So my Stilbaai - family - fishing - holiday was finally here. It has been 2 years since I had last caught a fish so my hopes, expectation and desperation were quite high to say the least.
Left Cape Town on Wed 4th.
Arrived in Stilbaai just before three in the afternoon.
My father-in-law was keen to wet a line immediately, but since my short is only 5 months old, I had other priorities. Don't get me wrong i was itching to go down with him, but I had to make sure the Mrs was also happy.
He came back 2 hrs later with a lovely 29cm Kolstert.
Next morning, I was up early, 5am to be exact, could not see much but could here the roar of some big nasty waves. Got down to the water at about 8am, but the water was big, very big. My 6onz grapnel would not sit still. Apart from the size of the waves all looked good. But we were out of luck, not even a bite. Later that morning the wind SW picked up and we packed it in for the day. Later that afternoon, conditions were no better and we heard that a storm was on its way. Things were not looking good at all.
Friday was terrible, lightning, rain and a strong NW. So red wine and vark chops was the order of the day, next to a rageing fire.
Sat morning, we were at the waters edge, just after the sun came out. Still overcast, but no wing and a much smaller swell. Went down to the spot we thought looked good and would produce. I was now desperate for a fish, to the point that even the Stormers game was not going to stop me from wetting a line.
Third cast and I was on to a good little fight, I was so happy that I had actual felt a fish nibble, let alone to have one hooked. Slowly reeled it in and manuvered it through the gullies.
35cm Galjoen - vrot red-bait, 1/0 cirlcle - Not release
It was my first catch on a circle.
My father-in law caught a nice 26cm Kolstert, which was released
Within a few minutes the NW was blowing a gale and the fish went off the bite. We packed up and went home. I sat watch the weather from then on.
At about 16h30 the wind stopped, what to do what to do, the bulls were about to kick off. So off we went to the same spot to fish. LOL The only difference was that the tide was about one hour after high as apposed to this morning catch with was just after low.
Water looked stunning, first cast, tap tap, bait gone. On my third cast I felt the tap, then another, dropped my tip a bit, but nothing. Next thing I see my line move about 5 meters to the left. Still said to my dad, there is a strong current running across this hole and it heading straight behind that rock. So I start reeling in, not wanting to get caught on the rocks an hells bells I have this dead weight on my line. Felt like I had a forest of kelp attached. About 10m away the dorsal fin breaks the water, its a :glen: and now he is swimming straight towards me. Just to my left he lands himself against the back face of a rock. I start doing some rock jumping to my right to get the line away from the mussels. Next swell that comes in I get him away from the rock and start guiding him into the gully. Last heave and up he comes over the ledge.
42cm - vrot red bait - not released.
I managed a nice 27cm Kolstert and off we went home as the sun was setting, the wind picking up an the fish were off the bite.
No more fishing for the remainder of the weekend as the weather went from bad to worse, but I will never forget my first two Galjoen.
Left Cape Town on Wed 4th.
Arrived in Stilbaai just before three in the afternoon.
My father-in-law was keen to wet a line immediately, but since my short is only 5 months old, I had other priorities. Don't get me wrong i was itching to go down with him, but I had to make sure the Mrs was also happy.
He came back 2 hrs later with a lovely 29cm Kolstert.
Next morning, I was up early, 5am to be exact, could not see much but could here the roar of some big nasty waves. Got down to the water at about 8am, but the water was big, very big. My 6onz grapnel would not sit still. Apart from the size of the waves all looked good. But we were out of luck, not even a bite. Later that morning the wind SW picked up and we packed it in for the day. Later that afternoon, conditions were no better and we heard that a storm was on its way. Things were not looking good at all.
Friday was terrible, lightning, rain and a strong NW. So red wine and vark chops was the order of the day, next to a rageing fire.
Sat morning, we were at the waters edge, just after the sun came out. Still overcast, but no wing and a much smaller swell. Went down to the spot we thought looked good and would produce. I was now desperate for a fish, to the point that even the Stormers game was not going to stop me from wetting a line.
Third cast and I was on to a good little fight, I was so happy that I had actual felt a fish nibble, let alone to have one hooked. Slowly reeled it in and manuvered it through the gullies.
35cm Galjoen - vrot red-bait, 1/0 cirlcle - Not release
It was my first catch on a circle.
My father-in law caught a nice 26cm Kolstert, which was released
Within a few minutes the NW was blowing a gale and the fish went off the bite. We packed up and went home. I sat watch the weather from then on.
At about 16h30 the wind stopped, what to do what to do, the bulls were about to kick off. So off we went to the same spot to fish. LOL The only difference was that the tide was about one hour after high as apposed to this morning catch with was just after low.
Water looked stunning, first cast, tap tap, bait gone. On my third cast I felt the tap, then another, dropped my tip a bit, but nothing. Next thing I see my line move about 5 meters to the left. Still said to my dad, there is a strong current running across this hole and it heading straight behind that rock. So I start reeling in, not wanting to get caught on the rocks an hells bells I have this dead weight on my line. Felt like I had a forest of kelp attached. About 10m away the dorsal fin breaks the water, its a :glen: and now he is swimming straight towards me. Just to my left he lands himself against the back face of a rock. I start doing some rock jumping to my right to get the line away from the mussels. Next swell that comes in I get him away from the rock and start guiding him into the gully. Last heave and up he comes over the ledge.
42cm - vrot red bait - not released.
I managed a nice 27cm Kolstert and off we went home as the sun was setting, the wind picking up an the fish were off the bite.
No more fishing for the remainder of the weekend as the weather went from bad to worse, but I will never forget my first two Galjoen.
