Roller Gun Success - Back to Spearfishing at Home

My 35kg welcome home present with a 1100 Rollergun.

Over the last 4 months I have not blogged much, I took 3 months off spearfishing to do a Commercial dive ticket. But I am back and starting to get wet again, so you guys can stop sending me love/hate mail for not blogging :-)

Yesterday was my first dive here back home since May!! I took a drive up the coast to a spot I thought I might find a few fish to get back into the swing of things. The water looked ok from the beach and was a bit murky in the backline. It got ridiculously clean from about about 250m from shore.

Crystal clean water in winter is often not a good thing as it is often 'sterile' and not very fishy. On the reef the few fish that were around were not interested at all in coming home with me.
I decided to swim against the current to the front of the deepest ledge to see if there was anything congregating there. The plan was if there was nothing there then to head back inshore and catch some buggs.

As I got to the 20m drop there is a small finger that juts out into the strong south to north current. As I got to the spot I saw the Salmon from the surface. I have dived this ledge for 20 years and it always seemed like a good spot for Salmon but I had never seen them there before.
I turned into the current trying to hold my position over the ledge while breathing up. Flip it's harder than you think! My prep was terrible and I was breathing heavily from finning ... and possibly the excitement, but decided to dive sooner than later as I did not want them to spook and swim off.

By the time I got to the top of the ledge in 19m I was a few meters back from where the Salmon where sitting. I dropped my anchor and snuck up towards them. As I got to the ledge and I could see the one sitting on the sand I tried to keep really low and out of sight. This did not happen tho there were 3 fish and the 2 smaller ones saw me and light up as they started to move off.

S*#T! I am not going to get close enough. All I had was a 1100 Rob Allen roller gun with 16mm bands, the gun I use for reefies and small mackerel. I edged to about half a meter before the edge of the ledge and lined up. I was thinking I really need to be coming dow the ledge on this fish. While I was debating with myself what to do the fish sees me and starts to turn. Thwaack the decision was made and the spear hit the fish behind the head almost stoning it.

The fish slowly glided off into the current and I was unable to see if the spear had gone through at that distance. I bailed for the surface and was fortunate to be able to incept my float that was anchored on the ledge. I clipped of the gun and put the reel on free spool. I grabbed my 900 roller gun with 14mm bands and swam off after the fish following the dyneema reel line.

Eventually the fish slowed down but the current was pulling hard on the fish which pulled out all the reel line and had come to a solid stop. Deciding not to risk loosing the fish I did the long swim down after the fish and put in a securing shot with the 900 ... which when right though the fish.

It took about 20min to pull myself back to the float with the fish, which was now a whole lot bigger than I thought it first was. After sorting out a massive tangle of dyneema which had collected around one of the guns while pulling back up the current I head back inshore and got some buggs.

The swim back to shore was a killer and negotiating the shore break was fairly interesting. This however, was all was done with a decent dollop of satisfaction. I guess if there ever was away to have a 'welcome back' this is it.

Coatesman

P.S - if there ever was any doubt in my mind about the roller gun story this fish sorted that out.

Check out these other posts on the Roller guns:
Unrolling the Roller - Rollergun Test and Comparison
The Ultimate Rollergun Test

Spearfishing Stories Coming True

35.5kg Daga Salmon - Chris Coates - KZN North Coast

You hear these stories about guys getting awesome fish that just make you green with envy. Up our way the tallest of those stories is usually centered around some one 'lucking' a big Daga Salmon. I have had 2 mates that have shot 40kg fish in 2-3m of water puddle jumping off a point. Then there is the 'sleeping' fish story, a guy goes down and finds a fish just lying there. Swims up to it and shoots it, game over!
Oh and don't forget the 'beginners luck' story, how many times have hear of some newby shooting an awesome fish? In fact it was only a month ago some chap in a surf suit and plastic fins got a monster salmon off Shieffield on a reef that I have dived a thousand times and never seen one.

Call it 'luck' but you cant take it away from the guys they walked up the beach with the fish and you didn't. Then there is the earned fish, the ones you target and do the hard yards to get. Daga off the wrecks is a good example, put it what ever way you like its just not easy diving. ....unless you are Jaco!

So where am I going with all this?

Daga have just been an elusive fish for me. It took years to even see one. Then some more years to get one. Then even more years to get one over 20kg, and despite doing the hard yards on the wrecks and get a number of good fish. It just seem like I was never going to break the 30kg mark. What makes it worse I dive with guys that sometimes break the 30kg barrier on a weekly basis ...... it just pisses me off!

So with all our record rains messing the sea up and being on the back end of Daga season. I kinda had written of this being my season, that was of course until yesterday. Desperate for a dive I got my Mrs to drop me off at one of the local spots that looked like it had some dive-able water in between 2 large patched of yukky river water. When I got there I was kind of committed to go, either that or go pick up kids and go shopping, guess what I chose? The water was not looking great and I grumpily put my gear on and headed off, knowing I was probably going to be 'mulleting' around in 2-3m vis in a futile mission looking for shadows.

Long story short the water was not as bad as I had expected and I landed up on one of my favorite ledges. (one that apparently guys have gotten Daga on, but after 20years I have yet to see one there.)
Anyway after diving the ledge for almost an hour I do a dive right under my buoy that is reefed over the ledge. I hit the bottom and scan around to again see very little. Then out the corner of my eye there is this thing that is not reef next to me. I turn and look, my brain does not even register  ..... I swear I though it was a Skate at first. "DAGA" my salt saturated brain finally kicks in, and starts to process at a gazillion terrabites a millisecond. All I can think of as I bring my gun around is when is this going to bolt and wave me good bye, but it just sat there. As I get my gun up and start to aim it sluggishly moves away little, giving me a perfect 45 degree shot above the pec and out the gill plate.

