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CONTENTS November/December 2013 Volume 29 Number 6 COVER: QUEEN OF QUEENS Craig Thomassen with a superb queenfish, subsequently released. There’s no reason to plunder migratory fish — and all “poachers” should be reported. See page 98. Photograph supplied by Craig Thomassen.

FEATURES 13

Toothproof! The perfect “assist” for any situation — by Kurt Rutter

Make Mine a Single Another take on ’cuda traces — by John Harvey

Species Hunting Targeting the kingfishes of Moçambique — by Branus Ras

Broadbill Swordfish Prized gladiator of the deep — Part 1 — by Johan Smal

Boat Review: 9m Lee Cat Walkaround Version II Redesigned and unveiled — by Erwin Bursik

Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics DAFF attempts to defend its red steenbras ban — by John Rance

Eyecare Essentials Choosing sunglasses that best protect your eyes — by SKI-BOAT reporter

Keeping an Even Keel Part 1: The art of launching and trailering your boat — by Anton Gets

Boat Profile: The Shark Cat A dream brought to perfect fruition — by Heinrich Kleyn

Simply Salmon Catching Geelbek, Part 3: Ghost fish of the Border area — by Tyrone Gower

Boat Profile:Raptor 660 FC A spacious boat, “by fishermen for fishermen” — by Heinrich Kleyn

It’s Time to Let Go!

Releasing fish successfully — by Gary Thompson

What About the Trawlers? We all need to keep an eye on the poachers — by Craig Thomassen

100

Racetech’s Innovations A Tubby for every application

DEPARTMENTS 8 9 48 85 87 97/101 103

Editorial Comment — by Dave Rorke Postbox SADSAA News Subscribe and WIN! This Issue’s Kingfisher Awards Bits & Pieces Mercury Junior Anglers

104 106 111 112 120 121 122

Reel Kids Johannesburg Boat Show overview Smalls & Advertisers’ Index Where to fish in Africa Business Classifieds Charters & Destinations Directory Rapala Lip — Last Word from the ladies

The official magazine of the South African Deep Sea Angling Association

Managing Editor: Dave Rorke Editor: Sheena Carnie Editorial Assistant: Laura van Niekerk Publishing Executive: Erwin Bursik Advertising Executive: Mark Wilson Advertising Consultant: Joan Wilson Administration Executive: Anne Bursik Accountant: Jane Harvey Executive Assistant: Kim Hook Admin Assistant: Sunny Kandaswami Boat Tests: Heinrich Kleyn Contributors: Erwin Bursik, Anton Gets, Tyrone Gower, John Harvey, Heinrich Kleyn, John Rance, Branus Ras, Kurt Rutter, Johan Smal, Craig Thomassen, Gary Thompson. ADVERTISING – NATIONAL SALES: Angler Publications Telephone: (031) 572-2280/89/97/98 Mark Wilson cell: 081 270 2433 Joan Wilson ADVERTISING – GAUTENG & MPUMALANGA Lynette Adams (011) 425-2052 or cell 083 588 0217; lynadams@mweb.co.za; skiboatgauteng@icon.co.za PUBLISHERS: Angler Publications cc PO Box 20545, Durban North 4016 Telephone: (031) 572-2280/89/97/98 Fax: (031) 572-7891 e-mail: angler@mags.co.za admin@mags.co.za Subscriptions to SKI-BOAT: R145,00 per annum (six issues). New subscriptions and renewals: SKI-BOAT Subscriptions Department, PO Box 20545, Durban North 4016. Telephone: (031) 572-2280/89/97/98 Fax: (031) 572-7891 • e-mail: safety@mags.co.za • Through www.africanangler.com, or • E-zine digital subscriptions — visit www.africanangler.com > SKIBOAT > SUBSCRIBE, then choose your option. • Click the E-zine short-cut on the magazine’s home page, www.africanangler.com, or visit www.zinio.com/SkiBoat. Reproduction: Hirt & Carter, Durban Printer: Robprint (Pty) Ltd, Durban Full production is done in-house by Angler Publications & Promotions on Apple Macintosh software and hardware for output directly to plate. SKI-BOAT Magazine, ISSN 0258-7297, is published six times a year by Angler Publications & Promotions cc, Reg. No. CK 88/05863/23, and is distributed by RNA, as well as directly by the publishers to retail stores throughout South Africa. • Copyright of all material is expressly reserved and nothing may be reproduced in part or whole without the permission of the publishers. • While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this magazine, the publishers do not accept responsibility for omissions or errors or their consequences. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers, the managing editor, editor, editorial staff or the South African Deep Sea Angling Association.

8 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

EDITORIAL COMMENT

N a recent article in Business Day, by their “Science and Health Editor”, Tamar Kahn, the headline proclaimed “Protected areas can help subsistence fishermen, says study”. Kahn was reporting on a study by Prof Colin Attwood and his UCT colleagues who had analysed 15 years of data on the red roman. Their conclusion, published in the journal Nature Communications in August, shows that both fish and fishermen can benefit from marine protected areas. They analysed 15 years of data on this bottom-dwelling fish, collected by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, that covered the period before and after the proclamation of the Goukamma Marine Protected Area (MPA) between Knysna and Sedgefield. “Potential fishery benefits of MPAs are wideDave Rorke ly acknowledged yet seldom demonstrated, as fishery data series that straddle MPA establishment are seldom available,” they said in the introduction to their findings. “Roman-directed catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) in the vicinity of the new MPA immediately increased, contradicting trends across this species’ distribution. The increase continued after five years, the time lag expected for larval export, effectively doubling the pre-MPA CPUE after ten years,” the study found. Kahn reported that though catches of red roman increased after the MPA was declared, there was no increase in stocks of the fish in any other part of its range. The scientists suggest there were two mechanisms at play. Firstly, as fish stocks recovered, the protected fish abandoned their home ranges and strayed outside the Marine Protected Areas into the range of fishermen. Secondly, there was a boost in egg production in the protected area, and currents carried eggs and young fish beyond its borders. They also found that the loss of part of the fishermen’s fishing grounds was more than compensated for by an increase in the size of their catches. Over the years Colin Attwood has been severely criticised in SKI-BOAT magazine for his apparent anti-recreational angler stance. However, you could have knocked me over with a feather when I read the following, from his lips to God’s ears: “Many believe that MPAs could play a useful role in restoring the abundance of fishes, but traditional and subsistence fishers are making strong representations to be allowed access to protected areas, citing low catch rates, loss of livelihoods, and in some cases exclusion without consultation. The issues are often quite political, but this study has shown that conservation and fishermen’s objectives can both be served by well-placed MPAs.” For years SKI-BOAT magazine has been expounding the benefits of MPAs, in many instances quoting other local and international research which has shown that marine reserves actually benefit nearby fisheries because fish move into and out of the reserves, and currents carry fish larvae produced inside reserves to adjacent fishing grounds, thereby bolstering the populations there. Research concluded in 1996 in the Tsitsikamma MPA (and featured in this magazine) showed that it was one of South Africa’s most successful conservation stories, and close monitoring by scientists of species indicated a migration of a wide range of fish from the park to adjacent areas. A remarkable example of migration from a reserve to other areas was ORI Senior Scientist Bruce Mann’s 1989-tagged Tsitsikamma MPA ±8.3kg red steenbras which was recaught in 2011 off Kei Mouth, a distance of 532km from where it was tagged after being at liberty for 22 years. It had grown 370mm and put on 17.9kg. It’s not rocket science that MPAs seed and feed into adjacent areas, which is why the red steenbras fishery is so good off the Border and Transkei. The Amathole MPA, for example, is jealously guarded by recreational anglers, hence the proliferation of coppers in their area. With this in mind, DAFF should revisit their red steenbras ban and the actual reasoning behind it. If it’s one of inadequate resource management competency, then this should be urgently attended to, before depriving a section of the fishing public of their right to target this fish within strict legal bounds. The mind, señor, it boggles. Should I whisper the word “victimisation”? Happy reading and good catches.

Dave Rorke

POSTBOX BDSAA ACTION AGAINST DAFF: A PROGRESS REPORT Dear Dave As you know, Border Deep Sea Angling Association instituted action against the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF) under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) to demand a judicial review of the red steenbras prohibition regulations. SADSAA has supported BDSAA financially in this case. This was done as a last resort and was made imperative by the fact that for two years DAFF’s Fisheries Division refused point-blank to provide any detailed and credible information as to the research and reasoning behind the then proposed blanket prohibition on the catching of red steenbras. And when the draft regulations were published, they gave the public no information from which to make informed comment. Even when the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) was invoked to compel them to provide the necessary information, this was not forthcoming. It was open to BDSAA to institute legal action under PAIA to obtain the necessary information, but that would have taken time and the window period for taking action under PAJA would have expired by then. So the process is on the go under PAJA. BDSAA filed its Founding Affidavit, to which DAFF responded, late, with the Record. Once BDSAA had the Record — which it had been trying for years to obtain — it then filed its Supplementary Affidavit. BDSAA and recreational fishermen in general are again being treated with disrespect, just as they were in the period leading up to the prohibition. DAFF were supposed to file their answering affidavit by 12th September 2013, but failed to do so. They requested an extension of time (at the last minute) until October and were reluctantly given until the end of September. BDSAA did state, however, that DAFF could have longer to respond with their Answering Affidavit if they lifted the ban on recreational fishing from 1st December 2013 until finality in this process has been reached. This action is of inestimable importance to recreational fishing. This is because stocks of almost all the species we fish for are regarded as “collapsed” which mandates “drastic action” be taken in terms of the Linefish Management Protocols (LMP). If a blunt instrument of total prohibition for both commercial and recreational fishing is the only method DAFF will consider, as they’ve done with red steenbras, then recreational fishing as a pastime and an industry will be destroyed, and its considerable economic impact rendered null and void.

Letters to the Editor cial fishing is being reduced by regulation in favour of recreational fishing. Some recent statistics from the East London Ski-Boat Club (see box) demonstrate how ridiculous this ban is to us in the Border/Transkei region where we

The scary part is this flies in the face of what is being done in other countries like New Zealand, Australia and USA where the socio-economic importance of recreational fishing has been recognised. In more progressive countries, commer-

East London catches — the gospel truth On Saturday 7th September, East London Ski-Boat Club (ELSBC) held a fishing tournament which yielded the accompanying results. They requested participants to keep a record of the number of prohibited species of red steenbras and seventy-four which were caught as a bycatch and which they are bound to release. The competition results depended on catching a variety of other species, so naturally red steenbras and seventy-four were not a targeted species. They were, of course, a bycatch. The total of other species caught is not a true reflection of the total catch as over-quota and undersize fish would have been released and some fish would not have made the minimum size cutoff for the scales. However, it is a good enough indication to show the relative number of red steenbras and seventy-four caught. Nonetheless, all red steenbras and seventy-four caught would have made the minimum size requirement. The red steenbras were in the 10kg to 20kg range. Although 27 boats and 95 anglers participated in the tournament, only 17 boats and 68 anglers were involved in the weighing of the 38 fish which made the minimum cutoff sizes of various species which counted for the tournament. Likewise, only 14 boats and 56 anglers were involved in catching and releasing 47 red steenbras (coppers), and 16 boats and 64 anglers caught and released 53 seventy-fours. The reason for this would have been a combination of the depths and areas fished and the skills of the participants in fishing deep waters where red steenbras and seventy-four are predominantly found. Some boats would have targeted shallower reefs where red steenbras are not commonly found. It is a long-held opinion in Border Deep Sea Angling Association circles that the prohibited species of red steenbras and seventy-four are more prolific in the Amathole (Border) and Transkei regions than other species targeted by anglers. We also believe that the scientists and/or authorities concerned with enacting regulations know this, but that they are very concerned about the legal and illegal commercial activity impact on slow-growing species. However, they cannot bring themselves to enact what they perceive to be a politically unpopular decision to prohibit the commercial trading of species, whilst allowing the recreational catching of same, not for sale. They also have no regard for and do not believe the research showing the massive economic impact of recreational/sportfishing. Therefore they use a sledgehammer to kill a fly and ban both commercial and recreational activities. JOHN RANCE

SPECIES CAUGHT AND WEIGHED IN 27 boats 38 fish divide by 27 boats 95 anglers 38 fish divide by 95 anglers Time fished 6am to 4pm 10 hours fishing

1.4074 fish per boat 0.4 fish per angler

27 boats 95 anglers 27 boats 95 anglers

1.7407 fish per boat 0.4947 fish per angler 1.9629 fish per boat 0.5579 fish per angler

47 coppers released 47 coppers released 53 seventy-fours released 53 seventy-fours released

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 9

often catch more banned red steenbras and seventy-four than any other species — and this is done accidentally, nogal. Imagine if we targeted them! JOHN RANCE Environmental Officer Border Deep Se Angling Association <jcrance@RanceTimber.co.za> See page 53 for John Rance’s response to DAFF’s bullet-point justification for their “red steenbras closure” in a widely-disseminated digital brochure. — DR.

South African skipper Capt Brad Philipps, The Billfish Foundation’s Release Captain of the Year for the past eleven years running, is widely recognised as the most prolific billfishing captain of all time. He released his 25 000th billfish earlier this year aboard his 40ft sportfisher Decisive off the Pacific Coast of Guatemala.

ESSENTIAL READING Dear Dave My three-year-old daughter, Milah Myburgh, will not go to the loo without her SKI-BOAT magazine. We photographed her on her plastic toilet, enjoying the photos of fish and the boats. She can’t wait until dad has saved enough money to buy a boat of his own. One day, my child ... JACQUES MYBURGH <jacques777@mobileemail. vodafonesa.co.za> THE NEW SEASON AWAITS ... Dear Dave We hope this finds you all well. We are enjoying a wonderful break back in South Africa. The kids can’t get enough of the adventures and nor can we. Brad has been doing some hunting with trips to Zimbabwe and various corners of South Africa in pursuit of different game. We are about to spend some bush time together as a family in a wonderful big-five reserve with friends, and then it’ll be back to Guatemala to prepare for the upcoming season. The Decisive and crew will be well rested and ready to start the new season, as will everyone at the Billfish Inn. Some exciting news is we are adding a small exclusive boutique hotel to our operation, which will be located in Antigua and is owned and managed by us. This exciting addition will ensure we can now look after all our guests who choose to add a night or two in Antigua to enjoy this unique setting, so visitors should keep this in mind when planning their next visit.

We invite all SKI-BOAT readers to drop us an email to reserve your dates for that special billfishing trip together with family or friends. Until then, best wishes. BRAD AND CINDY PHILIPPS Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures <cindy@guatbilladv.com> <www.guatbilladv.com> A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES Dear Dave A few months ago while we were fishing in Mossel Bay with friends, Phillip Labuschagne told us how he had once reprimanded an angler about the dangers of diving after a fish which had come off the hook and floated away from the boat. There’s always the danger of sharks on the prowl, and a floating fish can become a nice meal for any predator. Diving after it can turn you into shark food in the wink of an eye. In short he severely reprimanded this angler and explained that he did not want to be put in a position to explain to his wife and children why her husband/father was not coming home. Whilst Phillip was relating the story, we decided to make a last stop on the way back as conditions were as perfect as ever. I took our last maasbanker out of the livebait well, carefully hooked it up and let it swim. We carried on as usual, chatting amongst ourselves when, suddenly, I felt something on the line. I let the fish feed, then the moment I decided to strike the fish beat me to it and hit the bait so hard that it ripped my rod and reel out of my hands. I just stood there and watched as my new Dorado ski rod and wooden KP reel disappeared over the side. I was dumbstruck and didn’t know what to do. Suddenly I saw the tip of the rod’s butt break the surface and immediately tried to grab it. I just

10 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

couldn’t reach it so I stretched out a little bit more ... then a little more. Then my foot slipped, and before I knew it I was in the drink,“Boots ’n All”. Phillip’s warning about sharks turned my thoughts to mom and the kids, but out of the corner of my eye I saw the butt of my rod break the surface, about four metres away. By then my priorities were rather jumbled, but one thing stuck in my mind and that was my new rod and reel (sorry mom and kids!). So I swam towards the rod, terrified of being bitten by sharks — this area is home to great whites and is not too far from Seal Island — grabbed my rod and made my way back to the boat. There I handed it to Phillip and climbed back onboard between the motors. After all this my hat was still on my head and my crocs still on my feet! Once on the boat, Phillip handed me my rod and I started to retrieve the line. Guess what? The fish was still on the line, so the fight resumed. When we saw the kob next to the boat it was smiles all round. It was worth the swim ... This event haunted me for days. I couldn’t believe that I could have let that fish jerk the rod out of my hands. My disbelief was at least appeased by the joy of landing the fish, my first prize! JOHAN MARE <johan.volttech@gmail.com>

SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND? Write to: The Editor SKI-BOAT PO Box 20545 Durban North 4016 Fax: (031) 572-7891 E-mail: angler@mags.co.za

TACTICS

T was early January which is a hot and humid time of year on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, but it’s also a good time for pursuing the pelagic species on and around Protea Banks. The day had been uneventful so far and my fishing partner, the late Henry Oosthuizen, and I were heading south to try a few of our more productive jigging marks. We soon came across some good showings that were stacked up tight against the back-end of the reef as it falls away to sand. “That looks promising,” I said. The humidity caused sweat to run into my eyes as I worked my jig in a rhythmic action in the hopes of mimicking a wounded baitfish that might fool an unsuspecting gamefish into latching on. As I turned my head, looking for the telltale showing on the Furuno, I was hit mid-water by a speeding freight train that stopped my motion in its tracks. Braid screamed off the Stella 10 000 at a rate of knots. Then, just as suddenly, the fish was gone. I let out a few profanities as I reeled back the still attached jig. “It must have pulled the hook,” I murmured. Lifting the jig over the gunnel I suddenly saw there was something not quite right with the setup. Two red Kevlar tassels stared back at me as I scrutinised my jig. I’d been bitten off straight through the Kevlar! So much for being toothproof — it was as if it had been cut with a scalpel. THE USUAL SUSPECTS Any angler worth his salt will know that there are only two suspects in our waters that are capable of doing such damage and taking off at such speeds when hooked. Suspect number one is the king mackerel (aka ’cuda), and suspect number two is one of the fastest pelagic predators of the ocean — the wahoo. My hands trembled with excitement as I quickly rigged up another assist while we travelled up for another drift. Watching my jig disappear into the purple depths I clicked over the bail and started working the jig. Bang — on again ... then gone, just as fast! This time I had lost everything — jig, assist hook, the whole lot. Henry looked at me and

The author with “the culprit” — a 22kg ’cuda caught on a wire-assist with crystal flash.

