REEL TIME Make sure you pay heed to bait-collection by-laws
THE collection of bait is an interesting undertaking where experience rules for the angler.
Not only does this experience count in how long you toil in your efforts, but the low tide waits for no one. This means that once the tide has turned you have to be happy with your collection.
In order to gather the bait of choice you need also to have the legal implements.
In most cases your hands are the legal implements, however, there are exceptions. Devices are specifically excluded, however, people still use them to collect bait, especially bait which is difficult to gather up.
Crabs can easily be lured into a baited trap but they may only be collected by hand, or with a rod and line.
Mussels may be removed from the rocks that bear them with a flat-edge utensil, but the blade of this utensil must not be broader than 12mm.
Oysters may be gathered using a flat-edged blade not exceeding 1m in length and 40mm in width.
Mud prawn, the most popular of bait used by anglers may, besides a suction pump, be gathered with an inverted tin which blows them out of the holes without impacting on the sub straight.
This method is far less destructive than digging by hand which has proven to be the case at the Swartkops. The damage is irreversible in places on the estuary.
Razor clam, which is commonly known as pencil bait, may be extracted by the use of a wire not exceeding 500mm in length.
Then, you also need to remember that all bait types are also regulated by a daily bag limit.
The Marine Recreational Activity Information Brochure which has detailed information on the do’s and don’ts, can be obtained from the Department of Fisheries in Stanley Street in Richmond Hill.
The bay has been blessed with huge shoals of sardines which we have been waiting a long time for, and their presence is good for the angling scene.
There are two commercial boats operating at present in the bay and good fresh sardines will be on offer. We also are graced with favourable conditions at the moment and so if you have the time over the Christmas weekend, then take a walk to where the spots are not congested.
The Hougham Park surf zone seems to produce well at the moment with Gamtoos on the wild side creating quite a stir as well.
The estuaries are also very active with garrick, kob and grunter providing much excitement.
Today’s photograph is a fine example of garrick being caught at the moment. Edward Stopforth released this garrick, caught on a lead head, near the bridge on the Swartkops.
This weekend we are due to experience a westerly wind tomorrow with an easterly forecast for Sunday. There are no severe weather warnings during this period.
The water temperature is about 17°C in the bay with low tide at 12.21pm tomorrow. The tidal influence is not too aggressive as we approach the neap tide on Tuesday.