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Dorado Strike Analysis – up close and personal

MYDO Dorado Spread Target Acquired

Dorado Strike Analysis – up close and personal

Dorado Strike Analysis – up close and personal : this might be the best experience I’ve gotten from my underwater cameras so far. I’ve got shad chowing like piranhas. Sharks tailing my boat. Couta attacking. So many cool experiences and visuals.

But this…the clean water, the lighting, the big shad live bait…and this shoal of eager Dorado…just takes the cake.

Strike 1

This first Dorado does not hesitate. She comes straight in for the kill. But even with that 8/0 hook in its lip, the shad makes a successful evasive manoeuvre?! Only visible with 60 fps footage to work with.

Dorado Strike Analysis - Strike One - the Dorado comes straight in for the kill - zero hesitation
Dorado Strike Analysis – Strike One – the Dorado comes straight in for the kill – zero hesitation

Strike 2

It takes a few seconds for the others to close in and investigate. These guys never went in blindly and on the charge like the couta aka king mackerel do. Well, the first dorado did just go straight in. But soon enough one of them gets driven beyond temptation and moves in for the kill shot.

The shoal of angry dorado move in and harass the shad flat out
The shoal of angry dorado move in and harass the shad flat out

To the head! Watch the full video analysis at the end of this post. Click the link to watch it on YouTube for the full interactive experience.

Dorado Strike Analysis - Strike Two - the dorado has got the shad by the head and is performing evasive meanuevres
Dorado Strike Analysis – Strike Two – the dorado has got the shad by the head and is performing evasive manoeuvres to leave the pack behind her

Every time, these fish aim for the kop, and immediately they are clear of the pack, start to turn the bait around and swallow it head first. They way they can manipulate and move that bait into swallowing position – head first – even under drag, is way impressive and clearly demonstrated in the video coming up at the end of this post.

Strike 3

The shad was free again. I pulled him right away from striker two. But striker three was right there and in half a second had gotten ahold of the shad.

Exactly the same. A lightning blow to the head. Coupled with an extreme charge to escape the pack, and then down the gullet. Except my 3 kgs of Stella drag once again came into effect and never allowed that to happen.

Dorado Strike Analysis - Strike Three - another headshot and she refuses to let go
Dorado Strike Analysis – Strike Three – another headshot and she refuses to let go

I need my camera back every time! I have lost quite a few over the 5 years or so that I have been using them. Check out the GoFish cameras right HERE.

This is the exact moment that I was able to pull that shad away from striker two dorado - he nearly got it down
This is the exact moment that I was able to pull that shad away from striker Two Dorado – he nearly got it down

Since I have these cameras, there is absolutely no way I want to ever catch a fish again. I want only to film the strike and underwater action!

Holding on tight this dorado refuses to let my bait go even under 3kgs of drag
Holding on tight this dorado refuses to let my bait go even under 3kgs of drag

Watch in it all in super-slo-mo video right here…

Dorado Attack Behaviour Strike Analysis Underwater – YouTube (click to watch on YouTube or enjoy below)

Buy at https://thesardine.co.za/mydo

Learn at https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk

Come fishing with us at Umzimkulu Adrenalin. Stay at the Umzimkulu Marina. Check out the marlin fishing at FishBazaruto.

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Making a MYDO Telescopic Couta Trace (with downforce)

MYDO Telescopic Couta Trace Number One

Making a MYDO Telescopic Couta Trace (with downforce)

The MYDO Telescopic Couta Trace can take any bait from a sardine to a bonnie. And everything in between! And its new spoiler design copied from the new Porsche GT3 RS adds in buckets of effective downforce.

More depth, and a lot more action!

Heavy-duty

This will most likely be your biggest bait out the back and therefore, like all other HD traces by MYDO, features double wire droppers. From a super sharp wire single. To the 4 X wire trebles that hold onto anything they touch.

The leader is also #7 wire, although it can (and should) be rigged with 200 to 300lb nylon. The 300 is too strong for a couta too bite through. The 200 id borderline. But your strike rate will increase radically if you string nylon up front.

And you will hold onto a freaking out billfish a great deal better than you would with wire.

Versatile

You can tie one of these traces on and use it all day long. Brings a dead bait back to life. And handles a live bait with no problem. Front hook through the lip and off you go. If the live bait pegs, rehook through both lips, bend the rigour mortis out, and you have a beautiful swimming bait.

For live or dead bait.

Available

We are still looking for cheerful tackle shop owners to stock our innovations. But in the meantime, contact Sean on +27793269671 or umzimkulu@gmail.com. There is also a big old WhatsApp button floating around on this page somewhere. That patches you through on a direct line to the factory. Where we are looking forward to being of assistance.

Links

Check out our other YouTube Channels that might interest you…

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews
https://youtube.com/@brucifire
https://youtube.com/@waterwoes

And our websites…

https://thesardine.co.za (neva miss a single sardine)
https://thesardine.co.za/mydo (South Africa sales)
https://mydofishinglures.co.za (in USD with worldwide delivery)
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za (charters and activities KZN South Coast)
https://umzimkulu.co.za (self-catering accomodation on the Umzimkulu Estuary)
https://fishbazaruto.com (extraordinary fishing for marlin)

Couta Gallery

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Making up a MYDO Stripbaitswimmer and other innovative and fun fishing solutions

MYDO StripBaitSwimmer

Making up a MYDO Stripbaitswimmer and other innovative and fun fishing solutions

Making up a MYDO Stripbaitswimmer and a few other innovative and fun fishing solutions: Making this video was heaps of fun. Zero injuries. And a bunch of new innovations that feature at the end of the video. That will definitely contribute to your strike, and hook-up ratios.

