Overberg Angling

Hi
Just back from an impromptu 4 day trip on the SS Bromgat to the Breede. Firstly, it was bloody cold. I have spent quite a few nights trying to dos in an 11 foot kreef bak, and let me tell you, that after 3 years i still havent found the sweet spot. I am 6"2 and sukkel to settle in midships. I have tried reading, drinking whisky, smoking way way too many Camels, cocked around with all manner of new and interesting torches, lanterns and even candles, mostly out of pure boredom. During one of these trips last year, i was woken by whales (Ocean fish will tell you i am talking kak - but i know whales ek se), saw dolphins milling around and on Sunday, had an otter poke its head over the transom. I nearly had heart failure. They have lank whiskers those things. Apparently it was hooked a few weeks ago, but i didnt see a hook or line poking out its mouth. Anyway, back to the fishing. I spent a total of about 40hrs on the boat and caught the following:
-1 x kob (2kgs)
-5 x Grunter (1.2-1.4kgs)
-8 Steenbras (0.5-2kgs)
-1 x White Stump (0.6kg)
-1 x sole (1 inch. I kid you not)
-1 x barbel (didnt bother weighing that thing)
-1m x strepie's
->5 Dassie's (<.3kgs)
-3 x klipvis (1 gr each)
-assorted small silver things i didnt recognise.

I fished hard, at least 2-4 rods at a time, but it was tough going. Fish were scarce and very shy. Also, very shallow (as in 2-5 foot of water). By the way, all the fish were returned, i came home empty handed. Got a royal shafting from Ouma Kalahari about that, who had spent Sat cleaning the freezer out.

I think the bag sizes and weight's/lengths are wrong and should be revised. All the Grunter i caught were 'legal' but damn, they are small and in my opinion the length should be upped to around 50cm or so. Also, taking > 2 is a bit much per day. Admittedly I was the only boat out for most of the time on Monday and Tuesday, but you know how busy this place gets in season. There is a lot of pressure on a finite resource and given what has happened to most of our estuaries, i suspect it is a matter of time before it is plundered beyond repair.

Irrespective of how i may feel (and what you may think), this kind of position should be informed by science.

I saw the boys from Sea Fisheries there on Monday, doing the netting and measuring, which is great. What i would like to know, is where can we see the longitudinal data from all their work over the years. What is the health of the various species, the stocks etc etc.

I grew up in Hermanus, but now there is almost nothing left there. The lagoon is _____ beyond repair. In my opinion, unless a permanent opening is made to the sea, it will remain a cesspool (thanks to all the septic tanks, farming run-off etc etc).

The only good thing about the Hermanus lagoon is that it probably has the densest population of haarders in the known universe. I will pay you money to eat them.

Tight lines.

nice report.....thanks!

Lekker report !!!


the fishing should get beter in about 6 weeks time !! lekker groot Kobs !!!!!

Pete great one boet, it is hard work, we have been there the last couple of weeks and oy, small fish.

Hi Surfking,


"I saw the boys from Sea Fisheries there on Monday, doing the netting and measuring, which is great. What i would like to know, is where can we see the longitudinal data from all their work over the years. What is the health of the various species, the stocks etc etc"


I worked at MCM in early 2000's and developed some scientific reports for them, which actually contains the answers to the questions you have noted.

but hey, I guess that the info stays confidential to MCM and we will never understand how they calculate quotas for the fishing industry, or what the actual quality of fish stock is out there.

Guess most important is that we trust them for the information they manage and the results they get to!

Thanks Greate post. Im going to witsands on the 15 - 17 October i really dont know the area well so i was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction to catch something, other than the thousands of barbel that i have previously caught there.
Thanks

Hi Leon
Firstly, there are a lot of people on this site (and others whom are not (!)) who have been living or fishing this river for a lot longer than i have been an oxygen thief (as ma' daddy put it when i was an irreverent youth like Julius).

I am going to make some assumptions.

