using spoons at night -ushaka

[godsson]

Hi guys, I have purchased new outfit but had no luck during the day, using a 9ft assassin spin heavy with a shimano 4000, 20lb braid. Threw everything I had, iron candies, gt ice creams, onda onda etc but nothing... Fished umhlanga, blue lagoon and Virginia...early morning's and mid to late afternoon's the past few weeks

I want to get more hours in and christen my new kit so I want to fish a few hours at night after work in the ushaka area and would appreciate any tips or advice on what lures or spoons have been producing catches lately with best retrieval speeds for a 4000 series reel

Any feedback will be appreciated

 

[IWyk]

You can try using a heavier spoon paited white for Kob at night. Your outfit may be a bit light though as the best is to find a sand bank behind a deep water trough. Cast over the sand bank and then retrieve slowly. The spoon should basically drag in the sand most of the time. The Kob normally picks it up as soon as you pull it off the sand bank into the trough.

You should vary your speed on the retrieve with your other lures during the day, you may be retrieving too fast.
The spot is also very important, try and find productive water. Deep blue is not always the best. Spots where the water varies in depth and has some colour and provides some cover(foamy) may improve results.

Good spots are also where the guys where fishing with sardines for shad as the area will be chummed up, good luck.

 

[Eddie]

I have heard that some fishermen use "glow in the dark" stickers on their lures, during the shad season @ ushaka.. very effective.

glow in the dark stickers are available at any taxi signage place. worth a try????

 

[Dave B]

Just what IWyk said. I would add - put a single hook facing upwards(according to the action of the spoon) to ensure that you don't get snagged.

 

[godsson]

thanks for the feedback guys, I did fish last night at ushaka, a lot of small shad been caught right of moyo's pier. I however never managed a hookup but will keep trying...

 

[IWyk]

Not sure on the rating or the action of your rod(only see Heavy), or the action of your rod. For spinning with lures and spoons it better to have a quick taper rod with a softer tip but with enough backbone to pull a bigger fish.(eg. 10.6 ft Oval DC 1-4 ounce rating or similar).

When using spoons you can then feel the spoon working and this will give you an indication of the correct retrieve speed for that specific spoon.

When using bullet type lures with less action try and bring it in at an erratic speed, in other words cast out, take up the slack then pull the lure with the rod and as you move the rod back forward retrieve line. This will make the lure work better.

Vary the depth and speed until you find the depth at which the fish are feeding. Dont just cast out and wind back in. Cast out wait for 5 counts and the start retrieving. Repeat and wait 10 counts and so until you get a strike.

You may be fishing over or under the school or retrieving too slow or too fast.

Whatever you do don't stop trying, you will succeed. "aanhouer wen"

Good luck.