We start off showcasing our last videos trace – the MYDO Telescopic Trace specifically tied with big couta aka king mackerel, in mind. And then quickly move on to today’s mission – making up a MYDO StripBaitSwimmer Trace.

Tyning up a MYDO StripBaitSwimmer just in time for the summer gamefish season

Targeting

This is the most versatile and productive rig in the MYDO Couta Spread. It will catch your live bait. And your trophy fish. Sailfish jump on a well-presented and placed fillet bait. Couta and Natal Snoek love ’em. Jobfish, kingfish, snapper and even reef fish gobble ’em down.

Being a shiny, juicy surface bait – you are in the game with dorado, sailfish and little marlin.

MYDO StripBaitSwimmer rigs quick and easy. A bit of cotton secures the deal for faster trolling.
MYDO StripBaitSwimmer rigs quick and easy…the front hook holds the fillet in place.

Construction

Double-wire droppers and 4X back hook. A strong single up front holds the bait in place.

Deployment

With a thinly sliced fillet cut from a bonito belly shine draped down the length of the droppers, just chuck a couple of these rigs out the back. Staggered. But close. Just inside, and outside the propwash. Where the water is turbulent and foamy. The strike zone.

See the video for 3D depictions of these guys’ positions in the spread.

If you are gonna use a soft bait like sardine, a bit of cotton will be necessary.

New Innovations from MYDO

In development for a number of years, the MYDO BaitFlashers are now available. These flashy stickers go on the outside lower part of the gunwale. There are visuals showing more in the video.

Be the baitball you want to be!

MYDO BaitFlashers
MYDO BaitFlashers are available now.

And a special rig is demonstrated as the MYDO BuckShot which is simply a big old sailfish fly and a nicely weighted MYDO Baitswimmer Silver Bullet leading it out to the backline and beyond.

Thank you for joining us today, this MYDO Tackle Talk channel is becoming a cool place to hang out, even I am enjoying it here!

Check out our Youtube at https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews.

If it’s surfing news you are after head on over to Brucifire Surf Reports.

Use the menu above to browse our products. Get in touch to make an order. Retailers are welcome at standard industry discount rate. Sean on umzimkulu@gmail.com or +27793269671.

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Fantastic Vilankulos Weather and Fishing going on right now

This is the FishBazaruto.com zone and where you will most likely catch your best fish ever. The Vilankulos weather is epic at this time of the year.

Fantastic Vilankulos Weather and Fishing going on right now

Fantastic Vilankulos Weather and Fishing going on right now: whilst South Africa is being beaten to a pulp by hail in some places, other places are snowing, and there was even a tornado in Standerton – up north in Vilankulos – it is braai vleis, fishing, sunny skies and Chevrolet.

Almost every day!

Vilankulos Weather

In the early summer like this, the predominant airflow around the east part of Southern Africa is a huge cyclical flow of air running clockwise with its centre kind of in the Lowveld. As the monumental system turns slowly, it affects the different regions it passes through, differently.

Up north in Vilankulos, almost halfway up the sheer length of Mozambique, the wind predominantly is an offshore/sideshore that is a sheer delight to be in and around. Cools you down just when you really start to overheat in the humidity that so prevails up there in the Bazaruto Archipelago.

Down South

In KZN, South Africa, where the flow is currently predominantly howling onshore, we get rain and blasting winds as the high-pressure systems up top, battles the low-pressure guys as they traverse the country on their journeys north.

These arguments between the two winds happen every day!

The fishing

So whilst we down south here have to take our chances the minute the winds and rains give us a gap – up in Vilankulos weather conditions are firmly on your side.

This brings us to the fishing…

The fishing has been excellent off Vilankulos. And so has the flow of content from the Bazaruto fleet. Which in turn gets turned into these videos…

There are also all of Captain Duarte Rato’s marlin fishing reports, available for you to check out, on the FishBazaruto website.

Vilankulos weather and fishing in November
Vilankulos weather and fishing in November

More video to follow, in the meantime stay in touch with The Sardine News. Come fishing with us at Umzimkulu Adrenalin. Get properly kitted with MYDO Fishing Tackle right HERE.

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Standerton Tornado breakdown and analysis

The Standerton Tornado by Adobe AI

Standerton Tornado breakdown and analysis

Standerton Tornado breakdown and analysis: The recent tornado that struck Standerton, a town in South Africa, has caused widespread damage and left many residents in shock. The tornado hit the town on a Sunday afternoon, catching many people off guard.

Witnesses reported seeing roofs being ripped off houses, trees being uprooted, and debris flying through the air. The tornado also caused power outages in some areas, making it difficult for emergency services to respond quickly.

Thankfully, there were no reports of fatalities or serious injuries. However, many residents have been left without homes or have suffered damage to their properties. The local government and aid organizations have been quick to respond, providing temporary shelter and assistance to those affected.

The tornado has also highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness and response in the area. With climate change causing more extreme weather events, it is crucial for communities to have plans in place to minimize damage and protect residents.

As the cleanup and rebuilding efforts continue in Standerton, the community is coming together to support each other and rebuild stronger than before. It is a reminder of the resilience and strength of the people of South Africa in the face of adversity.


Here at The Sardine News we seasonally do weather commentaries. We also put out our own weather and wave warnings. You can check our most recent warning about the swell surge and tsunami occurring simultaneously recently, right HERE.

You can watch our YouTube Channels:

The Sardine News

Brucifire Surf Reports

Master Watermen