Tag: wild coast

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Book your sardines now!

Book your sardines now!

Sardines! Coming fast!

Offshore Africa, The Sardine specialists down in The Transkei, have already started taking bookings, for their Sardine Run experience.

Which is…jump right in with them, sharks and all!

Make no mistake, it’s a military type operation, and Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith, partners in the show, take it very seriously. Their combined experience adds up to decades on, and under the ocean. Heaps of this time surrounded by dangerous marine animals. It is this experience that allows the totally mind-blowing trips out to sea off Port St. Johns to happen. Coupled with reliable, fast boats, and well-trained skippers…the exhilarating ride out through the surf and up and down the awe inspiring Wild Coast, will never be forgotten.

Right from the word go, the adrenalin starts pumping. Loading up, and prepping the powerful RIBs growl into life, as the winter induced offshore wind pumps down the stupendously beautiful Umzimvubu Valley. The next thing your heart is in your mouth, as you face the most hardcore ride of your life – through the surf at the Port St. Johns river mouth! And out to sea!

Flying with Offshore
Flying with Offshore – Rob Nettleton at the helm

The sardines are easily spotted by the birds they attract. Seagulls, Gannets, Albatross, Skuas, Terns…they are all highly aware of the bounty at large. And where the sardines are, that’s where the dolphins, whales, sharks, fish…are.

Jump right in!

Yip! The next thing you are surrounded my marine wildlife. The clear blue waters reveal all. The entire food chain! Staying out of the food chain is not that difficult really, sticking together provides the single biggest advantage – confidence. Just float there calmly and observe the carefully controlled mayhem, as predators who normally are averse to each other, start to work as a Springbok team. Those poor sardines!

Enjoy this gallery from the 2015 Sardine Run…

The sardines take a hammering from all kinds of marine wild life

There is more amazing imagery and video at this link…

http://offshoreportstjohns.com/?product=the-sardine-run-6-nights-5-days

 

Enjoy this cool video montage assembled from some of Rob and Debbies best footage, shot in and around Port St. Johns.

To get in touch with Offshore Africa…

http://offshoreportstjohns.com

https://web.facebook.com/offshoreafricaportstjohns/

 

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Transkei fishing well

Transkei fishing. Brian Lange with yellowtail

Transkei fishing well

There is not much better fun than fishing Transkei waters.

When the weather allows,..of course.

Brian and Marc Lange, and Karl Gous – the bottomfishing A-team, were lucky enough to be down that way, at Mgazana, the last few days. They jacked “Raffles”, Dr Hulleys legendary Acecraft and came back with some great photos…

Karl with a live bait caught garrick just south of Mgazana
Karl with a live bait caught garrick just south of Mgazana

It’s not easy to get out and into these waters to fish – the Transkei is not called The Wild Coast for nothing! Strong currents and wild weather combine with huge swells to make this area quite foreboding, for any craft.

But the good boat Raffles was built for these conditions and the narrow river mouth launch.

More pics to follow…

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Sardine run 2016 preparations with Offshore Africa

Sardine run 2016 preparations with Offshore Africa

Sardine run 2016 preparations with Offshore Africa have begun already as everybody looks forward to that bumper sardine run we all deserve.

Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns take divers right into the sardine bait ball action where every kind of marine perdator can be seen hard at work. Gorging the shoals of hapless sardines, they compete and work together – their common goal – the obliteration of bait balls, one by one.

Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith, who for a decade now have operated boats and dive expeditions in The Transkei, arrange accommodation and meals for punters, and then take them to sea on one of their custom designed and rigged inflatables. The surf launch through the Umzimvubu River mouth warms the adrenalin valve up nice, and by the time you reach the action, you will be well into a state of flow. And that is the way you will stay as you get to jump in with sharks and whales and fish and dolphins and gannets…sensory overload is part of the menu.

Port St. Johns is far enough south and Offshore are normally the first to encounter the huge shoals. Other attractions include great fishing in the river and off the shore, incredible hikes through forests and over mountains – some that drop straight into the ocean, wide open beaches, a quaint settlers town to explore…the list is long.

At this time of the year, bookings with Offshore Africa for the 2016 sardine run, start to fill up fast. But, because of last years fantastic run, Rob and Debbie have extended their Sardine Run 2016 experience availability, adding a week or two on either side of their last years schedule.

Click on over to Offshore Africa Port St. Johns for more information and to make a booking.

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Cottage for hire in the Transkei

Cottage for hire in the Transkei

Cottage for hire in the Transkei: Fishing and exploring the Transkei Wild Coast is to me, second only to what heaven might be. The place is filled with the most interesting aspects of flaura and fauna, history, geological marvels, ancient cultures and of course, marine and coastal life. Finding a cottage for hire in the Transkei can be a challenge, but here we present a beautifully appointed and situated cottage in Cebe, southern Transkei, available for rent.

Cebe

“Come to Cebe on the beautiful Transkei Wild Coast. Good fishing, natural undeveloped coastline where life continues like it did in the past.
NEW rondavel sleeps 6…for bigger groups there is an 8 man tent
Children’s paradise with beautiful beaches and safe bathing.
Seafood aplenty….biggest mussels and oysters!
Natural bait available….Rockbait, wonderworm, sand/mudprawn, sand mussel, siffie, octopus, mullet, caranteen etc

Cottage for hire in the Transkei – Rates

Our season rates R900p.n. for Cottage 
In Season rate R1300p.n
High Season 15 Dec – 15 Jan R2300p.n.
 
Cottage is self-catering and is 20m off the beach and sleeps 6.

The gallery below does a good job in depicting what goes on in and around this beautiful cottage for hire in the Transkei.

 

Cottage for hire in the TranskeiCottage for hire in the TranskeiCottage for hire in the TranskeiCottage for hire in the Transkei

Fill in a booking request form right here…

Don’t forget your MYDO Lures for when fishing the Transkei! Take a look at the MYDO Estuary Pack which covers you for every estuary eventuality! For flicking from the side or into corners from the boat, trolling and jigging the channels and drop-offs, and live-baiting – it’s all in there, including detailed instructions.

Check out our YouTube Channel and Playlists right here. There are playlists covering many aspects of fishing the Transkei and surrounding waters. Estuary. Rock ‘n Surf. Fly-fishing. There is something on the channel just for you!

Subscribe for FREE right here!

 

 

Cottage for hire in the Transkei
Click the image above to Subscribe for FREE!
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Transkei estuaries fishing well

 

Transkei estuaries fishing well

 

It’s been a great year for fledgling daga salmon up and down our entire coastline. I have seen them at this size (featured photograph) being taken in Maputo Bay and all the down into the Cape.

Kob fishing is the saltwater bass fishing it seems as they readily jump on a plastic bait, if well presented, and fished at the right time. They even look a bit like bass, fight like bass…but taste a lot better than bass!

These fish were caught on bait but there is a shot coming in later of another kob on a Mydo Luck Shot.

Stay posted!

IMG_5610
Chief Mydo tester Brian Lange featuring with two nice kob caught deep in the Transkei somewhere.

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