The perfect “assist”for any situation

by Kurt Rutter

You won’t only land toothy fish using the wire-assist jig. This beautiful Madagascan GT (about to be released) was hooked on a JM Alien 250g jig with wire-assist. The coral trout (below, left) was caught on a 220g Kingfisher jig, while the geelbek (below, right) also fell for a jig with wire-assist.

chuckled. His laughter soon stopped as he too was suddenly hammered, braid singing off his reel, then gone. His jig was still attached, but he’d also been bitten off through the Kevlar. We stared at each other in disbelief. “This is ridiculous,” I said. “What’s the plan?” “Just carry on trying — there isn’t much else we can do,” replied Henry. Now I’m aware there are probably a number of you cussing at this point, saying, “Why not put out a livebait?” Please remember that we are avid and passionate jiggers, so nine times out of ten we went to sea with nothing but jigging tackle on board. When we decided to fish that particular facet, we stuck to it. Not ones to give up easily, we carried on pursuing our scissor-fanged aggressors with little success and took a hiding three more times before eventually calling it a day. FINDING A SOLUTION Back on the beach, wrought with frustration, we discussed tactics at our local fishing shop, The Tackle Box. There we conjured up a few different plans — some involving twisting

No. 14 piano wire, and others using nylon-coated wire, but eventually we settled on rigging a stainless-steel multi-strand cable assist hook. Basically, we ran the cable through the eye, around the hook shank twice, then back through the hook eye and crimped it. Then we crimped the other end to a solid ring and covered it all with heat-shrink tubing. We even made a few prototypes with crystal and red flash to make them more enticing, and these later proved to work. Added to this we decided to run a one metre piece of fairly supple blood wire to the jig and attach that to the leader with an Albright knot. We hoped that would not affect the jig’s sliding action through the water too much. Fortunately, the weather forecast was favourable for the week, so the very next morning we headed back to the same mark, full of confidence. Once again the showing was really good. Wasting no time, we got our new tricked-out jigs back into the water. One hour turned into two as we worked the water in a frenzy trying to outsmart the razor gang below. Nothing — not even a sniff! With irritation setting in and a very sombre mood on the SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 15

boat, I decided to change things a bit, removed the blood wire leader and put on a longer jig. “Let’s see if I can get a rev without the wire leader,” I said as I dropped it over the side of the boat. Once it hit the bottom I began working the jig. About mid-water it got smoked! The fish took off like lightning, heading straight away from me. “Please stick and don’t bite me off,” I remember thinking as the spool of braid diminished. Finally, the fish slowed and I began winning back line. After a few more short runs the iridescent blue and black stripes of a ’cuda broke the surface. I let out an elated shout as Henry pulled the fish aboard. At last — we no longer had a toothy suspect, we had our culprit. Our wire-assist had worked! We did a bit of tinkering after using those first prototypes and changed a few aspects of the assist. Firstly, we had originally made them too long and they tended to twist badly on a hooked fish. As a result we ended up with quite a few fish hooked on the head or on the side of the face. “The shorter the better” is what we eventually decided. Secondly we decided to keep the whole cable covered in heat-shrink tubing. We did have success on naked cable, but we found it was neater and more presentable when the whole thing was covered. This also eliminates any fraying of tag ends. WHAT YOU NEED • Your favourite brand of jigging hook. I like the Jigging Master Monster Hook. 16 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

• • • • • • •

Solid ring — my choice is the Jigstar ring and grommet. 1.5mm multi-strand stainless-steel cable. 1.6mm brass crimps. Heat shrink tubing — 3mm and 8mm in black or red. Side cutters. Crimping tool. Heat gun or a lighter, but be careful not to burn through the heat-shrink.

HOW TO MAKE IT 1. Collect the following terminal tackle: jigging hook, 1.5mm stainless-steel multi-strand cable, 1.6mm brass crimps, ring & grommet, 3mm and 8mm heat-shrink tubing. 2. Thread stainless cable through the back of the hook’s eye. Go around the hook shank, making a figure-of-eight and feed cable back through the hook’s eye in opposite direction. Pull up tight. 3. Cut a length of wire, but make sure to leave a bit extra to work with. Slide the crimp down the cable and crimp tight. 4 & 5. Slide 3mm heat-shrink tubing onto the cable. Measure out a length of 8mm heat-shrink and feed it onto the cable. Slide on the second crimp. Feed the cable through the solid ring on the grommet and crimp it. 6 & 7. Measure out a second piece of 8mm heat-shrink and slide it up over the hook point to cover the cable, hook eye and crimp. You can stretch the heat-shrink with round-nosed pliers to make it slide on more easily. 8. Adjust the heat-shrink into its final position then use the heat gun or lighter to melt it tight.

9. Attach the complete wire-assist hook to the jig with a split ring and connect to the leader with your preferred connection. Thereafter you can change your jig using split ring pliers while keeping your original leader knot. This is a big plus as you don’t have to keep re-tying it. Please note: With all that said, I am in no way implying that an angler should replace the tried-and-tested method of using Kevlar for the wire-assist all the time. However, I’m pretty sure that in the past many of you have also lost a member of the razor gang while using regular Kevlar, so it might be worth giving our method a try.

Some serious jiggers insist that the wire will put off the fish. From experience I know that’s true when it comes to the wire leader, but it’s definitely not true with the wire-assist. I have also caught numerous “non-toothy” species — including amberjack and geelbek — on the wire-assist, and even when I’ve been jigging amongst other anglers who were using conventional assists, I still got the bite. Next time you’re out on the water and know there are a few members of the razor gang around, put on a wire-assist and you’ll fish more confidently, knowing you’re “toothproof”.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 17

TACTICS

by John Harvey

Another take on ’cuda traces

AVING read the article on ’cuda traces in the September/October 2013 issue of SKI-BOAT I have to agree with Erwin Bursik that the “old” weights in pounds sound much better. In modern terms my best ’cuda weighed 37kg which is good, but it sounds far better as 8112⁄ lb. Aside from this one I have caught numerous ’cuda over the years and agree with much of what was shown in that article, although my ideas are very different for deadbaits like sardines, mackerel, jap mackerel and small bonnies. I only use single hooks and prefer Kendal Rounds as they have smaller eyes which are better for threading the hooks into the bait. To prepare the bait one needs a baiting needle with a small hook on the end about 250mm long — a stainlesssteel needle is best as it will last forever. One also needs to make up several different wire-to-hook lengths of wire so that one is geared up for any size bait.

DIAGRAM 1 (above) shows a bait needle as well as a 5/0 single hook with a shortish length of wire and a 3/0 hook with a longer length of wire (suitable for your particular bait), each of which ends in a loop. I take a 3/0 hook and make up a trace to the hook with a small loop at the other end of the wire. Then I take a shorter wire and attach a 5/0 hook, again with a loop at the other end of the wire. (See diagram 1.) The wire that’s attached to the hooks can be any size as it will end up inside the bait and can’t be seen. I sometimes use No. 8 or No. 9 wire. I then make up my traces to the main line using much lighter wire and have about 1.5 metres of say No. 4 attached to a 2/0 or 3/0 Kendal Round, again with a small loop at the other

end. The reason I don’t put the swivel on this trace is because I believe that tying knots in a hurry at sea can be dangerous. Instead I tie a small sampo clip swivel to my main line and clip on new traces as and when they’re needed — much quicker and safer. The final piece of equipment needed is a short piece of copper wire which I attach to the shank of the single hook (above) on the main trace by winding it around the shank a couple of times, leaving a tail long enough to reach

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 19

DIAGRAM 2

Loops of wire are threaded over the big lead hook and secured in place with the copper wire that’s wound across the hook gape.

Single hook on the main trace.

5/0 and 3/0 hooks attached to heavier wire, with a loop at the other end, then threaded through the bait’s body using a bait needle. across the gape of the hook and to wind it around the hook just below the barb. Now take your bait and select two hooks to match the length of the bait. Insert the needle into the bait at the bend of the 3/0 and thread it through the bait, coming out of its mouth. Hook the wire loop to the needle and carefully pull the needle out of the bait’s mouth and disconnect, leaving the loop in the mouth of the bait. Repeat with the larger hook. (See diagram 2.) You now have two hooks in your bait with only the points showing. I then twist the hooks so that they point down as this helps the bait swim better. Now take your main trace and insert the 2/0 with the copper wire up through the underside of the jaw, through the two loops inside the mouth and out through the top jaw, trying to keep the exit point as central as possible. Take the copper wire tail and give it one or two twists around the hook just under the barb of the hook. This wire holds the hooks in the

caught fish onto the lead hook if the line goes slack for some reason. I have used this method for over 20 years and have never lost a fish because the bait hooks have come off the lead hook. When you are fighting the fish the tension keeps the loops in the bend of the lead hook. Also of note is that all fish are hooked on one or both of the bait hooks and never on the lead hook which allows the angler to use a lighter wire trace. This may well result in him getting more strikes. I also use a small lure, usually a light 1 1 4⁄ or 2⁄ oz Sea Witch, in front of the lead hook which helps to make the bait swim perfectly. I rarely troll, preferring to anchor on a reef where I know ’cuda come to eat. I feel that by fishing at anchor my bait is in the strike zone 100% of the time, whereas if I’m trolling I’m only in the strike zone for short periods. Finally, I set my bait at different depths using both the downrigger and sinkers attached to the line with rubber

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bands, but quite far from the baits. Don’t try to use heavier lures in front of the baits as this affects the swimming action of the bait. When we’re ready to start fishing, all reels are set at strike drag. When the fish take the bait they are usually hooked. Be wary when you’re reeling in to check the baits as I have found that this extra movement can often lead to a strike. I have often been asked why I bother going to all this trouble when it’s so much quicker just to set a couple of trebles. My answer is that you can see the trebles easily. This trace perfectly fits any size of bait if you make up several different hook lengths. Most importantly, I feel that if I have a good single hook in a fish I’m in with a better chance of landing it than if I’m fishing with a treble. I have even known fish to lever the hook point out of their mouths by biting on the other parts of the treble. I hope my ideas help some of you catch a few more fish when next you’re out ’cuda hunting.

GAMEFISH

by Branus Ras

The author’s kingfish hunting arsenal.

Targeting the kingfishes of Moçambique

HE family name for kingfish in southern Africa is Carangidae. In Australia they are commonly known as trevallies and in America they’re called jacks. Whatever you call them, they are plentiful in tropical waters and therefore more abundant in Moçambique than South Africa. To target and catch a specific fish or increase your species tally is challenging — but it is also most rewarding. The bays and offshore reefs of our northern neighbour offer the perfect opportunities for anglers to do just that. When you’re fishing this area it’s not unusual to come back from a morning outing with four different kingfish species and three other species. Marking off ten different kingfish species during a three-week holiday is an achievement I treasure. Members of the kingfish family are all excellent fighting sportfish and you can have a great deal of fun using a variety of tackle. Some of the young fish are good eating, but the older ones are tough and tasteless, so rather take a photo and release them. There will certainly be a more tasty fish — like kingor queen mackerel — in the same area

which you can keep for dinner. Finding kingfish takes time and you have to study their preferred habitat and diet. However, it is possible to find mixed groups of up to six species hunting in the same spot. The use and understanding of a good fishfinder is essential, not just to spot baitfish schools but also to find the right fishing spots. Use your fishfinder to find channels in grassy sandflats such as the bays of Inhaca, Inhambane and Vilanculos, and pinnacles on rocky reefs and ledges on dropoffs such as on the continental shelf. All kingfish hunt close to the bottom and around coral, rocks and seagrasses. Shrimps, crabs, cuttlefish, octopus, squid and small shiny fish are all on their menu. You really have to target them in this bottom zone and draw their attention to your lure. If they’re fooled they will follow your lure and strike on the way up. Artificial lures like dropshot, bucktails, vertical jigs, chrome leadspoons and larger shrimp imitation Sabiki rigs will all work. Surface lures are irresistible in shallow waters.

SPINNING REELS AND BRAID COME TO THE FORE In the past, before the advent of braid and silicon, we had to fish live shrimp and small baitfish. Today, with modern saltwater rods, reels and line combined with artificial baitfish lures, it’s easy and fun to fish. Twenty pound to 50 lb outfits with 7ft plugging or jigging rods are ideal on a boat. Practise your techniques in a swimming pool until you find the most enticing way to present the different artificial lures. Your lure must look like a darting squid or fleeing fish that’s struggling to escape. Bear in mind that a cheap lure worked the right way will outperform expensive, brand-name lures that are badly presented. Deep-diving, trolled lures will produce fish, but motor noise does affect the attitude of feeding kingfish, especially in shallow waters. Rather switch off your motors once you get on top of your chosen fishing spot and just drift. When you’re visiting Moçambique make sure to get a maritime- or GPS map to show the basic depths, contours and reefs. Once you have this info — and if you can get coordinates from

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 23

BLUDGER KINGFISH (Carangoides gymnostethus)

This offshore hunter moves in large shoals, eating mostly squid and small fish. At times they gather for a while around pinnacles on prominent reefs, and other times they can be found chasing baitfish to the surface. Diving birds will usually give them away. When you sight them use small surface lures, and when they’re deep (up to 100m), use bucktails and vertical jigs. YELLOWTAIL/BLACKTIP KINGFISH (Caranx sem)

These fish hunt close to the shoreline over flat coral and grassy reefs in plankton-rich, greenish water. They’re usually found in depths of 3-5m, often in the same vicinity as queen mackerel. Find them by trolling lipped lures, then use 5-inch dropshot and 40 gram minnowtype spoons to entice them to bite. BIGEYE KINGFISH (Caranx sexfasciatus) other knowledgeable fishermen — you can start exploring. Make sure you take along a good fish identification book or take photos of all your catches so that you can look them up on the internet. It’s very frustrating not knowing what fish you have just landed. Holiday destinations to consider if you want to target a variety of kingfish are Inhaca Island, Chidenguele, Zavora, Ponta Barra, Morrungulo, Pomene and the Bazaruto archipelago. Below is a list of the larger and more prominent Carangidae species I have encountered between Ponta do Ouro in the south and Inhassoro in the north.

They are always found around coral mounts, large rocks and pinnacles on reefs and are often in close proximity to rockcods. They are found in depths from 10 to 40 metres and take fast moving lures like small vertical jigs and 12 oz bucktail jigs. GIANT KINGFISH (Caranx ignoblis)

You’ll find bigeye kingfish over inshoreand offshore rocky reefs and coral pinnacles where they gather and hunt with mixed parties of other gamefish in depths of 15- to 50m. Catch them using 50-100g chrome spoons, vertical jigs and 5-inch dropshot. BRASSY OR GREENSPOTTED KINGFISH (Caranx papuensis)

BLUEFIN KINGFISH (Caranx melampygus)

This species prefers cleaner water around offshore and inshore reefs.

The most sought-after and most often caught Carangidae in the ocean, giant kingfish, hunt in a wide variety of habitats, from the shoreline to depths of 90m. Once you find baitfish in any of these environments, GTs could be around. Surface lures fished over shallow reefs will draw their attention, but when it comes to deeper reefs you will need 200-300g jigs or 5 oz dropshot with 8-inch tails.

24 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

Hunting in small shoals, these fish move up and down the inshore reefs close to the shoreline and seldom go deeper than 15m. Find them by trolling small lipped lures, then go quiet and cast small surface plugs and 40g shiny spoons.

Retief Joyce with a yellowspotted kingfish caught off Moçambique

YELLOWSPOTTED KINGFISH (Carangoides fulvoguttatus) These fish are found on inshore and offshore flat, rocky and grassy reefs that host squid, crustaceans and baitfish. Search around reefs in depths from 10 to 60m. They’re usually scattered in large schools over their chosen reef, but can also be found in mixed feeding parties. This is one of the easier kingfish to catch, and most artificial lures worked from bottom to top will hook them. GOLDEN KINGFISH (Gnathanodon speciosus)

INDIAN MIRRORFISH (Alectis indicus)

surface plugs and poppers — they can’t resist a fleeing/jumping imitation. GREATER AMBERJACK (Seriola dumerili)

These fish hunt on inshore and offshore hard, flat and coral reefs. Small shoals are commonly found in mixed parties with other feeding kings, but they’re more solitary when they’re older. Look for them in 10-40m depths. Small 1- to 2 oz dropshot with 5-7 inch tails and 100g vertical jigs all work well. QUEENFISH (Scomberoides commersonianus)

This species prefers inshore grassflats, channels and flat reefs at depths of 2m to 15m. They mostly eat shrimp, crab and cuttlefish. There are plenty of them in the bays of Maputo, Inhambane and Vilanculos, but they are not easy to catch. Small paddletail dropshot and shrimp Sabiki rigs bounced just above the bottom and on the edges of channels are effective.

