Dad’s tagged fish caught two years later by his son
A LOCAL, very accomplished garrick angler, Grant Marshbank, tagged and released a garrick off the Port Elizabeth harbour wall on April 4 2015.
At the time, the fish measured 67.5cm and weighed about 3.73kg, according to the fish weight calculator of the Oceanic Research Institute (www.seaworld.org .za/ori).
Almost exactly two years later, on April 28 2017, his seven-year-old son re-captured this very garrick, which had grown a further 21.5cm and measured 92cm and 8.49kg on the scale (measurement to weight).
I am certain that this fish must have migrated during this time – as the seasons come and go, so do these fish.
It is remarkable indeed for it to be re-caught in the same place by the same boat at almost the same time of year, just a couple of years apart.
Interestingly, another fantastic catch was made in Knysna where a garrick of 30kg (146cm) was caught and released.
This is now a popular trend with this species and rightfully so as they are awesome, clean fighters.
A point to be noted: Hammerhead sharks are to be restricted to a “no take” species. The commercial permit conditions for this species (as a result of Cites status on the species) has already been in place for the dermersal long-line fishery.
I am told the new Recreational Angling Brochure also states this restriction, but legislation is yet to be proclaimed. This means you have limited time to catch and keep this species. Hammerheads are another species that have been over-exploited, it seems.
Onto another controversial topic:
Seismic blasting is planned off Plettenberg Bay.
Although a permit is still to be granted, the very same company had their permit application declined off the KwaZulu-Natal coast earlier this year.
The ocean is a world of sound. All mammals that dwell in our oceans are very sound orientated and the practice of seismic blasting threatens their well-being.
Seismic blasting is the use of compressed airguns in the search for oil and gas reserves. These guns blast every 10 seconds for the duration of the area scanned, which can continue unended for days.
The guns are towed behind boats covering the area being explored.
Unfortunately the space restriction of this column does not allow me to elaborate on the path of death and destruction these searches can create – not to mention the impact this will have on the local fishing economy.
Hopefully common sense will prevail.
On to a more positive topic – the Swartkops estuary continues to produce good grunter and some fine fish having been caught of late, with brutes measuring beyond the 70cm-plus bracket.
These grunters are most probably post-spawn fish in the usual feeding frenzy that occurs at this time.
However, exploitation of these fish remains a temptation to some who seek opportunistic spoils.
Weather wise, a light to moderate easterly wind prevails throughout the weekend with low tide at 10.53am tomorrow morning lending an opportunity for an afternoon pushing tide.
The barometer will remain high and I suggest looking at the “wild side” of the bay for surf anglers.