PennSenator6/0
New member
I had an expectation for something when we eventually managed to get past the tender responsibilities and workload of Wednesday and was driving towards Muizenberg on the M5.
It was a beautiful and quiet night. Malcolm Wegewarth, a business colleague, went with. My wife and family - minus the two elders boys – went along with two of their friends and their mom. Paul Young, his family and sister as well as two girls and his colleague came along….so a very large group (minimum of 20) and I am supposed to be the ‘host’. (We invited the Youngs for a ‘let us share whatever we have for supper’ and have a good time together.) After greeting everyone, I apologised and explained that we will just get the line in the water before we will have a meal together…a nice “bring and share†meal on the spur of the moment.
We quickly rigged a reel – my new Torium 30 on a boat rod that I bought for R85 the previous year in Jeffreys Bay. Two thirds of a marcel on a 10/0 Karachi hook, nicely hooked through the nose as I saw on Sealine. Time: 19H15. My boy, Henry, aged 16 and just over 6 feet tall, paddled in on a newly acquired paddle ski – courtesy of my beloved wife – about 200 meters perpendicular to the shore – then the current moved him about 20 degrees north or to our left. He dropped the bait and soon thereafter I felt someone reeling in and pulling my line in…I realised that we had inadvertently crossed someone’s line…then the current moved the bait even further north, now about 60 degrees to the shore. I thought that the grapnel sinker probable got entangled somehow and did not hold out in the current. Line moved now about 45 degrees to the shore….I apologised to the anglers closest to me but my line is far and beyond the reach of their lines…Being a novice, I put the rod in the holder, and went to get something to eat….l felt quite hungry as the last I had to eat was at 11H00 and it was now 19H30.
Then the Torium sang the most welcome song for an angler: ZZZZZZ, ZZZZZ, ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. I felt that I had something one and I strike. The200 meters of nylon had been taken off and I was on the braid or backing. Fortunately the knot (binding the top shot to the backing) by Arthur from the Fishing Specialist held and I started to apply a bit more brake…. The line still was peeling off at a steady rate….I felt great. My rod was holding up nicely, the Torium was giving out line steadily, all going rather well. I could see the line level dropping, but with 600 yards of braid on the reel, I was feeling confident. For the first time in my life I had something on that I could not easily turn and then he decided to run, he run and there was not too much I could to about this. Not that I wished it to stop as I was enjoying it immensely.
Then the fish turned, and with the high dear ratio reeling in was not a problem. He was swimming now from my left towards me for a while and I gained back some line. Then he turned again and took of line once more. I was delighted as I was enjoying his runs. By this time a young crowd had amassed and I had tremendous support and got continuous coaching from Malcolm, who was advising me on what and what not to do.
We were now close to the water’s edge and the next 15 minute were actively engaged in fighting the shark. Then shark swam parallel to the shore and we were playing nicely. Then he somehow realised that the shore was looming and he put in a desperate effort back…’Hold his head towards you …. Bring him in with the next wave … Don’t let him now turn his head.’ Malcolm was coaching….My whole family was supporting and looking for a camera, but I only had my cell phone to use…
‘How are your arms feeling?’ Malcolm enquired. ‘ Great ‘ I did not feel any tiredness at all. Not until the next day when I felt some distinct unease in my joints as this body, how is now in his second half century, is not accustomed to so much exercise.
There he is! Someone saw him and then I could see the signatory two fins of a shark breaking the surface…I could see him fighting and churning up water when he fought desperately…But like a sinner caught by the Devil, he had to give in to the relentless pressure of the Torium 30 and was coming in closer all the time. Until we could see him and he found himself in the shallows. Eager hands assisted and pulled him to shore – but only after they were convinced that his business end was truly pointed at the angler and would stay like this. Time 20H00. We had been fighting for about 30 minutes.
It was a massive shark, judged by my rather lowly standards – only the second shark in my life – and I have been out shark fishing for about 7 times. Malcolm measured it 1.75 meters from nose tip to end the tail (caudal) fin and 1.3 meter to the start of the tail fin. All were delighted. Experience fishermen assisted in removing the hook, photos were taken and then the trophy was returned back onto the deep. We saw the grey body turned and slowly moving into the deeper water. And then he was gone…but the memories stayed.
After some backslapping and discussing the shark, the crowd dispersed, we went back to load another reel; Some of the women were playing volley ball; everyone seems to have had their meal… Henry paddled it in at about 20H15, I tried to get something to eat, but by this time, the Yound family were ready to go back home as the following day they all had school to attend to….Then Henry was ‘vas’ and he produced a nice 1.45 m shark. And then we had run out of time and had to pack up and go…Time 20H45. Two great sharks in hour and half’s time. What a night!
Later Malcolm turned to me and said: ‘ I never realised that this technique worked so good’. Next time I am going to this this as well…’ Yes, Malcolm, you were right; I also did not know that it worked so great – until tonight.
What a beautiful evening, great friends, food and great fishing – it was really a most blessed evening and we just bow before the Christ that has blessed us like this….