Queenfish cruise the backline, hunting small fish, and they can be caught trolling the same way as for queen mackerel. Once you’ve found them, use

This species travels the continental shelf and will hunt over deep reefs at depths between 70m and 130m that hold red bottomfish and squid. Use heavy tackle and vertical jigs up to 400g to get down into their territory. Just jig the bottom third of the water to save energy. Once again having a good understanding of your fishfinder/echo sounder is essential to find reef and bottomfish. Go ahead and have some fun adding to your species tally.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 25

FEATURE

After reading the article “Gladiator — taking a closer look at broadbill swordfish” (SKI-BOAT, January/February 2010), Johan Smal has delved a little deeper into this highly sought-after fish’s natural history and its chronicled catches in South Africa and abroad. MEET THE GLADIATOR RUE to its romantic name Xiphias gladius, meaning sword in Latin but also known by many SKI-BOAT readers as the Prince of Darkness, the elusive broadbill swordfish is the ocean’s most sacred gladiator. Known as both “broadbill” and “swordfish” internationally, it is branded as the ocean’s toughest combative fish, possessing unrivalled strength, stamina and ferocity, and is rightly acknowledged to be the most formidable opponent on rod and reel, the angler’s ultimate challenge. Classified as an epi-mesopelagic oceanic species (see “Sea Secrets”, SKIBOAT May/June 2013, for the artificial delineation of the ocean) it nor-

mally spends time around bathymetric features such as seamounts along continental shelfs’ edges where there are mesoscale eddies (“Eddies which are between about 10 and 500km in diameter, and persist for periods of days to months are known in oceanography as mesoscale eddies” — Wikipedia.) These areas are usually associated with oceanographic conditions that increase productivity and therefore attract bait organisms. Small broadbill (up to about 1m body length) have file-like teeth and prickly scales with small spines which are shed as they mature (see sketch of broadbill larvae stages on next page). Broadbill are opportunistic feeders, feeding on practically any smaller fish but in particular squid. It uses its bill, edged with minute enamel-like sharp teeth, like a sword to slash its prey. It also uses its sword to defend itself. Known to attack man-made objects at times — reportedly capable of piercing wood more than 30cm thick — the bill is sometimes embedded so deep in

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certain objects that it snaps off as the fish veers away, leaving its sword behind. Numerous mako sharks — broadbill’s top predator — have been found with pieces of broadbill swords protruding from their bodies. SOLITARY AND DEEP-DWELLING Broadbill are not schooling fish and remain solitary or in loose aggregations, staying some ten metres apart in their watery domain, unless they are in spawning aggregations. They are usually found at depths of around 600m, but in some cases even deeper than 1 000m. Within a 24-hour day they generally have vertical movement patterns whereby they dive deep during the daylight and come up to the shallows — below 100m — at night. Principally occurring in tropical and temperate water, they are occasionally also found in Arctic waters. Consisting of several different genetic stocks, broadbill are resident in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans,

by Johan Smal

Probably the best photograph ever taken of a boadbill anywhere, this one by Erwin Bursik of a fish caught in Kenya by Dick Pratt on 23rd January 1998 before the advent of digital photography and Photoshop manipulation. Scanned and enlarged from a 35mm slide, the fish is “as photographed”, all lit-up in neon purple and tourquoise.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 29

including the Caribbean and Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Marmara (the bay that separates Turkey’s Asian and European parts, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Bosporus, the strait that enters the Black Sea), the Black Sea itself and the Sea of Azov, an extension of the Black Sea (see map — Worldwide distribution of swordfish). They prefer water temperatures between 18ºC and 22ºC (generally above the thermocline) but have the widest tolerance amongst billfish and are found in water ranging from 3ºC to 27ºC. Over the last 45 years, for example, some 25 specimens were observed off the Norwegian coast (50º to 70°N latitude). Spawning, however, occurs in tropical waters. In order to cope with such harsh conditions, broadbill have very large eyes, and like marlin, tuna and some sharks, they have a counter-current heat exchange system that heats their eyes and brains. This greatly improves their vision and consequently their ability to catch prey, especially in the pitch-dark abyss. Like marlin, broadbill also glow with brilliant hues when excited. WHAT SIZE? This elusive big-game fish can reach weights well into the grander league. The all tackle world record is 536.1kg (1 182 lb), caught in 1953 by Louis Marron off Iquigue, Chile. An even bigger fish, a whopper of 711kg, was also harpooned off Chile. In 1986, well known Hout Bay angler Nic de Kock reported that in 1985 a Sea Harvest kingklip longliner pulled up a huge broadbill which was tangled in the lines. It had to be cut into three pieces to get it into the ice hold, and five days later weighed in at 860kg. Despite the high levels of mercury it contains, there is a huge demand for its rich, white flesh, described as one of the greatest marine gastronomic delights. Broadbill has the greatest commercial value of all billfish and is therefore one of the prime commercial targets of longline fishing fleets worldwide, taking some 95% of catches currently estimated around 100 000 tons per annum. (See next page, table/graphs on annual global broadbill captures. See last page for Atlantic mean weight trends.) Scientific evidence gained through satellite tagging has conclusively determined that they spend daylight hours in very deep water, normally below 400500m. However, as mentioned, at dusk they rise for short times to within 100m of the surface. Within this zone baitfish and especially squid are plentiful, and it is on these that broadbill feed before returning to the depths at dawn. They are most likely feeding at depth too and also use the shallows to heat up their bodies.

Swordfish larvae stages: A. 7.8mm SL; B. 14.5mm SL; C. 27.2mm SL; D. 68.8mm SL; E. 252mm BL (length from posterior edge of orbit to base of caudal fin); F. 580mm BL. (Source: Florida Museum of Natural History.)

Worldwide distribution of swordfish. (Source: Florida Museum of Natural History.) UNUSUAL INSHORE ACTIVITIES Various inshore activities and sightings have been reported in the past, which are considered to be unusual. This included Nancy Naidoo’s 30kg specimen caught in the surf at Tinley Manor Beach, north of Ballito, in 2010 (see SKIBOAT, November/December 2010). Although an astonishing account at the time, Prof Rudy van der Elst confirmed that it has happened before and that some have also been caught in shark nets. It was reported that a tired broadbill with an injured mouth was also caught with a cast net in the Swartkops estuary near Port Elizabeth last year. Even though it is not common to see broadbill basking on the surface along the South African coast, it is a regular occurrence in tropical waters. Scientists claim that they use the heat of the sun to assist digestion after a particularly heavy intake of food during the predawn period and to raise their body temperature. It is during this time that harpoon harvesting takes a heavy

In 2010 Nancy Naidoo caught this 30kg broadbill swordfish in the surf at Tinley Manor on the KZN North Coast.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 31

toll on broadbill stocks. Although the population status varies substantially in different locations worldwide, the global population trend is declining steadily, mainly because of commercial overfishing (see overleaf for summary on current status of global broadbill stocks). DISCOVERY OF SWORDFISH IN SOUTH AFRICAN WATERS Records of broadbill in South African waters go back 236 years. In the 1958 book Big Game Fishing in South Africa by Charles Horne, the author reported the following incidents: “On October 5, 1777, in his book Patterson’s Journey into the Country of the Hottentots, Patterson wrote: “We were entertained with observing a very uncommon phenomenon, which the people described as a ver y severe northwesterly wind at sea. Such prodigious numbers of fish were driven into Table Bay, particularly turtles and swordfish, that the whole bay was entirely covered with them. Several thousands of fish were driven onshore, which people cut up for oil ...” Some 170 years later, in 1948, Professor JLB Smith recorded a Durban

GLOBAL BROADBILL CAPTURES

Notes: 1. * Totals extrapolated from graphs. 2. Totals are best estimates given by the respective Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) based on reported catches by different countries. 3. Broadbill size restrictions: <25kg whole weight (125cm lower jaw to fork length with 15% tolerance or 119cm no tolerance. Target for incidental catches to be <15% by number of total catch). 4. Some totals may differ due to under reporting and dead juvenile returns. angler’s experience as follows: “While fishing about a mile from shore, a barracuda about four feet long, jumped from the water close to his boat, fol-

lowed almost instantly by a large swordfish. It overtook the smaller fish in the air and cut it clean in two with a sideways slash of the bill. The two halves

Estimated broadbill catches in the Indian Ocean

Time-area catches (total combined in tonnes) of swordfish estimated for 2009 and 2010, by year and type of gear. • Swordfish longliners (ELL) • Other longliners (LL) • Other fleets (OT). Maps courtesy of IOTC. See http://www.iotc.org/files/proceedings/2011/sc/IOTC-2011-SC14-19[E].pdf Annual global broadbill captures 1950s - 2011

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 33

fell apart into the water and the swordfish swirled back to seize the tail part in clear sight, leaving the front part for the angler to retrieve”. Then on 18th July, 1956, a broadbill was caught in the net of the Cape Town trawler George Irvin, skippered by captain J Lundberg, about 40 miles west off Slangkop. The crew was not sure what is was, and as it was badly damaged and

gutted before reaching Cape Town, it was worthless as a scientific specimen. Charles Horne identified the fish and the officials of the South Africa Museum declared it as: “The first authentic record of the capture of a broadbill swordfish in South Africa.” On 19th August 1956, George Irvin netted another 70 lb swordfish in the same area, and in 1957 a juvenile fish

was scooped by hand from the sea near Gordon’s Bay. On 29th July 1956, two sportfishing boats, Elegance, owned by Sonny Taylor, and Norseman, owned by Sonny Derman, undertook the first official search for broadbill by anglers in South African waters, but yielded no results. Some two years later, on 8th March 1958, Vic Edwards on his boat Pletten-

Broadbill swordfish fact sheet 1. The family Xiphiidae includes a single species, Xiphias 1997 that since long-lining was introduced in the 1960s, the gladius (broadbill swordfish), which is easily distinguished fishable biomass of broadbill in the north Atlantic declined from the Istiophorids (marlin, sailfish and spearfish) by its by 68%, (blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish dropped by 70%, 82%, 54% respectively). long, flat bill and cylindrical body shape. 2. Data from different sources differ, but longevity is estimat- 7. Although Greenpeace International added the broadbill to ed at around 10-20 years. Males mature at about 101 cm (1 its seafood red list, it is not listed as an endangered species by the International Union year old) and females at for Conservation of about 150-220cm (5-10 Nature (IUCN). years old). Females are 8. During 1998, following larger than males at the a successful public camsame age and nearly all paign in the USA, 343 specimen over 140kg are 600km 2 ocean area was female that can reach 455cm total length and placed off limits to broadweigh 650kg. Fish caught bill fishing, allowing the by commercials are usualnorth Atlantic to rebuild ly 120-190cm. its biomass to an estimat3. Broadbill are prolific ed 5% above the target egg factories with large level. females capable of pro9. The IOTC recognised ducing up to 30-million the southwest Indian eggs per annum. Ocean (SWIO) region as a Fertilisation is external, separate management subwhereby a female releases population with its own buoyant eggs into the stock assessment. water, which are then fer10. The IOTC Working tilised by sperm secreted Party on Billfish (WPB) by the male. Spawning reported that annual Picture acknowledgement: Chambers and Associates occurs in tropical waters catches of broadbill in the from October to April and may be as frequently as once every West Indian Ocean have declined steadily since 2004 with a three days over a period of several months. substantial reduction in the number of active vessels since 4. According to Chambers and Associates, the first recorded 2008. The fishing effort of the Japanese longline fleet, for sale of Atlantic broadbill took place in 1817. example, sharply decreased off the Somalia coastline, while 5. Although a culinary delight worldwide, the USA Food and fishing effort increased in the area south of 25°S, especially Drug Administration (FDA) warn consumers, especially preg- off western Australia. nant women, against its potential toxicity due to the high This is most likely due to the impact of pirate activities off the mercury levels. coast of Somalia, but specific analyses are currently being 6. The National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) reported in conducted in this regard. SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 35

The first successfully-targeted broadbill ever caught on rod and reel in South Africa. Nic de Kock was the angler and the fish was landed at the end of May 1986 from Fergus Hamel’s Kingfisher. berg was catching tuna about 15 miles southwest of Cape Point. Whilst retrieving his spinner, he noticed that five fish were chasing the lure. He had a strike, hooked and boated a small billfish which they thought was a marlin. Two days later, Charles Horne also identified it as a small broadbill swordfish. Weighing a mere 4 lb, it was only 3ft 21⁄2 inches long, suitably equipped with an 11-inch sword, but was the first ever broadbill to be taken by an angler

Trends in mean weight (kg) for the Atlantic swordfish stocks: SWO-AN: North Atlantic swordfish; SWO-AS: South Atlantic swordfish. in South African waters on rod and reel. It was, however, one of our newer generation pioneers, Nic de Kock, who was the first recreational angler to specifically target and land a broadbill from a craft at sea off our coast. On 31st May 1986, a long 30 years after the first official futile search by Derman and Taylor in 1956, Kingfisher’s crew — skipper and owner Fergus Hamel, his 13 year old son, Christopher, Adam Bloomberg and Nic — set out on a mission that had been germinating for some years. The 93kg fish Nic landed made South African angling history as the first

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targeted broadbill swordfish landed in our waters. It fell for a baited squid that had been sent down for that purpose over a small undersea canyon some 50 miles northwest of Hout Bay. (See Nic’s article “South Africa’s first broadbill — How I did it” — SKI-BOAT, September/October 1986.) In Part 2 of this new series on the broadbill swordfish, I’ll deal with the evolution of broadbill sportfishing in South Africa following this ground-breaking achievement by Nic de Kock, also the subsequent commercial overexploitation and eventual demise of the localised Cape Point population.

BOAT REVIEW

by Erwin Bursik

HE place — Johannesburg Boat Show 2013. The boat — the new 9m Lee Cat which I had just spotted standing proud on the Honda stand. I was intrigued with the changes I could see had been made since I reviewed the Expressa 900 in 2008 and looked forward to chatting with Leon and Carl Lee of Lee Cat, based in Port Alfred, who have been building boats for the past 35 years. On the second day of the show I bumped into Carl. “I heard you were snooping around my boat,” was his opening gambit. I saw a spark of excitement in his general dour demeanour and said, “Let’s talk.” Carl then told me the boat on the stand had been sold and two “sold” plaques had been attached to the back of the motor cowlings of the 175hp Honda motors that the Lees had chosen to power their new craft. “But if she’s an updated Expressa, why isn’t she called an Expressa?” I asked. According to Carl, she’s not the Expressa as they’ve redesigned the hull completely, hence the new name for the new design. The new Walkaround Version II incorporates a brand new hull design that Carl is convinced makes this the best all-round sportfishing craft they have ever designed and made. That’s saying a lot when you consider just how many boats they’ve built. Following further discussion with brother Leon, it was decided I would review the craft off Port Elizabeth prior to her being handed over to her new owner. I couldn’t wait to experience the new 9m Walkaround for myself and find out how the redesigned hull reacted to the ocean. In my boat testing experience it’s not often that you get the perfect day for a boat review in the Windy City, but as I flew in over the bay I saw the sea showed a long swell, ruffled by a mild land breeze, and was bathed in full sunlight — just perfect.

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When I arrived at PEDSAC, Port Elizabeth’s premier deep sea fishing club, the 9m Walkaround Version II was ready and waiting to be launched into the harbour from the club’s slipway. Seeing her alone — not surrounded by other boats — was a spectacular sight. This large, trailerable craft is sleek in design and will make any boat lover stop and stare. I did just that. Now I could fully appreciate the beauty of this craft. Just 15 minutes later, as the 9m Lee

9m Lee Cat Walkaround Version II by Lee Cat, Port Alfred Cat Walkaround Version II was being put through her paces in front of my camera, I was speechless. Her beauty was completely unveiled as she powered over the choppy sea, virtually set free in the environment where she is totally at home — the ocean. I photographed her from every conceivable angle, downloading into my mind as well as the camera’s memory card not only the way she looked, but also the way she rode the water’s surface and the way the water’s surface

allowed her to ride. I couldn’t wait until it was time for me to transfer onto the 9m Lee Cat Walkaround Version II within the flat water confines of PE Harbour. Now at long last I could get behind her helm, take the throttle lever in my hand and feel the magnificent craft react to the open ocean as we headed out to sea. Leaving the constraints of the breakwater behind and setting her SOW at 20 knots, I set a southerly course directly towards the horizon, feeling the craft’s

ride as the sea began to provide us with an increased chop and swell. I hate to compare one craft’s ride with another because the ocean seldom provides a level playing field. However, my senses told me that the hull change from a semi-displacement version to a full-on planing hull with a more rounded entry than her predecessor, as well as the widening and flattening out of the aft planing section of the sponsons, made her ride remarkably soft. Then I remembered Carl’s words:

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“We wanted to attain an easier planing hull, yet still retain the comfort of the 4m Expressa and, above all, maximise fuel consumption.” I am well aware of the trade-off in hull design needed to achieve this, and the big question is always whether the boat manages the transition from the drawing board to physical performance out on the open water. As we glided over kilometres of ocean I kept an eye on the NMEA screen on the Lowrance HDS12 that displayed all the technical information from the 175hp 4-stroke Honda motors. The display of revs, speed, trim position and fuel consumption allowed me to understand more fully not only what I was physically feeling of this craft’s performance, but also added the technical aspects to my mental equation. The remarkable consumption of this big craft of just one litre per motor per nautical mile at a constant 20 knots was impressive and was in agreement with what Carl had told me. However, it’s the overall feel and

performance of the craft that I need to report on. Indeed, these are the aspects of the 9m Lee Cat Walkaround Version II that readers cannot judge by looking at brochures, photographs or even by trusting word of mouth. To begin with I determined the best trim settings for these counter-rotating propped motors. They seemed to be sweetest when trimmed out about 30% on the trim scale. I now found myself in sufficiently choppy water to undertake the full range of tests I like to run in order to properly judge the craft’s performance. The “mystical 20 knots” is usually the most comfortable and relaxing running speed for planing hulled craft of this size at sea, and this certainly held true for the Walkaround Version II. Although I’m not one for excessive speeds, it had to be done, and I gradually worked our way up to just above 33knots without any trouble. The craft was sufficiently comfortable and unaffected to any great extent by sea conditions. On a course running with the swell

even at these high speeds, which I don’t normally advocate, she showed no indication of yawing or dropping a sponson. On the same run at 20 knots she provided a dream ride and I didn’t need to trim up her bow at all under the conditions we experienced. This craft’s high-speed performance is largely determined by the aft sections of the sponsons. I experienced no problem keeping her on course and did not have to constantly adjust motor trim. I must have misunderstood Carl regarding the boat’s turning capabilities. I put her through extremely tight turns, even at excessive speed to simulate surf launching conditions. I was amazed at her response. The way this 9m long craft went into the turns was great, but the way the props held water and pushed this large craft out of the hole and onto the plane really was remarkable indeed. “So, Carl, what’s the problem?” I asked. “Nothing,” he said. “I told you she turned well.” I must have misunderstood him horribly, but the good

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 43

thing was that it forced me to repeat the test — with the same good results — thereby proving to myself that she really is able to take on big surf. On a craft like this which can be used both for long-range tuna fishing as well as billfishing, I needed to see what her wake formation was like for trolling for the latter. At 5/6 knots, which we use predominantly for sailfishing, I couldn’t believe how tight her wake was. I then watched carefully as I edged the throttle up to 8/9 knots — the speed for pulling konas. The wake started to spread out at over 8 knots, but still generated plenty of clear blue water in which to pull a full spread of big lures. When you’re billfishing it’s essential to have a craft that can backup well, and this boat did that with ease. After trimming the motor up a fair amount to avoid the outboards wanting to pull the transom lower into the water, I still found we were getting a fair amount of water on the deck, but to be fair I must mention that the transom gate that’s available for this model had not been fitted. Finally, I needed to test her performance on the drift and at very slow troll speeds. With one motor just in gear she is extremely stable, making her a very comfortable craft for light tackle game- and bottomfishing. I was able to achieve an SOW of between 16 and 17 knots on one motor

with the other raised, which was less than Carl said he had experienced on the flat water of the Kowie River. Whilst the twin Honda 175hp motors provided all the power one could possibly require during normal offshore boating, if an owner wanted extreme top-end performance — in excess of 40 knots or a higher planing speed on one motor — then I would suggest installing twin 200hp or 225hp motors. Years of experience has taught the Lee brothers what their clients require when it comes to a boat’s internal layout. They have tweaked their original designs based on personal experience and clients’ requests. Now they have what they believe is a practical and very comfortable sportfishing craft in so far as deck layout and helm station facilities are concerned. The helm station-cum-wheelhouse is surprisingly big for a trailerable craft with a wide walkaround facility — spacious enough with five of us aboard during sea trials. Although it’s unusual to retain the central positioning of the steering, I have always found it to be very practical on the boats I have reviewed. This location allows for plenty of “dash” area for fitting the gauges and electronic instruments, and allows two other persons to stand upfront with the skipper when travelling long distances. On the 9m LeeCat Walkaround

Version II I enjoyed the helmstation and the accessibility and space it provides to the skipper. This area is well designed with lots of height, is protected by laminated, armour-plated glass windows and is certainly big enough to provide protection for all of the craft’s crew in inclement weather. From the crew’s perspective the fish deck is large with nice high gunnels to protect one when fighting fish in big seas. The reasonably large aft fish hatches are constantly flooded with about 30mm of seawater that drains out when you’re running, but re-floods to keep the fish and hatches clean. A circulating livebait well is in the starboard aft transom, together with a cleverly placed saltwater deckwash. Forward of each of the fish hatches is a large fuel hatch which holds six 25 litre plastic jerry cans. All the tanks are connected by a fuel supply system and a series of shut-off valves to change tanks when needed. This gives the boat 300 litre fuel capacity. In the centre of the fish deck is a uniquely designed above-deck hatch that incorporates seating around both sides and aft. It opens up via the top section to a very spacious interior for stowage. Talking of stowage, the large upfront hatch under the central bow area has a flush toilet and a raised area for either stowage or for use as a bed. This hatch also provides access to the back

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 45

of the instruments and steering, should this be required. Another noteworthy aspect of the boat’s construction is that there are no below-waterline cutouts for any throughhull accessories. All the plumbing — including for the toilet, deckwash and livebait well — is channelled to the transom for water intake. In a review on a craft like this I prefer to spend more of the limited space detailing the boat’s on-sea performance, rather than listing the vast array of accessories and features that make this craft so special. These can be seen and appreciated in the photos and marketing material supplied by the builders. Lee Cat have built this craft using

only GRP/glass fibre, totally avoiding using any wood in her construction, thereby preventing the likelihood of deterioration in any wooden components in their craft that are based in very hot areas of East Africa, the Seychelles and Madagascar. Their fibreglass moulding is of a very high standard and is indicative of a factory built and run by people with a great deal of experience in this industry. All this results in a product that is soundly made and finished off to the highest standards. The 9m Lee Cat Walkaround Version II is without doubt the finest craft to have come out of this Port Alfred factory. She is testament to the tenacity of

46 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

the Lee brothers and their consistent determination to upgrade and innovate the designs of their range of sportfishing craft, ever aware of the importance of producing a very high-quality product. Whilst the core of the business is big commercial craft up to 75ft, the brothers’ passion is their range of 8and 9 metre outboard-powered sportfishing craft such as this one. I am extremely pleased that I was able to spend many hours at sea reviewing her. Finally, a word to the person who purchased this boat at the Johannesburg Boat Show: you made a wise decision. I have no doubt that this craft will bring you many, many wonderful hours out at sea.

