Chronicles of a Blue Water Hunter

[Polystigma]

Water is much dirtier, with 3-4m viz. Not fun with all those GWS that reside in Struisbaai. I did two drifts over the one wreck, before my nerves gave in!! That was the same wreck i saw my last GWS on, and the viz of 3-4m wasn't insipring!!
miles

I feel the same way about diving here sometimes. The average visibility in So Cal is about 3-4 meters. And we have just as many GWS. It is sometimes overwhelmingly un-nerving to dive knowing what might be lurking in the depths. Sends chills down my spine. Again mad props on the new boat.

 

[miles]

Spearfish Cape Town, South Africa

Hiya

I've had quite a few forum members ask me about the inshore spearing in Cape Town. Basically, what type of fish and what type of water conditions we have. So thats why this thread!!

We're very fortunate to have two oceans washing our shores here in Cape Town. Many people erroneusly believe that the two oceans meet at Cape Point.

On our West Coast, the cold Atlantic Ocean, with its cold Benguella current bathes its shorelines. The water temperature generally varies from 8-16 degrees celcuis (46-61degrees Farenheit). The predominant fish specie here is the "Hottentet". A small fish that is found in the kelp beds and reefs, in water depths from 1m to 30m+. These fish weigh generally 1-1.5kg's with a 2kg fish being considered a GOOD fish. Biggest specimens are in the 3.0kg class. Very easy fish to shoot. Good eating qualities as well. The viz. is generally VERY good when the water is cold. The South Easterly winds generally flatten the water and cleans it up, but also makes it freezing cold. the North Westerly winds make the area undivable, due to large seas and bad viz. At certain place you do encounter Yellowtail. Generally a smaller class fish, 4-6kg's being average, with a 12kg fish being exceptional for this coast. Generally found at Dassen Isaland and Robben Island when the water temperature is around 16degrees Celcuis (61F). South Westerly winds are very good for Dassen Island, cleaning the water up as well as bringing in warm water.

On our East coast we have False Bay. So named by the sailor's who sailed in the 1600's. They often sailed pass Table Bay and erroneously ended up in another bay, which they then dubbed the False Bay. False Bay is notorus for its Great White Sharks. The documentary "AIR JAWS" was shot at Seal Island, inside False Bay. Very little spearing is done inshore in these area's, for obvious reasons. The prime area's are undoubtedly Bellows Rock, which is a reef which clears the water less than a mile from Cape Point and the "Anvil", which is another reef that rises to 4m from the surface. Prime target here is Yellowtail. They amass in their THOUSANDS in these area's. Warm water, normally 16-20Degrees celcuis (61-68F) with good viz., generally 5-10m. Many other species also visit from time to time. Small YF tuna and BIG YF tuna are quite often found here. I've even heard of Marlin being seen at Bellows Rock. Inside False bay, its mainly reef fish, which rarely exceed 3kg's.

The further up our East coast you move, the better the spearing gets. Struisbaai is probably the best spearing spot we have. Its 200km's from Cape Town, making day trips easy. Not too far to tow your boat and plenty of good fish. Water temp here is 18-22degrees celcuis (64-72F) and viz is normally 6-10m+. The yellowtail is larger, with 14kg+ fish being regularly taken. Lots of reef fish as well. GWS are also quite plentiful here, but you rarely here of them attacking a diver.

Thats pretty much our coast in a nut shell. There are MANY places in between, but these are the most popular spots visited by spearo's on our coastline.

Hope that helps!!

Regards
miles

 

[miles]

Saturday 18 February 2006

It was my wife's weekend off from work, and she hasn't been out fishing for a while now. Since the weather wasn't condusive to spearing, we went out fishing. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of THOSE days, when the fish simply weren't interested in eating!!! We caught a couple of fish, but nothing over 2kg's..................

How-ever, we did have a visit from the TAX MAN!!! A young 2.5-3m Great White shark that circled the boat and then proceeded to take a smaller shark on my handline. I played with him for a short while, but unfortunately, he lost interest!!

Sunday 19 February 2006

I had to work!!! Just before leaving for work, i called my manager. He told me there was a power failure. A couple of minutes later Tommy calls me to ask if i'm available for a fishing trip!! PERFECT TIMING!!! We went with another friend, Tony's boat. A 23' cat with 2x70hp 4stroke's. Our normal tuna trip starts usually at about 5:00am, but today its 10:00am and we're not even on the water yet!!! rofl rofl We get to the slip, only to see the wind HOWLING!! Looks like one of THOSE days again. We launch. Since its the first tuna trip this year, we decide to go anyways. By 2:00pm, i had caught only ONE small 10-12kg YF. Most of the boats had no fish or one to two fish onboard, and they've been fishing since dawn. YIP!! Its one of THOSE days when the sea seems completely devoid of life. Saw some flying fish as well as some dorado's (mahi-mahi) being caught, but we were too late for that bit of action. The dorado's are rather rare on our tuna grounds, so we were diss-appointed that we missed out!! One lucky angler got a 12-14kg dorado!!