Regards
PennSenator6/0
It was a beautiful and quiet night. Malcolm Wegewarth, a business colleague, went with. My wife and family - minus the two elders boys – went along with two of their friends and their mom. Paul Young, his family and sister as well as two girls and his colleague came along….so a very large group (minimum of 20) and I am supposed to be the ‘host’. (We invited the Youngs for a ‘let us share whatever we have for supper’ and have a good time together.) After greeting everyone, I apologised and explained that we will just get the line in the water before we will have a meal together…a nice “bring and share†meal on the spur of the moment.
We quickly rigged a reel – my new Torium 30 on a boat rod that I bought for R85 the previous year in Jeffreys Bay. Two thirds of a marcel on a 10/0 Karachi hook, nicely hooked through the nose as I saw on Sealine. Time: 19H15. My boy, Henry, aged 16 and just over 6 feet tall, paddled in on a newly acquired paddle ski – courtesy of my beloved wife – about 200 meters perpendicular to the shore – then the current moved him about 20 degrees north or to our left. He dropped the bait and soon thereafter I felt someone reeling in and pulling my line in…I realised that we had inadvertently crossed someone’s line…then the current moved the bait even further north, now about 60 degrees to the shore. I thought that the grapnel sinker probable got entangled somehow and did not hold out in the current. Line moved now about 45 degrees to the shore….I apologised to the anglers closest to me but my line is far and beyond the reach of their lines…Being a novice, I put the rod in the holder, and went to get something to eat….l felt quite hungry as the last I had to eat was at 11H00 and it was now 19H30.
Then the Torium sang the most welcome song for an angler: ZZZZZZ, ZZZZZ, ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. I felt that I had something one and I strike. The200 meters of nylon had been taken off and I was on the braid or backing. Fortunately the knot (binding the top shot to the backing) by Arthur from the Fishing Specialist held and I started to apply a bit more brake…. The line still was peeling off at a steady rate….I felt great. My rod was holding up nicely, the Torium was giving out line steadily, all going rather well. I could see the line level dropping, but with 600 yards of braid on the reel, I was feeling confident. For the first time in my life I had something on that I could not easily turn and then he decided to run, he run and there was not too much I could to about this. Not that I wished it to stop as I was enjoying it immensely.
Then the fish turned, and with the high dear ratio reeling in was not a problem. He was swimming now from my left towards me for a while and I gained back some line. Then he turned again and took of line once more. I was delighted as I was enjoying his runs. By this time a young crowd had amassed and I had tremendous support and got continuous coaching from Malcolm, who was advising me on what and what not to do.
We were now close to the water’s edge and the next 15 minute were actively engaged in fighting the shark. Then shark swam parallel to the shore and we were playing nicely. Then he somehow realised that the shore was looming and he put in a desperate effort back…’Hold his head towards you …. Bring him in with the next wave … Don’t let him now turn his head.’ Malcolm was coaching….My whole family was supporting and looking for a camera, but I only had my cell phone to use…
‘How are your arms feeling?’ Malcolm enquired. ‘ Great ‘ I did not feel any tiredness at all. Not until the next day when I felt some distinct unease in my joints as this body, how is now in his second half century, is not accustomed to so much exercise.
There he is! Someone saw him and then I could see the signatory two fins of a shark breaking the surface…I could see him fighting and churning up water when he fought desperately…But like a sinner caught by the Devil, he had to give in to the relentless pressure of the Torium 30 and was coming in closer all the time. Until we could see him and he found himself in the shallows. Eager hands assisted and pulled him to shore – but only after they were convinced that his business end was truly pointed at the angler and would stay like this. Time 20H00. We had been fighting for about 30 minutes.
It was a massive shark, judged by my rather lowly standards – only the second shark in my life – and I have been out shark fishing for about 7 times. Malcolm measured it 1.75 meters from nose tip to end the tail (caudal) fin and 1.3 meter to the start of the tail fin. All were delighted. Experience fishermen assisted in removing the hook, photos were taken and then the trophy was returned back onto the deep. We saw the grey body turned and slowly moving into the deeper water. And then he was gone…but the memories stayed.
After some backslapping and discussing the shark, the crowd dispersed, we went back to load another reel; Some of the women were playing volley ball; everyone seems to have had their meal… Henry paddled it in at about 20H15, I tried to get something to eat, but by this time, the Yound family were ready to go back home as the following day they all had school to attend to….Then Henry was ‘vas’ and he produced a nice 1.45 m shark. And then we had run out of time and had to pack up and go…Time 20H45. Two great sharks in hour and half’s time. What a night!
Later Malcolm turned to me and said: ‘ I never realised that this technique worked so good’. Next time I am going to this this as well…’ Yes, Malcolm, you were right; I also did not know that it worked so great – until tonight.
What a beautiful evening, great friends, food and great fishing – it was really a most blessed evening and we just bow before the Christ that has blessed us like this….
Regards
PennSenator6/0
sounds like a great night! congrats