The winner of the first-ever fishing reality show on SA television will walk away with R1 million rand cash as well as The Big Catch coveted Champion Trophy.

The cash prize is guaranteed & secured with the Auditors, Deloitte Durban, South Africa.

R1 Million cash prize!

Hooked? Come fishing for the biggest catch of your life!

This is not your ordinary fishing magazine show, nor a travelogue on the sport.

THE BIG CATCH is strictly a ‘tag & release’ competition, which supports global environmental & conservation objectives as well as the collection & documentation of selected catches for the Oceanic Research Institute ORI.

The R1 Million cash prize is guaranteed & secured with the Auditors, Deloitte Durban, South Africa.

Thousands of anglers… hundreds of boats… thousands of fishing rods…kilometers of fishing line… and one VERY, VERY BIG ocean.

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This is the BIG Catch, where man, woman and rod, will take to the seas on boat, or cast from the shores along a number of locations along the southern African coastline. It will take skill, knowledge, experience, determination and perseverance to land the big one. Each and every contestant intent on hooking the big one.

R1 Million cash prize!

With the Sardine Run 2012 a few months away, we are already all dreaming about what fish we would like to catch.

My dream fish this year is a King Fish on spoon or plug / popper on very light tackle. Second choice is a nice white mussel cracker (Brusher) also on spoon or plug.

A buddy was telling me about the days that the Brusher were so big and strong at Ansteys Beach that guys used to have to use Scarborough reels with thick 1mm bottom fishing line. You would cast, they would hit the bait and you would just strike and hold on for dear life…. and then the fight of a lifetime begins.

A dream indeed.

My dream fish for this year.

Have a great weekend, with the pumping SW and 11 ft waves, I don’t see much potential for Rock and Surf this weekend, down the South Coast.

Maybe I must get the bass rods out and hit the secret spot and go and catch some bass.

Oh ja, it is my wifes birthday this weekend, so if anybody is around our side, you are more than welcome to come and join us for a Poitjie and a few beers on Saturday afternoon.

So what fish are you dreaming about. Leave your wishlist in the comment box below and let’s see what the most popular species is.

Cheers for now and Tight Lines !!

Well friends, it’s that time of year when we start thinking about this years Sardine Run. When we start imagining ourselves hooked into our dream fish and getting dragged up and down the beach, whilst fishing the Silver Tide

It seems that the further North you are, the more Sardines are netted…. maybe this year it will be the South Coast’s turn.

So what are your predictions ?

Here are some articles from the  2010 and 2011 Sardine Run

Join our BlackBerry Group by scanning the barcode below and we will keep you up to date on the latest Sardine Run News.

Scan the barcode to find the group.

We went on a day mission to Transkei on Sunday. We were invited to come and fish on tribal land, which as far as I know, is pretty much inaccessible to the public.

When the tide is low, you can get to the other side of the river and fish off the point into deep water.

The day started out alright, but then the wind and the rain picked up something crazy. All that is fine…. but when each cast results in a ball of seaweed as big as a bait-box…. then you know your chances are very slim.

We tried to throw into the estuary, but the current was so strong that it made fishing almost impossible and we could not safely access a suitable place to fish in the river; so we called it a day after 5 hours.

Our friend was given a piece of land, and has built his house in the village, so we headed back for a quick braai and a few beers.

With plans firmly in place to come back for an overnight fishing mission, we said goodbye till next time.

You will travel far to find a more beautiful spot and it was just lekker to go on a mission with the guys, laugh till we cry and wet a line at last.

2 months working, with no fishing really sux.

I see that the order of the photos got mixed up. But you can see more or less when went on. It’s just  a damn shame there are not any fish photos. But that’s the way life goes. There is always a next time …

Damn…. and I thought it was because there were no fish left in the sea.

Oh man.... imagine this big buy takes your bait.

Not much is going on here, down the South Coast.

The wind is up and the sea is looking very messy.

I see lots of seaweed over the next few days.

Keep well. Here is a photo of Sandspit in Port Shepstone taken earlier.

Sandspit Port Shepstone, Kzn

We got there just as Andre landed a skate of about 60-70kgs in gully on the right. Micky and Leon were down, assisting in the landing and getting soaked in the process. Andre was sweating, but smiling from ear to ear and rightly so…. this is a fantastic catch to start the new years off with.

Bait was a shad fillet on slide.

Actually to think about it, Andre has had a damn good December, catching a number of very large shad – put in the time and you get your rewards.

Happy New Year Everybody – Tight Lines !!