Its after 3:00pm and we decide to troll home-wards. A short while later the Tiagra screams!!! FISH ON!!!!!!! I grab the black magic harness and clip up and soon the fish is being bullied to the boat. Tommy gets a chum slick going and soon his reel screams. The next hour and a half is what tuna fishing is all about. We raise the school and have YF's smashing the chum on the surface right next to the boat!! AWESOME sight to behold!! At 5:00pm we stopped fishing as we had no more space on the boat for fish!! We left that school of YF as they were still smashing the chum on the surface. Final tally one YF of 10-12kg's and 10 YF of 40-60kg's!!! What a nice start to our season!!! Unfortunately, i couldn't take any photo's as we were all occupied in catching fish!! 10 YF's in under 90minutes, all in the 40-60kg class on stand-up tackle is EXTREME fshing at its best!!

Lets hope that things get better as we get into the tuna season!!

Regards
miles

 

[jimdoe2you]

Man!!! You are living the dream!!!

 

[Freediver81]

Miles, you are the Tuna :king !!!

Said

 

[icarus pacific]

Unfortunately, i couldn't take any photo's as we were all occupied in catching fish!! 10 YF's in under 90minutes, all in the 40-60kg class on stand-up tackle is EXTREME fshing at its best!!

Lets hope that things get better as we get into the tuna season!!

Regards
miles

Yeah Miles. I feel your pain. :head

 

[miles]

Saturday 25 February 2006

GOT WET AGAIN!!

Went diving for crayfish (kreef) on the West Coast. Water was about 12-13degrees. Soooo, i put on my 5mm wetsuit, only to tear a HUGE hole in the arm section..... :vangry :vangry Looks like its going to be a cold dive!!

Then we swim through the fairly large swell. By the time i got behind the breakers, i was already tired!!! rofl So we start diving. First dive, breathe-up, quick duck dive.........kick..........kick a little more.......kick a little more.......where the bloody hell is the reef??.......kick a little more....WHOAAAAAHHHHH....almost banged my head against the reef!! Less than 1m viz!! Oh well, at least the waters shallow, ranging from 5-8m deep. After a few more exploratory dives, Tommy call's me over to some great reef structure. Dive down, two hard kicks and i'm almoston the reef........whoooooaaahhhhh.....the reef is moving.........BUGGER!! Current washes me off the reef :vangry :vangry Try again!! YAY!!!! Got my first cray, only 3 more to go..........but wait!!......this cray is a female in berry.....OK.......dive down and put her back onto the reef.......... By now Tommy has his allotted 4 crays and starts heading back in. I follow suit, diving all the way back towards the shore. Closer inshore, i dive the kelp beds in the white water. VERY shallow, less than 2m of water, but the waves breaking on top of you isn't that much fun!! I surface.......see a big wave breaking......duck under it......a peice of kelp gets tangled with my mouth peice of the snorkel.......rips my mask off my face!!!:vangry :vangry I surface, with mask in hand, only to see a second wave looming.........quick duckdive under the wave, surface and put my mask back on!!! Exilirating stuff!!! I can't remember when last i did a shore dive in such conditions!!!

Was GREAT to get wet again!!!

Regards
miles

 

[icarus pacific]

Surge, kelp, white water, low viz??!

Sounds like just another day for a first-timer over here in No Cal when abalone season starts. :crutch

Nice limits of bugs, Miles. And that location pic is sure nice.

 

[miles]

Hiya

PLENTY of AB's at that spot!! Unfortunately, due to rampant paoching, our Marine and Coastal management guys has banned the recreational taking of AB's!!!:vangry :vangry

Soooo, as per usual, the recrational guys suffer, whilst the poachers still poach and the commercial guys still harvest........

Diving from a boat sure spoils one!! I had forgotten how much fun it is to shore dive!!

Sadly though, i can JUST about remember what AB's taste like..........

Regards
miles

 

[Luis]

Miles...

Awesome ! I don't know what else to say! You're the man!
Best regards and congrats!!

 

[miles]

30 March 2006

Did my first charter today!!!

29 March 2006. The day before. Checked out the weather reports. Both show BEAUTIFUL weather for the next day Then i made some calls, but couldn't get any trustworthy reports on whether the guys have caught tuna in the deep. At about 8:30pm i FINALLY got a good report. Good fish were taken only 18nm from the point. Sooooo, all systems go!!

30 March 2006. I was up at 4:00am. Hitched my 21' RIB Hysucat. Fueled the boat and bought the chum. 6:15am at the slipway. Packed the boat and kitted up. Launched at about 6:45am.

We had a easy 8nm run to the point. As soon as we radioed out, we were greeted by a fresh NW'erly wind. Strange, as this wind was predicted......... anycase, we proceed offshore, thinking that the wind will abate, and that the offshore weather report is correct. Not to be. The wind blew 10-15knts all the way out. Slightly bumpy and wet ride out.

