Morning
Just a litle feed back on my trip to Transkie just before Christmas.
We left durban on 17 December and arrived at iSlangwana at about 10.30 in a slight drizzle.The water was a brownish colour which would suit us as I had taken my nephew with on his first Shark fishing trip.After speaking to the locals and my gillie I found out that not many edibles were around as they had quite a bit of rain over the last few weeks.
Monday: Up at 04.00 and pack and off we go to fish at Rhame Head.Arrived at about 05.00 and made up my trace as normal with 1mm leader and my slide with 120lb plastic coated,Andre a friend who was with me and fishes the Skie a lot laughed and suggested I add about a meter of plastic coated on to my leader down to the slide ring.I changed my trace and by the time I had my Mackrel in the water Andre and my nephew Des were already sitting waiting for the fish.Andre turned to me and said "we should be getting a pull soon as our baits should be near the bot"I HAD A GREAT PULL and my rod was pulled flat before he could finish his sentence.
I was using my Toruim 30 with 600m braid and 280m of 43lb Double x hi vis and it took seconds for the fish to take me to braid and strip about 120m before I could stop him and turn him.I managed to put about 5 turns of nylon on the spool and handed my rod over to my nephew.I ran and got the camera and I think I have a photo of the worlds biggest cheessy smile .This was the first time my nephew had ever held a rod with a fish bigger than 3kg.I took my nephews rod from Andre and was holding it while offering advice when the rod I was holding started to scream I handed the rod over to Andre so I could assist my Nephew ,suddenly the rod Andre had given me when he took Des rod started to scream ,I realized that this was a bigger fish than the one Andre had on and swoppped rods with him so I had the smallest fish as I was helping Des who was into a shark that if I estimate (after all the sharks and sizes we got that week) to be a grey in the region of 70/80kg.Andre landed a Black fin of 158cm while Des was still battling to land his first fish.After about 30minutes Des lost the fish on the reef in front of the head we were fishing on due to inexperience.In the mean time I parted on a small hammer of about 15kg while helping Des .
The morning consisted of 8 baits in the water and 8 hook ups of which we landed 6 sharks (Hammers,Greys ,Black fins) All were under 70kg but great fun was had by us .
We were fishing on a head that is very similar to Brazenhead but you can only land your fish on the left up a gulley and the landing of fish is much harder than Brazenhead.We managed to land all the fish without using the gaff and all sharks were returned to the water alive.
This is the first time I have fished Rhame and in my opion it is very similar to Brazenhead with deep water but you can only land a fish in the gulley where as at Brazenhead you can land in many places.The walk to Rhame is tough but not as hard as Brazenhead.Of the two I love Rhame and this is coming from a die hard Brazenhead fisherman.
Day 2 we decided to try Brazenhead as we were hoping for a mix of edibles and sharks.When we arrived at Brazen we arranged 3 porters to carry our tackle and cooler boxes down.This is one of the hardest trips down to Brazen I have ever had due to the rain ,it was a slip and slide all the way down.
When we arrived at the bottom we were greeted with blue water and no wind,not the best conditions for Brazen due to the heat factor with no wind blowing.Andre had the first bait in the water and I was still making up traces for Des and myself.A group of about 8 guys who had got there before us made us walk to the second head to cast and then walk back to the first head. Andre had hooked into a Hammer of about 35kg and landed it pretty quick.Des had his bait in the water and it was not long before he had hooked into a Black fin of about 30kg ,after a lovely fight he landed his first shark.Not bad for a 14 year old considering I only landed my first shark at the age of 19.My first shark of the day was a hammer of about 15kg which we hooked up and Andre swam,he was very fresh as we had decided that if any of us hooked a 15kg fish Andre was going to swim it so I put max drag and got him to the side quickly .The hammer took off nicely and swam out about 500m into Raggie territory,after about 30 minutes Andre felt a huge bump and then slack line .A big disapointment a big shark or ray had swam into this line and it had parted.
Des hookedup again but he was not aware as the shark a little grey had picked up his bait and swam straight into the shallows ,it was only when I told him to take up the slack that we realized he had a hook up .The grey was about 25kg.
The day consisted of 9 baits 8 hook ups (lost the hammer swim bait).I tried for edibles but no luck.The porters arrived and we started our climb up .As we reached the top of the first climb the porters started mumbling and saying that because it is Christmas we must pay R40 and not the normal R30 / porter.I refused and a argument continued till we reached the top.They then said that they had a letter that was signed by the Govermunt that we must pay R40 in December and July,I told then to bring the letter,and they sent a kid to get the letter.In the mean time I took out my camera and told them I was going to take a photo and give it to all the clubs who fish Brazen and they would never use them as porters.It was fun trying to get a photo from people who normally love the camera as they became very camera shy.The kid returned with the letter which was from Umgazana cottage owners and it stated R30 forporters and R40 for gillies ,they insisted that they were gillies and I pointed out that once they got to the bottom they dropped our bags and went back up till the agreed time to return and did not help at the bottom at all.
