Transkei trippin’ with the Pau Hana Wavejet
It was with huge expectations that we loaded the cruiser with the Pau Hana Wavejet powered SUP, and almost all our fishing tackle, and headed south. Deep into the Transkei – the Wild Coast – that place where people and things just seem to go missing.
Watch this video only if you have unlimited bandwidth and time on your hands…
But this is the Wavejet SUP fishing…watch this for sure…
We were after estuarine gamefish, and headed to Mgazana…a favourite hangout for all kinds of desireable fish – just not all edible, as we were soon to find out.
Things started slow, and in between rigging the Pau Hana for fishing, got a few lines in and soon John Fish Fever was into his first inedible – an awesome sandshark that he had to handle ace out, since the rest of the crew were lights out just after sunset and supper. John caught a few more sandsharks that evening, and also tussled with one of the many marble rays that are always up for an argument over a sardine bait, in Mgazana Estuary.
Georgie, our endemic fishing guide, pilots the good ship “Takeiteasy” and the next day went and bagged us a bunch of cracker shrimp, a haul of crayfish, a bucket of oysters and another of mussels, before taking us out for the afternoon high tide. The Pau Hana was looking great at this point, mounted with a cooler box of beer, and a crate, onto which three rod holders were cable tied. What a fishing platform! SO much fun and versatility! Scooting around the estuary, trolling two lures and sipping on a Transkei dumpy – Wowser!
Anchoring some way up one of the main tributaries, we got taught well and proper, how to catch shad, by Georgie. While we mustered up a grunter, a flagtail and some smallies, Georgie caught us two beautiful shad – which together with the remains of the bait, made up a super delicious and filling seafood potjie.
What was meant to be a two day trip soon stretched itself out to 3 days, and then 6! Finding ourselves in the great company of Rob Nettleton and co, Port St Johns proved to be a real treat – a far cry from the chaos this place was back before the shark attacks. We saw no-one on tour really, a few fishermen making hay of the grunter, kob and garrick season, but aside from that – super quiet.
