Hi there all, I am relatively new to the sport an

Robbiej44

New member
Hi there all,
I am relatively new to the sport and started paddling and fishing off vechies and addington at the beginning of the year. the allure of the tuna off the Barge off Umhlanga have gotten the better of me. I am dying to get out there and get stuck into some decent size fish.

We have tried going off Eastmoor a couple times in the last couple weeks. but both times got beaten up by the sea. Have tried timing weather and wind and tide etc but not too clued up on what I am doing to be honest.

I find the shore break the hardest part to navigate and once I do navigate my way past that to the mid break the backline just smokes me. I have literally done back flips off my boat when a wave smashed me. But nonetheless I get back in shore empty out the water and give it another bash, albeit with a lot less gusto.

Guys I really would appreciate any advice in helping me launch off there, is there a better way to read the conditions? I know there are weather sites with swell period and wave heights etc but I don't know how those translate to practical launching.

I am letting my mate down who seems to be able to fluke his way out there most times and by the time I eventually break he eventually turns around and comes back in and I ruin his fishing.

Guys any advice, assistance, practicals would be massively appreciated, my confidence has been dented by that bloody beach and I need to over come it.

Hope to hear from you guys
 
Robbie, it looks like a bunch of us are hitting the barge on Sunday if the weather holds and the wives don't take exception to us going out on Mother's day.....

If you are keen, come down to Eastmoor around 6 - I'll give you a quick introduction to wave launching, it looks like the swell is tiny so it might be a good time to learn and maybe get stuck into a fish.

My name's Mark and I drive a maroon tiguan "whateva-zn"
 

jacdup

New member
Why don't you join UKFC , they host paddling clinics to help guys launch . There are also regular talks to help you catch more fish
 

Robbiej44

New member
Thanks guys.

Mark, thanks for the invite and any other time I will definitely take you up on it but unfortunately due to mothers day I have to be away this weekend. But hopefully another time I would happily take you up on the offer.

jacdup - I am actually a member of ukfc but havemt had much chance to take advantage of the club. Am hoping to participate in the umngenie snoek challenge.

Hope to meet you guys on the water at some point
 

Malboer

New member
Hi Robbie

See chidenguele report it happens to all of us. sometimes its better to take your time instead of just charging into it.

Get in contact with Rowan Mathews from your club He is a expert paddler and gives Launching and beaching clinics.

Sent you his e mail via PM.

Cheers
Malboer
 

Malboer

New member
Robbie

Just thought of something and maybe it is NA to you but have lived it before.

Guys being to heavy or on the weight limit of their ski.
Coupled with tackle ect. it makes your ski just that little bit more unstable.

I am one of the heavier paddlers and have had that problem especially on beaching with some fish and maybe a extra kg of water on board.

So just something to maybe look into.

Cheers
Malboer
 
Well, the launch on Sunday was, erm, interesting!

We had another newbie launching for the first time, and he experienced the sneaky shore break and low tide induced sandbank mid break at Eastmoor. But despite getting smoked a couple of times, he got out and had a good day on the barge and I hope ended up with some extra knowledge and confidence!

If you're a Facebooker, come like our "salt fishing south africa" page - you'll get to know Cameron who lives a block away from the launch, and fishes the barge almost every fishable day, as well as the rest of us nuts!
 

Robbiej44

New member
Thanks Mark will definitely have a little like on the facebook page. Am hoping I can make a plan to head out again soon, unfortunately am nursing am travelling a bit at the moment but hopefully will be back in action by the end of the month. Will pop you a message and hopefully meet you out there. Might need a confidence booster run again before I get blasted again at eastmoor.

Until then ::tight:
 

curtis21

New member
Hi guys, I have the same dilemma

For one I have a queen mary of a ski, the fluid bamba. Dont get me wrong, I love it but launches have been pretty wet with most time spent in the waves off the ski tumbling back to shore. I have launched at umhloti and seem to make it out ok if I pick the right gaps but now I would love to try fishing at the barge. I might not have the correct rods and reels for the occasion but im sure my cheapos will hold out.

I would love to go out with somebody who knows the area well, again I have only had my ski a few months so getting out is going to be a mission and but with some guidance I will hopefully be able to make it out.

This sunday 27th July 2014 is when I am hoping to try my luck, so if anyone is up for it, I would love to come with and keen to learn.

Tight lines gents
 
Curtis, sorry to say but I wouldn't use a bamba to launch off eastmoor - in all my years I haven't ever seen it ending well.

The trick to eastmoor is beating the shore break, and punching foamies until you can make a wild dash through the backline and over the sand bank. And for that you need to have the burst of speed that you just don't have in a bamba unfortunately.

I would also shudder at the 3km round trip to the wreck which is far enough to build a sweat on a sleek ski because of the current.
 

curtis21

New member
Aperfectimperfection, unfortunately my bamba is all i have, even if I take a hell of a beating I would love to get out there.
 
I don't think you can go wrong with a Halco 120 or 160DD in tiger pink colour. I swear I've seen tuna jumping into my dry hatch to get at the lure while it's still stored away in my tupperware box....

On a more hopeful note, Sunday is looking better and better so Eastmoor it is, be there or be square.
 

iR Bennie

New member
sweet i will go get some of those lure from my trusty tackle shop aka dad's ski boat...haha... im keen to join u guys msg'd my mate Paul as they going out aswell
 
Awesome - I know Paul well, would be good to see guys out on the water practicing for next month's UKFC king of the wrecks competition..... Which I'm going to win....
 

iR Bennie

New member
((goodp_ so wat im reading there is, stick close to u and monkey see monkey do... and I will catch a fish!

Found the lures u recomended::tight:
 
The comp is next weekend (9th) I think and is definitely open to non UKFC members - you just pay a little extra. For members it's R200 and non members R300.

But why not bite the bullet next year and join UKFC.... The Vidal trip is always epic, the chance to learn techniques from total chops like Marcus and Challie and the general camaraderie between the guys is well worth the R300 per year.
 

Arthurc

New member
Thanks for the reply. I am very new to this and from JHB so need some time on the kayak first I think. Wil then join tye club.

Maybe if sombody else from Jhb wants to go we can share the travel cost as my Triton can carry 2 ski's.
 
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