Josini Tiger Trip Report

[Fishaholic]

We had a great time at Jozini this weekend. We stayed at the Nature reserve Campsite. On arrival we find the water from the river were very brown stained. One could also see in the campsite ground there were heavy rains.

 

We fished Saturday Morning, got 1 tiger of 3.1 kg, lost 2. It then all went dead, tried more spots but didn’t get anything. In afternoon session the wind was pumping, anchor wasn’t holding, tried eastern side hoping wind will be better there but wasn’t.

 

On Sunday we had a great time, we got 8 of between 2 and 3.5 kgs, and lost a LOT. Some that I can remember were, one threw the hook in jump, two cut off under boat, 2 bit mono off (seems that 100mm steel is too short) and a lot of miss strikes. But I suppose that’s how it goes with tigers, but we had a lot of fun. A storm chased us off the dam midday, but we could get back for a short afternoon session.

 

On Monday we had a short session till 10AM before we had to pack up. We got 3 and lost even more, at one stage we had 4 miss strikes in a row. The water was dirty, maybe that was a factor or they were too small for the bait, don’t know.

 

But in total we got 12 tigers safely released between 2 and 3.5 kgs. We really enjoyed it, my 6year old even went to school the following morning with a tiger tooth in his pocket to show off with at school.

 

[Fishaholic]

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[Fishaholic]

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[Jmax]

Great report!   :fishn

 

[Light Tackle Hunter]

Great report and awesome fish! What bait was used? Sards/chicken heart/live bait/lures?

Cheers,
Eugene

 

[Bruggie]

One day when I am big!!

 

[Ryan]

Awesome report...

 

[Fishaholic]

Thanks guys,

Eugene, got all on sardine drift bait. I also tried livies, I got them from nice guys at the camp which also borrowed me their air pump, but didn't have baloons, so not really affective I think, also only far about an hour, in that time I got strikes on both the other sard lines. Also tried spinners, but no takes. But the sard lines kept me very busy so I didn't spend a lot of time on other methods. But I heard of one guy that got 9 strikes on spinners on one day but not one of them netted. Also the same guy got a lot of hits on the livies, but also struggled to hook them properly. I think all methods must be tried, depends on the size fish thats around, when I had the 4 miss strikes on the last day, maybe the fish was smaller, then I should have consentrated more on spinners. Seems like the small fish go for the spinners and the larger ones like bait more. Just my oppinion, I have very limited tiger experience.

 

[L Hooker]

well done and nice report

 

[Flippy777]

Nice One, I will be there next weekend!! where about were you getting the most action?

might be stupid question but how were you rigging up the drift bait?

 

[Kona]

Photo of the kids having a great time out fishing is what memories are made of, Nice report.

 

[basslover]

Hi Phillip!!!
Lekker om jou hier op tesien...Geluk met julle goeie vangste!!!

 

[Fishaholic]

Thanks guys.

Flippy, got best results to the northern/swazi side of main dam, the whole river side too dirty, water were cleaner there depending on wind, look out for weedbeds. A lot of guys also fished the opposite side to where the river comes into main dam. I just used a 5/0 bass hook with 150mm #3 steel, joined to nylon leader with albright. Enjoy your trip, remember the report, and TIGHT LINES!

 

[Ryan]

Just want to make a furhter comment here too.

Thanks for handeling these fish with fish friendly devices and teaching the youngster this valuable information always a great pleasure to see people looking after our fish stocks....Big upps to you guys...

 

[Fishaholic]

Thanks Ryan, one must just also be carefull with the lip gripper and the tigers teeth, one fish shook ist head a lot while hanging, and one of its tooth unfortuanately broke off. My son enjoyed and took over all the reviving and releasing of the tigers.

 

[jonnyp]

good report- great pics thanks

 

[Nam-fish]

Fishaholic wrote:

Thanks Ryan, one must just also be carefull with the lip gripper and the tigers teeth, one fish shook ist head a lot while hanging, and one of its tooth unfortuanately broke off. My son enjoyed and took over all the reviving and releasing of the tigers.

I wouldn't be overly concerned about the tigers teeth - I understand that they are continueosly replaced (like a shark's). Caught tigers with hardly a tooth in their mounth - my friend told me that this is common and that they'll grew back, and that this is an ongoing process.

I don't know this as a fact and please correct me if I'm wrong..... Ryan?

P.S. Pleas Note - I don't say that its OK to go and knock every tiger "haasbek" to decorate your crocodile dunee hat, I'm only saying I heard that tigers teeth gets replaced when lost..... ::hapi: