150 So, there I stood! Barefeet, hanging onto a empty rubber duck. We ran out of fuel in the middle of the river and luckily a light breeze pushed us into the shore on the Witsand side. Deon had left me behind and was on a mission to go and beg someone upriver to leave … Continue reading School Fees Paid – Part 1
Big Swell, Oh Well
INTRO We planned a family (fishing) weekend in Struisbaai. As you know when a fish... I mean family weekend approaches you start following the weather at least two weeks in advance. If the conditions don't agree with what you deem to be good for fish... sorry, family, you find a way to convince yourself that … Continue reading Big Swell, Oh Well
Put it back!
On Saturday I was fishing my local spot. You know, minding my own business whilst sucking in some salty fresh and breathing out the stresses of 2020. It was a absolute stunning morning. About sixty meters in front of me was a working bank causing the clean water to foam up every now and again. … Continue reading Put it back!
Numbing the pain
I've been stung by wasps and honey bees, survived multiple paper cuts and even listened to a whole Kurt Darren album (on repeat) from the Cape to Port Beaufort. I've bumped my little toe on a door frame, stepped on Lego, fell out of a tree (more than once) and broke my collar bone. I've … Continue reading Numbing the pain
Ducky
Line was screaming from my reel. I'm not talking about the standard screams of joy when your favourite rugby team scores a try, oh no! I'm talking of the blood chilling screams of a toddler dropping her sprinkle covered ice cream. The screams from my reel turn into moans and growns from me because line … Continue reading Ducky
On a hot summers night
"It was a hot summers night and the beach was burning, there was fog crawling over the sand..." You know mos, sometimes a song pops into your head and you end up humming it all the time. On this particular evening, it was "You took the words right out of my mouth" by Meatloaf. Very … Continue reading On a hot summers night
Giving it everything
The teacher blew her whistle and the grade RR class were off on their yearly 400m race. This is 5 & 6 year olds with short legs, so they have to take much more steps in order to complete the race. It must almost feel like an 800m or something! I was struggling to get … Continue reading Giving it everything
Faith at Heuningnes
Faith at the Heuningnes river
That sad sickening feeling
I decided to make one more cast... I just dropped something that took off and bit through my hook snoot. By the way it took the bait I figured that it must have been a Spotty and although they don't have "teeth" to make a clear cut through the hook line it was badly chafed … Continue reading That sad sickening feeling
Renetjie en haar “G&T”
As mens so op die strand staan ontmoet jy soms die "random"ste mense en sien jy partykeer die "weird"ste goed. Ek noem dit sommer "random beach encounters" of vir die "purists"... lukrake strand ontmoetings. Hier is een van so bietjie minder as 'n jaar gelede... Renetjie en haar "G&T" Dit was middel Desember en seker … Continue reading Renetjie en haar “G&T”
First Grunter: Part 2
I don’t know if it is because I cut my fishing teeth in the estuaries of the Southern Cape, but I love river fishing! It’s a bit of a cliche for me, I know because I love all kinds of fishing, but the river has a special place in my heart. None more so than … Continue reading First Grunter: Part 2
First Grunter: Part 1
My grandfather married a young 22-year-old “bokkie” at the ripe “old” age of 40. He was a legend and family and friends to this day speak of him as the walking angel. He was the most gentle, patient and soft-spoken person I knew. The complete opposite to my Grandmother, who wasn’t called the “Leeu” of“Leeurand” … Continue reading First Grunter: Part 1
EPIC!
I try and fish at least once a week. It's not always possible though and with family and social commitments taking up most of my free time, fishing sometimes takes a back seat. Everyone knows the one with the diamond ring always has shotgun. But when the wife said she wanted to go to the … Continue reading EPIC!
