Posted on Leave a comment

Wetlands in KZN Talk to be held at Crocworld Conservation Centre on 8 July

Wetlands in KZN Talk to be held at Crocworld Conservation Centre on 8 July

Fresh news in from OJ concerning the fragile and important wetland systems endowed to us…”

Popular guest speaker and renowned horticulturalist Geoff Nichols will be presenting a talk at Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh (Kwa Zulu-Natal South Coast) on 8 July. Nichols will focus his talk on Wetlands in KZN.

“My talk will be a ramble through the wetlands both wild and illusionary (human constructed) in my travels for work and pleasure. I will touch on why we have to conserve and manage our sponges in this country. It is not a technical talk, but rather a fun visit to places that when walking through them, you get your feet wet,” commented Nichols.

Nichols has diplomas in agriculture, horticulture, and parks and recreation administration, all of which came in useful during the 21 years he spent working for the Durban Parks Department. He specialises particularly in indigenous gardening, and pioneered the cultivation of indigenous medicinal plants at the Silverglen Medicinal Plant Nursery. In 1996, Nichols set up his own horticultural consultancy, and has published several books on a variety of topics, including plant propagation, medicinal plants, and wild gardening.

“Mr Nichols is an amazing guest speaker and is incredibly knowledgeable. This talk will be a fascinating one – that’s for sure,” commented Martin Rodrigues, General Manager: Crocworld Conservation Centre.

Tickets for the talk will cost R75 per adult and R35 for pensioners. Registration and welcoming will begin from 8:30am and the talk will commence at 9:00am. Tickets will entitle guests to complimentary teas and coffees, as well as access to the Crocworld Conservation Centre’s vast grounds, Izinyoni Indigenous Nursery and the Le- Rendez- Vous restaurant.

 

To avoid disappointment, tickets for the talk must be reserved in advance. For bookings, contact Crocworld Conservation Centre on 039 976 1103 or 083 654 9651 or emailcrocworld@cbl.co.za. Account Details: Crocworld (Crookes Brothers Limited) Banking Details: FNB, Branch: Scottburgh, Branch Code: 220227, Account Number: 53640119111. Please fax the proof of payment to 039 978 3279.

Share
Posted on Leave a comment

Sardine Report 2017 mid June: Umkomaas Baitball spotted

Sardines at Sunwich Port, on the lower south coast of KZN Natall

Sardine Report 2017 mid June: Umkomaas Baitball spotted

Social Media is keeping us well up-to-date with anything sardines, and this recent Facey post from Umkomaas waters is tantalising evidence that the show is about to start.

 

https://www.facebook.com/pg/AgulhasHouse/videos/ really have their finger on the pulse.

And along with Offshore Africa down in Port St. Johns, and SeaCandy Media in East London, we got most of the coastline covered.

Stay tuned for more imagery and video from these professional sardine run tour operators.

And don’t forget to pop into Mannie’s in the middle of Umkomaas, where you can get fresh advice, fresh bait, fresh produce and fresh vegetables, all in the same place. Now that’s a convenience store!

You can read more about Mannie’s here/…

https://thesardine.co.za/2017/01/24/fishing-umkomaas-mannies-mydos/

This year’s Sardine Report is sponsored by Pelagic Fishing Gear…no more sunscreen pollution! Click the logo to shop online…

Pelagic
Pelagic Fishing Gear
Share
Posted on Leave a comment

Video: Sardine Run 2017 – underwater whales and dolphins by Offshore Africa

Flying with Offshore Africa

Video: Sardine Run 2017 – underwater whales and dolphins by Offshore Africa

Video: Sardine Run 2017 – underwater whales and dolphins by Offshore Africa.

Check this daredevil underwater videography of cetaceans large and small, as they congregate for the annual sardine run.

The 2017 Sardine run has kicked off on schedule, with Offshore Africa bringing back and processing the world class video material shot by David Du Tigre – out at sea with Captain Rob Nettleton, just this week (early June 2017).

Offshore Africa have a few booking slots available for Sardine Run 2017. Going to sea with Rob and Debbie at this time of the year puts you in the game for all sorts of action. In amongst the patient whales and dolphins prowl the impatient sharks and gamefish. The bird flight is gathering force as they have been congregating in huge numbers – patrolling the coastline up and down, looking out for signs of sardines.

Read all about the action right here…

The Sardine Run – by Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns

and get in touch at this link…

Contact Offshore

Join and like Offshore Port St. Johns on Facebook…and get up-to-date posts as they happen…

https://www.facebook.com/offshoreafricaportstjohns/

Content by The Sardine News

Sardine Run 2017

Share
Posted on 1 Comment

Sunscreen causes cancer and is made from petrol!

Sunscreen causes cancer and is made from petrol!

On every other day in Tofo, in the seasons, we get to do island trips in the Inhambane Bay. There are two main islands – Ilha do Porcos, and Ilha do Rato. These two are inhabited, and feature schools and churches and even roads. They are bustling with activities. Mainly catching a drying seafood. Prawns baking in the sun. Fish drying in the wind. The island life.

The huge Inhambane Bay. Whitesands to starboard, Linga Linga to port. Panzy Island dead ahead. Sunscreen causes cancer! Get your shade on instead!
The huge Inhambane Bay. Whitesands to starboard, Linga Linga to port. Panzy Island dead ahead. Sunscreen causes cancer! Get your shade on instead!