A warning to you guys :if you go to Brazen only pay R30 / porter and tell them before you go down that you are paying them R30 but only when you get to the top.I had business cards in the car and gave each one one at the top and told them no ticket no money.There is a old lady called Sugar who we normally use who is very good and honest.I have heard of stories where fishermen let the porters walk ahead and when they check for something it is gone.Always make your porter walk where you can see them.
Wednesday we decided to try our luck at Shark Point,I tried to drive on the top "road"but the mud made it impossible so it was the walk along the side of the rocks.Andre was the first to get a bait in the water sliding a whole chokka bait,I followed and the wait was on.
We had been spoilt on the first two days and were eagerly awaiting the fun but as fishing goes the fish had taken a break.While we were waiting for the big fish we tried for edibles but had no luck.
We were just thinking of packing up when Andres reel screamed ,as we looked up we saw the most spectacular site - a huge eagle ray flying out the water.The fight was on as Andre battle to keep the fish from going right and loosing it on the rock ledge.After a while Andre managed to get the fish to turn into the bay and started to make his way up and down the face of the cliffs to get to a place where he could fight the fish.Andre has been given a new nick name "Rock Rabbit"as he dashed over the rocks fighting a ray that was not scared to take 600/700m of line on a run.
After about 30 minutes we got sight of the ray - a monster- this was the biggest Eagle ray I have every seen in my life.We estimated the wing span to be over 2m and this is a conservative estimate.Andre was having a hard time stopping the fish going near the reef and a couple of times we actually thought he had lost the fish.
The fish was now about 50m from the rocks and we sent Des to get the tape measure and camera as this fish was tried and we would have on the rocks in about 10/15minutes.How wrong, the fish decided that it had seen enough of the rock line and with a huge flap of the wings made a dash for the deep , PARTING ANDRES LINE AS IT WENT.
A lot of people would get upset but Andre and I agreed that the fish had won this fight and deserved to fight another day.The fight had last 55 minutes and a tried Andre returned back to the point.
The next few days were quite and only 9 more sharks came out and still no edibles.
This was probably the best trip I have had in years in the Transkie and what made the trip even more special was that Des is now hooked on fishing especially shark fishing.
Brett
Just a litle feed back on my trip to Transkie just before Christmas.
We left durban on 17 December and arrived at iSlangwana at about 10.30 in a slight drizzle.The water was a brownish colour which would suit us as I had taken my nephew with on his first Shark fishing trip.After speaking to the locals and my gillie I found out that not many edibles were around as they had quite a bit of rain over the last few weeks.
Monday: Up at 04.00 and pack and off we go to fish at Rhame Head.Arrived at about 05.00 and made up my trace as normal with 1mm leader and my slide with 120lb plastic coated,Andre a friend who was with me and fishes the Skie a lot laughed and suggested I add about a meter of plastic coated on to my leader down to the slide ring.I changed my trace and by the time I had my Mackrel in the water Andre and my nephew Des were already sitting waiting for the fish.Andre turned to me and said "we should be getting a pull soon as our baits should be near the bot"I HAD A GREAT PULL and my rod was pulled flat before he could finish his sentence.
I was using my Toruim 30 with 600m braid and 280m of 43lb Double x hi vis and it took seconds for the fish to take me to braid and strip about 120m before I could stop him and turn him.I managed to put about 5 turns of nylon on the spool and handed my rod over to my nephew.I ran and got the camera and I think I have a photo of the worlds biggest cheessy smile .This was the first time my nephew had ever held a rod with a fish bigger than 3kg.I took my nephews rod from Andre and was holding it while offering advice when the rod I was holding started to scream I handed the rod over to Andre so I could assist my Nephew ,suddenly the rod Andre had given me when he took Des rod started to scream ,I realized that this was a bigger fish than the one Andre had on and swoppped rods with him so I had the smallest fish as I was helping Des who was into a shark that if I estimate (after all the sharks and sizes we got that week) to be a grey in the region of 70/80kg.Andre landed a Black fin of 158cm while Des was still battling to land his first fish.After about 30minutes Des lost the fish on the reef in front of the head we were fishing on due to inexperience.In the mean time I parted on a small hammer of about 15kg while helping Des .
The morning consisted of 8 baits in the water and 8 hook ups of which we landed 6 sharks (Hammers,Greys ,Black fins) All were under 70kg but great fun was had by us .
We were fishing on a head that is very similar to Brazenhead but you can only land your fish on the left up a gulley and the landing of fish is much harder than Brazenhead.We managed to land all the fish without using the gaff and all sharks were returned to the water alive.