Andre and his magic carpet.

Micky and Leon helping to land Andre's catch

There was a bit of action at Orange Rocks yesterday morning, with 7 runs and not one fish landed.  (and I think that I figured out why…. but I will tell you just now.)

Johann dropped a brown skate right in the gully as well as a “couta” right in front of the ledge. I did not see it, but Micky said that he saw the fish tail-walk just before it threw the hook.

Micky had 4 runs but did not get a solid hookup on any of them. His take on all this was that there must have been a school of couta hunting just in front.

Then the guy in the pics fought something for about an hour, also loosing it right in front of the ledge. By the way that it was behaving, I would say that it was a big brown skate.

But bad luck to him. Fanie came and picked me up to watch the fight, makes me kick myself that I was not fishing.

Righteo – why I think that everybody was loosing their fish, is because everybody was rigging their baits the same way and binding the bottom hook down with a cabletie. I only use a cable tie to close the mouth of the mackerel and hold the top hook in place…. I never use a cable tie on the bottom hook; because if the fish does not bite cleanly through the bait, then you have the cable tie preventing the hook from going all the way through. (ie the hook can only go as far in as the cable tie…. whereas if the hook was free, then it could go all the way through)

So the result is that you only hook up with the first 1/3 of the hook and when you put pressure on the fish, it pulls the hook parallel instead of putting the pressure in the  through of the hook.

I prefer to pin the hook and then bind it a bit with latex cotton. It holds the hook in place, but can come loose easy enough to ensure a proper hookup.

Some more advice is to pin the bait on the top, rather than in the belly like everybody else does.   This will put the weight on the dark side of the bait and when it settles in the water, it will pull the dark side underneath and show the shiny side on top (opposite of the natural camouflage of the fish)

So when the predator is underneath, he sees the shiny side which sticks out – rather than hides the bait.  When he looks from the top, he sees the shiny belly, rather than the camouflaged dark top of the fish.

This may only give you a fraction of an advantage, but I like advantages and I like fishing smart.

Thanks to Brendan at Gremlins for teaching me that trick a few years ago.

If you are in the area, give them a call on  039 317-3233  or pop in and say hi. I guarantee you that you will receive the very best service, prices and advice. Tell then that Shane sent you.

Cheers for now and TIGHT LINES !!

If you are in our area and would like a private, guided tour of the best fishing spots – join me for a Fisherman’s Beach Buggy Tour

Going Tight !!

Margate Main Beach 10 December 2011 6:30am

Margate Fishing Pier 10 December 2011

So the holiday season is upon us and fishing is on the mind of most visitors to Margate and the South Coast.

Unfortunately the wind is not playing the game today, with a strong NE blowing. No good for today, but when it turns to SW it will bring the fish on the bite. The waves are also about 7-8 ft, which makes fishing off the rocks a bit dangerous, so please be careful.

If you wanna fish Margate today, I suggest that you go and pick up a box of prawns from Gremlins and go and scratch around in the bays on the far right hand side of the Main Road along Margate Beach. (Panorama Parade)

My buggy will be rebuilt and ready for action if anybody would like to book a Fishermans Beach Buggy Tour with me.

For all the visitors to the Lower South Coast (Margate Area), I am available to give a guided tour of all the Fishing Spots and places of interest for Fishermen.

If you are coming down here on holiday and especially to Fish – I am sure that you would benefit from some local knowledge.

Shane’s Beach Buggy Tours includes:

• A guided tour of all the best fishing spots, from Ramsgate to Shelly Beach (or greater area if required)
  
• Where to target certain species of fish
• What Bait and Traces to use at what spot
• Which tackle shop sells certain items the cheapest
• Safety and Security advice
• Introduction to the best skippers for deep sea fishing
• Fisherman’s tales galore

The tour takes approx 2 hours and covers everything that you need to know about fishing the South Coast.

Fish like a local.  Don’t waste your fishing holiday by fishing the wrong spots.

The cost is R200 and the tour takes approximately 2 hours.

I am also available as a guide for a full days or nights fishing for R500.  I pick you up in the buggy and we go and find fish.

I can also provide a bodyguard if you wish to go and fish in isolated spots.

So come on, don’t be stingy.

Contact me on 081 4444 232  and if you can’t get through to me,  Please send me an SMS and I will get back to you.

There was lots of weed in the water, but I managed to get my bait out with no problems.

Then Bradley from Gremlins landed a small grey and we all got excited as it appeared that the fish had come back on the bite.

