Suprise west holds hope!

I have just seen the sea and there is a light south blowing. Also there seems to be a lull in the swell. Buoyweather also shows a lull in the swell. So maybe ...just maybe we get some bugs tomorrow!!

 

Coatesman

Surf and dive report

For some reason my mail did not go through to the site yesterday. I have attached it below.

 

The surf was brilliant yesterday, two of us out at a semi secret left point break, with some serious stand up backhand barrels coming through. I did not make it out a single barrel, but they were one of the best back hand barrels i have had in more than a year. One no hands barrel was the best I have ever had.

 

Marcus on the other hand had a couple of barrels which he made, the one was right in front of me .... epic!!

 

I also had a call from a mate who went fishing up at Tinley side, they got a couple of cuta ... good news, but the sharks were thick and they lost allot of fish. I heard a similar story of the fish that were coming out off the bluff last week, were the guys were getting less than half their fish from the sharks.

 

Anyway I have been keeping an eye on the cyclone and it does not look like it is going to be as strong as we first thought. However it will probably still be undivable until Monday or Tuesday.

 

Maybe some more barrels,

 

Coatesman

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chris Coates <saltydiver@gmail.com>
Date: Feb 27, 2007 5:52 AM
Subject: Surf and dive report


I am sitting at a good point break with the odd left thundering across
the bay. The swell has not gotten huge yet but it is strong. The sea
is a little unsettled still so its not perfect. Will let you know how
it goes. Coatesman
 

Forget diving - swell forcast

Well forget diving!! the swell has already started to push and with 2 strong cyclones east of Madagascar its only going to get bigger. Tomorrow might see some good waves, but anything past Wednesday will be on the large side and unless its perfect conditions I don't think any one will be surfing .... that's unless you are mad.

Marcus has been watching the swell and has already planed to meet the swell in Mozambique. Not a bad call it should be 10ft - 12ft with a bit of luck.

Any way I have added another swell forecast to the link list, its the FNMOC NAVY forecast.....very good.

Coatesman

Spearfishing a Black Marlin - Easy??

A month ago if you had asked me where one should go to shoot Marlin. I would firstly have said that Mozambique or maybe Sordwana would be the best places, followed by ...but I really don't think its lightly to happen, you need to be seriously lucky!

Then Mark Griffith shot a 185kg Black Marlin off Tiffany's beach on a shore dive .... in my mind "seriously lucky" I have spent hundreds of hours on that reef spearfishing, and it never crossed my mind.

Then comes Friday 23rd February ... Andy Henwood diving off John Little's boat, spears a 125kg Black Marlin off Number One Reef.
I get this sms from Andy "Got a 125kg black marlin off number 1 this morning! Will call later."

After my foot leaves my mouth ... it suddenly dawns on me it is possible! I want to know more but I am stuck in a meeting at work. The moment its over I am on the phone to Andy, and his excitement oozes through every work as he gives me a blow by blow account of his Marlin ... oh and a whole lot of sharks!!! - You will have to wait for his story to be published :-)

Now I am also oozing with excitement, when? were? how? I am busting at the seams! It appears i am not the only one who has heard about the marlin and good water and even before I am home I have got an invite on a boat the next morning. I make quick call to my darling wife who graciously gives me the thumbs up and .... well all I can think of is MARLIN. Although at the back of my mind I know it is still highly unlikely to happen ... to me?

Any way we meet up, Jp Rory and myself at Durban Ski boat club before light. And the damn North East is on it already! But we have a marlin to go hunt ... so out to sea we bounce. Number one is an impressive reef and despite the hard diving conditions, made worse by millions of blue bottles that liked my face, It was great. The water was 27.1deg and for the first 15 -18 m blue blue blue. We didn't get many fish other than a small cuta and some sangoras. A couple cuta did get lucky, and keep their distance escaping to get speared another day ... when they are fatter :-)

But the one thing that did make the trip all the more inspiring was that while Rory was topmaning a Black Marlin jumped out the water 100m from us!! I mean the thing could have turned and swam straight past us!!! I would then be writing a different story altogether.

So ask me again .... where can I go shoot a Black Marlin?

Well I still don't know exactly ... but it's more than possible, that's all I know.

Is it easy? No way! first you need some serious luck, a good shot, good equipment, and some nerve to hold on! Oh and as Andy will tell you SHARKS!

Am I game?

You betya!

