very scared and tired. I saw some goatfish and that was about it. I  was convinced that I would be chomped at any minute.

Is Polla Fourie still out there? About 10 years ago he told me about an international spearfishing comp that had been held there.

They were using small yellowtail as bait for red steenbras. They would send the fish down about 80m and with a few kg of concrete reinforcing steel.

They would then wrestle the red steenbras up from the bottom.

jb

 

[tkei]

Pola has been out of there for about 10yrs. His father and son were murdered there (seemed to be hits) so he packed up. I must say for the better of the fish stocks as he and brian trow (both commercials) used to murder the fish all along the transkei coast.

 

[jb2]

I heard a lot of stories about trucks coming in from PE and East London to be loaded up with linefish and kreef tails at the backpackers.

It was really bad news cos we are talking about slow growing vulnerable fish like white mussel cracker. poensie and red steenbras.

The nearest inspector must have been about 3 or 4 hours drive away.

 

 

[tkei]

Its still happening to those same fish, but now not by commercials that pay tax but by greedy "recreationals". Inspectors have no effect against these guys as there are tip offs etc. Typical underworld

 

[carcharias]

What happened to the infamous inspector that pointed a R4 at Alfie Cox (of Paris- Dakar fame)? This happened a while ago at Cofee bay.

 

[tkei]

He is still there. Had a few run ins with him as well. If you go there, do not leave the main dirt road to look at the view between coffee bay and HITW. There are well worn paths you drive on and he pops out of the bushes gat in hand and fines you,but he drives down the same path etc. Try to argue with an irate osifer with a gun.

 

[carcharias]

I bet he is getting backhanders to ignore the plunder. He is just waiting to run into somebody who gets the red mist at the sight of a gun. He better be prepared to use it!

 

[Armand101]

Hi, I am from Jeffreys Bay and just began Spearfishing. I am going with my parents to East London and me and my friend want some advice for spearfishing in East London , just want to ask you if you could tell me more about the sea there or any specific spots that is good ?? Currents and etc ??
Thanks.

 

[greydog]

Hey armand, have a look at the ultimate spearfishing website, they have published some articles about spearing in the area.
www.ultimatespearfishing.com

 

[greydog]

Oops sorry, thought you were referring to hitw! You should have a look at the site anyways if you are new to the sport.