This is the first time I have fished Rhame and in my opion it is very similar to Brazenhead with deep water but you can only land a fish in the gulley where as at Brazenhead you can land in many places.The walk to Rhame is tough but not as hard as Brazenhead.Of the two I love Rhame and this is coming from a die hard Brazenhead fisherman.
Day 2 we decided to try Brazenhead as we were hoping for a mix of edibles and sharks.When we arrived at Brazen we arranged 3 porters to carry our tackle and cooler boxes down.This is one of the hardest trips down to Brazen I have ever had due to the rain ,it was a slip and slide all the way down.
When we arrived at the bottom we were greeted with blue water and no wind,not the best conditions for Brazen due to the heat factor with no wind blowing.Andre had the first bait in the water and I was still making up traces for Des and myself.A group of about 8 guys who had got there before us made us walk to the second head to cast and then walk back to the first head. Andre had hooked into a Hammer of about 35kg and landed it pretty quick.Des had his bait in the water and it was not long before he had hooked into a Black fin of about 30kg ,after a lovely fight he landed his first shark.Not bad for a 14 year old considering I only landed my first shark at the age of 19.My first shark of the day was a hammer of about 15kg which we hooked up and Andre swam,he was very fresh as we had decided that if any of us hooked a 15kg fish Andre was going to swim it so I put max drag and got him to the side quickly .The hammer took off nicely and swam out about 500m into Raggie territory,after about 30 minutes Andre felt a huge bump and then slack line .A big disapointment a big shark or ray had swam into this line and it had parted.
Des hookedup again but he was not aware as the shark a little grey had picked up his bait and swam straight into the shallows ,it was only when I told him to take up the slack that we realized he had a hook up .The grey was about 25kg.
The day consisted of 9 baits 8 hook ups (lost the hammer swim bait).I tried for edibles but no luck.The porters arrived and we started our climb up .As we reached the top of the first climb the porters started mumbling and saying that because it is Christmas we must pay R40 and not the normal R30 / porter.I refused and a argument continued till we reached the top.They then said that they had a letter that was signed by the Govermunt that we must pay R40 in December and July,I told then to bring the letter,and they sent a kid to get the letter.In the mean time I took out my camera and told them I was going to take a photo and give it to all the clubs who fish Brazen and they would never use them as porters.It was fun trying to get a photo from people who normally love the camera as they became very camera shy.The kid returned with the letter which was from Umgazana cottage owners and it stated R30 forporters and R40 for gillies ,they insisted that they were gillies and I pointed out that once they got to the bottom they dropped our bags and went back up till the agreed time to return and did not help at the bottom at all.
A warning to you guys :if you go to Brazen only pay R30 / porter and tell them before you go down that you are paying them R30 but only when you get to the top.I had business cards in the car and gave each one one at the top and told them no ticket no money.There is a old lady called Sugar who we normally use who is very good and honest.I have heard of stories where fishermen let the porters walk ahead and when they check for something it is gone.Always make your porter walk where you can see them.
Wednesday we decided to try our luck at Shark Point,I tried to drive on the top "road"but the mud made it impossible so it was the walk along the side of the rocks.Andre was the first to get a bait in the water sliding a whole chokka bait,I followed and the wait was on.
We had been spoilt on the first two days and were eagerly awaiting the fun but as fishing goes the fish had taken a break.While we were waiting for the big fish we tried for edibles but had no luck.
We were just thinking of packing up when Andres reel screamed ,as we looked up we saw the most spectacular site - a huge eagle ray flying out the water.The fight was on as Andre battle to keep the fish from going right and loosing it on the rock ledge.After a while Andre managed to get the fish to turn into the bay and started to make his way up and down the face of the cliffs to get to a place where he could fight the fish.Andre has been given a new nick name "Rock Rabbit"as he dashed over the rocks fighting a ray that was not scared to take 600/700m of line on a run.
After about 30 minutes we got sight of the ray - a monster- this was the biggest Eagle ray I have every seen in my life.We estimated the wing span to be over 2m and this is a conservative estimate.Andre was having a hard time stopping the fish going near the reef and a couple of times we actually thought he had lost the fish.
The fish was now about 50m from the rocks and we sent Des to get the tape measure and camera as this fish was tried and we would have on the rocks in about 10/15minutes.How wrong, the fish decided that it had seen enough of the rock line and with a huge flap of the wings made a dash for the deep , PARTING ANDRES LINE AS IT WENT.
A lot of people would get upset but Andre and I agreed that the fish had won this fight and deserved to fight another day.The fight had last 55 minutes and a tried Andre returned back to the point.
The next few days were quite and only 9 more sharks came out and still no edibles.
This was probably the best trip I have had in years in the Transkie and what made the trip even more special was that Des is now hooked on fishing especially shark fishing.
Brett