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Report from under the water by Jason Heyne

Jason Heyne shot the Rockie

The diving conditions this week have been average to above average if you braved the swell. King and queen mackerel have definitely arrived in numbers. Saturday early morning a light to moderate northeast blows with the swell running at 1.4m . Sunday a moderate south westerly blows from early picking up mid morning with a 1.5m swell running. So it looks like Saturday morning early is the best bet for a dive. Viz was reported north and south today. Our club champs has started and well done to Markus and Marco opening there accounts early with great fish. As always dive safe and straight spears

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Fly fishing Umdloti with JP Bartholomew

Fly fishing Umdloti with JP Bartholomew

And here we have JP Bartholomew entertaining us again with tales of fly fishing Umdloti, just north of where JP lives…

A final break in the weather and I wanted to get some flyfishing in and especially to see how my right arm was doing after battling with Tennis Elbow which I had been battling with for the last couple of month’s.I hit the Umdloti stretch with my 8/9wt Explorer fitted with a Explorer Orion 9wt Reel with intermediate line using a 22lb fluorocarbon leader.The water was flat with a slight South westerly wind blowing and as always fishing on a pushing in tide.The water was a nice green/blue in colour which was perfect not clean and not dirty the stretch was mine with the odd Holidaymaker Anglers trying there luck. A lot of scattered reef along the shorebreak and open gullies made it that more interesting to fly fish. Don’t you just ever get that feeling that today is just going to be an exciting morning for you not expecting anything big but just hopping for a epic morning’s session and you just wanna get going?  Well this time I had a awesome morning’s fly fishing.