You have a boat, or at least access to one (if you don't, and you are on the Witsand side, then simply, umm... walk....and walk....and walk up-river until you get to opposite Mudlark and above (ask) and cast). South that is.

Do not take women (unless they fish, smoke dagga or like sex in mud, better still, all three). Really. They are gonna bet bored and then start irritating you. You have gaff's, a heavy Torium 30....go do the math. Trust me, it leads to a spot on 'Africa's Most Wanted'.

The best spots are:

-where other boats are (the older the skipper, the more stickers the boat has, the kakker the boat...if they don't wave and say howzit etc), ....well, anchor close by.
-'Grunter Bay' - opposite Brigg's spot (the rich dude where all the private school boys go once a year, so daddy can take his Cayenne for a spin). If you are not sure, look for the house where all the baboons park off.
-inside the point just up from Grunter Bay, where the river funnels upwards. 2 anchors are good here on the push.
-Kragdrade (see comment #1)
-Karools (see comment #1)
-10m off the Stone Jetty on the incoming
-30m off Mudlark's Jetty (irrespective of the tides) [warning: Oceanfish has a 35mm, so take your finest wine as a peace offering].
-anywhere where it is shallow, and covered in prawn holes
-ESA on DSTV if all else fails (you can watch pork-chop catch another diamond and some bereft XX talk kak over even kakker muzak). Ya' think people who fish listen to this shit?

To save yourself some pain (assuming of course you have a boat, but perhaps are not appropriately licensed), make sure you have a license (for the Breede note). Otherwise you will be making china's with Mike The Malgas Mental (he is actually quite cool - so be nice). He is the retired surfer dude (aged 20) in the dwarf rubber duck.

Try not to catch the otter (but be 'my' guest and slide that bloody shark...and the next one....and etc etc). Talk to Martin about how NOT to get bitten.

Take chokka and some live bait. The kobbie's should be poking their noses out.

...and you don't need to take 5 Grunter out per day boet....irrespective of what the 'Law' says.

Tight lines.

(I am the dude in the kak yellow boat).

Look out for Pieter de Villiers in the prow; he is my new anchorman (or will be shortly).

Pete, awesome brilliant, always a great story. Folks read and take note of what Pete is telling us, he knows that part of woods.

Oh Pete forgot, I would love to slide that big bait for the zambie, have lunch and drinks at Tim, hook her and u and I can sit on u yellow boat and she can pull us up and down the river. You can even send out a drift bait...

Thanks so much enjoyed reading that.

I was thinking about it today that i should have said im fishing off the shore.

after reading the article i looked at the map you guys have on the site but it doesn't have the places you talk of and i only sort of know where the powerlines are any chance you could perhaps guid me from the marked spots please. are the marked spots for harders the best place to get live bait asuming its harders you use.

Mudlark's Jetty : you said take a peace offering are you not allowed to fish there?

As far as keeping fish goes i dont belive in freezing fish so i never take more than i can eat. Frozen fish is just sif.

and the bank that is labled bait how do i get there from witsands it might be a greate swim but with your friend swimming around i think i'll pass. if its to much a mission where else can i get pawns/bloodworm and on that note what sor of bait would i want for the time I'm there or is kob anround about the only thing thats going to be around.

fishing from the shore do i need to get an extra lisence or is my usual fishing lisence good enough.

and thank you so much for being so helpfull i know, sadly, that if you go to my club and ask for anyinformation you will be hard pressed to find anyone, worth talking to, willing to share info. so i shall try and take your lead and if there is anything you need to know about cape town i'll be more than willing to share.

Thanks
Leon

Hi lLon
Send me your cell/work number and lets chat. Where are you based as a matter of interest?


Thanks
Pete

I live in the southern suburbs of cape town and my club is simons town yatch club.

my cell is 083 937 1495

Well done Pete, thanks for helping out. When u going to Tim again, I going the long weekend.

Sharkboy - am going over the long w/e as well. Sadly, may have to also do a bit of work whilst there, but so what. Bring a yellowfin for the slide.

Lekker Pete, u can take it out for me. Will def swing by over the weekend.