Geoffrey Wanvig, SADSAA President

JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM SADSAA’S PRESIDENT AND COR VAN NIEKERK

F SADSAA NISSAN BILLFISH CLASSIC ADSAA is extremely proud to announce that Nissan has agreed to join SADSAA as the title sponsor of the 2014 Billfish Classic which will be fished out of Richards Bay in February. A major sponsorship such as that which Nissan will be bringing to this most prestigious competition will greatly improve this event and ensure it remains the premier full-release billfish tournament in Africa. Thank you Nissan!

SADSAA CONTACTS Office phone: (012) 996-9007 Website: www.sadsaa.com

OR the benefit of all members and readers who have been following the disputes between SADSAA and one of its affiliate members that led to the member being suspended for a three year period, I am very pleased to report that this has now come to end and that the following combined press release has been published. On 27th July 2013 an appeal hearing was heard by the Council Members of SADSAA in respect of the three year expulsion of Cor van Niekerk that was imposed upon him by SADSAA on 21st June 2013. We, together, are now very pleased to announce that as a result of this appeal hearing Cor’s affiliated membership with SADSAA has been reinstated in full with immediate effect and all further litigation and negative publicity in the public media will stop. Debate from both parties was an extremely long affair where positive points were raised that gave both sides a better insight as to the nature of the problems that existed between SADSAA’s management and the perceptions held by some of our grass-roots anglers. Some very good lessons were learnt, again on both sides, which will provide a strong foundation to develop a much better and improved relationship between the membership and the elected managers of SADSAA. SAFETY OUR National Safety Officer, Stan Walter, has again excelled in re-compiling and updating the Category E Safety Manual, and we greatly appreciate the immense amount of work that Stan has put in to get these manuals published and professionally finalised. The latest manuals are now available from the various provincial safety officers. Get one — you will not be disappointed. SADSAA has received notice from SAMSA that with effect from 1st November 2013 the cost for the issue of skippers’ tickets will increase substantially. This is as result of increased costs that have not been applied by them since 2009. ENVIRONMENT IN the interest of all of our members, SADSAA has assisted Border Deep Sea Angling Association (BDSAA) with the amount of R150 000 in respect of their legal actions against the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF) in respect of challenging the total ban imposed on fishing for red steenbras. YEAR-END WISHES In closing I note that the holiday season is almost here for some. Therefore, on behalf of the SADSAA National Council members, it gives me great pleasure in wishing all our members and friends a safe and happy festive season. May you all be blessed with good health and a prosperous 2014.

DEADLINE for the January 2014 issue of SKI-BOAT is early! Make sure you book your ads by 6th November. Contact Joan on 031 572-2289 or Lyn on 011 425-2052 48 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

RESOURCE

N support of their red steenbras ban, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF) issued a digital leaflet consisting of three pages in which they attempt to justify the “closure” in bullet-point format which, they claim, “... meet the procedures as defined in the Linefish Management Protocol and the requirements for management action.” It was sent out on 8th August subsequent to the rec fish forum meeting on the 5th Jun, subsequent to the imposition of the ban. Reading through the short document one is left asking, “Is DAFF being economical with the truth?” Is this a case of Mark Twain’s “lies, damned lies and statistics”? SKI-BOAT asked copper protagonist, fishing rights crusader and

by John Rance

Border Deep Sea Angling Association’s Environment Officer John Rance to respond. We’ve extracted DAFF’s bullet points which we’ve included below, followed by John’s comments. Because of the ban and the way it was implemented, the Border Deep Sea Angling Association instituted legal action against DAFF under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) to demand a judicial review of the red steenbras prohibition regulations. When the draft regulations were published, DAFF gave the public no information from which to make informed comment. With the belated publication of DAFF’s information leaflet, one wonders whether it’s an effort on their part to fulfil the requirement that demands

that they give reasons (to the public) for the ban? And in legal terms, does DAFF consider post-ban reasoning sufficient to meet the requirement? Questions, questions, questions. Over to John to discuss DAFF’s reasoning. We leave it to you, the reader, to decide whether DAFF’s justification has any merit. DAFF’s JUSTIFICATION “The following factors,” says DAFF, “were taken into account in the decision by Branch: Fisheries to impose a ban on the catching and sale of red steenbras Petrus rupestris.” • Decision for closure was made in 1984, but not implemented (Griffiths 2000). This is not true. There was debate

DAFF attempts to defend its red steenbras ban

Hugh Ainslie and John Rance jnr holding a “proper copper” off Kei Mouth.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 53

DAFF’s digital three-page leaflet in which they attempt to justify the “Red Steenbras closure” (sic) in bullet-point format. are far higher. However, who are DAFF preaching amongst scientists at the time with Therefore, it cannot be said that the to? For over 30 years we’ve been callsome not agreeing and pointing out overall CPUE is below 1% of historical ing for this species to be de-commerthat the CPUE, particularly in Transkei, values. BDSAA pointed this out in their cialised, and with longer closed season, had been increasing and not declining. submission to the draft regulations — as conservation measures. • Major range reductions have but it was ignored. In fact, I cannot understand how occurred, from large specimens (20Worse still is that the historical any responsible, knowledgeable person 40kg) being caught from the shore in CPUE records were started when catchin control of the research and regulaWestern Cape in the early 20th century es were unlimited. In the old days a tion of our fishing resources could ever to the present where the population commercial could catch ten red steenhave sanctioned the unbridled commerhas shrunk to a node off the Border bras per crew member. At the time of cial exploitation of any of our slowarea. the ban they could only catch one — growing reef species, particularly red Omigosh, will someone please bring that ’s already a 90% reduction in the steenbras. photographic evidence of a 40kg red CPUE. steenbras landed from the shore in the • CPUE has been persistently low, Further, since you could only catch early 20th century. That means they’d below 1% of historical values. one per person, there is no financial have been caught with centre-pin reels, This is a blatant untruth and is serious incentive to spend money in legally cane rods and flax line! disinformation. The persons disseminatcatching this species. Therefore, they Anyway they’re still around. In the ing such information for the purposes were mostly only caught commercially past few years a 15kg specimen was of banning the catching of the species and illegally for which there are no landed off the rocks at Kei Mouth and a are being disingenuous. CPUE statistics. spearfisherman caught a 38kg speciThey’re inferring that the overall men in 30 feet of water close to shore CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort) is below • Research cruises directed at historinear Chintsa. 1%, whereas the truth is that this is the cal catch sites on the Agulhas Banks However, this is blatant disinformastatistic for recorded legal commercial (inshore and offshore) were unable to tion. If the basis for prohibiting catchcatches. There is no CPUE record for obtain a sample across the full size ing of deep sea species is that they’re recreational catches or for illegal comrange. no longer caught from the shore, then a mercial catches, both which we know This is nonsense. In the recent Stilbaai number of other species should also be banned, including yellowfin and bluefin tuna, as these were all hooked, if not landed, from the shore in days of yore. To state that the population has shrunk to a node off the Border area is an untruth. The species is being caught all over, including Transkei, Eastern Cape and Southern Cape. They are even being caught in False Bay where they’ve been absent for many years. It’s evident that stocks are recovering due to catch restrictions and closed seasons. The only danger to the species is illegal commercial fishing. • The species is especially sensitive to overfishing due to longevity (33 years), late maturity (7 years) and high residency of juveniles, combined with high catchability on hook and line. Again this is disinformation. Like most fish they bite prolifically in spawning season and must be protected during that period. Out of spawning season, red steenbras do not have a high catchability for recreational fishermen. Ask the many who have tried repeatedly but have failed to catch one. The commercial vessel Atlantic Blessing’s well-publicised illegal haul of more than Of course, if you’re a commercial a ton of red steenbras off Gansbaai near Hermanus. This contradicts DAFF’s statefisherman, fishing for them every day, ments that that stocks have shrunk everywhere “except possibly some areas in the then you’ll know how to target them. Border region”. Photograph Jeffery Abrahams, Cape Argus SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 55

John Rance jr, Craig Middleton and Alex Midlane holding a nearly “proper copper” on ski-boat Sea Jay off Kei Mouth. interprovincial, many red steenbras were caught and released, most of these on shallow reefs. In an East London fishing tournament on 7th September 2013 involving 27 boats, 47 red steenbras in the size range 10kg to 20kg were caught and released as a bycatch, even though they weren’t being targeted, compared with only 38 of species allowed to be kept. In a much-publicised event, in 2007 the commercial vessel Atlantic Blessing was found with an illegal haul of more than a ton of red steenbras off Gansbaai near Hermanus. Note the statements in this bulletin that stocks have shrunk to “a node off the Border area” and declines have occurred everywhere “except possibly some areas in the Border region”. Huh? Did the Atlantic Blessing travel to the Border region to catch those fish? The answer is no. Whatever was being done on those “research cruises”, it couldn’t have been aimed at catching red steenbras by anyone who knew how to locate and catch them. • Commercial catches declined steadily over decades and most recently constituted approximately 0.03% of total linefish catch. Of course, legal commercial catches have declined. It’s impossible to make a profit out of catching red steenbras legally (restricted to one per person per day at the time of the ban), that’s why they are caught and traded illegally, even in the closed season, and that’s why BDSAA proposed a commercial prohibition on the trading of this species. • Red steenbras were raised as a major area of concern in the Linefish Environmental Risk Assessment. This was based on the false premise and false deduction that overall catches and therefore stocks had declined by 99% because legally recorded commercial catch statistics showed this.

It was pointed out to the scientists who did the risk assessment that their logic was f lawed, but no heed was taken of this factor. • Concern was expressed at the last and previous SAMLMA forums with agreement that declines had occurred everywhere except possibly some areas in the Border region. Of course, legal commercial catches had declined for reasons other than a decline in stock of the species. It was pointed out that recreational catches were becoming easier, but obviously they couldn’t increase because catches were limited to one per person per day. And it was pointed out that illegal commercial catches were increasing considerably, with trading made possible by the smokescreen of legal commercial trading and aided by pathetically inadequate policing of the regulations. I was at those meetings. I provided the meetings with the information. No one else had better information to counter mine, excepting the CPUE statistic of legally-caught fish which is nonsensical in the overall assessment. However, there are no people more disinclined to listen than those whose arrogance makes them disinclined to do so. Again they took no heed of what I had told them. • All of the above bullet points meet the procedures as defined in the Linefish Management Protocol and the requirements for management action. This again is a disingenuous statement made credible because few laymen know the detail of the Linefish Management Protocol (LMP). The LMP mandates and recommends certain actions, some of which have not been considered. It certainly doesn’t mandate a complete prohibition. • Red steenbras comprise one stock and were subject to both commercial and recreational fishing effort. Therefore, the two sectors could not be

56 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

considered in isolation and the moratorium on red steenbras had to apply for stock recovery to occur. There is nothing in law or in the Linefish Management Protocol which mandates that because a species consists of one stock, that all sectors have to be lumped with the same regulations. There are compelling reasons to split the recreational and commercial sectors in this instance, notably that the Linefish Management Protocol specifically mentions a commercial ban as possible action. Further, it states that socio-economic objectives must be taken into account. Because there is patently no legal commercial interest in the species at current catch restrictions, restricted recreational should be permitted. By contrast, the species is of considerable trophy interest to recreational fishing, whilst it’s obviously of declining interest to commercial fishing. • A proposal for management action was thus gazetted, comments received and considered and closure was approved as the best option. In the submissions to DAFF concerning the draft regulations, there was overwhelming comment and evidence against instituting a recreational prohibition, whilst supporting a commercial prohibition and longer closed seasons — with sound logic and good reasons. However, there was no further debate or consultation after the closing date for comment. The only credible reason for this is because a decision had already been taken prior to calling for comment, and the comment was, in fact, not considered. The powers-thatbe were determined to implement their prejudiced opinions against recreational fishing. The crying shame is that supposedly reputable scientists and responsible officials have twisted and abused what is supposed to be scientific evidence and well-thought-out guidelines, like the Linefish Management Protocol, to support their prejudiced opinions. This brings them into disrepute in the eyes of recreational fishermen. We can never trust them again. Therefore, when a species is truly in need of such drastic action, how can they ever possibly expect us to believe them? Once bitten ... * Mark Twain: “Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: ‘There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics’.” — Mark Twain’s autobiography: The Chapters from the North American Review

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 â&#x20AC;¢ 57

FEATURE

OUTHERN hemisphere fishermen are now heading into a season of glorious sunshine, an opportunity to spend long days out at sea pursuing our passion. Summer blesses us with longer days in which to have fun, but it also extends the time our eyes are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Most of us almost instinctively reach for the sunblock to protect our skin from the sun’s damaging effects, but often give little thought to protecting our eyes. Over-exposure to ultraviolet rays speeds up the aging of the eyes and increases the risk of serious diseases. UV rays have been linked to agerelated cataracts, photokeratitis (sunburn of the eyes) and muscular degeneration. These conditions can cause blurred vision, irritation, redness, tearing, temporary vision loss and, in some instances, blindness. If you’re an angler or crew on a boat, another important reason to wear sunglasses is that they protect your eyes from hooks which might unexpectedly come loose and shoot

by SKI-BOAT reporter

Choosing sunglasses that best protect your eyes from UV rays

58 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

towards your face at high speed. If you flyfish, it’s even more crucial that you protect your eyes, especially in windy conditions when your fly may be blown off course.

INTERESTING FACTS • UV levels are greater in tropical areas near the earth’s equator. The further you are from the equator, the smaller your risk. • UV levels are greater at higher altitudes. • UV levels are greater when the sun is high. Bear in mind that children’s eyes need UV protection even more than those of adults because they tend to spend more time outdoors than adults. The risk of damage to our eyes is cumulative, meaning the danger continues to grow as we spend time in the sun throughout our lifetime. Children are also more susceptible to retinal damage from UV rays because the lens inside a child’s eye is clearer than an adult lens, enabling more UV to penetrate deep into the eye. The good news is that protecting your eyes from UV rays is as simple as buying a pair of sunglasses.

60 â&#x20AC;¢ SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

HOW TO CHOOSE SUNGLASSES Here are some some important things to consider when shopping for a pair of sunglasses. • UV Protection: It is recommended that you always choose sunglasses that are labeled as blocking 98-100 percent of UVA/UVB rays. If there is no label, or if it says something as vague as “UV Absorbing” or “blocks most of UV light” then don’t gamble on the purchase.

• Lens colour: All sunglass lenses are tinted to cut down on overall brightness and enhance terrain definition. However, your choice of tint colours affects your vision by influencing how much visible light reaches your eyes, how well you see other colours, and how well you see contrasts. More than a matter of taste, there are colour-related benefits to consider when purchasing a pair of sunglasses. Grey lenses provide the least colour distortion. Green tinted lenses reduce glare and provide good contrast between objects. Yellow lenses reduce the haze from blue light but cause more colour distortion. They provide excellent depth perception, though. Brown and amber tints reduce glare but distort colours more than grey tints do. Rosecoloured glasses make the world seem brighter by enhancing contrast and providing good low-light visibility. Mirrored lenses have a reflective film applied to the outside surface of the lenses. They reduce glare by reflecting much of the light that hits the lenses’ surface, but they can make objects appear darker. Polarised glasses add an extra bonus in that they further reduce glare which reduces eye fatigue — something you really want to avoid if you’re planning a full day’s fishing on the ocean. However, sometimes polarised filters affect your ability to see cellphone-, camera- and GPS screens.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 61

• Uniformity of tint: Make sure that the lens tint is not darker in one area than another. Hold the glasses at arm’s length and look through them at a straight line in the distance, such as a door. Slowly move the lens across the line. If the straight edge distorts in any way, the lens is flawed. • Lens materials: Three materials commonly used for sunglasses include polycarbonate — a durable lightweight plastic; glass — durable, but heavier; and CR-39 — plastic that’s used mostly in prescription sunglasses. Polycarbonate lenses are highly recommended for people active in sports • Photochromatic lenses: These lenses darken automatically in the bright sun, become lighter in the low light, and protect against UV rays. LOOKING GOOD AND SEEING WELL There is no doubt that sunglasses have become a fashion statement, but when selecting a pair you need to consider both the aesthetics and the amount of protection they afford your eyes. Something else to consider is wraparound frames that prevent UV light from entering the sides of the sunglasses. They also cut down on wind that can dry out your eyes and provide extra physical protection. If you find these glasses unflattering then look for close-fitting glasses with wide lenses. When trying on a pair of sunglasses, make sure that the frames fit snugly on your nose and ears, but do not pinch or rub. The weight of the sunglasses should also be evenly distributed between your ears and nose. Your eyelashes should not make contact with the frame. Is it really worth paying for expensive glasses? Yes! The difference is in the technology which offers more comfort, durability and performance. An inexpensive pair may be all you need for driving around town, but for regular outdoor activities, performance glasses are well worth the extra cost. With this in mind, make sure you also buy a lanyard to ensure your expensive sunglasses don’t go overboard when you’re releasing your fish. Have fun in the sun — and remember to keep your eyes healthy. 62 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

Y L L H E C H S EA B

A Z

N A N

G N I

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H S I

M U S

17:00

Regi strat ion & Shell briefi y Bea ng a ch Sk 17 D ecem i-boat Cl t the ub on ber 2 013 f rom

ENTRY FORM BOAT NAME:

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BOAT NUMBER:

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SKIPPER NAME:

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CREW NAMES:

ADDRESS:

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............................................................................. ............................................................................. CELL NO.:

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EMAIL:

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FAX:

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SHIRT SIZE:

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ENTRY FEE R400 X ............ (PERSONS) = R ...................... Banking Details: Nedbank Shelly Beach Account Number 1056052554 Branch Code 13972800

SHIRT SIZE

*The Skipper, by signing the entry form, hereby acknowledges that he/she and the crew have familiarised themselves and consented to the rules of the competition.

