Cape Town South Africa

[deep thinker]

Hey Chris, Ill be in the area around the weekend of the 13th of April and Im sitting with the same situation, is it gonna be worth the trouble? Ill probably start with a quick swim through on the first day and target the more protected bays in the area. I have scouted the area before and theres a nice bay that looks like a good entry point with kelp around the edges and clean sandy water toward the centre, I think its called perlemoen baai in De Kelders just outside Gansbaai. From what I saw from the side it looks as if you could enter in the bay and work your way around the points and reefs toward the mouth, but alas the day I was there the wind blew so hard the water was cristal clear but icy cold so I decided not to bother
Good Luck

[hunlee]

Hi you all!
Reading about how busy all us capeys are, I decided to give you a heads up!
Book 2-6 MAY in your calendars!
We are busy planning an AIDA SOUTH AFRICA FREEDIVING OPEN
I am in the process of getting all the info through to aida international,
and once it's all finalised I'll post the details on here.
It's going to be great fun, with several disciplines, evening talks and socials and lots of water!!
More info soon!!
Hanli

[chris the vis]

Yeah, Thanks Deep thinker!
I know that spot at De Kelders, also have never dived there, but I'll be keen to give it a go even if it's just for fun. I recall reading on spearfishingsa somewhere that apparently there's fewer GWs on the west side of the danger point peninsula although I'm pretty sure the margin isnt that big and there's still a good chance of bumping into one around that whole area. Oh well only time will tell..good luck to you 2 and which compo you taking part in? is it trials for upcoming nationals? We are having some trouble here in PE, still need one more trial before 1 march,but the weather and sea is not allowing it...
Oh and it seems I'll be in CT for the freediving thing in May to...yeeeha!

[deep thinker]

Its just a club competition and a WC spearing comp in one, our club has a comp every last weekend of the month and then sometimes WC has one on the same day in the same area. Had a bit of bad luck with the rest of the comps this year so Ill be missing the nationals but hey theres allways next year right

[romek]

Hey Chris, thanks 4 the links.

It's been pretty shi**y spearing conditions GBay side the last few weeks-the few good days were spoilt by bad viz. We had a bad red tide the last 2 weeks which is only now clearing in places. Some nice spots at bettys bay(draadbaai)/rooi els(reef opposite bride as u enter from gordons bay-easy to spot as u look 2wards the sea,its just right of pinnacles and shore on the left&starts about 100m out to sea)-I have a favourite spot just past cool bay(kogel bay campsite-3rd parking on right past tidal pool,walk down to sea) area is gr8 4 crayfish/Red Romans/Galjoen-Have seen a large tail or Garrick there b4 which I missed twice b4 it sailed off.Not sure about Gansbaai-dived Die Mond in a comp once with dirty conditions where I saw my first GW and we shot some nice red stump-otherwise not sure of spots that way,would only do it in good vis with banger and other folk(:

Done lots of diving at kleinbaai, just past Gansbaai-spot just left of harbour where all GW tours launch from - in cul de sac-locals call spot "preekstoel" I think.It's right by the shore and has produced aside from many perlies (: in the day-some very nice kob and galjoen,never shot anything but galjoen there b4 but seen huge kob caught on line just in the shallows-this spot is in the gullies&kelp and is safe from sharks by all accounts.

If u in GB area and keen for a dive drop me a email to c if we can hook up-I am always keen if possible 4 a mission-even a shore dive.

If u keen u a tuna mission-but its pricey I am always looking 4 people 2 join 2 share costs-I try go every season but thats another post(:

Regards
Romek

[chris the vis]

Thanks for the info Romek
I know some of the spots you talk about, well at least more or less, especially round rooi els and hangklip, but havent dived there much. Anyway, if I come down I'll definetly get hold of you for some spearfishing and yes I would like to shoot tuna..very much so..even if I have to save up for it. When does the tuna season open? I guess I'll also have to save up for a larger gun and a proper rig...Although I guess if Griff can get away with shooting a 158kg marlin on a shore dive with nothing but a 1.2m gun, a floatline and a 7l float then a tuna should be a breeze, nah just joking!

[romek]

That sounds good & I look 4ward (: The tuna season guidelines I use as ref are via Two Oceans Sports Fishing Charters » Fishing Seasons reports indicate the best seasons with largest class fish are year end - the site owner is also the charter I have used for the past few years (he is the man!).

I have tried a few others which did not compare-all details are on his site. I am almost always looking for people to join because of costs (: it’s still cheaper than buying a capable boat&I eat the stuff for months after.

The gun I have always used is a Rabitech stealth, think it’s a 1.4m- has 2 x 20mm rubbers& std spears rigged to break away ie they have longer nylon which clips direct to bungee clip-its done the trick for me todate (needed a few spears though). The bungee&boogie I can lend u if u need-I use a 30m bungee attached to a std boogie board.One only really needs the bungee chord (30m) which I know Rabitech has for under R300,00 this can be attached to a bouy if need be otherwise industrial foam can be bought and cut into size, a boogie board with well placed holes also works fine.

One can get quite technical with tuna kit (Some excellent posts on DB with more details/info, things like correct bungee chord,thicker spear should be considered when seriously targeting the 80kg plus I guess).

Shooting a tuna with basic kit is very possible – my first yellow fin yet small (40kg class) was “spined” - I pulled it straight in fending of a small blue it took 5 min for the fish to be on the boat. Have never got anything over 60kg and I think over a 100kg would require some serious kit consideration and or luck. For me it’s more fun with the luck bit thrown in. Hope u join one day 4 a tuna mission.