Coatesman

Surf and Dive report

Well its flipp'n early and I am at Durban Skiboat Club, but the east
is already on it. I got all amped coz the fish were on off the Bluff
yesterday. Andy even speared a 125kg black marlin. One boat got 90kg
of dorado, and so other good fish. So I dont know if we are going to
go or call it quits. :-( cheers Coatesman

Cyclone Gumede off Madagascar

Boys ... the last cyclone was pretty much a no show ... but watch this one!

http://www.weathersa.co.za/ship/ship.gif

 

Coatesman

Surf and Freediving Report

Howdy Chaps,

 

Well I finally got in for a dive this morning, and it was great. The water was 26deg slightly warmer than it has been. The vis was 6 - 8m a little milky from the swell.

 

The clouds made 4 a late start with it only getting light at 5:30 so it was a quick dive, I saw snoek 3 times in the first 10 min but the low light made it difficult to see them. I did finally get a 5kg model out of a nice shoal of 10 - 15 snoek.

 

Two other guys also were in the water and got in just after me ,but did not see any fish .... I guess I was luck today.

(Morne left his fins at home and had to go back and fetch them ..... That's never happened to me before .. promise :-) ),

 

It looks good for tomorrow and I think most spots will be divable, with La Mercy being very clean yesterday. I also heard that the cuta have been coming out off the Bluff ... and apparently some good size chaps as well.

 

See you in the water

 

Coatesman

Surf and Dive Report

I had a look early this morning and the South West had already started pushing. The swell was still strong, but not as big as I thought it would be.

The sw canceled any chance of a surf .. thats unless you are in Durban ,.... which is probably firing! The dive was a little touch and go with the sea being up, but the vis looks like it has improved.

The forecasts all have the swell turning to a south, with the large cold front down south. I just hope that the two swells dont chop each other up and all we land up with is broken up lumps pounding the shores ... good for nothing.

Let see what 2moro brings,

Coatesman

Surf and Dive report

Well its a fantastic summers day, almost no wind, the sea is fairly clean and there is plenty swell for the surfers. BUT no fish!!

Dived for almost 2 hours on one of my best spots and saw a huge big squat! The vis was not bad around the 6m range but the water was 24.9 deg a little cool.

The swell was also quiet strong and it looks like it will pick up. check this out.

Three tropical depressions - one has already claimed cyclone status. Favio is at 930hpa and will probably push some serious swell. Buoyweather does not show the swell, but experience tells me WATCH OUT!!

always have fun

Coatesman

Spearfishing and Surf Report

Hey guys,

Well after being quiet desperate I decided to jump in for a dive this morning and was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was going to be muck, but it was a pleasant 5-6m. I only dived Boulders, thinking it was going to be only about 4m vis.

I did not see anything and spent every moment wondering what the other deep spots were doing.

The tides are nice and high in the morning for the divers but this leaves the surfers sleeping in. The winds look light and variable, good for the water ... bad for my office which needs a stiff breeze to keep cool.

See you in the water,

Coatesman

Spearfising News - 158.5kg Black Marlin Speared of Salt Rock

Well the story has hit the web site go and check it out ..... super rad!!

Mark Griffith and his 158.5kg Black Marlin Speared off Salt Rock

"you’d better shoot this thing properly!”. Aiming my 1.2 railgun just behind the gillplate, around where I thought the spine might me, I pulled the trigger. The spear hit home, but ........

read more - Spearfishng a Black Marlin

Surf and Dive Report

The sea was beautiful this morning, I could not see how good the vis was, but looking at it yesterday it probably would have been diveable.

The weather looks mild for the next few days, and unfortunately there is no sign of a south west to come and clan things up.

Will keep you posted if anything changes.

Coatesman

158kg Black marlin shot Salt rock shore dive

Today one never to be forgotten, Mark Griffith shot a 158.5kg Black Marlin on a shore dive off Salt Rock. I have spent as much time as any one out at Salties and it has never crossed my mind that it would be possible to shoot a Marlin from the beach on our coast. Weldone to
Mark, an epic catch!

How to survive a shark attack

1: Don't swim in the ocean. Ninety-nine percent of all shark attacks take place in exceptionally large bodies of water also known as oceans. The way to determine if you are currently in an ocean is to taste the water, which should be salty.

2: Listen out for the music. In the event that you are foolish enough to swim in an ocean, listen carefully for the music, as demonstrated in the marvelous documentary film Jaws. All shark attacks are preceded by the "daah-da, daah-da" chords, which will gradually become more rapid as the shark gets closer. This is due to the Doppler Effect.

