#FishEagle: Last throw of the dice for the year

Anglers were out this week for a last fling before the end of the year.

As usual, the most productive fishing time for rock and surf anglers is the early morning period just before dawn until about two hours after first light – also depending on the state of the tide.

Many anglers target shad at present although it is the end of the season.

Catches are mostly small at this time of the year, but recently several big shad have been caught – called return shad since they have completed spawning and are on their way back to the colder Cape waters.

Fresh fillet baits are the norm and most anglers use a cork or top bung.

I found that not using a cork will also produce a pull and the area to cast is just over the shore break because this is where the shad hunt their food.

There are a lot of “peckers” around at present and these are normally small fish such as blacktail or tobies that strip baits as soon as they are cast into the water.

Sometimes baits are stripped from hooks by larger fish even though the “knocks” feel like the smaller fish. These could be either mullet or three spot pompano, commonly called wave garrick.

When these fish are feeding in the shore break, it is the perfect opportunity for the anglers to switch to fishing with light tackle using small baits and hooks.

The wave garrick produce excellent fun as do the mullet, and at times juvenile stumpies called yellowfin bream feed with the pompano and they add to fun fishing.

The drop shot method is also productive when targeting these species.

Some visiting anglers arrive at seaside with the intent of battling summer flatfish and the various shark species. Although there have been a few sand sharks and big rays caught, the season still has to produce fish on a more regular basis.

There have been a number of sharks caught recently though, especially hammerheads and a few grey sharks.

A shad or mackerel head cast out generally results in a pull but anglers should be prepared to be patient when fishing for the big guys.

The late afternoon into the early evening periods are normally the best times to target the sharks, with an added bonus of also luring big shad or a stray kob or salmon.

Prawn baits are producing nice sized copper bream in the rocky gullies, although not as many as last year, and a number of small kingfish have been caught along the coast as well.

One needs to take a little care when fishing the rocky gullies as injuries can occur if concentration lapses.

With the warm water on the coast at present it would not be unusual to catch a nice pompano as well. The drop shot method is recommended when fishing the rocky gullies.

Off-shore anglers have begun to target the summer game fish that are now beginning to arrive but they are not that plentiful as yet.

Dorado are normally the first species to arrive in local waters and although the numbers are now increasing, this year has seen a slow beginning.

One charter skipper recently reported about 200 dorado swimming around his craft but the fish proved to be very slow in feeding.

The inshore water temperature measured at around 24 degrees, so hopefully this will invite the “dorries” inshore.

It has taken awhile, but shoals of big yellow fin tuna have been seen in local waters with some of them estimated to weigh more than 20kg.

Barracuda put in an early appearance this year but at present they seem to be few and far between.

The sea conditions at present are good, so there is every chance of game fish becoming more numerous and some excellent sport is expected.

During this holiday period stay vigilant and safe when on or at the water’s edge.

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