Then there is Panzy Island. Or survivor island. Panzy features mild vegetation. But there are many more little sand islands, that people call Panzy Island, or Survivor Isand. Depends on what language your skipper speaks.

Anyhow, Panzy has the most beautiful little beach tucked into a bay on the Westward lee. Protected from the prevailing onshores. And skirted with a patch of seagrass – filled with all sorts of creatures. Wierd worm like things. Sea cucumbers. Starfish. Urchins. And even fiesty little octopii. Seahorses are the holy grail of snorkeling world wide, and can be encountered here on Panzy.

Invariably we would be hosting a bunch of touros, from all over the world. They stay at the backpackers or lodges in and around Tofo, and taking these peeps to the islands, and then on to lunch at Linga Linga, cruising the bay, dragging lures and catching fish, photographing flamingos – is a real fun job.

These touros would coat themselves in sunscreen. On and on. Over and over. And when they jumped into the clear cool waters of the Inhambane Bay, the oil slick could be seen and smelt for miles. A disgusting chemical film surrounded us wherever we went. And then they would get out of the water, and apply more, and more.

I have never really put on sunscreen. It gives me pimples! And I know that the petrol based derivatives used therein are explosively dangerous. Known carcinogenics and other poisonous ingredients. Sunscreen causes cancer!

I was so relieved when I saw the article as follows, backing up my claims as facts…

Sunscreen and the Lies We’ve Been Told About the Real Causes of Skin Cancer

Give it a read.

And there are many more sources on the net to back the claims up further.

So.

Trust me on the sunscreen!

As can be seen from the above article, the best way to prevent sunburn, is shade. So if you are fishing all day, wear protective gear. There are many options, and some of the kit is even given a rating similair to that of sunscreen. You can buy long sleeve super light weight shirts and all sorts – that are SPF 50 rated.

Follow the following link on over to Fishing’s Finest, who distribute the Pelagic brand of sun beating kit.

http://fishingsfinest.co.za

Share
Posted on Leave a comment

Huge tuna problem in Spain for kayak anglers

Huge tuna problem in Spain for kayak anglers

Huge tuna problem in Spain for kayak anglers

Well I really enjoy birthday wishes but this one nearly knocked me off my chair! It comes from Marc Hansel, an enthusiastic angler fishing the waters of Spain?!

Happy Birthday Sean,,all the very best to you?…Rikki and his 3 brothers are visiting me here in Spain,,They lost 6 giant tunas on live Mackerel..in 3 days, of the Kayak..,We are using Penn slammer 760 ,,,,45 pound line 250 m.. ,Backed with 80 pound braid 300m..with 80 pound leader..we have no chance of landing them..The Tunas I estimate at 150 kg-250kg..or even bigger,,Serious problem they are..any suggestions on Tackle etc?? we see plenty that are around 10-30 kg..but we always hook the monsters?

Now, what level fishing problem does that present?! Well it’s a great challenge that’s for sure…one I would love to have!

Ok Marc, best get a two speed 30 at least. The graphite ones are cheaper and more suited to the kayak environment. Plus they are lighter. Stand up rigs work ok on a kayak, I like a slightly longer rod with backbone but a forgiving tip. You can load a 30 with a thousand metres easily if you use 80lb backing for 600 metres, and 400 metres with top line 80lb. You can go 50lb on the 30 because it’s hard to put heaving drag when you on a ski. Even 8kg’s of strike drag will flip your kayak so fast if you not watching. Double up strikes can get very dangerous so don’t put two sticks for fish these sizes. So you set the drag to 8kg’s on strike, and then maximum drag should be up at like 12kg’s. The circle hook (20/0) means you leave the drag slightly on whilst trolling and you get a chance to clear things and brace for the 8kg pull coming up. Wind on leaders are super cool for skis, you just tie the circle hook straight on – no swivel to complicate matters. Go for 400lb, and tie the mackerel on through the eyes with about 6 inches of free swinging waxed string, or whatever you have handy. Just let the tuna swallow the bait and slowly turn up the drag all the way to strike and get stable.

Fighting a fish on a ski with such serious drag is a huge challenge, you will be so super unstable. If the fish shakes it’s head, at that size, as the drag turns on and off, you will be shaking like a leaf in a gale. So you really got to concentrate – and take every precaution beforehand. Lifejacket. Flares. Capsize rope. Tail rope. Flying gaff and rope. Shackles. Drinking water. Comms. Anchor. Capsize container…

It’s best to kind of keep the rod tip near the boat in front of you, so the length of the ski provides the leverage you need to stop a tuna that size. If you let the fish fight you at a right angle, you gonna flip easy. Flipping is not the end of the world, your rod tied to the ski in case of this. If you gonna use a harness, best you tie yourself to the ski. Hatches closed and everything stowed – too easy. Knife attached to you at all times, like in your lifejacket. To cut the line or whatever comes up.

You also got to use the buddy system and stick together. Don’t try this on your own, a tuna this big will tow you to France!

Now , puulleeaase get one of these fish out bru!

The whole world is watching! Take cameras!

Share