SKIPPER SIGNATURE .............................................................................

Fax entry form and deposit slip to 086 568 0125 For further information please contact Mark, Brendon or Jack on 039 315 5961 or alternatively Jakkie on 0834578946, email Info@thetackleboxsb.co.za

BACK TO BASICS

by Anton Gets

The art of launching and trailering your ski-boat Part 1

VER many years I have stood on the beaches and slipways both here in South Africa as well as in Moçambique, especially during competitions, and watched “experienced” skippers launch their craft. Many was the time I was amazed and sometimes downright angry, watching the incompetence and total disregard for safety of a large number of these allegedly “qualified” skippers. From my home base at Shelly Beach — as well as other launch sites up to Sodwana Bay and Guinjata in Moçambique — this malady is prevalent. Perhaps the great need to get to sea to start fishing overrides good sense during the launch. However, when the skippers return to shore the excitement of the day’s fishing should have calmed the nerves and allowed their brains to kick into gear and give some thought to safety and acceptable manners when trailering their craft. In this two-part series I have tried to explore every aspect, however simple it may appear, to help skippers or remind them how this aspect of boating should be done. I hope this will help prevent accidents involving both craft and crew,

Of utmost importance before launching a craft on an unknown slipway, always check with local operators for problems that can be expected with tide, wind and surge. In the above photograph the “hole” on the far left-hand side (facing the water) is not noticable, even at low tide. Getting a wheel stuck in it could cause a major problem. However, the locals all launch well over to the right — simple and hassle free. This particular slipway is also subject to heavy surges, therefore forewarned is forearmed, so precautions can be taken when retrailering a craft. not to mention the frustration when this relatively simple task turns ugly due to frayed nerves or carelessness. In the first part I will start with launching and retrieving at dams, lakes, rivers and harbours. However, I implore even those who usually only launch at places like Sodwana Bay to

read what I say regarding this style of launching and retrieving, because in the future you may be required to do it. For example, if you reside in Gauteng and your craft has just been serviced for the summer season in Sodwana or Moçambique, you will need to run it on the local dam. You might say “that’s

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 65

The trailer coupling/hitch, including the override braking system and safety chain, must be regularly checked to ensure safety on the road and at the ramp. easy”, but I can list dozens of instances when the easy task has gone wrong and it has taken a lot of money to sort out the damage to either boat or crew. LET’S BEGIN ... One must take into account that all launch sites are different. Some are made of concrete, others of wood or consist of soft sand or mud, and each of these bases will affect how you’re going to launch your vessel. Before you go to a new launch site, find out about the pros and cons of the launch site itself. Although it might be a popular resort or launch site, you need to take into account all aspects, including water levels, flow of the water and wind, etc. STUCK IN THE MUD For instance, perhaps the last time you were at this particular spot the water level was good. However, in winter there is probably less water and this means you may have to go deeper with your trailer. In this case you will need to find out what lies beyond the end of the slipway. Perhaps beyond a concrete slipway your trailer will drop into the mud, jamming your trailer. If this happens — your vehicle cannot get out and wheels spin — disconnect your trailer from the vehicle to reduce the weight. Then attach a connection rope from your trailer to the vehicle’s tow hitch. Move your vehicle

onto hard, level ground so that you have the maximum torque to pull the trailer free. You must always have an assistant present to guide the trailer, but take precautions to ensure that your assistant is not in the line of fire and likely to be injured should the stuck trailer suddenly shoot forward. If at all possible, try not to get your trailer’s wheels into the mud in the first place. Look before you leap.

When launching, the general rule is back down the slipway to the point where the mudguards are just below the water’s surface

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 67

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Slipways are the most hazardous when you’re launching or retrailering craft at low tides or, in the case of inland waters, when water levels in dams are low. The biggest problem is the risk of dropping the trailer’s wheels off the bottom edge of the ramp. Always ensure your motors are trimmed well up so that when the craft slides off the trailer its motor skeg or props do not dig into the bottom mud or sand or both. The same applies if one is attempting to retrailer a boat using the thrust of its motors. If the motors are trimmed too far down they could very easily come into contact with the bottom and cause serious prop damage. REVERSING When you’re backing-up the trailer to the launch site, ensure you have someone with practical knowledge who can stand at the back of the trailer — and make sure that you can see him clearly in your side mirrors. Something I battle with teaching is the command of “left-hand down” or “right-hand down” which pertains to which way you turn the steering wheel when reversing. “Right-hand down” is clockwise and “left-hand down” is anticlockwise on the steering wheel. When you turn the wheel your assistant can instruct you to pull either the left-hand or right-hand down, because he will have a good view of which way you need to turn. HAND SIGNALS A very useful hand signal is a closed fist which is the signal to stop. Often when you’re backing-up the assistant will put his hand up for you to stop, and if you keep going he will repeatedly push his hand forward, indicating for you to stop urgently. When you are in the car it might look like he is indicating for you to keep reversing. A closed fist is an easyto-recognise signal to tell you to stop. When you’re backing-up to secure the trailer to the tow hitch, your assistant must hold his arm vertically, but bent 90° at the elbow above the top of the trailer hitch, so that you get an indication of where the hitch is in relation to your car’s tow ball. With his other hand your assistant may indicate for you to go left or right or he can verbally command you. He must not stand directly between the vehicle and the boat, because if something goes wrong you may seriously injure your assistant. As a driver you also need to see the centre of the boat or trailer, so it’s imperative that your assistant is not in the way. When you brief your assistant make sure you tell him you need to see his arms and hands when you’re looking in the rearview mirror while backing-up.

Make sure you pay attention to hand signals given by your assistant.

Sometimes their hands are held either too high or too low and are out of sight. COOLING OFF After a long journey to your destination the wheels and bearings on your trailer are likely to be very hot. If you reverse the trailer into the water as soon as you arrive and water gets onto the hot bearings, they will contract and cause damage. I therefore suggest you unpack the vehicle and boat first before you launch so that the bearings will have had time to cool down. Before you start reversing the trailer, remember that if you have a braking system you must fold over the flap on the hitch of the trailer so that it immobilises the brakes, and also ensure that the handbrake is not engaged. Tie a rope the length of the trailer

to the bow of the boat. Then reverse the trailer into the water, deep enough for the back of the boat to lift off the trailer. Then get your assistant to slide the boat backward off the trailer with rope in hand, so that he is in control when the boat comes off the trailer. If you are experienced enough you may also use the boat’s engines to reverse off the trailer if circumstances allow you to do that. In this case make sure your motors are tilted up so that just the props are in the water. When you’re going to retrieve the boat, reverse your trailer roughly to a depth of where the mudguards are just under the water, depending on what configuration trailer you have. Ensure you line up your keel (or keels) with the rollers of the trailer. Then either drive the boat onto the trailer with your boat’s motors or push her on.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 69

On a slipway or ramp that you are familiar with, a boat can be driven back up onto the trailer, but once again make sure your motors are tilted up to avoid your props churning the sand or mud or being damaged on the slipway itself. Be extremely careful doing this if the surge is high or it’s very windy. Some boat owners will have guide poles fitted on one or both sides of the trailer to use as markers when retrailering the boat. In the case of catamaran hulls, guide rails can be be fitted on the inside of the hulls. These guides are especially useful if you’re retrieving from a flowing river, or in windy or tidal conditions. SAFE RETRIEVAL To secure the nose of the boat onto the trailer’s bow saddle, use your trailer’s winch to haul the boat into position where it must be secured. Once your boat is on the trailer, use your vehicle to tow the trailer out of the way and park it clear of the launch ramp so that other users will have easy access. At that point ensure that you secure the craft with a tight winch. You must use a turnbuckle to make sure that the boat is tightly secured for travelling. At this point I would go to the stern of the boat and remove the drain plugs from the boat. You must do this your-

self so that you can monitor if the boat is taking on water. Leave the plugs out — I normally leave them in the engine well so they’re close at hand next time I launch. Once again, check that the stern of your boat is secured using turnbuckles or straps to keep the rear of the boat in place while travelling. Now attach your trailer’s lighting board onto the boat or trailer or, if the lights are built-in, plug them in. Then test that the lights are in proper working order before travelling. Now go to the front of the trailer to ensure that the handbrake is off and that you have clipped off the override reverse brake, thus enabling the rig’s braking system. Lastly, check that you have put the safety chain around the vehicle’s ball hitch. TIPS • Don’t leave your trailer parked in the water, even if it is on your own private launch site. Accidents happen easily. A very good friend of mine lost his 18-month-old child who slipped on the slime of the ramp and was trapped under the trailer. Aside from that danger, being immersed in water all the time is not good for your wheel bearings or braking system.

70 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

• Before any trip check that your wheel bearings, springs and brakes are serviced and are in good working order. • Along the way to your destination stop often to check that your trailer, boat, turnbuckles and jockey wheel are secure. On long distances use cable ties to prevent “D” shackles and turnbuckles from coming loose. • Check your tyres, wheel rims and hubs for excessive heat or damage. • Drive much slower on dirt roads. • When travelling in Moçambique make sure you have a Moçambique triangle fitted on your vehicle. • Ensure you always have the trailer’s current licence disc displayed. • Make sure that everything in the boat is well secured before travelling. • To prevent the trailer from swaying, the weight must be distributed more towards the front of the boat. You should have at least 50kg weight on the trailer hitch. • If the trailer starts to sway, reduce your speed slowly and don’t jam on brakes. Learn to feel the best travelling speed for comfort and economy. In the January 2014 issue of SKI-BOAT we’ll discuss launching and retrieving your boat from the beach.

2011

2006

SEA CAT 636 F/C

2013

KOSI CAT 16 F/C

2013

SEA CAT

2013

SHARK CAT 16FT

SEA CAT 510 C/C

21ft, on double axle trailer, 2 x 115hp Yamaha 4-stroke motors, bait station, fighting chair, T-top, 29meg radio, full safety, nav lights, fishfinder, GPS, flotex carpets.

16.6ft, on galv b/neck trailer, 2 x 40hp Yamaha motors with trim & tilt & beaching kits, 29meg radio, safety, 4 life jackets, sun canopy, 4 scotty rod holders

2 x FT60hp 4-strokes, hydr. steering, s/s, rod holders, nav lights & beaching kits. On galv. b/ neck trailer with drum brakes & spare wheel. Normal retail is R360 000 excl. extras.

New, new, new! On galv b/neck trailer with 2 x F60hp Yamaha 4-stroke motors with only 70hrs, bail boards, T-top, live bait well and many more extras.

2 x 70hp Yamaha motors with hydraulic steering, aluminium T-top, fishfinder/GPS, auto beaching kits, double rod holders, 29meg radio, bait boars side mounted, nav lights, plush plate.

R575 000

R145 000

R335 000

R289 000

R275 000

2007

2012

SEA CAT 565

2000

SEA CAT 565

2010

SWIFT

Forward Consol, 2x 80hp, 4-stroke Yamaha motors, hydraulic steering, T-top, fishfinder/ GPS, Flotex carpets.

Forward console with 2 x 70hp 4-stroke motors, HDS5 fishfinder/GPS, T-top, water traps, live bait well

On galvanised breakneck trailer with 2 x 2004 60hp Mercury motors, Elite 5 fishfinder/GPS, Cat C safety, new disc brakes and live well..

R275 000

R419 000

R159 000

2010

EXPLORER LAGUNA On galvanised breakneck trailer with 2 x 40hp

T-CAT

Mercury 2009 model motors with trim & tilt, binnacle mounts and spare wheel.

2009 Mercury motors, outriggers, downriggers, CD player, Lowrance HDS5 fishfinder. Many more extras.

R125 000

R220 000

BOAT PROFILE

by Heinrich Kleyn

The Shark Cat – by Durban Yamaha HIS new boat started off as a dream and took nearly a lifetime to finish — or at least that’s what it felt like! Ryan Hansen (above) from Durban Yamaha, a man I have known for many years, had this dream to add a cat ski-boat to his Ski Vee range. I can still recall when Ryan started out in the business of boating before becoming Durban Yamaha, and his sole offering was the popular Ski Vee boat. It is amazing to see how he has progressed over the years and how he has grown from strength to strength. Ryan has now become a force to be reckoned with. Once Durban Yamaha had been established he added the whole Seacat range to his arsenal. However, he never gave up on his dream of his own housebrand cat that would join his Ski Vee range. The dream finally started to become a reality when Ryan and boat builder Vasy Naidoo pulled their first hull from their custom mould. With the top deck’s design still undecided, they needed to assess how the hull performed. As an interim measure they fitted a wooden deck, attached two Yamaha motors to the transom, and off they went.

SPECIFICATIONS Length – 5.1m Beam – 2.1m Min hp — 2x40hp 2-stroke or 2x50hp 4-stroke Max hp — 2x70hp 2- or 4-stroke Buoyancy — SAMSA-approved PU foam Power as tested — 2 x 60hp 4-stroke The question arose about what to use to simulate top deck weight. The lights came on for a moment and sandbags it would be. With the hull now packed with sandbags, off they went to test the hull in Durban harbour, to assess how it would ride with varying weight displacements for when it came to designing the top deck. Finally, after five years of R&D with their craft I found myself at Natal Rod & Reel in Durban harbour, looking at the finished product — Ryan’s dream had become a reality and the 16ft Shark Cat was ready for testing. The last few ski-boats I have tested were 17ft and bigger, and because I hadn’t done a 16ft in quite some time, I was keen to assess how she would stand up to the rigours of the open sea. I was also keen to give Ryan and Vasy my opinion of their hard work. I liked what I saw. The only hard part was that I had to test a bigger boat before the Shark Cat. It is always difficult to test a smaller boat immediately SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 75

PERFORMANCE Indeed, there was no shortage of power on the pull-away and getting her onto the plane was a breeze. I then put her through her paces and I must say that she was remarkably dry for a 16-footer. I would have thought that in conditions like this we would have experienced some spray over the front, but nothing — we were dry. Her figure-of-eight was performed to perfection, an indication that the motor installation was spot-on. One would have thought that the 2 x 60hp motors would have been too heavy on the transom, but to the contrary — they actually complemented her performance. On a slow troll of two to three knots up to around 15-18 knots she was very comfortable and stable, and she stayed very dry. Indeed, her performance was flawless. She was out of the hole in a flash, and being very light on the water, she turned very easily and remained comfortable. Then, in simulated surf conditions, she came through with f lying colours, leaving me in no doubt that surf launching wouldn’t present any problems.

enough storage space in the front for all the extra equipment and gear that you cannot go without. For seating they have fitted a single bum box for the skipper. I would have preferred another alongside for a crew member, but the choice is yours if you are prepared to give up that little bit of deck space for another bum box. In the middle of the deck are the fuel hatches that could easily take four 25 litre fuel containers. Ryan wants to change it so that it can hold between four and six fuel containers. Next to the fuel hatch in the deck are the recessed fish hatches. They are big, with ample space for your fish after a hard day’s fishing. Gunnels are kneeheight for comfort whilst walking around the boat, as well as making it easy to lean against for support when fighting a fish. At the stern the false transom houses battery hatches on both sides, with the livebait well in the middle. One feature that caught my eye was the bait boards under the trolling bars. It’s something new and different which, coincidentally, were fitted to both skiboats I tested that day. I like the idea. All the rest is pretty standard in terms of ski-boat fitments, including a stainless-steel T-top with rod holders on top. Indeed, the sky’s the limit as far as preferences are concerned, and Ryan can custom-build a Shark Cat for you — just the way you like it.

LAYOUT Her layout has obviously been thoroughly thought through. Because of her size, care needs to be taken with this aspect to provide as much free space as possible. With her layout Ryan and Vasy have got it right. To start with, they’ve ensured easy access to the anchor hatch in the bow. Her dash is big and spacious enough to accommodate all your gauges and electronics, with

CONCLUSION This is an ideal entry-level boat from a very reliable dealer and well-known boat builder. There has been no compromise in quality, yet she’s offered at a very good price indeed. This is definitely one of the boats in the 16ft class range that I would recommend for any fisherman. Take her for a test run yourself and see what I mean. Well done to Ryan and Vasy — you have done yourselves proud.

2 x 60hp Yamaha 4-stroke engines. For a 16-footer that’s a lot of oomph. Her controls were perfect and a pleasure to operate — side controls with hydraulic steering, making for very smooth operation.

after a bigger boat, as one has to be careful not to be more subjectively critical, because everything suddenly looks and feels smaller. WEATHER CONDITIONS The weather played along very nicely, with barely any wind. The swell was a little wishy-washy and all over the place, but this in fact helps me test a boat more thoroughly and makes my work easier. However, for Erwin Bursik behind the camera on an accompanying boat, it made life much more difficult. Indeed, it’s not easy to maintain control of a camera in conditions like that. LAUNCHING AND TRAILERING The offload into the water from the slipway was smooth and easy. That, together with retrailering her, is one of the first things that I look at. If not easily accomplished, it could make your life a living hell. This was not the case with the Shark Cat. Her trailer is custom-built, so loading and offloading her was a cinch. MOTORS AND CONTROLS This demo model was fitted with

76 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

BACK TO BASICS

by Tyrone Gower

Catching Geelbek Part 3 The Ghost Fish of the Border area

INCE days of yore the Border area — from Port Alfred in the south to Kei Mouth or the old border of the Transkei in the north — was known as “salmon” country. Of course, anglers in that area just had to be different — their “salmon” are known elsewhere as geelbek or Cape salmon. Like the sardine run is to the anglers on the KZN South Coast and the snoek run is to the Capetonians, so is the geelbek run to the Border anglers who expect to have their salmon run for at least a month or two from early June. These shoal fish are often regarded as ghostfish by Border anglers because nobody knows where or when they will be at a particular hotspot. One day they’ll be “thick” at Cintsa (20-30 metres deep) 15 miles east of East London, and the next day they’ll be found at Gulu (20-50m deep) 12 miles west of East London. To put it simply, they are a “here today, gone tomorrow” fish, and this holds true in all the areas where geelbek/Cape salmon are caught Julie Lentz with his bag limit of two geelbek for the day.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 79

along the South African east coast. In the old days these fish seemed to frequent the shallow reefs closer to shore, yet these with days we seem to have much less of a salmon run off my home base of East London. I’m not sure whether these large shoals are being hijacked before they get to us or are bypassing us for some unknown reason out in very deep waters. However, the bottom line is that the close inshore run hardly ever occurs these days.

sonar equipment obviously makes finding shoals easier. Depending on the current, anchoring is usually the best option when you’re ready to start fishing. However, one of the problems with anchoring is that other boats drifting past your anchored boat and revving their engines can cause the geelbek to go off the bite and move away. In these instances some choice language can be heard over the airways.

