Saltwater mini species on lure

[kaptein delarey]

My plan was catching some larger specimens like shad, garrick, wave garrick etc. - but when that didn't work out I turned my attention to the smaller species on offer.

Visited the Port Shepstone area for my first coastal break in more than 2 years.

As this was a family holiday, I had to squeeze in quick power angling sessions when I where I got the opportunity. The weather was mostly windy so I concentrated my efforts on a couple of close by estuaries, pools and gullies.

Got 11 new species for me (some yet not confidently identified by me) and all of them were caught on lure ... even though I got offered bait on numerous occasions by holidaying youngsters.

Started off with the most common fish a Maned Blenny.

Also caught plenty of these very territorial Spot Damsels.

The Cape Moonies were fun to catch and watch the whole school following the hooked fish to the surface.

This small, but greedy Tank Goby took a whole Berkley Powerbait Micro Wiggler on a #16 hook.

Got this strange-looking goby a couple cast later. Can't find it's exact name yet.

Also had a surprisingly productive short session at the Uvongo lagoon (in between the swimmers and paddlers) quickly hooking 5 different species.

Another unnamed goby.

The strangest looking fish I've caught to date - the aptly named Kappie Blenny.

Found out that it's a biter ...

A Slender Glassy

A small mullet of some kind.

And a small Cape Stumpnose.

Rounded off my 11 species tally with this Thornfish.

All in all great artlure fun at the coast!

 

[fishy_fishy]

Great catches. Kaptein is it possible to share your technique and rig? I tried on my recent trip to ballito didnt get anything

:f1shy

 

[greydog]

Wow, very impressive!

 

[Fishpaste]

Lekker een Kaptein!

 

[Ben REINERS]

Nice going kaptein delarey........you have an awesome collection of Goby's there.....its something we don't get to see every day. Your list is groing fast.......

 

[kaptein delarey]

Thanks everyone.

I think that given more time one could easily double or even triple your mini species tally in a week at the coast.

Will put together some pics of my rigs used as soon as I have some time.

Cheers

 

[aquadementia]

guys check out the artlure section in freshwater there's plenty info in there that can apply to saltwater

 

[Blikkiesvis]

I really enjoyed this post! Fantastic pics and congrads on the catches!

 

[kaptein delarey]

fishy_fishy wrote:

Great catches. Kaptein is it possible to share your technique and rig? I tried on my recent trip to ballito didnt get anything

:f1shy

Hi here are a couple of pics and techniques ...

These rigs with the smaller hooks and small splitshot up the line you don't need to cast out (but can) but simply dip at a rod's length and closer into rock cracks, pools next to undercut bank – basically anywhere you suspect fish to likely be.

#22 hook with small Lume Lures Spider lure and splitshot crimped on the line.

Any spinning rod with light line will do. I use a telescopic rod that extends from 50cm to 3m for those hard to reach spots.

#22 hook with small Sada Lures curly lure and splitshot crimped on the line.

Although the bits of PowerBait Micro Wigglers are slightly scented, I achieve the same success with unscented mini rubber lures. I believe that the fish either strike out of reaction, territoriality or simply hunting down food looking item. So one must give the micro lures some action as one would with dropshotting  paddletails. Simply dip, pause and give intermittent small strikes and hops.  See and feel what gets reaction from the fish.

#26 hook with small piece of Berkley PowerBait Micro Wiggler and splitshot crimped on the line.

The casting rig I use mostly with the #16 hooks with a small ball sinker (+/- 3g) rigged up the line with 2 gummy stops, like a mojo bass rig. The movable sinker allows one to vary the length of line for slightly different actions and sink rates. I use a 5'6 UL spinning rod with 7lb mono on a small spinning reel.

Cast into like looking spots and retrieve with small hops, strikes, pauses and erratic actions. Caught the Moonies, gobies and bigger spot sergeants this way in the estuary eddies and rock gullies. Fan cast an area and move on if no bites. One could also upsize this rig for other species in the surf, estuary and off the rocks.

#16 Mustad baitholder hook with a whole Berkley PowerBait Micro Wiggler and small movable ball sinker on the line.

Hope this answers your curiosity. We use similar techniques when fishing our freshwater artlure leagues and they seem to be working in the salt too.

Cheers
Werner