Impulsive quickie and the mysterious lost fish
We all lose fish. It’s a fact of fishing like death and taxes. No fish is ever won until you have him high and dry. This thing that touching the leader counts as a landed fish is just to sooth our egos. I have personally lost a couple of fish that was right therewithin touching distance, so close you could smell them. All it … Continue reading Impulsive quickie and the mysterious lost fish
Things you can say to your fishing buddy but not your girlfriend
There are certain things that you can't say to your girlfriend. Every self respecting man with two brain cells and fear for grievous bodily harm knows to never ever go to the "did you gain weight" line for example. Your fishing buddy though, he's the man and to him you can say anything, almost. If … Continue reading Things you can say to your fishing buddy but not your girlfriend
Bakvissie
'n Bakvissie is 'n giggelende tiener meisie wat nou net begin bra dra het en bloos vir woorde soos "wurm" en "wors"! Maar die stuk gaan nie oor bakvissies nie, dit gaan oor 'n regte vissie wat gebak is, of gebak gaan word. Ek kan nou nie soos Armand Kaal Kook nie, maar ek kan … Continue reading Bakvissie
Seventeen Eleven and a Twelve
I don't remember my first fish. It's probably because I caught it before I could start to remember anything. I do however remember my first Shad very well. Myself and the old man was fishing on the Wilderness side of the Kaaimans river mouth. There wasn't much happening but eventually I had a little tug … Continue reading Seventeen Eleven and a Twelve
Steam Train to Seven Eleven
We haven't been to De Mond in ages I said to my fishing partner while we reeled in our last unsuccessful cast for the morning. And you know THERE is always something happening, I added. We were taking off our reels when we decided that if the weather holds and the conditions just somehow resemble … Continue reading Steam Train to Seven Eleven
Fishing Family Fun
I have never felt so stupid in my life! My five year old daughter (Heila) and newest fishing buddy had just caught her first Steenbras and biggest fish ever. In my effort to wash some sand of the fish to take a better looking photo, the fish slipped out of my hands and with a … Continue reading Fishing Family Fun
a fish named Lucky
I don't think you will believe me (but I'm going to tell you any way)! I'm struggling to grasp how it was even possible myself. It will sound like a tall tale, a big fish story, yet its true... The plan was simple. No shenanigans. Upon arrival in Witsand we would collect bait, set up our … Continue reading a fish named Lucky
The confession
I didn't know how to do it! I had this feeling of guilt and it was bothering me for a while and I knew the only way to be set free was to tell the truth. The weight on my shoulders was immense and got so heavy that I could't walk up straight. I couldn't … Continue reading The confession
groot VIS stories
Ek onthou as kind was daar een keer 'n getekende spotprent in die huisgenoot. Twee vissermansvroue sit en gesels in die sitkamer terwyl hul tee drink. Bo die een vrou se kop was 'n bubble met 'n pyltjie na haar mond wat sê: "hier kom hy alweer met een van sy groot vis stories"! Die … Continue reading groot VIS stories
Fishing in mud
Towards the end of November 2013 we had a trip planned to one of the best places on the planet, Witsand. The magical little town that sits at the mouth of the Breede river. It's not only that it's an awesome fishing destination, its the people, the fresh air, the whole aura the place has. … Continue reading Fishing in mud
Gallie for the Ballie
"Wa wag... Hier's 'n ding wat wil sak" my dad excitedly stated! He was quite bleak by this time because I had landed two beautiful Galjoen and he had only managed a Spotty and a juvenile Gallie. We used the same bait, fished the same hole, yet I seemed to be the days lucky one. … Continue reading Gallie for the Ballie
Rooi oog gedrog
Ek was besig om die laaste vis skoon te maak wat ek vroeër die aand gevang het, toe ek 'n ritseling hoor in die bosse bo my. Nou ek is bank vir niks, behalwe vir honderdpote, koringkrieke en ritselings in die bos! Ek was aan die onderkant van 'n sand duin waar ek laat middag … Continue reading Rooi oog gedrog
A Cracking Thought (ACT)
In an interview with Herchelle Gibbs after he scored that unbelievable 175 from 111 in the 438 game he said he knew he was going to score a hundred that day. He even said he got the same feeling before he scored that hundred in die 99 semi final (lets not go there). I suppose … Continue reading A Cracking Thought (ACT)
Brandfonfokkentein
A couple of years ago myself and mates, J&D, decided to go visit Brandfontein to target some Galjoen and Steenbras. I kept on confusing the name with Brandvlei, the small little Karoo town where kids learn to swim on a face cloth... Water is scarce in the big Karoo! So it was suggested that I … Continue reading Brandfonfokkentein
Kwaaimans
Ek was bevoorreg om in George groot te word, ons het eers einde st6 Lambertsbaai toe getrek. Sê altyd ekt geleer praat in die suidkus en geleer vloek op die weskus. Maar die is gelukkig (of ongelukkig) nie 'n vloek storie nie, die is 'n Kaaimans groot vis storie... My naweke as nat-agter-die-ore-snotkop-kind is spandeer … Continue reading Kwaaimans
Last cast 49er
I don't often catch a Galjoen worth mentioning, so if I do, I show and tell! (Nie dat dit veel vat van my om uit te haal en te wys nie... Vra maar vir vinnige Anna. Ek wys graag!) The wife woke me up at 3:30 on Saturday morning with: "I might have killed the … Continue reading Last cast 49er
a perfect day