NEW BAG LIMITS The commercial boats operating from East London fish mostly between Port Alfred and Hamburg (32 miles from East London) and return with 5-7 tons of geelbek. This naturally upsets the recreational angler whose limit is two fish per day, while the commercial fisherman next to him can catch 100-plus per day. The tight restrictions for the recreational anglers are based on allegedly “depleted stocks” of geelbek. This legislation has caused much bitterness amongst recreational anglers as the “depleted stock” theory put forward by the marine biologists is devoid of logic. Indeed, it is baseless when compared to the experiences we have had over the last 30 years or so. Politics aside, these notoriously fickle fish have played ducks and drakes with us anglers for eons. At times they feed with total abandon, a feeding frenzy that allows anglers to take big catches. Then suddenly they’ll go off the bite, even though the sounder still shows that the massive shoal is still on the reef. On other days a shoal on the fishfinder simply disappears, and even if one sounds the entire reef and adjacent reefs there are no showings — the ghosts have gone. Also, very often a reef that was highly productive one day would be totally unproductive the next day. A strange phenomenon with salmon is that some pockets of fish seem to stay around the Kei River and Port Alfred area permanently, as some are caught throughout the year, but not in large numbers. Some are also caught in deeper waters (70-90m) off East London, but again not in large numbers.

TACKLE TIPS When it comes to tackling up to target salmon in our area, we tend to use Scarbrough reels loaded with heavyish nylon or the modern trend of braid/fire line and the traditional Border short solid glass rod. With this tackle one can really take on the salmon. Generally one’s salmon-targeting terminal rig becomes more robust as one

PICKING YOUR TIME AND PLACE The moon phases do not seem to affect catches and the best time of day for our area is early morning or late afternoon (3pm until dark). Keep an eye on the weather, though — when snow has fallen in early June and when big swells are present with a westerly wind blowing, this seems to bring them on. Early morning catches are normally in deeper waters (30-50m) and late afternoon catches are usually made in shallower waters (20-30m). Targeting these fish is a process that requires a lot of patience, but modern

moves up the coast from the Southern Cape where lighter tackle is used on the predominantly smaller shoal fish caught down there. Anglers in our area and virtually the entire length of the Eastern Cape coastline usually use a rig consisting of two hooks with a 60cm trace and a long sinker trace also about 60cm long with 10/0 hooks. We mostly use 36kg braid, and what a fight that is when there’s a 10kg salmon on the other end. Sardine is the best bait, and when the salmon are in the midst of a feeding frenzy, hooking the sardine through the eye is good enough. Since the implementation of the new bag limit of two geelbek per angler per day, many offshore anglers have moved to using lighter tackle — especially on the terminal end of the rig. Of course once we’ve had two “downs” and boated our two salmon we

Mark Ahlin with two beautiful geelbek caught in the Border area. SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 81

A close-up of the sardine bait on the hook, ready for action. Nothing fancy, but irresistible when geelbek are about. A geelbek trace using two hooks and two three-way swivels.

60cm trace

60cm sinker trace

10/0 hook

60cm trace

bek seemed to disappear. Although one can never be sure which area will produce the goods on any particular day, for readers’ interest, these are coordinates for a few of the spots which regularly produce salmon in our area. Hamburg: 33 15 170 27 33 245 Beckitts — EL: 33 06 128 27 53 372 Gulu — Fence: 33 09 850 27 45 430 Dropoff 33 09 930 27 45 155 Hickmans R — EL: 33 05 135 27 50 888 EL — deep: 33 07 046 28 07 894 Seavale: 33 18 994 27 40 396 Other productive areas are Kei Mouth, Cintsa and Gonubie. WHERE HAVE ALL THE GEELBEK GONE? In conclusion one of the theories presently doing the rounds is that there are too many trawlers in the Port Elizabeth area catching tons of sardines every day, thus not allowing them to bypass the East London area as they did five years ago and decades before that. It certainly was fun in the old days

when June and July were the undisputed geelbek months and boat owners booked leave well in advance so they’d be able to target these fish during the annual run. During those years they were caught at almost any depth from 12m to 90m. I still hold the Border record of 14.05kg for a geelbek caught in 12 metres of water behind the break wall off East London. Another one of the East London Ski-Boat Club’s boats won many competitions for geelbek caught at the wreck three miles off East London. Oh how I wish we could once again experience the thrill of targeting these fine fighting fish in shallow water — even with the new bag limits. Once again I have to ask the scientists: if their so-called magic plan for the revival of this species is so well thought out, why are there so few fish around today compared to the catches we were getting on the day the new restrictions were introduced? Am I sceptical? You bet!

FAVOURITE RECIPE 10/0 hook

still wish we could catch more, but instead we have to lift the anchor and and move off, sparing ourselves the pain of watching others catching them. REGULAR HOTSPOTS This past season the geelbek really have played games with our anglers. During June 2013 most of our Border clubs reported catches of geelbek, but many boats did not catch their quotas. The Gulu area, 12 miles from East London, produced full quotas for one day during a competition, but after that the geel82 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

HEN you next catch a salmon/geelbek try out this recipe — it’s the best pickled fish you’ll ever taste.

INGREDIENTS 3kg filleted geelbek — no bones 8 white onions 1 tablespoon ginger 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon nutmeg 3 tablespoons mild curry 3 tablespoons turmeric Bay leaves 1 tablespoon salt Pepper to add 1 cup sugar 1 litre black vinegar 1 cup water

METHOD • Deep fry fillets in small pieces 60mm x 60mm — two minutes a side. • Slice onion in rings. • Pour vinegar and water into saucepan and boil. • Add all the remaining ingredients and the onions and boil for ten minutes. Keep stirring the onion mixture while boiling. • Pack a layer of cooked fish in a glass bowl and cover with cooked onions. Continue layering fish and onions until all the fish is in bowls. • Pour the juice over the fish when it’s still hot and allow to cool. • Cover with Gladwrap and keep in the fridge for two days. • Eat cold with wholewheat bread and farm butter — it’s delicious!

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BOAT PROFILE

by Heinrich Kleyn

Raptor 660 FC

and I liked what I saw. The first impression is already one of a spacious boat, but it’s only once you get onboard that you realise just how much space there is.

by Honda Marine Durban

WEATHER CONDITIONS Although the wind had died down the sea was very bumpy and all over the place. It makes it more difficult to take good pics, but these conditions do give us a true indication of how the boat will react in various situations.

RECENTLY got a call from Craig Wilson from Honda Marine in Durban asking me to test the new boat they had just launched — the Raptor 660 FC. This 21’ 6” boat was originally designed by Ricky Jacobs, and with some help from Craig they’ve redesigned the top deck and have produced a craft that gives a very good ride. Because neither Craig nor Ricky build boats, they approached Vasy Naidoo of KZN Leisure Boats, a well known boat builder, who agreed to build the boat for Honda Marine Durban. FIRST IMPRESSION From a distance The Raptor has fairly similar looks to some of the other big boats on the market, but on closer inspection I found some nice features that you would not find on other boats. She is definitely deserving of more than a second look for prospective boat buyers looking for something in this class,

SPECIFICATIONS Length – 21’ 6” (6.6m) Beam – 2.55m Min hp — 2 x 75hp Max hp — 2 x 115hp Buoyancy — Foam and bottles Power as tested — 2 x 90hp Honda 4stroke motors

MOTORS, CONTROLS AND PERFORMANCE The Raptor 660 comes on a custommade single-axle galvanised breakneck trailer which makes it very easy to load and offload the boat. Her weight on the trailer is in the region of 2.6 tons, and although she is a big boat it’s easy to handle her in the traffic behind your car and on the open road. This test model was fitted with twin 90hp Honda 4-strokes. I have tested these engines before and consider them to be some of the best 4-strokes on the market. I was a little sceptical at first and thought they might be too small for a boat of this size, but I was blown away by their performance. She has normal side-mount cable controls with hydraulic steering that makes it easy and comfortable to operate this craft. From stationary she jumped on the plane in a flash — a good test for a surf launch. The 90hp Honda motors pro-

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 89

duced more than enough power to get her through the surf safely and back again. Her turning circle is very tight which would also help should you get caught with your pants down and have to turn in the surf. In general one always has the impression that you need big engines on a big boat, but the twin 90hp Hondas were more than capable of making this boat jump. I took her a little further offshore and pushed her harder than I would normally push a boat in these conditions. She delivered a smooth ride, soft and very dry — even though we were sometimes airborne. I took her down to a slow troll and pushed up the speed every now and then to experience the different speed conditions for different fish. Even with speeds up to 18 knots she was ver y dr y, comfortable and extremely stable. After the speed test I ran with the swell. I had no indication that she wanted to broach, whether running along the swells or into the swells at different speeds. I felt totally safe and

comfortable, and once again she produced a very dry run. LAYOUT This is one of the few boats that I am prepared to say is “built for fishermen by a fisherman”. From the bow to the stern it’s clear they knew what they were doing with the layout. There is easy access to the anchor hatch in the front with a step through the middle of the console and a windscreen that opens. In the deck of the walk-through passage they have put a cooler hatch where you can store anything that needs to be chilled, from beer through to bait. The console has hatches on both sides in the front, and there are two swivel seats — one for the skipper and one for crew — with a lovely stainlesssteel T-top to round it off. This T-top has extra rod holders at the top. There are also spotlights on both sides that could be used for deck lights during night fishing. The anchor light is also fitted on the top. This T-top can be folded down to

reduce wind resistance while towing. The gunnels are more or less knee height which makes them very comfortable to lean against, but not too high if you have to gaff a fish. There’s also place to store rods in the gunnels. The fish hatches are big enough to easily hold your day’s catches. In the middle of the deck there’s extra seating on top of the fuel hatches. At the moment the fuel hatch holds six fuel cans, but Ricky indicated that he will be making it bigger to take at least eight fuel cans. Moving further back you will find the battery boxes in the stern — one on each side. In the centre, between the roll bars, there’s a walk-through for easy access on to the deck when you’re pushing the boat into the water. In the walk-through floor they have included a spacious livebait well with a window in the front. Inside both the roll bars there’s a bait board that is comfortable to use for cutting bait and gives you a place to leave your pliers and knife without worrying that they will fall into the ocean. There’s also extra storage space in the false transom at the back. This boat is very spacious indeed — five people could easy fish on her without being in each other’s way. CONCLUSION I am really impressed with the Raptor 660 and think she’s one of the best allround boats that I have tested in a long time. Ricky Jacobs is the proud owner of the mould and Craig from Honda Marine in Durban is the proud distributor of this boat countrywide. They should be most satisfied with what they have achieved in the Raptor 660 — no doubt largely due to Vasy’s skill as one of the best boat builders around. This 21’ 6” boat is worth looking at if you want something big and spacious. She looks good, has enough space for the whole family and all at a price that won’t bankrupt you. What more could you want?

90 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

FOR ALL YOUR BOATING REQUIREMENTS: NEW AND USED BOATS, COF, SKIPPERS’ CERTIFICATES, BUOYANCY COMPLIANCE, SERVICING, WATER TOYS ETC. WE ARE AGENTS FOR RAPTOR BOATS FROM 510 UP TO 820 FORWARD AND CENTRE CONSOLE

Visit us at 18 Boatmans Road, Wilson’s Wharf Phone Craig Wilson on (031) 305-8735 or 082 880 3111 e-mail craig@hondamarinedbn.co.za or visit our website

www.hondamarinedbn.co.za

ECOWATCH

FISH in the water has a far better chance of survival than one on the deck, end of story. Noone can dispute the fact that at some time on any given fishing day you will hook an undersized fish or land a species of which you have already reached your bag limit. So, do you just yank the fish on board, remove the hook, throw it back overboard and hope the fish will survive? Obviously, this would not be conducive to the long-term survival of the fish. The objective of this article is to share some of the techniques I have used over a number of years to increase the probability of survival of bottomfish. I do not profess to be an expert and these techniques have not been scientifically proven, but in instances like this common sense prevails. With limited fishing days at our disposal there is no doubt that anglers will always try to get a few fish in the hatch as soon as possible, and only after the hatch contains something to brag about will anglers start considering releasing fish. But how successful is the release? Until that point, most anglers do not really care about the speed at which their fish are brought up and how the smaller fish are handled on the boat. In most instances undersized fish are simply thrown overboard in the hope that they will survive. Unfortunately thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not always good enough. We all need to change our behaviour and practise techniques that will ensure that the fish we release have the best possible chance of survival, irrespective of species or size.

THE STARTING POINT The most important component in releasing fish successfully starts with your mental attitude â&#x20AC;&#x201D; you need to want to make a difference. This exercise is not about tag-and-release, it is just the simple concept of releasing a fish in a manner that ensures itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s likely to survive.

HOOKS Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s start by considering the hook, because this is where the process begins. It has been proven that using a barbless circle hook is best if you want to release a fish successfully. Circle hooks catch the fish in the side of the mouth and these hooks are extremely easy to remove even if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re barbed. It takes a bit of practice and a slight change in technique to land fish using a circle hook, but most anglers will adjust quickly. Indeed, some hooks work better on different species and at different depths, but the bottom line is that circle hooks are best if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re committed to releasing the fish you catch. Having said that, fish that are hooked on other hooks can still be successfully released if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re handled properly.

A SeaQualizer, a handy release tool. RATE OF RETRIEVAL Most anglers will have a good idea of the size of the fish that has been hooked, and more experienced anglers will even know what species has been

92 â&#x20AC;˘ SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

hooked within the first few seconds of the hookup. This is where awareness of the fishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-being comes into play. Make sure you retrieve the fish more slowly if you are fishing in deep water as this will reduce the effects of barotrauma on the fish. Some argue that one should bring the fish up as fast as possible to reduce stress, but my experience over the years is that bringing up a fish at a slow, steady speed always results in a more lively fish when it comes to the boat. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yank and jerk the fish as hard as possible. RELEASING THE FISH IN THE WATER Once the fish gets close to the boat, if it is undersize or you have already reached your bag limit, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bring the fish on board. Try to remove the hook with long-nose pliers and release the fish in the water. However, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just remove the hook and let the fish go, because many fish â&#x20AC;&#x201D; like a dageraad that has been caught in deeper water â&#x20AC;&#x201D; will not swim away easily and will need some assistance before they are fully revived. Make sure you look out for signs of barotrauma, like the fish floating on the water. Obviously these fish cannot simply swim away. THE SLING If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easily remove the hook while the fish is in the water you may indeed have to bring it aboard. One technique I have used to do this is to make a canvas sling with two half broomsticks on either side. Put the sling into the water and slide the fish up. In this way the fish is brought up in a natural swimming position, without exerting any undue pressure on the body. Remember that fish do not have eyelids, so you need to cover its eyes so that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not blinded. Usually fish handled like this remain fairly steady and removing the hook is a cinch. When you put the fish and sling back into the water, you can

LET GO! by Gary Thompson

The author about to release a Scotsman using SeaQualizer, a specifically designed device to ensure that your liberated fish survives.

Where to insert a needle (above) should you want to deflate the swim bladder. The point varies from species to species.

give it a gentle swing to get some water f lowing over the fish’s gills. Now open one end of the sling and the fish should swim away. THE NET Another option is to use a landing net, and the best one to use is the flat, thick rubber net. Long, deep nets normally bend the fish into unnatural positions and sometimes remove a few scales too, making the fish vulnerable to infection. With these type of nets the hook and sinker inevitably get entangled, and

sometimes the fish gets so caught up in the net that it dies before it can be released. Many anglers are hesitant to use the flat rubber net, fearing that the fish will flip itself out, but in my experience the fish like the support of the rubber net and stay calm once they’re in it. THE GAFF I do use the gaff sometimes, but always make sure I do not physically puncture the fish. If you land a really big red streenbras or musselcracker, for exam-

ple, which is too big for the rubber landing net, then gently slide the gaff in under the gill plate. To prevent injury to the fish slide a small piece of rubber tube over the end of your gaff point. THE PULL If you plan to release a fish, try not to bring it onboard while dangling from the hook. The fish inevitably bangs on the side of the boat or hatch, sometimes wriggling itself loose and falling on the deck. The sinker can concuss the fish or

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 93

Swim Bladder

The swim bladder is an internal gas-filled organ that contributes to the ability of a fish to control its buoyancy, thus enabling it to maintain its depth. bash the boat or your head, scales are removed increasing the risk of infection later, the sun shines straight into its eyes, blinding it ... and in general the fish is stressed. THE BIN If you have space onboard, get yourself a plastic bin approximately 60cm in length which is about the longest minimum length for certain species you may keep. Cut a nice piece of non-slip bathroom rubber matting to fit the bottom of the bin then, using a permanent marker, draw a ruler on the mat. This helps with measuring your fish should you wish to do so. The other option is to paste a measuring sticker on the inside of the bin. THE WET TOWEL If you’re going handle fish that you plan to release, you’ll also need a wet towel. Always have a clean towel on board for this job — don’t just use that slimy old smelly bait hand cloth. The wet towel can be placed under the fish to protect it from the dry, hard deck surface and can be used to cover the fish’s eyes which helps keep the fish calm. I keep a golf towel attached to one end of the bin mentioned earlier just for this purpose. PLAN OF ACTION It takes a team effort to release fish successfully and is much more difficult if you try to do it alone. Ideally, one crew member should net the fish while the angler manages the rod and reel. Then, once the fish is netted or on deck one person should remove the hook whilst the other keeps the fish steady on the towel with its eyes protected and takes measurements. A third person would really come in handy if you want to tag or photograph the fish. It’s obviously best if everyone on board is equally dedicated to the concept of releasing unwanted fish.

