Well, with my Dad and Darrell Hattingh on the boat, when the rod finally went, I said – “Who wants this fish!”.

They both just said – “No you take it”.

So there I was, finally actually fighting a fish myself. Wierd!

And what a fight – these guys pack a punch – even on a couta stick – it took 20 minutes. We could see the fish 30ft down but it wouldn’t budge.

We also got a big bonnie and swam it live until it died – earlier on we saw a marlin with it’s bill out the water acting strange. But no strike.

The water was 22.5 to 22.9 and really dirty – about 20ft vis.

The market was empty, so we actually did quite well…and yes, we will be eating this fish tonight.

A few local spearos also bagged a couple, there were plenty in that shoal!

Stay tuned!

Sean Lange

aka Shonalange

By the time the Bluff ous calmed down and got serious about fishing, Tofo Zombie syndrome had set in already. Vinnie and Kelly were very distracted and confused, luckily Matt managed to stay focus and put in a real good effort. But it was beginner’s luck again, and Kelly got two really nice fish – his first couta, on a X-Rap 15 Bonito style on the inside at Barra. And then a marvelous Prodigal Son (Cobia), as he dropped a Bucktail, with a long red tail, straight down it’s mouth, just south of Barra Lighthouse. After an epic struggle on 20lb line lasting over an hour, the little coffee grinder was starting to take strain. Vinnie came to the fore and gaffed it deep under the boat. With so many whales, I mean SO many, there must be thousands of Cobia around. On one drift, a whole shoal caught us by surprise, swimming right past our baits and the boat! There was panic as everyone’s spinning stick was somewhere else! There must have been 30 with the big ones up front, followed by many about 10kg’s.

The crystal clear blue water unfurled around me as I swam down. The dollar bills were sinking and I was on their trail. The first one was surreal in the underwater sunlight. Got it! The next one was deeper but I soon had that green back in the hand. The last one was sounding fast, but my breath held, and I got that one too!

The thing is…when Ivan dropped the money, into the howling Sou’Wester, I had no qualms…until I realised it was my charter fee!

So there it was, clothes off, and into the water!

Luckily we also caught a nice bonito, which we swam live, but there were too many distractions about (like dollar bills), to conjure up a strike.

We also managed a yellowfin tuna thereafter, on Rapala, but that was that for our two trips together!

Thanks Louise, Ivan and Peter!