High expectations for upcoming Tuna Classic
TUNA fever is about to hit the Bay with the annual BLG Tuna Classic 2017 scheduled to take place from June 16-18. The popular competition will be hosted by the PE Deep Sea Angling Club.
Entries will close at noon on June 8 and registration will be from 4pm to 8pm on June 15.
The traditional blessing of the fleet will take place at Shark Rock Pier at 7am on the June 16 public holiday and the public is encouraged to support the send-off.
Looking at recent catches, I’ve been alerted to there is high expectations this year.
The competition has been moved from April to June and the general consensus is that this month is a better option when it comes to water temperature and the elusive bait fish (garfish) that create the food chain.
Today’s picture is of a yellowfin tuna caught by Jonathan Hill and weighing a whopping 91.5kg – which just goes to show there are big fish out there.
This monster was landed last Thursday out of Port St Francis. A number of tuna have been caught of late and the anticipation is building.
Let’s hope the weather plays its part. It is crucial for a successful event, which boasts numerous lucrative prizes.
For more information on the Tuna Classic, contact Pierre Westerveldt on 082-446-9663 or Richard Donaldson on 072-215-0038.
The estuaries continue to produce good fish and some very respectable grunter continue to be landed at Swartkops in the 5kg-plus class and a 40kg kob was also caught upriver at Gamtoos.
Shad are quite prolific around the coast at the popular holes around the rocky coastal sections, taking spoons at sunrise and sunset.
Pig-nosed grunter are also being caught around the sandy shores of St Francis Bay along with garrick. A number of good yellowtail have come out off Noordhoek too.
The fish are around and prospects look good for the next week building up to the full moon next Friday June 9.
An interesting website, www.moonconnection.com, will help you better understand angling by the moon phase, which is really not a complicated science. Moonrise and -set is as important as sunrise and -set. This is what stimulates aquatic life and sets the feeding trends.
The 90-minute period surrounding these four daily occurrences undoubtedly offer your best opportunities and you will be able to determine when the odds are in favour of better angling prospects.
The moon and resulting tides do influence the trends considerably. Good, productive anglers don’t just fish the opportunity but rather plan for the best prospects based on a number of factors. Wind and water temperature are also not to be ignored. This site can give you greater understanding of the inside of the success pot.
This weekend’s weather: We experience a light easterly today with a falling barometer. Tomorrow a north westerly wind will prevail at around 20 knots in strength for the duration of the day. Low tide is at 5.46am and by 2pm, the air temperature is expected to be around 27 degrees.
On Sunday, a reasonable westerly blows throughout with the glass climbing. I believe in fishing with the rising barometer.