Fishing Report 04 February
2019
Monday
W gusting 5 first thing then early in the morning it swings
to a SW gusting 20. Partly cloudy with a max of 26. Wave height 1.6-1.9 period
9 barometer 1007-1011.
High Tide 03.54 Low Tide 09.50. Dark moon spring.
Tuesday
SW gusting 13 first thing swinging to a SSE gusting 10 in
the afternoon. Partly cloudy with a max of 27. Wave height 1.7 period 9
barometer 1013-1011.
High Tide 04.21 Low Tide 10.20.
Wednesday
W2 first thing swinging during the morning to an S gusting 7
peaking at 13 by the evening. Partly cloudy with a max of 26. Wave height 1.4-1.2
period 9 Barometer 1012-1010.
High Tide 04.48 Low Tide 10.48.
Thursday
SW gusting 9 swinging to a SE by lunch time gusting 8.
Partly cloudy with a max of 26. Wave height 1.2 period 14 barometer
1012-1014-1011.
High Tide 05.15 Low Tide 11.17
Lagoon
It seems the warm water has no effected the lagoon as there
are no reports of many fish caught however with the rain fall we had last night
might cool the water down especially if a lot fell inland , this will make the
mouth area more productive again….we hope.
Surf
At last there was some action on the Banks on Friday night
and Saturday morning, not sure what happened on Sunday. Some Diamonds and big
Giant Guitar fish were landed as well as some decent size Shad, due to the warm
water fishing was slow over the weekend, the hope the NE would blow cold water
in did not materialize let’s hope the South blowing this week will do that.
Warm water makes the fish lazy. Yesterday Mtunzini main beach was very quiet as
was Doggies, I did send some guys to Port Dunford but I have not heard back
from them.
Ski boat
On Saturday morning
Stephan had the misfortune of having his pontoon bittern by quiet a big White
Shark the bite width was 47cm and the bite height was 30cm. This is version of
events. “We were sitting fishing of the same side of the boat when we saw a big
fin coming past, we had seen Zambies before and thought nothing would come of
it. Then my phone rang and as I answered it I felt the boat shake and drooped
my phone on the deck by the time I retrieved my phone it was gone, the shark
must have circled the boat and attacked for behind us. I told my son to forget
the anchor just cut the rope and let’s get out of here, when we were approaching
the mouth I went to check my fuel when the engine flooded and we could not
restart it for about 45min then we got going again and came through the mouth”.
Meanwhile we received a call that Stephan had his boat attacked by a Shark. Cut
his anchor rope and is now drifting. We called Shaun as we thought he was out
but he had not left but would assist and we also phoned the NSRI to alert them
of the fact we may require assistance, the NSRI was then in direct contact with
Shaun so he could report as to what was going on when he arrived on the scene.
In the meanwhile here is us thinking the NSRI were sitting at their base
waiting for word from Shaun but no they scrambled the crew and set off as soon
as the crew arrived the set off towards the Mtunzini bay and were near the
light house when they were told to stand down and return to base. (I spoke to
Richard about why they did that and he said it was procedure as staying at the
base would delay assistance, this makes sense. When I asked him if the crew were
cross because they had wasted their time his reply was “Hell no” they were
pleased Stephan was back safely, the NSRI then headed back to the harbor and seeing
they were out decided to do some training (as if they don’t train enough) and
put the time to good use, while they were busy they were called to attend an
incident where there skills were need and they arrived on the scene in record
time. Chaps these guys are volunteers and rely on donations to keep the station
going, I have a monthly debit order going and we collect money in the shop for
them, I urge you to try do the same. They do not only assist with ski boat or ocean
vessel rescue they also help marshal event like the Duzi, they do inland rescue
work and work closely with the SAP water wing. They did install some live
saving aids on the beach only to have it stolen.
Why did the shark
bite the boat?
This is one of the
theories banded about that makes the most sense to me.
The Great White is
the only shark that can feed above the water as can be seen on documentaries of
Whites feeding on Whales. I am not saying this is what happened in this case
but fisherman fishing bottoms off Ducks often cut bait on the pontoons then
splash the remains off with sea water when they move off, hence the nickname “Splash
and Dash fishermen” however while fishing blood drips into the water either off
the pontoon or goes out through the scuppers now we know a shark can smell
blood in about 1 part per million so the shark comes along the blood trail,
sees a thing that looks like a whale and takes a bite out of it, the most fat
looking bit to him is the pontoon above the water and voila you have a
punctured pontoon. I think rubber ducks look more whale like in shape than
rigid boats and that is why they are more prone to been bittern, I think the
word “attack” it too aggressive as if he want to attack a boat he is capable of
ripping it to shreds.
By the way Stephan and
Shaun managed to boat some very nice bottoms , mean while Nanook went out
further to the 2oom mark and got some very nice size Dorado the previous
weekend they got a small Marlin and a Sail fish on live bait at Dawsons.
Next events.
We have an 8 sleeper house (can sleep
10 as it has 2 double beds) should a group want to hire it, it is self-catering
with ample bait storage space.
