Targeting White steenbras and Cob

[Danielle D]

Hi everyone, I am relatively quite new into Surf Fishing. My partner and I have learned quite a lot over this past year regarding fishing spots, watering reading ect.

I have a Rovex Big boss 8000 with a 14ft Adrenaline Rod.

I just would like to ask what the ideal trace would be for white steenbras, as i think we are going to heavy on our leader and hook trace, 16kg ect. I do make my traces with a sliding sinker trace and a BKK 3/0 offset circle hook.

I do try and use cone sinkers but they keep getting washed to the front or side of the surf, so I will switch to a grapnel sinker as I don't want to disrupt other fishermen with my line getting caught up in theirs. Are grapnels okay too?

So when targeting White Steenbras, does the whole leader and hook trace need to be much lighter, or only the actual hook trace?

The spots we mostly fish are Strandfontein, strand blakes, strand Melkbaai on low pushing tide and occasionally Silversands. (We live in Somerset West) What are the best tide conditions for steenies? From what I understand is that they like calmer rolling waves rather than rough big swells?

Apart from bloodworms and sandprawns, what other baits can be successfully used for steenies?

Also last thing, what type of trace/bait presentation works best for you with Cobs? Dingle Dangles or not?

Sorry for the long post everyone but would love to get some advise from the Pros Any other advise such as other fishing spots to try is also very much welcome.

 

[DJP]

I just would like to ask what the ideal trace would be for White Steenbras.
There is no one ideal trace, it differs between spots, baits and personal preference. The general rule is that you want to keep your bait close to the bottom (although even with that there is the exception to the rule, especially with crabs around). To simplify it you can either use a sliding trace or use a fixed trace with longer hook snoots. 16kg is actually quite light I wouldn't go less than that, depends on the area you fish in but generally line between 0.60mm and 0.75mm should suffice. Thinner and thicker would be applicable to specific circumstance. You could probably go down to 0.50mm if using fluorocarbon of the beach but then you will be stressing if you pick up something big.

Are grapnels okay too?
Grapnels are fine. I you are fishing a sliding trace just make sure you have a stop bead on you leader otherwise the fish might run you into the main braid which isn't ideal and normally the weakest part of you tackle. With cones try using ones which is a bit heavier. On rods I fish a 4oz grab with I will use a 5-6oz cone. I found using short sinker snoot with the cones work better in stronger water, it just keeps it from tangling up too much.

So when targeting White Steenbras, does the whole leader and hook trace need to be much lighter, or only the actual hook trace?
If you are fishing on sand only you can fish everything as light as you are comfortable with. If there are rocks or drift kelp in the area don't go to light, only scale down your sinker line in case it gets stuck.

From what I understand is that they like calmer rolling waves rather than rough big swells? Not really, sometimes they feed well in rough water because it loosens a lot of food for them. It's just more difficult to fish off most beaches when the sea is strong and surging.

Apart from bloodworms and sandprawns, what other baits can be successfully used for steenies? Moonshine worms also work well but and then there is a lot of other baits you can try but prawn and worms are the best if you targeting Steenbras.

Also last thing, what type of trace/bait presentation works best for you with Cobs? Dingle Dangles or not? In and around the cape the best all round bait is a chokka / sardine combo. You can also just use plain chokka or plain sardine (belly or whole). If there are small cob around the dangle might be frustrating as they tend to pick the bait up and run without the hook in their mouth. in this case just bait up on the hook with a chokka blob and a few slithers. Otherwise a chokka/sardine combo on a dangle can work well.

Fishing in and around Strand is good, especially in summer. Steenbras fishing in the cape is a notoriously hit and mis affair so don't break you mind around it. The area between Gordons Bay and Gansbaai is quite tough to fish (there are fish but school fees are expensive). From Franskraal towards Struisbaai the fishing becomes much better. Try make a weekend mission to to Franskraal, Pearly Beach, Die Damme, Struisbaai. It will be significantly different experience to what you are use to. Here, you will also stand a chance of catching mussel cracker and in general the average size of kob is a bit bigger.

 

[Danielle D]

Hi DJP,

Thank you for all the helpful information, I appreciate it. I will definitely take everything into account. I'll also try to not be too obsessed to catch a big steenie haha. 😂 Cant wait until it does happen though. I did manage to catch a small one but keen to catch a bigger one.

Will definitely look into going to struisbaai for a weekend sometime.

Thanks again 🙂

 

[Blikkiesvis]

Steenbras!!! AKA Steenie, Stoomtrein, Bras, ChooChoo!

When you hook into one, you will know it! I have seen them take so hard that the rod tip hits the sand, no jokes. Your rod will hang "glyk" (horizontal) with the beach and you will struggle to take the rod out of the stand... They are one of the best fish to catch!