The marlin story is just awesome – lucky man! Still not sure how I would feel afterwards – would have to make sure that none of the fish went to waste that’s for sure.

[chris the vis]

Cool thanks Romek
I checked out that link and now I'm drooling on the keyboard. I've got some boogie boards lying at home somewhere...so that shouldnt be a problem, just need to visit Louis and get a larger cannon and some bungee. Well I dont think I'll start off shooting big 80kg+ tuna from the start so probably wont need anything too serious. Anyway, it'll be nice to overdose on fresh tuna steaks plus I've got plenty of hungry friends so nothing will go to waste. If all works out I'll be coming down in about a month's time so I guess I'll see u then..cheers

[miles]

Hiya

Just some friendly advice:

During season, i OFTEN hear of spearo's losing their guns and floats when a tuna swims away with all his gear. To get out there costs quite a bit, so rather spend a bit more and get the proper gear and save yourself lots of heart-ache when a tuna takes all your kit!!

The normal boogie board float works for small fish, but, you can never be sure what size fish you'll shoot. I've seen TWO boogie board floats on top of each other, get pulled down, never to be seen again......

Tommy Botha sells his big boogie board floats. High density foam with a 25m shock-cord for about R800.00 (if i recall correctly)

Guns:
I've use 120cm, 130cm, 140cm and 150cm railguns and 57", 63" and 67" wooden guns. One of friends even managed to take a YF on his 90cm Rabitech!! The best compromise is a 130cm gun, as you can still use it to shoot yellowtail and red stumps at places like Struisbaai.

The charter operation mention is indeed very good. His boat is moored directly opposite to mine and he is a GREAT guy!! Highly recommend him!!

Regards
miles

[deep thinker]

Originally Posted by miles

save yourself lots of heart-ache when a tuna takes all your kit!!
I've seen TWO boogie board floats on top of each other, get pulled down, never to be seen again......
The best compromise is a 130cm gun, as you can still use it to shoot yellowtail and red stumps at places like Struisbaai.

Firstly how sad that must be...
Secondly a question, you still get red stumps in Struis? if you have a secret spot where they hide well done and do share please

[romek]

The 5mile bank and around it definitely still has a good few stumps. (: Will hopefully be able confirm this Sunday coming! (:

RE: Tuna rig - if you have/can spare the cash the Tommy Botha rig is the bomb! Also reasonably priced. I shudder to think was size fish would be required to take down the boggie!

[chris the vis]

Shot for the advice Miles
I was actually thinking of getting a 1.3m gun as it is still versatile and can be used to shoot other species like you mentioned.
About this boogie board thing, maybe its time to make some type of ultimate float out of my old surf + boogie boards so that not even a small orca would be able to sink it..hahaha

[miles]

Hiya

Struisbaai still does have quite a bit of red stumps. Simply a matter of finding them!! The usual spots, like the Pioneer, Wafra and Septer have pretty much been wiped out. You might get lucky and get the odd stump on these wrecks, but on the whole, they're more of a yellowtail spot.

For Red Stumps, rather go towards the river mouth side of Struisbaai, or if the water is clean enough, the area in front and slightly pass Aghulas lighthouse. The "mond" area at struis varies from 4-20m deep and holds stumps well over 6kg's. Simply dive a couple of spots until you find a hot spot. I've been to a SECRET reef, very, very, very close to the harbour that holds a HUGE school of red stumps. Possibly over 100 fish in that one school!!!

Regards
miles

[romek]

Didn’t find any secret spots this weekend (: launched at Arniston Sunday morning 7am with gr8 weather and headed towards Saxon reef after an easy launch. Saxon offered a flat sea with 6m vis - this dropped down to 3 on the south of the reef start.

We moved deeper and with better vis got the usual suspects, save for yellow tail. We bagged a nice +/-5kg yellow belly& a +/-4kg bank steenbras. There were 2 shoal encounters with Bonito and loads of raggies (at one stage we counted 8 in a gully about 12m deep in a 6m x 2 m area – got some decent video of this links to which I will try post sometime.

We returned after a good hunt and gr8 day only to get our boat mashed for ten minutes against the trailer at the slip in waves that looked like couldn’t move a jellyfish – in medium swell conditions I would hate to see what could happen.

The red tide was still in force in Gbay area Sunday evening – it looks like it extends to allot of the bay from the east side. I think that Struisbaai may have produced the yellow tail we missed at Arniston this Sunday would like to know how anyone did that side. If anyone could give me coordinates to the Arniston, Dundrenan and any spot in Arniston I would greatly appreciate it the ones I got are out one by +/- 384km (: (We drove around for a while heading south saying how the distance was not changing b4 we realized the distance was in km not m (:. And so we learn.

[deep thinker]

Unfortunately our comp for the weekend got called off, so unsure if we should make the long drive to struis we opted to go to Dassen and see if we could with luck find any tail. We found one school of about 40 fish but they disappeared as quickly as they came out, so we went for a few hotties each. Vis was about 4m on the bottom with not much more than 2 on top in most places. All in all a fun day at sea with a good catch of hotties. We also encountered a pod of about 10 dolphins and a sunfish so relaxed not even the boat could scare it into deeper water.
Just a interesting fact, thats why most boats in Arniston has wheels that connects to the back of the boat, they just run out of the water straight onto the ground