My dad, my uncle and a friend were off at 4:30 towards Struisbaai! The excitement was immense. A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to get stuck into a proper Steamtrain and since my companions wanted one as well I was selected as the designated guide for the day. On our way we … Continue reading a perfect day
On any given Sunday
Die oumense het mos geglo, visvang op 'n Sondag is sonde! Op die sabbat mag jy niks anders doen as kerk toe gaan, eet en slaap nie. Toe sê my pa mos een keer hy gaan darem bitter teleurgesteld wees wanneer hy eendag in die Hemel kom en uitvind dat vis vang op 'n Sondag … Continue reading On any given Sunday
Diamonds and laughs
What's that? Ja sorry, I haven't posted for a while, I know. But the truth is there hasn't been anything to post about. I've been struggling to catch anything decent and its not because of a lack of trying, it just seems that I'm on a bit of a dry spell. In September we started … Continue reading Diamonds and laughs
Releasing the dream
Next to us surfaced the biggest Kob both of us had ever seen. Of course in magazines and on social media we have seen bigger, but never before have we had one on a rod and reel this close to us (the one I lost last year was bigger but he never came this close). … Continue reading Releasing the dream
A day to remember
Well I haven’t been to The Sands in months and my whole body is aching with withdrawal symptoms! Work, wife and other commitments are seriously messing with my love for the Breede… Anyhow, I was scrolling through some old photos and came across a couple that I haven’t shared with you guys, yet! It was a … Continue reading A day to remember
The eagle has landed
A couple of years ago ESA had some sort of presenter search or something. The west coast leg of this thing was held at Die Lapa Dwarskersbos, and I decided that I should go and throw myself into the mix as well, you never know what can happen. When I arrived the morning there was … Continue reading The eagle has landed
Melkbos Ballerina
The last time I was in Melkbos I was on a date with a ballerina. She was blond and tight and super lekker and I almost spend half my salary to convince her that I was her soulmate. As it turned out I was her sole mate, because she walked right over me. Being a … Continue reading Melkbos Ballerina
Spotted Steamer
We were talking nonsense while sipping a lemonade or two and munching some very nice Springbok droëwors. Amongst the regular banter was how nice it was that we can at least blank on a new beach. We decided a while ago to fish other spots than the usual places we always go to. And since we have … Continue reading Spotted Steamer
a Bettys sunrise
When was the last time you experienced a sunrise? It's not something you just see, its an encounter and each one a privilege. Let me tell you a secret, there is no better place to see the day break than on a Bettys bay beach. It is absolutely magnificent and no words can really give … Continue reading a Bettys sunrise
Theewaterskloof dam duikers
Een aand ry ons deur Theewaterskloof dam toe om te gaan visvang. Dit was weer een van daai aande wat rustig begin het en toe raak ons aan die visvang praat. Voor ons ons kon kry was die stokke gepak en was ons by die BP besig om "cheese grillers" te koop vir padkos. Dis sommer vinnig … Continue reading Theewaterskloof dam duikers
Good fishing and Great company
You know you have trouble when you get home after a long day of fishing (or should I say trying to fish), and your three year old greets you with: "Het pappa alweer niks gevang nie... (Did you catch nothing again )!" I had the worst blanking streak in a very long time, eight straight … Continue reading Good fishing and Great company
a bro code to fish by
What is ethics? The short Wiki answer is "moral principles that govern a person's behavior". Fishing ethics is basically a standard set of rules or do's and dont's that most of us already live by. We all benefit from the privilege of being able to fish and we should't take it for granted. It basically boils … Continue reading a bro code to fish by
Purple spotty and the crows nest
As we sat back on our sand dune couch we reflected on the very busy morning we just had! I poured us a fresh cup of steaming black coffee from my newly acquired Isosteel flask. The one with two cups, one on top and one on the bottom. I was looking for a flask for … Continue reading Purple spotty and the crows nest
Ballie and Betty’s
When I was about 6, me and my dad were fishing close to the Kaaimans river mouth, on the Victoria bay side at a place called "die plat bankies". I couldn't cast a multiplier and dad used to reel in, change bait and cast for me. All I had to do was hold the very heavy … Continue reading Ballie and Betty’s
Die Panty Bar
Kyk die tuin roete is mooi en al die verskillende wyn roetes in die Boland is lekker, maar nie een van hulle kan bottel vashou by die Weskus Panty Roete nie. Daar is nie offisieel so roete nie, maar daar kan net sowel wees want geen bar aan die weskus het nie 'n panty of … Continue reading Die Panty Bar
Weskus Woorde
Ek sê altyd ek het leer praat aan die Suidkus en leer vloek op die Weskus. Die weskus is 'n unieke plek, daar is niks, maar tog is daar alles. Die mense maak dit, hulle lyk anders, doen goed op hul eie manier en hulle praat 'n soort taal wat jy moet hoor om te … Continue reading Weskus Woorde
TBC
Gisteraand sit ek die girls in die bed. Hulle het net begin kalmeer toe Heila ewe skielik "onrustig" raak… Sy laat sak haar linker arm terwyl sy wild met haar regter arm in die rondte draai. Dan lig sy die linker arm terwyl sy aanhou draai en draai met die regter hand. Was vir 'n … Continue reading TBC
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