THE PHOTOGRAPH Only if it is a real trophy fish should the camera come out, and if you are going to take a photo here are some tips... There is no point in doing all the above to save the fish and then putting your hands into the gills to have a firm grip for the photo, killing the fish in the process. The gills are very sensitive and any damage could be fatal to the fish. If you’ve gripped its lip with a Bogagrip, don’t just dangle the fish in the air like that because you may injure it. Always make sure you have a hand under the body or around the tail supporting the fish’s weight, and try to place a wet towel between your skin and the fish’s scales. THE RELEASE Once you’ve removed the hook and taken your photos don’t just turf the fish overboard hoping that it will just swim off, unless it is a strong species like the 74 which will usually swim away vigorously. Get the fish back into the water as soon as possible and hold it in its natural swimming position by gripping its tail, allowing water to flow over its gills. You will soon know if the fish has some swim left in it, and once you feel life surging back into its body, let it go. BAROTRAUMA One of the most contentious issues

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about successfully releasing fish is the debate about barotrauma. Most anglers will recognise this phenomenon when a fish that’s still alive just floats on the surface and will not go down. One way of dealing with this is to use a hypodermic needle to puncture the fish’s air bladder, but this has to be done extremely carefully and there’s a good chance that the fish will end up dying of a secondary infection later. A far better idea is to get the fish down a few metres so that the increased atmospheric pressure will naturally deflate the air bladder. There are a few techniques that can be used to achieve this, and one of them was very well described on page 75 of the March/April 2013 issue of SKI-BOAT (see “Letting Go — How to release red steenbras properly”). The basic method is shown in the diagram on the left. THE MILK CRATE Another less gentle method of safely releasing the fish is to take a milk crate, attach a very big sinker to each corner of the crate with cable ties, and affix your line to the centre of the overturned crate. You then put the overturned crate on top of the fish and drop it down to the approximate depth at which you hooked the fish. The disadvantage of this method is that the fish may get hurt in the process because the crate is fairly rough and can only be used on smaller sized fish. THE ULTIMATE RELEASING AGENT My nickname is Mr Gadget and the best gadget I’ve ever imported is the SeaQualizer. I believe this is the most effective way to ensure that a fish is released effectively and successfully from a ski-boat. We have been using this mechanism very successfully off Kei Mouth over the past year with John Rance. We have used it on fish ranging from small to large, in deep and shallow water, and are convinced that every fish we’ve released has survived. Every time new crew see the gadget, they all want one which is very encouraging. In the next issue of SKI-BOAT there will be more details on this invention. IN SUMMARY Get motivated to release fish successfully, buy some new gadgets including the bin, the net, and the Boga-Grip. Remember the towel, keep the fish moist and try not to dislodge any scales. No matter what size or species it is, just aim to get that fish back in the water as quickly as possible. This is a wonderful experience if done properly, and is something to be proud of. Tell everyone the story of the fish that got away — for once they will believe you!

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 â&#x20AC;¢ 95

MARKETPLACE

LEAN AND

MEAN B

UILT with a strong desire to provide their customers with the very best, most innovative and reliable products possible, Suzuki outboards are recognised around the globe for their unrivalled, award-winning technologies and advanced designs. Two excellent examples of this ethic are the new DF175G and DF150G. These powerful 129kW (175PS) and 110 kW (150PS) inline four-cylinder fourstroke outboards are engineered with some of Suzuki’s most advanced technologies, providing boaters with greater performance, convenience and efficiency. Both outboards take full advantage of the Suzuki Lean Burn Control System and Suzuki Precision Control — two advanced technologies that are prominently featured on their flagship DF300AP and DF250AP outboards.

Just arrived!

Suzuki introduces the DF150/175G Lean Burn Inline Fours Suzuki Lean Burn Control System is an intelligent fuel management system that is providing more and more Suzuki four-strokes with amazing fuel efficiency — up to a 16% improvement on the DF175G — helping you go further and faster for much less. Suzuki Precision Control is Suzuki’s drive-bywire throttle control and shift system that provides precision control of fuel and airflow for further improvements in fuel efficiency over a wider operating range. The system also offers easy rigging and setup, plus smoother and more precise throttle and shift operation. The DF150/175G is now available at your nearest Suzuki dealer. For further information about these motors visit your nearest Suzuki dealer or visit their website <www.suzukisa.co.za>.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 97

ECOWATCH

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE

by Craig Thomassen

Anglers like Paul van Nimwegen have a right to get upset when they release trophy garrick like this, only to have them “poached” further up the coast.

TRAWLERS? We all have to keep an eye on the poachers

NE of the arguments that is commonly thrown in the face of those advocating the concept of catch-and-release is “... but what about the trawlers and the longliners?”. Essentially these people are saying,“I release my fish, but they are still going to be caught and killed by someone else.” This argument has some merit to it, but is off the mark in other ways. Firstly, let’s look at where this argument is weak. The species that we mostly catch as recreational fishermen, whether from the beach or from skiboats, are seldom caught by trawlers or longliners, excepting perhaps the larger pelagics which we do target, such as billfish and tuna. These large commercial fishing vessels are targeting shoaling pelagic species, particularly in the case of trawlers, generally tuna, billfish and sharks. Inshore species, however, are not in much danger from these vessels. Where the argument does hold some water, is that many fish released by recreational anglers are caught and killed by other recreational or subsistence anglers. That’s why we are trying to encourage those who fish for the pure pleasure of it to release their excess catch. The simple truth is that we are ruining our own fishing by destroying the resource that gives us so much pleasure. This issue was highlighted recently when many garrick caught by recreational fishermen on the KZN North Coast were sold to fish dealers in Stanger and Durban. There are many recreational anglers all along the South African coastline who catch garrick with light tackle and tag

them. The purpose of this tag-andrelease programme is to help scientists better understand fish movements and behaviour. Garrick tagged in the Eastern Cape have been recaptured on the KZN North Coast each winter, showing that these adult fish undertake a spawning migration up the coast during the winter months. It is terrible that unscrupulous anglers have started to take advantage of this seasonal influx of garrick to their area and are killing them for money. I can almost understand poor subsistence fishermen selling the occasional garrick that they may catch from the beach, but what I cannot swallow is that some skiboat anglers park behind the backline and target these fish with livebaits, kill them and sell them. If you can afford a ski-boat, you have no excuse for breaking the law by selling fish. In fact, those who are doing this are poachers — no better than any other type of poacher out there. With our law enforcement officials being stretched due to budget constraints and a very long coastline, we as citizens need to make a difference. Each and every angler out there should be championing the cause of our fishery. If we see somebody flagrantly breaking the law, we should report them. They are the ones who are ruining our fishing. In the same way as we would phone the authorities if we saw a trawler or longliner fishing in a marine reserve, we should be equally as quick to report any “recreational” angler who is poaching our fish. Resident fish along the KZN coast have taken a bad hammering due to massive fishing pressure — both offshore

98 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

and from the side. The best fishing on offer now is when migratory fish make an appearance. Geelbek, kob, shad, grunter, garrick, king mackerel, yellowfin tuna and other species arrive during certain seasons, either as part of a spawning migration or due to feeding patterns. These arrivals create some great fishing opportunities and keep many of our recreational fishermen going. If it weren’t for the influx of these fish there would be very little to go out and fish for. Therefore, it is very sad to see certain fishermen plundering what they can out of these migratory fish when they do visit this part of our coast. Not only are they ruining what is left of our meagre fish stocks, but they are also robbing the areas where these fish came from. Eastern Cape anglers have every right to resent KZN anglers for slaughtering and selling garrick that came from their area and will never return. The Koei Maru 88, a Japanese longliner, licensed to fish off our coastline, was arrested recently for fishing too close to the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area. The owners of the vessel had to pay R2-million to have their ship released. It is good to see that the authorities have managed to get some sort of action going concerning large commercial fishing vessels. I appeal to all concerned anglers out there to help look after our remaining fish stocks by reporting any suspicious activity of any sort to the authorities. The number to call in KZN is 083 380 6298. Any details that you can supply — such as registration numbers, boat names, etc. — will be helpful.

JETSKIS

RACETECH’S INNOVATIONS A Tubby for every application

ACETECH Yamaha, owned by Patrick O’ Keeffe, was originally named Racetech Engineering, and started out catering for the needs and tough demands of jetski racing. With Patrick’s vast knowledge and work ethic it, Racetech became the “goto” choice if you wanted a championship winning jetski. However, it was not all about racing. Patrick soon began working closely with a small group of anglers on the KZN North Coast who had come up with this crazy idea of fishing from jetskis. What followed was years of testing, development and constant feedback of what worked and what didn’t work. It was all about innovation and progression as they pioneered this facet of the sport and paved the way for jetski fishing. This new sport’s popularity grew exponentially, and Racetech became the first choice amongst jetski fishermen around the country. With the downturn in the economy many ski-boat owners were forced to sell up and settle for a cheaper and more economical craft — the personal watercraft (PWC) was the perfect solution. Many were astounded by all the advantages and extra conveniences of owning a jetski, but couldn’t come to grips with the difficulty of fishing two-up. This became obvious in 2007 when

an overweight customer took delivery of his brand new jetski from Racetech. It was all smiles and excitement until the following Monday when Patrick received a phone call from the customer to say he was dropping it off and didn’t want it anymore. He explained that it was great, but with him sitting behind the handlebars, every time his son (even bigger than him) climbed on from the back they would fall off. Patrick convinced the customer to keep the jetski on condition that

100 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

The XK Tubby boasts plenty of storage space.

Patrick could come up with a solution to improve it. He decided on two rear attachable pontoons to displace more water when the craft was stationary and at lowspeed use when the craft is most unstable and more vulnerable to rolling over. These pontoons would need to be constructed of fibreglass as they had to be lightweight, robust and easily-formed to take the shape of the sides of the craft during the moulding process. Brilliant, problem solved! Well, not quite ... Remember, these kind of attachments were unheard of back then and no one wanted to ruin the look of their brand new jetski with these funny looking fibreglass pontoons on the side. The craft needed to be sleek and slender, and the completed jetski should look as if all the extras had been factory-fitted on the assembly line. It should be in showroom condition. With Patrick’s hard work, the completed the jetski — with additional fitted pontoons — was like a work of art. Indeed, their objective had been achieved. Not only did the pontoons look good, but they also complemented the ride quality of the craft with a carefully thought out hydrodynamic bottom that made contact with the water. And so Racetech’s Tubby was born. But why end it there? Patrick decid-

News from the marketplace

The XXXL Tubby, the mac daddy of the Tubbys.

A vertical rod holder is mounted at the front for your convenience when preparing your rod.

Each Tubby is manufactured with pride.

The QATS system up front is perfect for storing the supplied tackle boxes.

The “Latch-on” XL Tubby. ed to make the pontoons multi-functional and incorporated a lid opening on both Tubbys so that they could serve as storage compartments. Any water that got in was drained out the back through a clever scupper valve. Another problem the customer would have been challenged with was the hassle of climbing aboard with all the equipment in the way and mounted on the boarding platform. This was a balancing act jetski fishermen had been doing for years, but there was no reason it couldn’t be improved upon. Patrick decided to mount these extras at the rear of the Tubbys and make climbing on the jetski easier, faster and, most importantly, safer. As jetski fishing evolved, so Patrick has continued innovating and advancing, so much so that he now offers three different Tubby models to suit the needs of today’s anglers: • The Original Tubby — the Tubby that paved the way for its successors. Lower in cost and still loved by many, it is the perfect entry-level Tubby for the first time jetski fisherman starting out. • The XXXL Tubby was released mid-2012 and is specifically designed for the industr y-leading 2012-plus Yamaha FX series — the perfect combination. This is the mac daddy of all Tubbys for the serious angler wanting the ultimate in storage, functionality

and a sense of security out on the water. It gives one a boat-like feeling with all the advantages of a jetski. • The “Latch-on” XL Tubby. Patrick has always run with his Tubbys as a bolt on/off system making them completely removable should you want to remove them. However, for the customer who wants to use his jetski at the dam or for playing in the waves — and not only for fishing — this method of removal was a bit of a hassle and took some time. Enter a revolutionary new Tubby — the “Latch-on”. Patrick came up with this ingenious idea of using a toggle latch system so that the Tubby can be quickly and securely clipped on/off in a couple of seconds. He combined this with the latest XL Tubby, a state-of-the-art creation born out of countless hours of research and development to ensure every inch of the Tubby plays an important role. The new Latch-on XL Tubby has a number of innovative features: • The new patented latch-on system gives owners the convenience of quick removal/installation of the Tubby. • The flat top lid incorporates a cutting board and preparation area. Underneath, the lid features a 3mm x 20mm rubber seal and has a 10mm raised shoulder to def lect water. The lid is also at a more con-

venient working height. • Inside the XL Tubby boasts plenty of storage space. • Any water that gets in is drained out the back through a purpose-built “duck bill” system. • Nine litres of PU rigid foam are moulded into the floor of the Tubby, giving it 100% flotation. • A convenient vertical rod holder is mounted at the front, making rod preparation easy, and a fully adjustable and removable rod holder is also utilised. • The Racetech QATS (Quick Access Tackle Storage) system is built-in upfront — a nifty feature to store the supplied tackle boxes. • There is also a recessed rubberised tray area with a cup holder. Each and every Tubby is manufactured with the utmost pride and dedication to perfection. One of the country’s most respected safety officers confirms that the Racetech Tubbys are manufactured to the highest standards of workmanship. Further, he concurs that they have the durability to withstand the test of our east coast surf. That’s why he has no problem issuing safety certificates to craft sporting Tubbys. For further information, please contact Racetech Yamaha on (031) 701 2945 or visit their website <www.racetech yamaha.co.za>.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 101

JUNIOR CORNER WE HAVE A WINNER

ONGRATULATIONS to Matthew Hollard (14) whose name was pulled out of the hat and who was pronounced the 2012/13 Mercury Junior Angler of the Year. Matthew’s prize is a 2.5hp Mercury outboard motor courtesy of Rutherford Marine. Matthew featured in the January 2013 issue of SKI-BOAT with this beautiful 17kg wahoo he caught off Paindane, Moçambique. If the size of his grin is anything to go by, Matthew obviously loves fishing! It must have been a good trip, because just a few days after catching his wahoo Matthew landed a lovely 6kg queen mackerel. Well done, Matthew, and once again our sincere thanks to Mercury and Rutherford Marine for their continued support of our junior anglers, the future of our sport.

SKI-BOAT, in conjunction with Mercury, is proud to offer all junior deep sea anglers the opportunity to win awards for excellence in angling. If you are 16 years old or younger, and you submit a photograph of yourself and the fish you caught, you will be eligible to receive — in recognition of your achievement — some wonderful goodies from Mercury. Upon ratification, all junior anglers who submit entries will receive a handsome certificate suitably inscribed, PLUS an embroidered cloth badge — both confirming the catch achievement. If the picture you submit is featured on the Mercury Junior Angler page, you will also receive an additional limited edition Mercury cap which will make you the envy of all your fishing buddies.

And there s more At the end of a year, the names of all junior anglers whose photographs appeared on the Mercury Junior Angler page will be included in a lucky draw, and the winner will receive, courtesy of Mercury, a fantastic prize of a 2.5hp outboard motor! All you need to do is send us a photograph of yourself and your catch, together with the following details:

¥ Your name, address, telephone number and date of birth ¥ Fish species and weight ¥ Line class ¥ Date and place of capture ¥ Boat s name and skipper Please note: Photo submissions that were taken with a cellphone will not be eligible to be used on our Juniors page.

All entries should be sent to: Mercury Junior Angler SKI-BOAT Magazine PO Box 20545, Durban North, 4016 or e-mailed to <angler@mags.co.za> There is no restriction on the number of awards that can be applied for, and SKI-BOAT reserves the right to use the photographs as it sees fit. A selection of six award winners will be announced in each issue of SKI-BOAT, along with their name and photograph. Junior anglers — Mercury and SKI-BOATmagazine acknowledge that you hold the future of our sport in your hands. Here’s your chance to show us what you can do!

102 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

FISHING DREAMS COME TRUE by Frans Badenhorst (14)

LIVE in Harrismith in the Free State and I love fishing. It has been a part of my life since I was about three years old. I grew up catching freshwater species, then my dad started deep sea fishing. The first time I went to sea I was nine years old. Now we go at least once a year to fish in the sea. In December 2011 we went to Ponta do Oura in Moçambique. During the first few days I caught a dorado of about 14kg that I was really proud of. On one of the other days we decided to explore a spot that we don’t often fish because it’s about 50km from Ponta. When we got to the spot we fished mostly for gamefish but with no luck. Then we decided to troll back for marlin. We fished for about an hour when I saw a bill behind my lure and the fish was on! I got into the Black Magic stand-up harness — and then the fight really began. I had to reel in a lot of line and the fish took the same amount of line back — and then the same thing happened all over again! When I saw the fish for the first time I realised it was bigger than any fish I had ever caught before. Suddenly the fish got crazy around the boat and started jumping and tailwalking. I kept on reeling and finally he was close enough for one of my dad’s friends to grab the leader. I’d done it! I’d caught my first marlin — one of my dreams since I started deep sea fishing. The last day arrived and I caught a ’cuda early in the morning. Then we went looking for marlin. After two quiet hours I saw three bills come up on the lures at the same time and it was complete chaos on the boat — and then silence. Suddenly the fish sounded without us hooking one of them so we decided to call it a day. The next day we headed back to the Free State. I spent the whole journey thinking about my best fishing trip ever — one dorado, a ’cuda and a marlin!

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 â&#x20AC;¢ 105

2013

INDUSTRY

HE second staging of the Johannesburg Boat Show at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec took place from 8th to 11th August 2013 and Dan Savadier, Chairman of the Gauteng Boat Retailers’ Association, hailed it a great success. The show saw the launch of a number of new products from the 98 boating manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and accessory suppliers who filled the 13 500m2 site. A whopping 25 692 ticket sales were recorded by Computicket. The Marine Industry Association of South Africa (MIASA) took the opportunity to announce the Boat Builders Plate at the official opening of the 2013 Johannesburg Boat Show. Vanessa Davidson, Chief Executive Officer of MIASA announced that the objective of the Builders Plate is to build consumer confidence when purchasing a boat and to start ensuring baseline adherence to specifications from a manufacturer’s perspective An extra vote of confidence in the show this year was shown by the presence of the South African Maritime Safety Association, which was one of the show’s sponsors. SAMSA conducted mini instruction courses throughout the weekend on the importance of boat safety, as well as details on how to go about obtaining a skipper’s licence.

The Johannesburg Boat Show drew numerous positive comments by leaders in the Gauteng Boating Industry as well as thousands of visitors. “Once again a world class show with the right clientele,” said Paul Trollope, General Manager of Boating International. “Second year running and growing from strength to strength. It was great to host the show earlier in the month this year, which shortened our winter. And there were definitely

Erwin Bursik receives his Lifetime Achievement Award from Andre van Helsdingen and Dan Savadier of the Gauteng Boat Retailers’ Association.

