Is it "normal" to be nervous.

[kb]

Hey all,

This is aimed at the guys that have done their fair-share of surf launches and JS fishing.

OK so I have done a few surf launches here in KZN, but am still not nearly as experienced as others, and I dont proclaim to be.

So today, I arrive at launch site at 05.45. I see one jetski trailer is parked, so at theast there is someone, somewhere, out there. THats it. After finishing my thermo-mug of coffee, and staring at the surf for 20 mins, I decide to go. Launch was uneventful, but abit more speed on the puch would have helped.

So, I get out abit. Now what. I got 2 rods, and a box of lures. I'm going fishing. Right. erm.....ok. another smoke, and more coffee from the packed flask. Mmmmm, lets just cruise a little, and see "whats happening". OK, theres a chap a few kms away in a paddle ski. cant be that bad if the paddlers are out. Ooh, looky here, and a boat heads past, probably from Durban, heading north. we greet each other with the normal arms in the air asking where the fish are. kill the engine. SHIT- I hope it re-starts. Never let me down, but there is a first time for everything. Hell, something brike the surface. Maybe it's a bonito. Caught 8 of those before, so I sort of know what to do if I get one. What does a snoek look like. Are the cuta around, or is that simply a late summer fish. When do the tuna rock up. Everyone keeps saying hey want to catch "the big one". Well, heres the truth. I am too k@k scared to catch anything bigger than a bonito. WHY - cause I havent caught one before, and I dont know what to expect, and I dont know what to do. Yes, I am scared. Hang me for being honest.

SO, of the 2 rods I carry, I threw a spoon at something that was moving on the surface, hoping now it was bonnies. no bites, thankfully. My small collection of nice new clean Halco's, Rapala's etc, stayed right were they are happy - in the tackle box.

Now I start thinking abou the beaching "procedure". I have heard so many horror stories, shore-break, steep beach, rocks, watch out for this, if you not happy, turn around, (which means another launch, where more can go wrong) and try again. Its amazing how much bigger the waves seem when you are on the "wrong side" of them. Shit. What should I do. do I go to durbam and make a plan to get my car, do I give it a bash. Why am I the only one out here, did I miss the memo, or is everyone nursing hangovers. Checked my insurance policy last week, all up to date.

So, I beached. Perfectly. well, almost. landed abit short, but 2 friendly club locals were there in a flash, and we had her pulled up onto the dry sand within no time. CLub members tell me that today was calm, and the more I do it, the better I will feel, but at this stage, I hardly have the courage to go again tomorrow.

I packed up, went to Durban, launched from DSBC, caught nothing (pheuw).

Guys, why am I so nervous? What are you all nervous about? Maybe having grown up on the beach, I know the power of the sea, and have huge respect, but am I over-reacting?

P.S. what happens, if something grabs my line, and starts peeling off meters of line? whats like, the first step?

I look forward to your positive feedback.

 

[Psy]

KB

I would say its good to be on your gaurd! Dont be nervous it will play on you and spoil your fishing. It will cause stress and you will end up in hospital.

Be prepared for all instances/occurences/events.

Fish together with a companion Jet Ski fisherman. This will encourage you and give you more confidence on the Big Blue.

Learning from the experienced, does not happen overnight or within one or five trips out.

Well done on what you have already achieved.

 

Tight lines.

 

 

[willem wikkel spies]

yip, jy's nie alleen nie.
before every launch i have butterflies in n vloeiende vorm.
maar nou ja.
it's crazy out there, things happen so fast it's unreal.
and iit changes so fast too.

het self al my share sport gehad.
experience cannot be bought.

first hand s the best way

 

[Psy]

KB, coming back here...

Be familiar with your Equipment and its capabilities.
Having all your safety equip. is a necessity and dont skimp on quality. Know how to use it too.

That includes your fishing tackle. Know what your tackle can do!!....(as you asked)

Knowledge is Power.

:fishn

 

[Aperfectimperfection]

Totally agree, I keep a brave face on when launching, beaching and the time between the two - meanwhile inside wondering if it's my turn to get smoked by the surf, dragged off to New Zealand by a tuna or eaten by a mutant shark. A buddy is good thing to have close by, even if only to shoot your pencil flares at for fun!

 

[codfather]

Bet you were also scared when you erm..... had your first girlfriend.....Just the same it gets better and you enjoy it more!!!!!!!

 

[Serra Moz]

If possible try and get some info from the locals regarding conditions and dangers at the particular spot you want to launch. Safety first!

 

[BigVan]

Hi Kb rather have butterflys every time you launch than to be over confident. I have over the years had great experiences and bad ones too.  I have caught a Tiger shark of about 180-200kg from the ski at Ponta. It was pulling me around for a while and then decided to come check out what is the nuisance pulling him around. It came right up and basically looked me in the eye. The line was cut very shortly after the meeting.

I have also been washed off the ski in the backline. I had a hour in the water but the same rules apply to the ski than to canoeist. Never leave your ski. Hang onto the nose and let the waves push you back to the beach. Your ski will reach the beach ready to be taken out again and you may just be tired but you can go out again.

So what I am saying is enjoy the fishing but if conditions are not  perfect dont do it.

Enjoy!!

 

[kb]

Thanks for all the imput guys. Somehow, I dont think I am the only one with these concerns. THat said, I think that Codfathers reply, summs it up the best.

 

[codfather]

I hope I always stay scared....just when you get too confident the sea puts you back in your place!