On one of our trips to the Overberg once, we discussed how much line does a Steenie really run off your reel? In those days I was fishing a Penn Fathom 15 and my friend a Daiwa BG 20. Now on the plaat you generally wade a bit, make a cast and then set up your rod in the spike with about 150-180m of line out. If you only have 300m on the spool to begin with, that could be a problem, since you will be left with 120m max to play with.

We settled the discussion with a very confided, "nothing more than 50-80m". There no way a Steenbras can be that strong...

On this day, with the very first cast, my friends rod dipped and the fish took about 100m in no time and it looked like he was still picking up speed. He had to brake the fish with increasing the drag and then thumbing the spool to apply maximum pressure so he wouldn't get spooled. Eventually with only a couple of meters left on his reel his leader knot parted... It was very quiet for about an hour.

When you catch (and you will) a proper one, you will remember it for the rest of your life!

A line in the water at the right place and proper bait is more important than anything else. When you target Steenbras try to get fresh Bloodworm. That is the ultimate bait for Steenies! But you can also catch them on Sand Crab, Wonder Worm, Moonshine Worm, Prawns, Tjokka, Mussel, Sardine and even Redbait. If they are there and they are hungry they will eat anything.

You can catch Steenbras in the Strand but you will up your chances if you start to target them from Bettys Bay and further South.

 

[Stefan001]

Hi Danielle
DJP gave some great info and tips for your steenie search.

My 2c

I first start with a cone sinker on a rolling bank and if it washes too much, I revert to using a wire grab.

For White steenbras especially I fish old school with multipliers and .40mm main line. This is to lessen the current on the line when you wade far out and put the bait on the back bank. There are many theories for and against braid vs multipliers but that is a discussion for another day.

I think your baits and setup is spot on, unfortunately Cape town is pretty difficult fishing and safety is always an issue.

I stay in struisbaai and have had my best steenbras seasons in many years...

 

[DJP]

Blikkiesvis wrote:

It was very quiet for about an hour.

Lol... I can only wonder what those first words were after and hour... and that folks is why you don't fish with too thin hook line either, I always think about what if that 15-20kg fish pics up the bait.

 

[DJP]

Stefan001 wrote:

For White steenbras especially I fish old school with multipliers and .40mm main line. This is to lessen the current on the line when you wade far out and put the bait on the back bank. There are many theories for and against braid vs multipliers but that is a discussion for another day.

The few shot's I've made this season for Steenbras my multiplier/mono setup was way more successful. Fish with 2-3 rods on the same bank and the multiplier would get the fish... my theory also involves a bit longer sand spike to counter the wave action. The only steenie I caught on the grinder was when it was the only rod out...

 

[Danielle D]

Hey Blikkies!

Thanks for the info. We are keen to head up to Silver Sands soon and try our luck.

Still also trying to figure out which are the best spots for finding bloodworms aside from Strandfontein. If I'm not mistaken, i think that from strand to Gordons Bay is a MPA so a bit tough getting them always.

 

[Danielle D]

Hi Danielle
DJP gave some great info and tips for your steenie search.

My 2c

I first start with a cone sinker on a rolling bank and if it washes too much, I revert to using a wire grab.

For White steenbras especially I fish old school with multipliers and .40mm main line. This is to lessen the current on the line when you wade far out and put the bait on the back bank. There are many theories for and against braid vs multipliers but that is a discussion for another day.

I think your baits and setup is spot on, unfortunately Cape town is pretty difficult fishing and safety is always an issue.

I stay in struisbaai and have had my best steenbras seasons in many years...

Hi Stefan001,

Thanks for the tips and info! We really want to go to Struisbaai soon. I have only heard great things. Lucky you!

 

[SIXPAK]

I still cry when I think about that fish!!

 

[SIXPAK]

Those Steenies can break your hart!!

:spite:spite:spite

 

[Blikkiesvis]

Ek huil oor daai ding wat jou stok uit jou uit gepluk het, die aand toe Renetjie vir my G&Ts gevoer het

 

[SIXPAK]

Met die intrap slag by my veearts, vir ons spaniel se jaarlikse besoek, sien ek die man is soos donder weer. Hy vertel my sy seun het gisteraand laat weet hy gaan opskop. Wil glo nie meer verder swoti!

Hoekom?? vra ek

Nee, die jongman se girlfriend gaan skuif na Kovsies varsity en hy reken sy rigting (mega tronics) is nie regtig lewens vatbaar!!

En nou ?? …… vra ek weer.