3: Swim with fat people. Try to surround yourself with more appetizing companions. If you know them well, you might even try to switch their suntan lotion with A-1 Steak Sauce. This will definitely improve your odds.

4: Don't go into the water without a knife. This is not to defend yourself but to stab the person (a.k.a the decoy) closest to you in the case of a shark attack. Once you are sure the "decoy" is bleeding profusely.....swim for your freekin life.
And finaly.....

5: Don't panic. In the event that a shark actually bites you, try to remain calm. This really won't help you survive, but everyone else on the beach will appreciate you not shrieking madly, as this is quite unsettling

Hope this helps.

Surf and Dive Report Chanos Chanos

Well I had planed to dive!

 

But when I woke up the east was still blowing so I bailed out and jumped back into bed. Some of the more hardcore chaps still went and got in. They said the water was not great about 4m.

 

One guy saw a snoek and 2 nice Chanos Chanos, its not often you see them around.

For those of you who dont know what a Chanos is go check: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=80&CFID=825159&CFTOKEN=15051888

 

We have got them up in Mozambique around the 16 -18kg mark and they pull like nothing else on earth.

 

any way there is a nice west today ...lets see what she brings in.

 

Coatesman

Surf and Dive Report 15 Feb

Hy guys,

 

well it was a pearler of a morning, the surf was firing and the sea was crystal. I though the swell would be bigger so I went for a surf. It was good, but could not help wondering if the cuta were back with the clean warm water.

 

I did see some snoek swim under me so they are still around, and with a little luck the condition could hold till tomorrow.

 

Coatesman

Surf and Dive report 14th feb Valentines day

Well if you one of those chaps that can get in the water late in the morning, today will be a good one.

 

At 5am it was still bumpy from the wind last night, but on my way to work I noticed the off shore was starting to line everything up. and it looked like it was improving. The out going tide will also help.

 

So while some are getting barrled off their faces, I am doing the early office thing.

 

On the diving front there is not much happening, however dont forget the Marlin Comp down south on the 28 APRIL 2007. go check out 

Also go look at they have just finished there DvD and it looks great.

 

Coatesman

Surf and Dive Report - Tuesday 13th

Surfs up!!

 

It wasn't epic but a bunch of us from the North Coast Board Riders went on a little wave search. It was a little all over the place and the banks were not groomed like we have them in winter. But some serious barrels were had. Ryan had one epic one, he dropped into a serious double over head wave that looked like it was going to close out. The thing just stood up and swallowed Ryan, he gunned through the pit for about 20 or 30m before getting discharged. One hellova thing.

 

On the diving front.... well the sea is not brown just churned up, I guess we will be surfing for now.

 

Coatesman

Surf and Dive Report

Howdy Fellas

 

We thought we would get some surf this morning, but it was all over the place. Its a rather chunky swell kinda mixed up with the cyclone off Madagascar and the cold front coming up from the cape. Strangely the water has been very cold, I surf in Durban yesterday in a full suit ... in mid February??

 

The forecasts are calling 4 some serious swell! and the conditions look good. But I don't think our banks are groomed enough to handle it.

 

Durban should be a good bet ... I think they might even have the Quicksilver Good wave.

 

I don't think we are going to get any diving in soon, but I will keep an eye on it.

 

 

Spot Ya

 

Coatesman

Spearfishing Report Friday 9th

Well the sea is Poo this morning, the east did its thing and stirred things up. Maybe it will stir up some cuta for next week???

 

The wind is due to pump east until Sunday with some southerly winds through to Monday.

 

You will notice I have added the windfinder graphs to the site so that you don't have to go far to check your weather out. nice :-)

 

See you later

 

Coatesman

Spearfishing Report

Hey guys,

 

Well I thought we were in for some fish this morn, but alas nothing. Nudda Squat! The visability was good from the bottom but you could not make out the reef in 14m. the North South current was starting to push, with the sea pushing off the reef out to sea. Maybe that had something to do with the lack of fish.

 

A couple fish came out at the stairs, but they were all small in the 6-7kg range.

 

The east is going to pump and only turn on Saterday night blowing through Sunday, and will only be divable on Monday again.

 

Cheers 4 now,

 

Chris

Spearfishing report

Hey guys,

 

Well its clean, but alas no fish. I think the sea is miffed with for not getting today! It is my little girls birthday so we did the birthday thing ... it was fun.

 

Some guys did get in, saying that the water was good with almost no current. But no one saw fish? Its strange how the fish are there some days when the water is merk and on the days when you would think you would see fish its dead?