 

[brown dog]

you should do a clinic with mick,it might help settle your nerves

nothing wrong with being on your toes however you still need to enjoy your time on the water which can equate to many memorable hours of priceless fun

you also cant buy experiance so just keep on plugging away

good luck

 

[The Ancient Mariner]

Greetings KB,

I have launched and beached about 20 times successfully now without problems.I nearly lost it beaching at Guinjata now in September.I came in too fast and slid in a straight line for about 30m and at the last moment,the JS veered to the left.I was was very lucky not to tumble.....!Also,on the same trip,myself and another decided to go out in unfavourable conditions(2 up).The SE had been howling for the previous 2 days and the sets were relentless,one after the other and extending far out to sea.

As we were going through the one wave we got caught off balance and my passenger who was holding me around the waist pulled me off ski and we both bailed...Luckily I managed to pull myself back on in time and start up without getting rolled by the incoming sets which were backed up one after another....!

He was in the sea being pounded by waves.Everytime I tried to come back and rescue him,I had to make a run for it before being caught side on by another dumper.Eventually he washed up on shore as I could not rescue him and he was too exhausted to get onto ski.Him being 7' and weighing about 120kg did not help matters!Had he not had his life jacket on,he would have surely drowned.The lesson learned hereo not get complacent and know ones capabilities.

Now,back to the fear factor.I dont believe that feeling fear out at sea is a good thing!Fear can be debilitating and cause loss of rational thinking and could also be the cause of accidents....!Apprehension,butterflies in stomache,a bit of anxiety pre launch I think are normal emotions.

As you can attest,the sea is a big lonely place and can be very intimidating(especially if compounded by seasickness)!However,there is a lot we can do to prevent things going awry by thinking ahead and taking preventative measures.There is no time for daydreaming or slovenliness whilst out at sea.Example:never leave a line dangling freely in the water.If you have to make a sudden startup for whatever reason,this could get sucked up water intake and wrap around impeller shaft.Everything in its place,zipped/locked up securely when not in use.Pre-launch checks and comms critical!It is always a refreshing feeling to have other people on the water at the same time also!

As for hooking into a decent fish,you will know what to do when this time comes!It should come naturally.Just be cool,calm and collected!

I also believe that simplicity and minimalism is very important.I never take out more than 3 rods(medium trolling,light trolling and medium flickstick).If I catch a bonnie,I quickly set up on premade trace and attach to medium trolling rod by means of good quality snap swivel and let swim/slow troll.I never fish more than 2 lines at once,and seldom more than 1.Things can become chaotic if you get a double up and are fishing alone!

I am by no means an experienced JS fisherman,but have worked out the path of least resistance.Have a game plan in mind and try and execute it.This is sometimes easier said than done.....!

I hope this helps and that your fear factor abates....!A healthy respect for the sea should suffice!

Best regards,
TAM.

 

[Jake1]

clever small children dont get hurt easily because they use their heads. clever people are nervous, because they dont just hope the next wave will be ok- because its possible it (wave) isnt especially in the beginning.

If youre not scared the first few times youre a psycopath or realy dumb. Things also happen- my brother had a stroke while we were out to sea- EXPECT the worse and think before the time what you are going to do when something happens.

What I would suggest is to use at least one day but especially more days without fishing rods to launch and came back- do it the whole day, and dont do it on a day the sea is calm- after a while youll get less scared and start liking it.

Its advisible to be scared in the beginning- anders gaan jy jou gat sien!!!

 

[zahir.rawat]

hi guys.. i also get that butterfly feeling in my tummy before i launch, in fact mines start the night before..almost like im seasick on land.. the feeling only goes away after the launch ... & if it doesn't then im bound to get seasick.. i guess codfather is right with the more times you "doit" the better you feel..

for me the most scary part is the launch..timing that wave & having reliable mates to help u push out fast ..i got bashed a few times & lost all confidence!!..NOT kewl.. and i fish alone most time!!. iv had an idea to build a trailer to launch a jetski .. don't laugh, hear me out..lol..the ski sits on the trailer backside first & the front facing the ocean..i have the resource of a tractor, so just like how the tractor would launch a huge ski boat with a pole to the front of the tractor & the other end to the transom of the boat.. have it push the whole trailer into the ocean & have your jetski float off the trailer with you on it already..

have a few designs on paper & sounds easy in my head, & i can see it workin.. does anyone think NOT??? please give me feedback if u think it will work or Wont..or if im wasting my time

ps. they use a similar kind of a trolly in the US..jetTrax & wheeleez..ect..only that is pushed by a person ..check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqzLQtRIpMM

 

[Ya Toivo]

Hi kb,

Its all normal my vriend. You have to have respect for the ocean. We had n discusion about surf lauch in the pass, and what i said there as well is it takes a real man to stand on the beach while everybody is trying to lauch and rather say, no chaps, i wont be going out today, I am not happy with the launch. The day I stop getting buterflies before a launch is the day i stop launching.

Your issue with hooking a big fish that will drag you to Aussie land, well, I havent hooked one of those yet. And if you do maybe one day, you can always break/cut your line if you uncomfortable with the size of a fish. Just remember if you get big fish, stay calm and think. Make preperations on the ski while fighting the fish, get everything out the way, and get the gaff ready if you going to gaff it. You will see th emore you do it the better it will be.

Have a look at some of the video clips i have posted on you tube, if you havent seen it before, it might give you a better idee what to expect when hooking into a nice fish. My channel on you tube is pietersteenkamp186, even the paddleski clip will show you how to handle a toothy cuta.

Oh almost forgot, and if you get eaten by a huge shark, you will atleast make the news and be famous, and not just another statistic if you get shot by a robber or hit by a taxi.

hope it helps

cheers
Pieter

 

[Foxhat]

We are not in charge of our destiny, get out there charge the surf like you own it, be brave and take out life insurance for your loved ones, because the threat lies not where you are aware or where you can anticipate or read, you more likely to encounter problems on the street where you are relaxed and comfortable!