Neewat maater ons het besluit hy sal als heroorweeg en dan kan ons oor sy besluit vanoggend gesels.
Dis nou as ek hier uitstap???????!!!............ sê ek
Jip! Dan gaan ek hom skakel. Ons beplan nog oor hoe ons die mannetjie opi regte pad gaan hou toe skakel hy al die mannetjie!!
Dis n kort gesprek en Allen lyk sommer baie beter.
Wat het hy besluit vra ek nuuskierig.
Neewat, die man se kop is reg, hy gaan aan met sy studies!!
Ons lag verlig en ek vra hom wat sou hy doen as die man besluit het hy gaan opskop?

Allen kyk my aan met so dowwe uitdrukking en sê……………………………………………ek sou voorstel hy kry n kussing…………en plaas dit langs sy kamer muur opi vloer……………………………hy moet dan op sy kop gaan staan sodat sy kop opi kussing kan rus …………..en………………………. in daardie posisie moet hy bly totdat sy brains terug geskuif het tot waar dit hoort!!!


Ons lag lekker maar toe ek my vrou later vertel kyk sy my sooooo snaaks aan. ( Ek moes toe al besef het dat vrouens inligting stoor!)

Bettiesbaai is die plek vir lekker nag gooi. Ek en Blik vertrek 21h00 en ons lyne is teen 22h00 ini water. Na ons derde gooi het ons beide al 1 ton gras uit die see getrek. Skuif toe so 500m en met die eerste gooi staan ons nog soooo en chat toe flat stick n ding my!
Ek wil nog vas maak maar my stok trek al deur die lug!! Ek gryp maar dis net wind………………die stok val punt eerste ini sand!

Wat n embarrassment!!!

Ek kry die stok wel in die hande maar die vis is af!!

Blik kani ophou lag!! Ek draai winduit en verlee om en re-bait.
Terwyl ek besig is, maak B vas met n kobbie.
Ons is nog so besig om bait aan te sit toe sê n vroue stem uit die donker………………………en wat maak julle twee?………….. kry jul iets gevang??

Vir die tweede keer in 5 min is ek winduit!! ………….dit is 01h00 ini nag!!

Julle is gelukkig dat ek hier by julle kan sit!!!
Sien ek het net pajamas aan!!!
n Derde keer in 5min is ek winduit!!

Sy gaan sit wydsbeen teen die bait box……………………ek skyn my koplig op haar en sowaar sy het net PJ’s aan!!!

n Vierde keer in 5min is ek winduit!!

Sy bied n glas G&T aan maar ek verkies om eerder die gooi te maak………. ek ken moeilikheid as ek dit sien!!!
Ek maak n gooi wat nie verder as die eerste brander trek en ek hoor sy vra B of sy kan help met aas aansit en vashou. Dis toe wat ek besef B is n Pro!! Hy hanteer en chat haar mooi totdat daar n man uit die donker verskyn en haar terug help na haar motor.

B gooi en kom staan langs my.
WTF!! sê ons gelyk …………wat was dit???
Damn sy was nogal lekker!!!! Seg Blik
Sy’t gesê haar naam is René………………………………….ja sê B en ek wou nogal sê my vrou se naam is ook René maar dit sou n rookie fout gewees het!! Ons lag lekker!!!

Later die oggend by ontbyt met al my familie en kuier gaste om die tafel vertel ek van die pajama bokkie op Betties. Die mans kyk my met ongeloof aan……………..en die vrouens se oё sê “mans is bastards”!!l!!!

Dadda!! Sê my vrou…………………………….. ek gaan vir jou en Blik elkeen n kussing gee voor jul weer in Betties gaan gooi!!!

 

[Blikkiesvis]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[DJP]

Nooit!!! That's hilarious! You met the infamous Betty of Betty's Bay!

Jokes aside the night fishing does seem to be a bit better in this area, especially since the water is often quite clean. I've even seen the guys pull gallies at night so definitely worth it.

 

[Pieter Immelman]

As jy alleen daar op die strand staan met stok in die hand, en 'n vars prawnaasie in die water, en die lyn begin styf trek, die stok begin sak, dan sak jou arms, die rug raak krom, kort treetjies word al langer......

Dit voel omtrent of die liewe Heer jou en jou goed kom haal...

 

[Don Couzens]

I prefer the cone method, if the currents running too strong rather move as the prefer calmer conditions. Bigger ones actively feed at night. Don't ignore ghost crab, sand mussel or even a squid strip as bait and always hold your rod. White steenbras love to pick up the bait and run in towards you. So look out for sudden slack although great fighters they are clean fighters. A lighter trace can help, but no thinner that 0 40mm, ideally 0.45 should suit

 

[porkhead]

Are you catching?