Exploring foreign seas does come with a catch
ANGLING in foreign waters is an experience of a lifetime, but it is not an impulsive decision to get out there and the financial input is a factor too.
A lot of planning is required, along with a prayer for good weather, of course.
My cousins, Eardley and Francois Rudman had such an experience in Costa Rica this past week, where they angled for giant tarpon in the San Juan Delta region on the Atlantic coastal side of that country.
This is an untouched, pristine eco-environment.
The delta is a freshwater system which pushes well out to sea, as the vast amounts of freshwater surpass any tidal influence.
Notice the water colour in the photograph is due to the heavy rainfall that is experienced there.
During their three-day trip, they hooked as many as 40 of the giant tarpon pictured, but succeeded in landing and releasing only 12 fish.
The fish were simply too strong, bending open many of the hooks in the duelling.
The size of the fish varied between 30kg to 80kg – nothing to sneeze at!
These beasts clear the water in spectacular fashion with every effort to break free once hooked.
They are simply awesome fish to catch and will test your skill and tackle to the limit.
Our local skipjack are simply dwarf representations of these giant tarpon, which can reach about 130kg, I am told.
Previously, I have written about similar experiences in Gabon on our continent.
Angola, being a closer destination, is also fast becoming an angling paradise for South Africans who want this lifetime experience.
The civil war in Angola fortunately had no effect on its aquatic environment and now that stability prevails, it is a destination with great potential.
Mozambique and the east African coast have already seen better days in my opinion, and are not as desolate as the west coast of the continent.
On the angling front, no spectacular catches have been reported locally, which is probably due to the southerly influence we have experienced of late.
Wind is always an important consideration when planning an outing.
The secret is to get the tide, water temperature and colour, wind direction and opportunity to peak together.
Studying the trends as mentioned and “downing tools” [if you are privileged enough] at the right time to fish is the art to whether you will be successful.
This weekend, we will experience a neap tide, with high tide at 8.02am tomorrow. An easterly wind will prevail today, turning west with the low tide tomorrow at 1.27am and reaching 50km/h in the afternoon, with afternoon and evening showers expected.
The wind progressively turns southerly on Sunday, becoming east by late afternoon, and moderating throughout the day.
Average prospects are expected for this period.