Ian Logie and the Green Turtle
Ian Logie and the Green Turtle: the turtles here in the Umzimkulu take baits. And lures!
I had a crew of guests down under the bridge at the Umzimkulu Mouth – on the inside. This was some time back. We had moored the boat against the Sandspit and were chucking plastics and all sorts, at the clean incoming tide. The water was crystal palace.
Bang!
One of the guys goes vas. The fish turns and heads upriver with the flow. And tears off. My guys is running along the sand, jumping under and over all the other guys fishing with bait rigs right there where the tide runs into the river. The fish just keeps going and going. Until there is nowhere further to run.
Stalemate!
Fish stops. My guy gets a wind in and wins some braid back. Next thing a HUGE human-like head pops up 50 metres away. A turtle! A really massive one. Eish! So the last thing we need is for the turtle to have 50 metres of braid attached to it if the line pops. So gently my guy starts to fight this behemoth in. He has the rudimentary 30lb braid that I recommend – on his side. A lekka stiff little rod, and a reliable reel. With a smooth drag.
He starts to win! The water is so clear and next thing this huge turtle is coming in towards us. He makes another run – the braid holds at maximum drag now – maybe 4kgs.
Pop!
The hooks comes clear! We cheer with relief, and my guy starts to bring his lure back in.
Bang!
The turtle will have none of it, turns and swoops in at the lure all over again. Vas! But luckily only for a moment. The second time the turtle must have sensed something out-of-sorts with that little fishy! And let her go again…
Ian Logie and the Green Turtle
Yip! Local fishing guide here in Sheppy Ian Logie has also added a gorgeous Green Turtle to his species tally. Obviously not on purpose. Ian loaded the turtle to get the hooks out nicely and gently released the pre-historic beast back into the river.
Ian is a professional guide here in Port Shepstone. And knows how to handle marine life carefully and considerately.
Nice work Ian!
It has been a helluva season here in the Umzimkulu Estuary this year. Unfortunately, it has already rained, heralding the end of the fantastic clean water conditions we have been experiencing lately. It might clear again one more time – we are counting on it. However, this is the time that the halocline (salt vs fresh water line) moves in and out of the river with gusto. Triggering all sorts of biological functions and things as it performs its natural cycle. A very interesting time of year indeed.
If you haven’t seen some of the brilliant catches that have been made here lately, The Sardine News is full of it! Just go down through the stories and choose a species you like!
Then hit the big green WhatsApp button for a direct line through to me and the fish. We can accommodate you at the Umzimkulu Marina. Umzimkulu Adrenalin will keep you busy – we are going into summer gamefish season here out in the ocean. And you can research fishing and MYDO Fishing Lures right here at https://thesardine.co.za/mydo.
