Author: Sean Lange

Anarchist random.
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45kg couta off Hibberdene

45kg couta off Hibberdene

Roger Davidson may have entered the elite 100 pounder club, with this massive ‘couta (king mackeral) taken on a live bonito, off Hibberdene this weekend. Unfortunately Roger gutted the fish before he weighed it, so we will never know!

The photo does not do the fish of this size any justice at all. Although it does look like Roger could stick his entire head into that fish's mouth!
The photo does not do the fish of this size any justice. Although it does look like Roger could stick his entire head into that fish’s mouth!

Either way, it’s a magnificent catch – the catch of a lifetime for sure! Maybe it bodes well for another bumper big ‘couta run – like last years.

There are very few shoal ‘couta coming out anywhere, it seems the ‘couta population on our coastline is starting to age and we only have the big ones left?! Luckily the worldwide couta population is spread far and wide and in certain well maintained fisheries like Australia, the stocks are still healthy and should be able to bolster the stocks that are being so hammered, on our side of the Indian Ocean.

Roger fishes from a jet ski. The fish was 1.9 metres long. Must have been quite an interesting ride home!

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South Coast Amberjack

South Coast Amberjack

The hard hitting south coast Amberjack hang out in the deep water along our continental shelf. Ferocious fighters and voracious eaters they will devour an entire live bonito no problem. And then it’s really on! Relatives of the formidable yellowtail they fight hard and dirty, often taking you into the reef. And when you finally work him to the top, he goes straight back down to the bottom again!

Brian-Lange-Kingfish
A nice South Coast Amberjack caught by Brian Lange this last weekend.

They are big fish these amberjack – the biggest recorded unofficially went over 100kg’s! The offficial world record stands at 70kg’s. We get them up to around the 50kg mark but we can only imagine and speculate about the ones that have gotten away. Even a 20kg Ambo will stretch your arms a while!

The three species so closely resembling eachother – Seriola Lalandi (Cape Yellowtail), the Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) and the Tropical Yellowtail (Seriola rivoliana), have caused confusion for aeons. In fact, the world record for Cape Yellowtail was actually an Amberjack and was re-recognised as such, a few decades later.

It was caught by Ray Bannister-Jones off Hibberdene, and weighed 58.5kg’s!

More yellowtail and amberjack stories on thesardine.co.za here…

 

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Mercury in yellowfin tuna

Mercury in yellowfin tuna

The environmentally friendly crew at The Watchers – follow the link below to get acquainted with them – are doing a great job of keeping tabs on what is going on all over our ailing planet.

http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2015/02/05/mercury-concentrations-in-hawaiian-yellowfin-tuna-increasing/

This story however is of particular relevance to us…we catch and eat heaps of south African yellowfin tuna, which also are likely to be affected.

Here is more on mercury in tuna from One Earth…

http://www.onearth.org/earthwire/tuna-mercury-levels-rising

…and a particularly good graphic depiction of the problem…

From One Earth .Org…

However, it’s not just yellowfin tuna and it’s cousins. ALL our fish are being subjected to mercury pollution this way. All studies on the subject show increased levels of mercury in our fish – redfish, pelagics…all of them!

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Barra on your desktop…

Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo - in da barrel

Barra on your desktop

A little something to inspire. And more news of the cyclonic conditions in southern Mozambique…

The_Sardine_Barra_15

Click on the image for the highest resolution image, download it, and save as your desktop…
On Barra…- it’s not as tame as it looks. The sand comes up real steep as you can see through the wave in the photo, and breaks real fast as it unfolds onto the bank. Some 6ft waves break in 2ft of water – sending sand and foam 20ft into the sky – like an explosion.
On the recent cyclones… – The last one just screamed past us to the south making 1000 kilometres in no time flat. It sent us all the usual enticements – SSW winds, ENE swell but is now disappearing around Madagascar a bit too quick. If it hangs around anywhere in that sector of ocean though, the waves will never stop! Today it’s gonna be about 4 ft at Neptunes Bar and Restaurant, carefully positioned right in front of the heaviest barrell section on that almost famous strip of sand.
On Tofinho…- Tofinho also gets herself some lovin’ from the east swells. Invariably more hollow but sectiony down the point. The bay has been full of surfers sharing the magical conditions and crystalline water with baitballs and kingfish.

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Too hot to surf…

Too hot to surf…

…or do anything else for that matter, between 11 and 3 or so each day lately, here in Tofo, Southern Mozambique. With the thermometer climbing to over 40 degrees more often than not, even surfing is nigh impossible. It’s not so much the sunburn – rashies, hats and cremes take care of that challenge – but rather the sheer levels of exposure your body must go through to get out there and surf. Many beach accesses see you traipsing through that dark black sand that literally melts in the sun, finding it’s way between your toes and everywhere else it can. Fishing is no easier – it seems the only safe place around here is underwater!

DSCN9514
Too hot to surf…find a shady spot and sit tight! Even when Tofinho just keeps pumping them out.

 

Scuba diving is safer than snorkelling as the sun can really teach you a lesson as you drift around completely exposed with a layer of water to fool you that you are not being burnt at all!

Tofo Scuba has recently adopted new owners Brodie and Danny, who have revitalised the fantastic venue – right on the beach, a kilometre or so north of Tofo town. As dive operators Tofo Scuba has been around for a very long time – their team is highly regarded as real professional, and friendly to boot.

Aside from the scuba activities, the daily ocean safari’s search the crystal clean and warm water here for whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, dolphins, porpoises, whales and maybe even the odd shark if you get really lucky.

The restaurant operated by Tofo Scuba starts early and closes early…which suits us all fine since Tofo generally only get’s going each day after 9. It is called 23 degrees and the kitchen fires up at 7am! A really tasty breakfast and a good coffee sets you up for the day.

tofoscuba

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