He had to go off to work, so he gave me a nice frozen Bonnny which I rigged up.

All good up to here……

First throw was about 120m, but I wanted to get further over the sand – because the tide was going out, there was lots of sand and the weed would have pulled my grapnel out.

So I attempt another throw and I really push it.

BANG……..

This was the result….LOL

It happened in a flash, I did not stand a chance.

With almost brand new Double X line (sob sob)

So off I went and there was not enough time to get another reel and go back….

WORK SUX … I wish that I could fish all day long !!

St Mikes Beach this morning. (Click to Enlarge)

Unfortunately I don’t have anything to report today as the fishing was rained out this weekend. I don’t mind fishing in the rain at all, but howling NE, seaweed in the water and muddy brown water kept me away.

The photo above is St Mikes beach this morning. The surf is small and the water appears to be cleaning up. The water was looking very glassy this morning and it put a smile on my face.

I might go and have a throw from Orange Rocks this afternoon. Let’s see how it goes.

Have a great day.

Regards – Shane

UPDATE:  SE Wind is pumping and there will be no fishing for the next few days…. SWAK !!

Howzit Everybody,

I have put together an aggregator site  (Whats an aggregator site?)  for Fishing Reports and Latest News – called www.FishingReports.co.za

It contains up to the second links from all my favourite Fishing websites.

How it works is very simple, it pulls all the latest headlines from the chosen sites and displays it on one page.

So when you see a headline that interests you, you click the link and the site opens to that page.

Visit FishingReports.co.za and have a look and tell me what you think.

If you would like me to include your site, then drop me a message

VISIT FISHINGREPORTS.co.za

Conditions have been alot better this month and some nice fish have been coming out all along the South Coast.

I have not been able to get any time off work, but YAHOO….  we are shutting down for the whole of December, so I am going to HIT IT HARD !!

Here are some photos of some Garrick that have been caught by some of my club mates.

Most are on Live Mullet, but they are also taking on spoon, rapala and popper.

So get down to the beach and get your line wet !!

Here are some pics, you can click to enlarge.

Cyril with his Garrick

Niven and his Garrick

Kessie and his Garrick

JoJo's Garrick (broke his cherry)

Rudi with his Garrick (first day of leave)

Werner with his Garrick's

Targa and his Garrick

Don’t forget : If you are visiting the Lower South Coast and you want some good advice and a personal tour, then book a Beach Buggy Tour with me.

More Garrick info:

• How to Rig Live Mullet for Garrick
• How to catch Garrick
• How to rig a perfect bait

This is what happens, whilst we are at work !!

Well friends, Targa has landed another Garrick.  This one was caught yesterday on live mullet at ********   (I am sworn to secrecy)

I always wondered what happens in the outside world,  when us poor sods are forced to work all day.

Time to re-evaluate my priorities in life.

I mean, who would not like to fish all day ??

So come on guys, support my Beach Buggy Tours, so I can quit my job and take people fishing all day.

Just think how many more articles I can publish.  Then you guys can sit at work and look at my fish that I caught.

Contact me on 081 4444 232

Here is some information of rigging live mullet for Garrick

A fisherman's smile !!

Our buddy Werner, has been putting in long hours on the beach, hunting a Garrick this season and at last “ou-toppie” comes right with a beautiful Garrick.

The fish took the live mullet, as he was sliding it out – hows that for service ?

Tackle used was a Blue Marlin HMG 6-8oz paired with a Saltist 50

It’s been a while, I know…

The conditions have been terrible for the last 10 weeks. Huge waves washing over Orange Rocks and most of the coast, there has been very little fishing going on.

I have fished a few times, but have not even got a bite.

However things are picking up and there have been a few Garrick and Kob coming out – PERFECT !!

Although the waves have been forecast again for the weekend, we will most definitely be fishing; most probably near Port Shepstone somewhere.

This is a Garrick that my buddy Aslam caught and a Kob landed by Attie.

Left: Garrick (6kg) Right: Kob (5kg)

So, let this be the “call to arms” – dust off your fishing tackle, wake up early, catch some live bait and get a line in the water.

I recommend hitting the river and netting some live mullet. (see here for info on how to rig a live mullet)

These two garrick were caught off the block today on live mullet. (How to rig live mullet)

It was definitely his day today as there was 6 rods out but both his rods decided to take off!

Mahindra (AKA Targa)  has been putting in hours of hard fishing this year and it has finally paid off with these two beautiful fish.

The tackle used was a L&F shockwave paired with a Daiwa SL50 and spooled with 30lb Maxima.

