StLucia again

[chrisj]

Hi all, My Brother in law and I went determined to take the area by storm and as usual when you plan this type of weekend it was fish 1 - anglers 0. Fishing conditions were perfect but the big fish were not interested. There are hordes of small pompano in the bay but the emphasis is on small, about 2 days before I got there decent size ones were coming in with quite a few in the 6 kg range coming in. Shad were thick in the breakers but we tried spooning, poppers and various dead baits to no avail.

Thornfish were also around and doing a good job of stripping off the bait. 2nd day we tried the Estuary by the ski boat club and had a lot of the same. I ran out a live pompano and after  a small run bought in the head and tail with the middle missing which by the bite mark looked like a small Kob. Sent out a small pinkie that my son hd caught and this time all they gave me back was the head. Was just getting into that and we got summonsed by scowling wives who were mumbling something about mothers day.

My Boet tried drop shot by the swimming beach and got the weekend award for foul hooking something smaller than the lure. I told him he could not claim a species point if the fish caught is smaller than the bait!!!

The wheather turned on Sunday night with a strong wind coming up which made fishing difficult. Got bitten off by quite a big shark in the mouth at dusk. Didnt really try much for the rest of the week except for a trip to Vidal where I wanted to fish the ledges on the low but the water was to high and after losing 3 traces gave it up as a bad joke. Spoke to fishermen and nothing had been coming out for the past few days.

Saw nothing of size come out anywhere for the 5 days I was up there.

However when we are faced with the inevitable question from our wives "Bloody hell youve been gone for 5 hours and caught nothing, I cant see the point" Just shrug and smile as a non angler doesnt understand that the fun is in the chase as well as being privilidged to just be there enjoying the beauty that our coastline offers. They also dont understand that you will keep going back for teh adrenalin rush of the pull of the 'big one'. Some days the sea will beat you, sometimes it wont but is percevearance that joins us all together as a merry band of anglers.

Well anyway thats all that I convince myself when im cold, irritable and the fishing is crap. Its also when I think of taking up golf.

Bye for now.

 

[Reefman]

Nice one and thanks for that Chris. Sorry about the fishing....

After what I've seen happening up there since the Estuary broke through, I can't say I'm surprised that the catches are dwindling... If ever there was a perfect example of catastrophic overfishing taking place, it's happened... right on our doorstep at St Lucia. No regard for limits or size.... everything goes in the box... and Parks board does diddly squat, just watching the plunder ... ai, it makes me MAD!!! 
                                                   :headb:swear

 

[chrisj]

I agree and dont get me going on that point. I spent years arguing to get the mouth open and now that I see what is going on I think it should be closed again!!!!!

 

[Riymos]

Howzit Chris

Hey boet don't feel bad.You know what i here there hasn't been much action all round durban.So i guess the fish just to a holiday....

You know something that i was thinking about last night and over the last couple of weeks is with the recent storms that we had,how much of an impact has this had on the regular spots in KZN.

Well in my opinion it has had a major effect on the grounds,If you take Virginia,Glenashley even though they have produced a few fish in my opinion it has not performed to it's usuall potential.I have noticed that the sand on the shore is rough and very loose thus i feel that there are no lice and other organisims close in shore to attract the fish there.In the past the main feeding banks were close and the ground feeders like Grunter etc were always caught close inshore,but since the storms you will find that there is alot of deep water and fewer banks.What this does is take the fish further out to feed so even though we should have bigger fish with all the deep water around we don't.The reason i feel for this is that the main banks are so deep that al the fish are staying way out,if you look at recent reports the main species that are being landed are Pompano and this is alot more then in previous years,why are there no other species being caught as often as in previous years.Well my reason is that the main feeding banks are to far out and also the sand is so loose that no lice or other organisims are there..

Just a thought guy's what are your feelings..

Cheers Riymos

 

[chrisj]

I think you are 100% correct in that a lot of the banks have moved around, As pompano are big sealice eaters it is this disruption which has probably bought them in. I dont understand why this has not bought the predators in behind them though, I have heard a lot of people saying teh sea temp is a bit to high at the moment but dont know if this is a factor at all. Perhaps if the banks have been pushed back we are seeing less white water than before? Perhaps we are caught up with fishing areas the same way we have been doing for the past years, maybe we need to explore areas which have been historically non productive?

As far as the pompano go, I have never seen them in this type of quantity, Wave Garrick yes but not normal pompano (I think a wave garrick is a southern pompano whilst a pompano pompano is a northen one or vice versa, it all get quite confusing)

Would be intersting to hear what other people think.

 

[Reefman]

Wave Garrick = Largespot Pompano = Moonfish - (the little fish)

Pompano = African Pompano = Southern Pompano -  (the bigger pompano)

 

[Riymos]

Howzit Guy's

Yupp Chris exploing new grounds or unproductive ones maybe a choice bud.At this rate i would try anything to get some decent results.You know in the past the theory was deeper water equals bigger fish,but now we see that this is not the case,I feel it depends alot on the habitat and feeding banks.

Lets hope these new banks settle quickly and start to regenerate organisims so that we can soon start to get some good fish.

Cheers Riymos

 

[shaunm]

NOW ive heard it all. How can you think that because you did not catch fish nor see anyone else catch anything decent means that the char ous over fished the damn sea and killed all the fish.

Ever heard of barometeric pressure, baitfish activity, water temperatures,etc effecting fishing?? Guess not, otherwise you would not have made such an asenine comment.

Dont blame your incompetance in fishing on there being no decent fish anymore.

:cry1

 

[chrisj]

I think you replied to the wrong post shaun

 

[Reefman]

shaunm wrote:

NOW ive heard it all. How can you think that because you did not catch fish nor see anyone else catch anything decent means that the char ous over fished the damn sea and killed all the fish.

Ever heard of barometeric pressure, baitfish activity, water temperatures,etc effecting fishing?? Guess not, otherwise you would not have made such an asenine comment.

Dont blame your incompetance in fishing on there being no decent fish anymore.

:cry1

:dunno1?????????????????????????????????????:crazy1

 

[MickJack]

Chrisj

Been there done that. Had one of those weekends (at Mabibi), almost to the T right down to the fish on a lure bigger than itself - a tiny Threadfin on a big Kingfish popper. Except the wives and kids kinda enjoyed the beautiful snorkeling and the natural beauty/remoteness of the venue.

Next time, you'll probably come back and post a completely different story, with much whooping and bragging.............don't take up golf! Must guys give up Golf and take up fishing!!!!

MJ