We pass the 15nm mark........no other boats in sight........we pass the 18nm mark.......still nothing........mmmmmm......where the hell are the boats then!!! Set my GPS for my usual area and continue running. At about 25nm we find a lone tuna pole boat. Not what we're looking for, as these vessels target Albacore and not really YF. My crew were probably having doubts as to whether there were ANY other boats at sea!! After reaching my usual spot, more than 28nm from the point, we STILL see not long line boats!! Oh well, looks like i'll have to FIND my fish the hard way!! Out goes the trolling tackle. Pretty soon we have a double hook-up of albacore. I boat the one fish and start a chum trail. The guys jump in and Francois spears a Albacore. So we now have two Albacore's on board, ranging from 6-10kg's. Now lets go find some YF's!!!

We find a trawler not far away. Jump in behind it. NOTHING!! Arghhhhh!!! By now we had about 8 other boats also working behing the lone trawler. VERY few fish are being caught. I hear on the radio that the guys are seeing the fish on the echo sounders, but they're not biting. Things are looking grim, but MUST STAY CONFIDENT!!!

Francois shouts!!! YES!!! YF tuna in the water!!! He shoots.......i see the boogie board being pulled across the water surface!! FISH ON!!! He fights the fish for about 20minutes, and has it just beneath the boogie board. Just before he goes down to put in a second shot, the fish tears off!!!!!:waterwork ARGHHHH!!!!

By now we've drifted away from the fish.............

 

[miles]

So i go looking for another school.....and we find fish again...........

By now, David Hotz, an Australian spearo (called NOFOOTPRINTS on Adrenaline Forum) is pumped up to get a fish. He was complaining earlier about his foot that was buggered as well as his knackered shoulder, due to a car accident earlier Anycase, i see his boogie board sliding across the surface!!! All thoughts of pain GONE!!! Big YF have that magical healing ability!! FISH ON!!! 5 minutes go by......10minutes.....15minutes......20minutes......still fighting!! I pass him the second gun and he puts in a second shot. I jump in to assist and 5minutes later she's IDB!! (In Da Boat!!) A BEAUTIFUL fish!!! David is over the moon!! He had just bought a 1400cm Rabitech the day before!! First fish on his new RABITECH!! Fish weighed in at just over 84kg's!!!

Bart had taken PLENTY of underwater video footage, so i'll hopefully get see that soon!!!

By now, the tawler had already pulled its nets and they were cleaning their catch. The YF that were around will be stuffed with fish, so things went very quite. All the boats were sitting still. The guys decided to call it a day and we started the ride home.

Now the fun begins!! My GPS's powercable comes lose and the units internal battery is running low. By now, the wind had picked up to 25knts NW and a fog bank was covering land. I run by compass and end up being blown way off course!!! I replace the baterries on the GPS and we get hammered all the way home!!! First time i encountered a very strong wind INSIDE a fog bank. Its normally very calm inside a fog bank.

After a epic journey back home, we're greeted by blazing hot sunshine in the harbour....and no wind!!! rofl rofl

The Cape Of Storms really lived up to its reputation!!

All in all, a GREAT day with a GREAT bunch of guys!! To David, Bart and Francois, THANX a million guys!!!

Regards
miles

 

[miles]

Some more pics:

Pic#1 - Cape Point being covered by Fog

Pic#2 - get wet on the way home!!

Pic#3 - The guys!!

Pic#4 - Catch of the day

 

[BatRay]

Great story, Miles, as always!

 

[fer_abella]

HIYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

STOP HUNTING TUNAS RIGHT NOW !!!!

LET THEM SURVIVE UNTIL WE ARRIVE !!!! ;-)

 

[Memo]

Man, feed'em with chum. It looks like we will all be your guest one day

 

[fer_abella]

Just a technical question Miles, the bunguie you are using in the bodyboards floats seem to be the elastic cord made with a lot of 1mm rubber fibres inside of a nylon cover. Elastic rope call it here. Is that true? if so, how much diameter 8mm? 10mm? 12mm? or more are you using. Did you ever use speargun rubber band material in 18-20mm diameter filled with 2.5mm dyneema?

Fernando

Just counting the days ....

 

[miles]

Hiya

, the bunguie you are using in the bodyboards floats seem to be the elastic cord made with a lot of 1mm rubber fibres inside of a nylon cover. Elastic rope call it here. Is that true?

Yes, that is correct. I can't remember the diameter, but its either 10 or 12mm.

I've tried the norprene bungees, with dyneema inside, but when a fish stretches the bungee, the norprene becomes too thin and your hands start cramping. Quite difficult to pull on it.

Speargun bands of 20mm with dyneema inside we have not tried. Problems would be: difficult to grip and expensive to make.

The Elastic rope is cheap and very strong. My red boogie board almost 2years old and still has the original bungee.

Regards
miles

 

[SurfnSpear]

How Dolphin Friendly can you get!rofl

 

[fer_abella]

IT is because we made one 3 years ago from 20 meter double 8mm elastic rope (we did not find bigger diameter) and i have it here in my closet. I will take it out to use .... it was not used on big BF because we did not trusted it to that point, but i would like to see it working a 90kg YF.... :martial