106 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

News about the trade

interested buyers. This is thanks to the dealers who put in a lot of effort, so I think it was a great show.” Dan Savadier, Managing Director of Waterworld and Chairman of the Gauteng Boating Retailers’ Association, agreed that a good quality of clientele attended the show. “There was particular focus on the top-end of the market, so that was good. Generally, the quality of the exhibits was very good and the organisation was good, so I’m happy,” he said. Exhibitors presented an extremely high standard of exhibits and their efforts were recognised through the stand awards: • Platinum Award SAMSA • Gold Awards: Boating International Riva Lounge • Silver Awards: Honda Marine Suzuki Marine Waterworld • Bronze Awards: Barra Resorts Mozambique Club Marine Insurance Eden Island Lowrance South Africa Tige Boats

Twin Boats Yamaha Marine The Gauteng Boat Retailers Association also took the opportunity to recognise two personalities for their contribution to the boating industry in South Africa. Both were awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards by the association at the opening ceremony of the Johannesburg Boat Show. Erwin Bursik, a high profile Springbok deep sea fishing authority and publisher of SKI-BOAT and FLYFISHING magazines, and Godfrey Castle, publisher of four outdoor-related magazines, were recognised with the awards for contributions that each extend over four decades. Erwin Bursik has Springbok colours for gamefishing and Protea colours for his fishing exploits in Kenya. Since 1974 he has been involved in the administration of offshore fishing in Southern Africa. He has written countless reviews on boats and his opinion is widely sought after by boat manufacturers in this country. He is noted for his exceptional catches over the years, including a 340kg black marlin. Look out for information on the 2014 Johannesburg Boat Show — and make sure you don’t miss it.

SKI-BOAT Magazine advertising executive Mark Wilson presented various lucky-draw winners with their prizes: Bruce McKenzie, a Suzuki hamper; Riaan Bodenstein, a Mercury hamper; Mark Hansen, a Honda hamper, and Lyn Adams presented Mandy Webster with her Yamaha hamper. SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 107

BITS & PIECES WHAT’S BELOW YOUR BOAT?

ESCAPE THE SUN

MTECH Marine South Africa now brings you the ultimate technology in fishfinders — the Furuno FCV 587. This state-of-the-art fishfinder possesses an 8.4” interface, jampacked with loads of innovative features. ACCU-FISH™ is a revolutionary fish size assessment function of the FCV 587. In order to assess individual fish size, the echo strength from the fish is processed and turned into fish size display on the screen. It can detect the fish size from 10199cm, in depths of 2100m. When the ACCUFISH™ is used concurrently with fish marks, it greatly helps anglers to identify fish targets on the display. You may also select and display the target depth instead of fish size, which helps to see how far the fish is from the boat. The FCV 587’s Bottom Discrimination feature indicates whether the major component of the bottom is rocks, gravel, sand or mud. The white line function helps you distinguish bottomfish from the bottom by changing the strongest signal colour to white. This function also helps you judge fish school density. Imtech Marine South Africa is the official distributor and authorised service centre for the Furuno FCV 587. For more information, please phone 0861 123 555 or email <info.za@ imtechmarine.com>.

YOUR SPINNING SOLUTIONS

AIWA recently launched their new Laguna 5Bi range of spinning reels which are loaded with all the cuttingedge gadgetry of higher-priced models. With their six saltwater-friendly stainless-steel bearings (5 BB+1RB), these will give you years of great service. The Laguna’s are available in four sizes — 2000, 2500, 3000 and 4000 — so if speed, power and accuracy are what you’re searching for at an affordable price, look no further, the Daiwa Laguna Spinning Reel is the ultimate choice. Judging by their looks, one could be forgiven for assuming that these were very pricey reels, but in actual fact value-for-money is their main feature. These reels all sell for under R400 each. With its new body design, infinity anti-reverse bearing, micro click front jacked up drag adjustment (6kg on the 4000 model), one touch folding handle and aluminium spool, these reels are a great new addition to the Daiwa range. These reels can be matched perfectly with the new Daiwa Laguna spinning rods. Have a closer look at them on <www.kingfisher. co.za>. Daiwa products are available from leading fishing tackle stores countrywide or at The Kingfisher in Durban. Contact them on (031) 368 3903.

M NEW MODELS FROM HONDA

ONDA Marine are strengthening their model line up in South Africa with the introduction of their first 80hp and 100hp outboards. The new BF80 and BF100 are set to provide new levels of performance in their sectors through their world-renowned technologies. With their lightweight, compact design these new engines will provide optimum levels of performance whilst ensuring best fuel economy. The new models make the most of the many unique Honda engine technologies for which the brand and its range is famed. Honda’s exclusive revolutionary BLAST™ (Boosted Low Speed Torque) technology adjusts air/fuel ratio and ignition-timing to boost engine horsepower and torque to provide rapid acceleration. The result is strong hole-shot performance to get the hull up on the plane more quickly. Honda’s proprietary Lean Burn Control technology uses sensors to monitor air/fuel ratio in cruising mode, adjusting it to achieve optimum fuel economy. Combined with Honda’s unique PGM-Fi™ (Programmed Fuel Injection) technology, the result is high fuel efficiency and low emissions. The new BF100 incorporates Honda’s exclusive VTEC ™ (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system, providing optimum performance through the operating range, delivering smooth controlled power when you need it. The new BF80 and BF100 offer a range of enhanced features to ensure optimum ease of use. They offer Honda’s trolling control, allowing precise slow speed with automatic adjustments in 50rpm increments, ideal for fishing and slow speed manoeuvres. Both outboards are also fully compliant with NMEA 2000® allowing simplified connectivity to other NMEA 2000® devices. The new models also allow the customer to purchase, as an option, the new Honda digital NMEA 2000® compliant multi-function gauges. These are designed to provide simplified and standardised connectivity on board, providing vital engine information to the operator. The Honda Marine line-up from BF40 to the BF250 is now fully NMEA 2000® compliant. The launch of the new models comes as Honda gets set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the manufacturing of marine outboards. The new models will be available across Honda’s South African network of authorised marine dealers from early 2014.

108 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

AKO Eyewear’s new model, Escape, is already a top seller. The reinforced frames are strong and durable and the lenses are made from glass, giving you a higher scratch-resistance than any polycarbonates. What makes these lenses so unique is the use of Mako’s new High Definition (HD) and Infra-Red (IR) technology. IR helps block infrared light from the sun to increase eye protection and reduces eye fatigue in harsh conditions. It also significantly reduces heat passing through the lens to stop you getting dry, itchy eyes. The HD technology filters yellow light passing through the lens which gives you unrivalled clarity, as yellow light distorts vision. These sunglasses are available in the following colour choices: blue mirror with black frame, blue mirror with white frame, grey lens with black frame and copper lens with tortoise shell frame. For further information email Lloyd Pereira at MustFish SA on <Lloyd@mustfish.co.za>.

KILL CORROSION ON CONTACT

ORROSION Block is a leading corrosion and rust prevention product which displaces moisture and protects ferrous and non-ferrous metal surfaces against corrosion formation. Corrosion Block products are well known and trusted in the US and UK markets and are now available in SA. Corrosion Block is suitable for use on all makes and models of outboard and inboard marine motors and vessels, without any concern about damage to electronics, plastics and rubber, thanks to its advanced chemistry. It can also be used to protect GPS units, fishfinders, satellite communication devices and a host of other electronic devices against corrosion build-up within connectors and sockets, lasting 12-18 months. These products are ideal if you need to protect machinery, high-voltage electrical systems and transformers, trucks, trailers, vehicles, boats, fishing rods and reels and a host of other surfaces and components against corrosion and moisture. It works well to displace moisture on surfaces and electronics, increasing their lifespan and reducing maintenance and replacement costs. Corrosion Block greases are extremely

Items of interest

water-resistant and are ideal for use on wheel bearings, CV-joints and any other components that require a grease lubricant. The aerosol sprays work well to lubricate and help loosen seized nuts, bolts and bearings. Corrosion Block was designed and developed in Canada in accordance with international standards/ These products have met, and in some tests even outperformed the standards required. Visit <www.corrosionblock.co.za> for more information and to order products, or phone 072 684 6983.

a Wi-Fi version. Raymarine mobile apps can be downloaded to smartphones and tablets which can then be used to access Wi-Fi-equipped aSeries MFDs, giving boaters full access and control of charts, sonar, radar and more from anywhere onboard. aSeries displays offer extensive add-on options, including Raymarine’s RCU-3 Bluetooth steering wheel remote. Each model is equipped with a Raynet Ethernet port, making aSeries the perfect choice for a small boat network or part of a larger Raymarine system. The Raynet port also enables connection to Raymarine radar scanners, giving boaters the option for a compact and affordable high performance radar system. The new a68, a75, a77 and a78 models are now available at dealers and retailers. For further information contact MDM Marine Services on (021) 671-6751 or email <info@mdm services.co.za>.

dealers for Malibu Boats in South Africa for a number of years now. From workshop repairs, cccessories and COFs, to skipper’s booking and arranging your finance for your boat, Boating International has got it covered. Their Durban partners, Ace Boating, have been manufacturing Boating International’s unique brands since 2007. Boating International will be teaming up with Ace Boating by offering a fully-equipped workshop for all your servicing requirements. Contact Boating International in Jo’burg on (011) 452-8280, in Cape Town on (021) 5110220 and in Durban on (031) 569-3354, or visit <www.boating-int.co.za>.

“INTERNATIONAL” GOES NATIONAL! “a”IS FOR ANGLER

HE compact dimension, big specification format of Raymarine’s new “a” Series multi-function displays (MFDs) receives another boost as the company releases its latest models, expanding screen sizes to 7” and adding Wi-Fi, plus new sonar options to the extensive list of aSeries capabilities. The combination of CHIRP and Downvision sonar, first seen in Raymarine’s groundbreaking Dragonf ly™, is now available in aSeries too. The aSeries MFDs offer advanced navigation, sonar and network capabilities in a compact, full-featured touchscreen display A dream to use, the new a78 (7”) and a68 (5.7”) are engineered for freshwater and coastal fishing. The a68 and a78 use CHIRP and Downvision sonar technology to deliver realistic, photo-like images of the underwater world, seeing fish and structure with absolute clarity. All the a Series models are now available in

OATING International has become a household name in South Africa over the last 15 years since they started up in a little shop in Sebenza Edenvale where Dean Levy built and established the Boating International brand. Now of course they’re based in the well known shop on the main road of Edenvale. Last year Dean Levy took a huge leap and opened Boating International Cape Town in Paarden Eiland. The reaction from the local community was overwhelming and has proved how strong the Boating International brand is. Now the talk of the town is that Boating International Durban opened their doors on 1st October 2013. Boating International will be teaming up with Ace Boating and customers will be able to view the factory where all the Sunsport and Ace Glider boats are made. The pre-owned boats and accessories departments will follow in time. For years Baoting International have supplied the boating community with some of the most stylish and versitle boats on the market, including their very own Sunsport and Ace Glider range. They have also been the proud

RIVIERA RETURNS TO FORMER GLORY

IVIERA’S ride to success seems unstoppable following the Australian manufacturer’s phenomenal turnaround and subsequent takeover by new owner and chairman Rodney Longhurst. Order books are filled into the new year with forward orders doubling last year’s figures, production staff being increased to meet the rising demand and apprenticeship training reinstated. “The past 16 months has been a true career highlight for me and it is extremely gratifying to see Riviera return to its former glory,” said Rodney.

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 109

Staunch believers who continued their support from dealerships across the globe have been vindicated and can proudly applaud the Riviera team for their bold, out-the-box thinking, hard work and sheer determination. For the financial year ending 30th June 2013, 55% of Riviera’s total production was exported. The luxury boat builder successfully showcased new releases at top shows across the globe, with the 565 SUV and 50 Enclosed making their world show debuts. More than AUD$51-million in luxury new boat sales was recorded in 12 weeks alone, including two 63 Enclosed Flybridges and two of the company’s f lagship 75 Enclosed Flybridges bound for Australian and international owners. These large boats were sold just weeks after Riviera’s popular Festival of Boating in May, where 14 new boat sales totaled AUD$21million. This represents the best two-month sales result for Riviera in over seven years. Sydney’s International Boat Show sales success added another notch to Riviera’s belt of achievement with a 25% sales increase on last year (AUD$14.8-million) and two awards for Best Marine Display and Best Overall Display. And what a showing at this year’s Cannes Boat Show in September. Boating World’s Derrick Levy says Riviera’s floating display featured an impressive lineup of popular models, including the 5800 Sport 4400 Sport Yacht, 45 Open Flybridge and the 43 Open Flybridge. If boat show trends are anything to go by, Riviera’s star will continue to rise well into 2014 and beyond. For further information contact Boating World on 0861 324 754 or email <info@boatingworld.co.za>.

manufacturer in the leisure market and is firmly positioned as the Number One electronics fishing brand. Lisbeth is upbeat about Lowrance’s global success and expects the trend to continue to spill over into the South African market as anglers acknowledge the superior advances and innovation in all their product ranges. Above: Stephen Thomas, USA (Director of Lowrance), Stefan Klaassen, Germany (Sales Manager Navico Africa and Middle East), Simon Claxton, UK (Sales Director Navico EMEA), Mikala Plotz, SA (National Sales Manager of Lowrance South Africa), Leif Ottosson, Sweden (President and CEO of Navico), Lisbeth Plotz, SA (Managing Director of Lowrance South Africa) and Marcel Crince, Netherlands (COO of Navico EMEA).

LOWRANCE — ON TOP OF THE WORLD

OWRANCE SA’s Managing Director Lisbeth Plotz and Mikala Plotz, National Sales Manager, recently returned from Navico’s annual EMEA Distributor Conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia, with the exciting news that the electronics giant reports a 15% growth for 2013. With a market share of 33%, which is 4% up on last year, Navico can confidently claim their position as the largest marine electronics company in the world. Navico’s top brand, Lowrance, has eclipsed all brands as the world’s largest electronics

110 • SKI-BOAT November/December 2013

STICK A TILE RENEWS SUPPORT OOD News for regular Hibberdene anglers is that Stick-a-Tile have renewed their sponsorship of the Hibberdene Cuuta Classic for 2014. Stick a Tile was founded in August 1996 and started production in rented premises. Since then they’ve moved into their own premises in Germiston and now employ 140 people. They have franchises in Namibia and Zambia, with major customers in Moçambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, DRC and Tanzania. Hennie Pretorius, owner of Stick a Tile, joined the Hibberdene Ski-Boat Club in 1998. At that stage the club offered prize money of about R5 000 for their annual Couta Classic. Hennie generously promised to sponsor prize money of R20 000 for the next competition. Stick a Tile sponsored the first prize money for two years running, and the following year they sponsored a boat as first prize which they’ve done ever since. The 2014 Hibberdene Couta Classic Competition will be run over the Easter weekend, so make a note in your diary.

SMALLS

ADVERTISERS’

INDEX

BOAT FOR SALE

SKIPPERS’TRAINING

OBTAIN your SAMSA skipper’s certificate of competence. Theoretical, practical and surf launch training by an experienced commercial skipper. Phone Kobus on 082 891 3652, (012) 348-9078 or (012) 361-2617, e-mail <skippers@twobar.co.za> or visit their website <www.twobar.co.za>.

BOAT FOR SALE

2011 YELDCAT 21ft, with 2 x 115hp Suzuki motors incl beaching kits (approx 180 hours). Boat is on doubleaxle b/neck galvanised trailer with hydraulic brakes. Boat features binnacle controls, 8 x 25l fuel tanks, Garmin 5012 touchscreen plotter/finder, Garmin auto pilot, UHF & VHF radios, CD player, livebait well, luna tubes, deckwash, SS canopy and push plate, rod holders and safety equipment. COC etc just done. Price: R650 000 Contact: Peter on 082 375 0744 or email <peter@mes.co.za>

BOAT FOR SALE BUTTCAT 865 Sportfisher with 2 x 175hp Suzuki 4-strokes (under 100 hours), double axle galvanised LA Axles trailer, 2 x 190 litre fuel tanks, Furuno Navnet VX plotter, VHF radio, Boss CD player, 2 x 5m Purglas outriggers, Simrad AP 24 auto pilot, fully insulated fish- and bait hatches, full safety equipment. Built to SAMSA spec and can be used for commercial purposes. Licensed for eight. Price: R875 000 Contact: Chris on 083 310 8120

BOAT FOR SALE

2011 ACE GLIDER 750 with 2 x 200hp Mercury Optimax motors, hydraulic steering, boarding ladder, Lowrance HDS 10 f/finder, Sonic Hub, Smart Craft gauges, toilet, deck wash, VHF radio, 29mHz radio, outrigger bases, LED deck lights, gunnel padding, luna tubes and double axle galvanised trailer with spare wheel and brakes. Price: R795 000 Contact: Stefan on (021) 511-0220

DEADLINE for the January/February 2014 issue of SKI-BOAT magazine 2011 ACE GLIDER 630 with 2 x 150hp Mercury Optimax (85 hrs), counter rotation s/s props, beach kits, hydraulic steering, collapsible radar tower with front and back canopies, outriggers with poles, Smart Craft gauges, Lowrance HDS 8 unit with gold chart, 28mHz radio, VHF radio, nav lights, luna tubes, livewell, deck wash, handwash basin, fridge, LED deck lights, safety equip, jerry cand and double axle trailer. Price: R625 000 Contact: Paul on (011) 452-8280

is 6th November.

BOOK YOUR SPACE NOW! Phone Joan on (031) 572-2289 or Lyn on (011) 425-2052

Accessories Spares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Action Trailers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Angling Times. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Atlantic Suzuki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Bahama Lures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Ballistic Sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Berkley Sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Big 5 Flyfishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Billfish University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Black Bart Lures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Bluewater Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Boating International . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Boating World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Boating World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Club Marine Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Costa Sunglasses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Durban Yamaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Evinrude. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Ganis Angling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Garmin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Grant Thompson Fish Replicas. . . . . . 70 High and Dry Boat Lifts . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Honda Knysna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Honda Marine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Honda Marine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Honda Marine Durban . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Imtech Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Jonsson Clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Leecat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Lowrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Lucky’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Mako Eyewear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Matoya Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 McCrystal Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 MDM — Raymarine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Mercury 4-Stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Mercury Optimax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Mias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Mr Winch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Natal Caravans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Natal Powerboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Nissan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Ocean Trading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Pro Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Pulsator Lures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Pure Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Richards bay House for sale . . . . . . . . 26 Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club. . . . . . . . . 97 Roam Free . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Rodman boat for sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 SADSAA Billfish Classic . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Shelly Beach Summer Bonanza . . . . . 63 Ski-Port Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Smith Optics sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Snowbee Sunglasses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Solly’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Supercat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Suzuki. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 The Kingfisher Pro Jet Spoons . . . . . . 22 TOPS@Spar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Turboformance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Two Oceans Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Universal Corrosion Stop . . . . . . . . . . 70 Vac Rac. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Vanguard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Volvo Penta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Weather Dock - TechAF . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Wildfly Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Williamson Lures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Yamaha 636 Seacat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Yamaha F200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Z-Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Zongoene Lodge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

SKI-BOAT November/December 2013 • 111

BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS

DEADLINE for the January/february issue of

magazine is 6th November. BOOK YOUR SPACE NOW!

Phone Joan: (031) 572 2289 or Lynnette on: (011) 425 2052 120 â&#x20AC;¢ SKI-BOAT November/December 2013