I had set up my fly set up and looked for a fly best suited to try the water’s I was going to be fishing that would attract any rock or sand dwellers in the near vicinity of where I would target the are I would cast towards.I decided to go with a Black Clouser which would stand out and throw more of a dark silhouette and attract some nice Specimen to it.I started peeling off line to begin my assault, I managed to get close to some structure and felt some nice bums on my retrieve but no hook ups so I a slower retrieve and not long a went on tight  getting a few little head shakes I was just not quite sure what it was definitely not a small kingie of sorts, finally got it to surface and I had a little beauty of a Kob I quickly got a pic for my photo gallery and removed the fly and slowly released it back into the water stokked I was on the scoreboard I continued to cast around the same structure as well as bouncing my fly off a small sand bank to my left and slowly allowing it to sink and then slowly bouncing it off the bottom to get a reaction I tried the same retrieve a few times before I went on again.
My rod went tight and this fella was giving me stick which felt so good hoping to see what I had picked up a few more runs I slowly started retrieving the line back and slowly got it to the surface it was a nice size Stone Bream. I quickly got  my buddy to take a pic for the gallery and removed the fly and slowly released it back to fight another day epic seeing how much activity happens when you fish a pushing in tide and the conditions are right and the fish species  are roaming around looking for anything which gets knocked off the rocks or when the waves churned up the sand throwing up all sorts of crustaceans and small sprats allowing anything in tvicinityity to feed freely on them.
After a few more casts I finally moved on  to a different spot as the water was pushing a little more with more white water breaking over the rocks hoping to try target for a kingfish or two hopefully.I had a couple of casts into the white water  before going tight a a nice quick peel on my line zig zaggingfrom left to right very unasual fight after a few minutes I managed to get close to it so I could identify the fish I had hooked into – Eisssh my first a Concertina fish nice size too happy with my catch I just had to get the pic in quickly and release it back as soon as possible which I did.I  carried on for a while hoping for a bigger pick up as the gulley filled up nicely and the waves were still brakeing over the rocks it was still fish able for a few more casts.I slowly started moving out slightly more backwards so I could have a few more casts in front of me towards the bay that had build up in front while I was busy fishing but to no avail.
Fly fishing Umdloti with JP Bartholomew
Fly fishing Umdloti with JP Bartholomew and his Concertina Fish
I moved out and walked more down towards the bigger bays and try for some small Geeeeeet’s hopefully I kept to the Black Clouser why change your fly when you’ve been having such good results with it. I slowly started peeling off line to begin my casting I spotted a nice little gully which came off from a sand bank and dropped off into a nice deepish pool of running white water which is always a exciting spot to target kingfish ambushing sprats or smaller Mullet in the turbulenced water.It wasn’t long before I got smoked by something that just felt like another Concertina fish and yip it was another I safely removed the fly and released it back, carring on and casting into the channel I got a chase and it it my fly but missed the hook up I could only have been a small kingie so I kept at casting in the direction of the chase I got hoping it would give Me another go.No luck after a few more casts nothing was happening so I moved further down where to more of a sandy bay with a scattered reef to see what species I could hook my fly into and attract what ever is lurking along the sandy channels.
Well this would be my final session before my turn around and start to make my way back to my car. Looking to see where would be the best option to start I saw a sandy spot just starting to get water washing over the bank that could only be to My advantage with the water stirring up the sand and exposing small Crustaceans,  Sealice , Sand Shrimp….etc and all I had to do is cast my fly towards the turmoil and white water rolling around.
I gave myself 20min to cast and hopefully catch my last fish before before heading home for some family time….!! Well I started casting onto the bank and dropping my fly down and using a slow retrieve hoping something would see it amongst the sand and white water trying to get away and smash my fly. I just kept at it eventually I felt a bump then another bump and a miss then got a proper pick up and quickly held my line and lifted up my rod to strike I was on Dad finally I got my Species that was playing catch me if you can but with perseverance I hooked the cheeky bugger not knowing what it was it was a feisty fella gave Me a nice little rev retrieving  some line back I could see what looked to me like a little Grunter which landed up being My first Grunter on fly completely stokked at my little Spotted Grunter I took the Pic and released it back and got back to casting hoping for a bigger Boykie if there was one there must be more surely.
I changed my fly to a Brown Brush Fly to try impersonat a Brown Shrimp I casted for may be 15min then totally got Smashed I really thought I had the Daddy  Grunter but landed up being a nice size Stone Bream unfortunately I had to take the Pic of My Boykie Stone lying on the sand quickly removed the fly and released it back safely I got straight back into the channel and kept at it hoping just hoping for that Big Cock Grunter.Boom I was on again and what ever hit me it was peeling line and going for it , it was stripping Me nicely best fight I had all morning.I finally started getting my line back I thought I had a little kingie on but I had hooked a nice size Wave Garrick epic I placed the fella on the sand took the Pic and released it back into the water and watched it swim of into the blue.
Well I called it a morning a gr8 one at that and started heading back to my car and just enjoyed the playback’s in My head on the morning I just had , well maybe I’ll get My kingie the next time round…Homeward bound.
Tight line’s
Happy New Year My Friends have a epic weekend all the BEST FOR 2017…..GOD BLESS….!!!
Cheers JP.
Once again JP, many thanks for sharing your fishing experiences with us. It’s really motivating, educational and appreciated! – Sean
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KZN Spearfishing Report

KZN Spearfishing report filled with hardcore spearfishing imagery and compiled by Jason Heyne

KZN Spearfishing Report

KZN Spearfishing Report by Jason Heyne.

This informative and entertaining spearfishing report is really high on the WOW factor. Each week Jason and co-spearos compile a montage of really amazing spearfishing action photos. Thank you Jason!

“The diving conditions this week have been average with strong current and low viz in most areas. The conditions did improve dramatically today (Friday) with a moderate southwest blowing all day. Saturday morning a light northeast blows picking up speed during the day with the swell running at 1.2m. Sunday the northeast gets on it early morning picking up steadily during the day with the swell starting small and increasing in size through the day. So it looks like Saturday morning is the best bet for a dive. The snoek are on the north coast and rumour has it that one or two king mackerel have come out already. Brusher and grunter are thick in the shallows. As always dive safe and straight spears”

Jason Heyne

 

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Entries Still Pouring Through for Cell C Goodwave

Entries Still Pouring Through for Cell C Goodwave

Durban – the last month has seen a flurry of surfers applying for an entry into the prestigious Cell C Goodwave Surfing event that will take place in Durban next year. This competition, which is supported by Oakley and California Dreaming, is an invite-only event, but all surfers who are interested in competing in this contest for the R100k first prize need to enter the tournament. No entry – no chance of selection. Recent entries include Ricky Basnett, Warwick Wright, Jason Ribbink, Sean Holmes, Garth Weyer, Mikhael Vawda, Scott Venter, Lee Bisset, Tash Mentasti and Ethan Fletcher.