 

Any way its all part of the jol.

 

Coatesman

Spearo Report

Mornin,

 

I was unable to dive today and as a result, the sea got upset with me and went all pear shaped. What should have been the morning turned out to less than wonderful.

 

Evan got back to me saying that the vis was only about 4 -6m a far cry from yesterday and that the fish were quiet. The wind looks like a moderate south turning north this evening. So we will see what happens from here.

 

Cheerio

 

Coatesman

Salty Divers

Hey all,

 

We had a great club nite on Saturday at Angelo's. The food was good and most of all the evening was well supported.

We had a good mix of regulars and some new faces, unfortunately the rugga did make it difficult for some to get to the meet. Sorry about that guys, when we planed the evening a couple months ago we had no idea about rugby fixtures.

 

Anyway we did have a great time, some of the highlights were getting our new club shirts ..... which are super rad thanks to Steve Farrer for organising everything and checking all was good; Leisle Friend for the great Cartoon on the back; Turtle Shagga for the cool punch line and Dale Peterson from Massive Clothing.

 

We also honoured the club member who really gave it stick! Coatesmans Spearfishing sponsored a 1.4 Freedivers Railgun which will now get properly used and abused in the hands of Mr Shaun Reid.

 

Shaun as you all know dominated the Garrick and Brusher comp, even claiming a new club record Brusher. He also has the most posts on the forum and has diligently contributed to story's and pics on the site. To top it all, he is the keenest dive of us all, getting in when ever, and in what ever - even when it is mirk he would say " I like it like this its good for fish"

 

The Vidal Club trip in March. This should be a great trip, the fish are usually on at this time and weather is at its most predictable. We have 2 fishermans cabins booked. The one is already fully booked and the other is still empty. Barracuda /(I think this is the one .. it's the big one at the end) is still open. The booking is from the Thurs 22nd - Sunday 25th. the Wed is a public holiday and we are trying to make a plan for that nite. We are however needing boats! We have one that can take 4guys but I think those spaces have been hooked already. Please let me know if you are wanting to come and if you have a boat.

 

Underwater hockey!!! There is a bunch of guys and gals who are getting underwater hockey going up our way. There is one small detail and that it is up at Darnall. apparently it is the only tiled pool in the area?? I am keen and if we can get a bunch together and pile into a car it wont be too bad. Please let me know if you are keen.

 

A new thang we are going to try, and that is every alternate month have a club meet in Durban. We have at least half our members from the greater Durban area and want to make it easier for them to get to meetings / socials. For us Saltie boys ..its road trip time, and should be fun.

So the next club meet Friday 2nd March will be at my place as usual. The following meet will be in Durban on Saturday 7th April, and so on and so forth. I will get a list of all the dates out .... some time :-)

 

There was something else I was supposed to remember .... damn snorkelitis .... it makes me a little dim :-)

 

Not a train smash I will remember sometime and get to write another news letter ... all good!

 

So long

 

Coatesman

 

 

Spearo Report

Hey guys,

 

Another fantastic Monday morning, the vis was about 6 - 8m with a slight North south current. I only had time to swim to the back of 4ths and do 3 or 4 dives. I did not see any cuta, but it was looking very good. And did manage a good size snoek on the inside.

 

The weather looks like it is going to hold, so lets see what happens.

 

Coatesman

Spearo Report

Hey guys,

 

Well the wind was still blowing this morn, but it dropped a little at first light. I got a call from Morne and we pushed a quickie. I managed to get 2 cuta one of 12kg and one of 8kg. The water was a bit green, and the current was still moving south  too north fairly strong.

 

The south is still going to blow today so tomorrow still looks ok.

 

Coatesman

Spearo report

Well I am officially slack,

 

I got up this morning, and the East was already coming up. So I went back to bed. But on driving to work I saw the sea actually looked OK. In fact the first thing that went through my mind was ...Cuta conditions!

 

And I am sure if any die hards got in they would have got the fish.

 

strangely last night I was chatting to my wife Michelle, and we wee talking about making time for things. And noted that some guys always complain that they don't get to dive .... because they start work at 8, or this or that. Well it boils down to one thing and its not time, its how badly do you want that fish!!!

 

I have given my last 10 or so fish away .. its been that good. So I really don't need another fish ...... I suppose that's why I did not get up this morning. I didn't really want it badly enough.

 

But now I feel like i have missed out ...... amped already for tomorrow!

 

Coatesman