Nice to have a buddy like Dezlyn, as he was with Targa throughout both fights and helped him land those fish successfully.

Congratulations.

(thanks to Trishen for the report)

Fishermen throwing spoon off Pothole

Hello everybody, as you can notice, I have not had much time to go fishing lately. I have had such huge responsibilities and pressure at work, that I have not even been able to take half a morning off to go and throw a line and just as luck will have it, weekends have been big surf and lots of seaweed.

I did try the one night, fishing with my very good friend Koos -  tried Orange Rocks, but the surf was too big, there was a hectic side wash and plenty weed so, besides the great company – it sucked.

I did manage to take 20 mins to go and throw a few shots off Pothole, which is right in front of my house.  There were sardines coming past, but they were swimming right at the bottom and there was not sign of any Gamefish or Sharks – and again there was plenty seaweed.

Pothole is also very dangerous when the surf gets big,  so it was not very pleasant – but a nice fish would have changed all that …. lol

There were sardines netted at Margate and all he way up the coast last week.  A 120kg Raggie was caught at Orange Rocks and then a 30kg raggie the next day.

There was also a KingFish caught at Uvongo pool on a plug, but not much more action.

St Mikes beach during the Sardine Run 2011

So after a few throws, I shot left to St Mikes Beach, with is a 2 minute walk from my house, to see if these was any action.  There were plenty fishermen and spectators, but no sardines.

Although there were no fish, the vibe was very festive and there was a nice sense of community and “saamskap” – all we needed was a band and a beer tent and I am sure there would have been a great party on the go. It is a stunning beach, with a lagoon, a restaurant, swimming pools and plenty parking.

St Mikes Beach with the Lagoon on the left

St Mikes Pools. See the rubbed duck carrying nets to catch sardines

So that’s about all that has been happening my side.  Born to fish and forced to work.  But I have an absolutely fantastic idea for a fishing related business (if anybody has any interest in investing in such a business) which I am now working flat out to bring to fruition.

Give me a call on 079 0599 743  if you want more info, but its a good one.

Thanks to everybody who has booked a Buggy Tour – I am absolutely blown away at the response and at how much fun it is.

Also if anybody is in the area and needs an honest and reliable Mechanic or Auto Electrician , then call Fanie on 084 060 4489 and tell him that Shane sent you.  Sales, Repairs, Rebuilds, disk skimmming and auto electrical.  I met him after I got RIPPED off by another mechanic and he did such a good job that we have now become very, very good friends.

TODAY’S TIP: Buy a “Scratch Patch” from your local auto supplier or Midas and use it to polish your spoons.  They come out as good as new, with very little effort.  You can also use it to polish out scratches on your reel and rod… in fact on anything.  Call Brendan at Gremlins on 039 317 3233   for more info, if you can’t find one. Tell him Shane sent you.

In fact if you need any fishing related items, call Brendan – it’s very hard to find someone more knowledgeable and dedicated to the sport of fishing than him. He is always willing to assist, which is why I drive right across town from St Mikes to Margate to buy my tackle from him and Rob.

South Coast Fever 23 June 2011

More Sardine Run 2011 Articles

Sardine  Fever has hit the South Coast, with Pilot Shoals being netted at Hibberdene and Umgababa.

Seine Netters are waiting at Toti, for the Pilot Shoals to make an appearance.  Work from someone that was there this morning, is that they are far too deep, as the surf is very heavy today.

Sardines have been spotted swimming along the colour line all along the South Coast and the main shoal, said to be 6kms long should hit any day now. The North wind that blew yesterday has cooled the water down nicely, so lets just wait and see.

Photo taken today (through my front door security gate). Notice the Aloe's are in full bloom and the HEAVY seas in the background.

Now if you came on a BEACH BUGGY TOUR WITH ME, then this could have been you....lol

I fished Margate Pier early this morning and was blessed to catch a Garrick of around 8kgs.

Many Thanks to the Brave Gaf Man that risked his life to assist me in landing the fish.  For those that don’t know Margate Pier is very high and someone has to go down onto the rocks and gaff the fish.

I put a live shad out on the south aisle of the pier

There was lots of activity, you could see the odd shark in the water and plenty of really big dolphins.

There were five small pockets of sardines that past by, swimming on the colour line – too far for jig and drop, but I will be waiting for them when they come closer.

Food for a week !!

Please don’t forget my Fishermans Beach Buggy Tours, if you are in our area.

Fish like a Local !!