Ricky Basnett’s entry © Nic Aberdein Photography

Surfers need to apply by sending an email to info@craigjarvis.co.za with a few words as to why they think they should be competing in this event, along with a few images or a video that they might have. If they don’t have, that’s ok but they still need to apply, otherwise they’re not entered and can’t be selected.

You Have To Be In It To Win It!

Closing dates for entries is 30 November 2016.

All entries will be loaded up on the event Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/GoodwaveNewPier/ and the selection criteria and process are at the discretion of the event organisers, and no correspondence will be entered into.

The Cell C Goodwave surfing event is one of the most prestigious competitions in the country, and it is an invite-only event. The selectors will choose 32 of the best surfers in the country to compete in the event, as well as 32 alternate surfers.

Entrance fee for the selected surfers is one Rand, first place prize is R100,000, and the event will be hosted on the day by California Dreaming, overlooking New Pier on the beachfront. The contest is supported by Oakley.

The Cell C Goodwave is a South African Surfing Legends event, with Jason Ribbink the contest director.

The contest is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa.

The Cell© Goodwave – in loving memory of Lee Wolins.

For more information contact

info@craigjarvis.co.za

 

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The Goodwave Surf Contest Returns To Durban Thanks To CellC

Press release

For immediate publication

8 September 2016

The Cell© Goodwave Surf Contest Confirmed For 2017


New Pier, Durban – In exciting news, the South African Surfing Legends is proud to present the Cell© Goodwave, set to take place at New Pier in Durban in 2017.

The Cell© Goodwave will once again present an alternate take on the way traditional surfing events are held, and will once again become the most popular and talked-about contest on the South African surfing calendar. The Cell© Goodwave tournament has many unique aspects and components that make it a thrilling yet unconventional surfing competition.

– It is an invite-only event. There is no other way to surf the event than by an invitation. The best 32 surfers in the country will be invited to compete, and 32 alternates will be invited as well.

– The event is a one-day event, with 4 man heats and a sudden death format. The event thus comprises fifteen heats of insane high performance surfing. It has a 1-year waiting period, with the call being made on the advice of surf forecasting guru Spike from www.wavescape.co.za

– There is a 48-hour heads-up call, and a 24-hour green light call. When the contest is called on, invited surfers from all over the country have to start flying in or driving in to get to the New Pier in Durban by 6am on the day. It’s a fairly short window, and should they not get there in time they will forfeit their spot to one of the alternates.

– The contest has jetski assist for all and guaranteed excellent surf conditions – usually the day of the year at new Pier, Durban, arguably one of the best beachbreaks in the world.

Jason Ribbink enjoying what New Pier has to offer © Kelly Cestari

– The entry into the Cell© Goodwave is one Rand per surfer, and the prize for first place is R100,000. This is the biggest first prize on the domestic surfing circuit.

– The competition will be hosted at California Dreaming overlooking New Pier on the Durban beachfront, with perfect viewing access for judges, commentators, attending media upstairs, and a safe place for the surfers downstairs.

– The South African Surfing Legends will present the event, and Jason Ribbink will be the contest director.

Barry Wolins from South African Surfing Legends has been hard at work at getting this event back on it’s feet, and is confident that it will be a resounding success. “I’m really proud of the fact that we managed to resurrect this contest,” said Wolins. “It’s the most exciting event on the domestic surfing calendar. With the South African Surfing Legends behind it we have a good team to run a world-class tournament. Big thanks to Cell© for coming on board and sponsoring the competition.”

“We’re very pleased to be involved with such an event,” said Wayne Merris from Cell©. “It is very unique in the world of surfing, and we’re confident that Cell©’s involvement with the contest will be long and fruitful.”

If you feel you should be considerd as a competitor for the Cell© Goodwave, send your entry request along with an image, a video clip or some words as to why you should be considered to info. All entries will be posted on the Goodwave Facebook page, so please ensure that you have the necessary permissions for accompanying imagery and video.

The selection criteria and process is at the discretion of the event organisers, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Cell© is the Goodwave 2017 headline sponsor

The Cell© Goodwave is presented by the South African Surfing Legends.

The Cell© Goodwave is powered by California Dreaming.

The event is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa.

The Cell© Goodwave – in loving memory of Lee Wolins.

For more information contact

info@craigjarvis.co.za


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