Reel Magic Charters Action Update!!

[Reel Magic Charters]

Slower day today with the dropping glass but managed another Blue to sort the hookup ratio to the 50% mark which sounds a bit better. Fanus and crew had a great day at the death and two marlin in two days is hard to beat on a charter anywhere in the world. OET much quieter today as well.

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Pics

 

[benniejordaan]

Well done!

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Unfortunately no pics of today but plenty action. Skippered Wayne Ritchies new Citation in pretty heavy conditions(NE). Had a fish up and fed it a strip on the 30lb - freespool,hookup and all...got spat after 40m run, brought it back up to the spread and it switched onto the shotgun,hooked up, junmped twice and waved goodbye. Perfect 120 kg fish for 30lb..#$@%.
Had another smash on the shotgun an hour later but no hookup. Birds are back with some flying fish. Looking fantastic and we are on the poorest moon phase. Think its going to get crazy in the next 3 weeks ....yeeha!:ifishin:fbash:fbash

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Knackered after an all nighter on "Reel Magic" with Deon Auby..no Swordfish but a Dorrie and a nice 400lb Blue at 615 am this morning. Headed for bed!

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Out on Beluga today with Mike and Dale Leenstra on 30lb line. Absolutely horrible sea this morning but at last a hookup! Dale(Junior Angler) got a 50-60kg Stripey which was to close to call for the record (55 kg Held by his dad), so we let it go in hope of a bigger fish. Didnt have to wait long as we had a fish on again within an hour but unfortunately it threw the hooks. 2 other boats out also released fish so the game is definitely warming up nicely and with good 25 C water moving in we should get very busy now. Looking forward to the next few weeks!:wfish

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Been a super busy day today getting the top survey and a few other admin tasks sorted so yesterdays story had to wait.
Went out on Reel Magic with only Lynie Maree as help and had another shot at it on 30 lb. Had a Dorrrie on immediately, followed by nothing until 2pm when we had a hookup that fell off and then a fish up in the spread that toured and disappeared. Had given up on it when it launched at the shotgun and hooked up in 240m of water. Originally thought it was a stripey but when it came barrelling out of the water, greyhounding for the horizon we knew it wasnt a stripe. Managed to stay attached by backing down on the drag and saying a few prayers!
Hour and 40 later, in rough conditions, we managed to get the fish gaffed after a hell of a tussle on the leader unaided. With the fish having given us the worst time imaginable for its size neither of us had checked the fish out to determine what it was, assuming by the run and the depth that it was a blue. Only on gaffing did we realize that it was a black and that we had failed in the quest of beating the SA record for a blue on 30lb.
We estimated it at 95 kg. Jubilation turned to remorse as we realized the effort had been in vane. It was late and we headed for port to weight the fish anyway. What a surprise when she came in at 112 kg , missing the SA mark by just 6kgs.
Will just have to go out and try again. Heres to hoping its blue next time!

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Water up to 26, deg and purple . . Dbn stand bye here she comes!:wfish

 

[benniejordaan]

Reel Magic Charters wrote:

Water up to 26, deg and purple . . Dbn stand bye here she comes!:wfish

Thanks for the update... "Standing by"

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Last minute call last night to help out with a group who had chartered 2 boats in R Bay and suffered a breakdown on one yesterday. Had the whole group(6) on Reel Magic today for a half day in a stiff NEaster. Hooked up at 6.05am and released a fiesty black that emptied an 80 lb outfit. Guess we can call it "Job Done"
Rushed home and to the airport in Durban to pick up the next group at 2.30pm. Hectic day and more to come!:wfish:wfish

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Tough trip for my brother and friends with Gale SW weather swell and strong NE after but managed 2 days in pretty uncomfortable conditions dropping one marlin and landing some Yellowfin sushi on day 1, with another marlin dropped, a spearfish release and a good 30 kg Wahoo on the second. Very bummed not to release a Blue for the guys, but the water has been far from good having dropped 3 degrees from a week ago and the sea being nasty. Sign of good water moving in yesterday with a degree rise and good colour returning. Hopefully the westerlies will go back to where they originated and the weather will settle. One boat dropped a big Yellowfin in the deep yesterday so they still around on the outside line.

 

[benniejordaan]

Have you caught a lot of spearfish? I still have yet to get one.

Would you do anything specific to target them?

Thanks for the updates.

 

[aquadementia]

nice updates and pics

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

benniejordaan wrote:

Have you caught a lot of spearfish? I still have yet to get one.

Would you do anything specific to target them?

Thanks for the updates.

Was talking about it yesterday. Have had about 8 on Reel Magic, but over some time - very difficult fish to target as they come out all over although mainly in Feb on the 1000m or in hotter water 27/28.Very soft mouth so if you see them jump, back off the drag immediately and baby them to the boat. Difficult to handle next to the boat as no bill and grabbing them in the mouth area is always close to hooks so beware!

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Oh yes they love smaller lures behind a bird, though hookups are very difficult. The lure in picture is a flying fish immitation and is perfect for them!

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Still pic off video

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Murphy has a strange sense of humour. Have been looking for SA record on 30 lb for some time now and wanted a "good" fish to put on the board. Well yesterday the wish was granted, only that it was in excess of 700 lb! Cant be done many will say, but yesterday we proved just how do able it is. A 3 hr 20 minute fight and we had her on the leader 5 times! Been tutoring youngster Dale Leenstra on the art of fighting fish on light tackle and he sure had an intense lesson yesterday, not to mention his first attempt at leadering a fish of this size. All did a great job on dad Mike Leenstra's boat Baluga. Unfortunately she got away and the sadness will prevail for a very long time.
Fish was hooked on Big T "Vanatu 50 Dorado skirt. Somewhere out there is a magnifacent fish sporting some Big T bling...till next time!
pics to follow

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

Well here are some of the shots from yesterdays epic dual. Unfortunately the quality of stills off the go pro arnt great but sure you can see the quality of the fish!

 

[Reel Magic Charters]

more pics

 

[Redhawk]

Whoa!!!!