So not only did I pop the 30kg mark, I clapped an absolute sitter! I no longer have to go, " why cant I just dive down and plugg one."  I have gotten my 'luck' shot ...too stoked. Best of all now I have my own 'camp fire' story to tell.

Coatesman

World Spearfishing Record Daga Mulloway

New World Spearfishing Record Daga Salmon 57.4kg

Great news!! Jaco Blignaut's 57.4kg Daga Salmon (Argyrosomus Japonicus) A.K.A Mulloway has been accepted as a New World Spearfishing Record but the IUSA (International Underwater Spearfishing Association)

Go to World Spearfishing Record Mulloway to see the official record.

Jaco on the cover of USM with a 35kg Daga 

The Ultimate Spearfishing Magazine has used a pic of Jaco which I took of him off Durban on the cover of the next mag to celebrate the Jaco 57.4kg Daga been awarded the South African Record. See previous blog post: South African Spearfishing Record Daga .

So a big congratulations to Jaco on his South African and World Spearfishing record fish. Everybody stand up and give the man a round of applause!

Coatesman

Spearfishing Daga Salmon in Durban Bay

Good sized Daga Salmon speared off the wrecks.

The late winter this will not be remembered for its diving. The conditions have just been terrible, with cold green water plaguing our coast. Even after a number of westerlies that normally clean things up the sea remained undiveable.
This week saw the first break in the conditions and we were able to get back in the water. The large swell meant that the only launchable spot was in the bay in Durban. Not a bad thing as you can get to all the wrecks and containers as well as all the reefs further north.

The first few spots we looked at were horrible, and diving 28m in only a meter or so vis is not fun. But as we worked our way north the vis improved. We stopped at the wreck of the Fontao, I did not even think to take my camera as the previous spots were not good.

As always I am a little slow off the mark and the other guys dived down while I was still prepping tom dive.
Not wanting to go over where they had been I drifted back in the current. Knowing that this would probably put me off the wreck and in deeper water than I would have liked I took my time.

When I hit the sand the wreck was just visible, and the water was actually very clean. Next thing a whole shoal of Daga came swimming in to have a look and with them 3 or 4 Iggies aswell. What a sight .... absolute eye candy!!! Its times like that you really need the camera.

Not wanting to blow the opportunity and land up having night mares reliving the scene over and over in my head I made sure on a fish that gave me a good shot.

The wrecks are super fun, but you need to be fit. With the diving being so bleak the 26-28m dives became quiet difficult after a while.

We did manage another Daga and some good sized Grunter. Not bad for morning out!

Lets hope we get some more ...

Coatesman

Spearfishing the Transkei

Richard Leonard popping his Daga Cherry

Spearfishing the Transkei for the first time is always an experience one does not forget. My mate Richard Leonard the director of the OneFish DvD we did last year has just come back from his first trip in the Kei.
From the sounds of things they got some class fish, including Rich getting his first Daga Salmon and a nice one at that.

Daryl with a trophy Steenbras

Rich was fortunate to go up with some mates that really know the place well, which translated into some very special fish. It also sounds like they got lucky with the vis and weather ... something that does not always come together down there.

A frame grab off the some of their video footage of the Steenbras.

I am hoping to head down to the Kei some time soon. There is the Border Open which will be in November, which is later than usual. That means there probably wont be Steenbras around but the Cracker should be thick. If you want to go down down load the Border Open Entry Form

Coatesman

Durban Spearfishing Cooks

21+ Orang Spot Grouper

There is a reason that at this time of the year some of KZN's best divers stay at home an dive the Durban basin. The water is all ways good but when you find the fish ... you find the fish!
This past week while the North Coast was murky and not very pleasant, Durban had good water and the fish came on. But this is not for your doppie diver most of the diving is between 26 and 30m and even if you can dive that depth you need to beat guys like Brod, Staats and G-Lem to the spot ..... not lightly.

With Dagga the main course, and huge shoals of Grunter as the side dish its no surprise that there were more than a few guys not at work last week Even the odd Couta came out off the Bluff side. But the fish of the week must go to Brod for a 21+kg Orange Spot Grouper, that is a fantastic fish in any water let alone Durban!

G-Lem and a good Dagga, with some more fish on the floor.

It is a pity the conditions did not hold for the weekend and the Hibiscus Gamefish Comp. Most guys decided to dive the shoal area and it was just one of those days when the fish were not there. The winning fish landed up being a Garrick and not too many other decent fish being weighed.

This week looks promising, the big east swell came and wrecked the good vis that moved in over the weekend. Hopefully it will subside and give us a gap to get in.

Coatesman

Spearfishing Update - Marcus 38kg Daga Salmon

Marcus Potgieter 38kg Daga - Umhlanga

Not too much has been happening this past week and weekend. The wind just not stopped. Sunday was looking good, but I did not hear of too many fish coming out.

Last week Marcus found a gap in the wind and managed to bag himself a great Daga of 38kg. I think that he will be the envy of most spearo's, myself included!

The sea looks mank again for the next few days ..hopefully the next few small southerlies will be good for us.

Coatesman

Barry Skinstad Monster Daga

Barry 'Boris' Skinstad 55kg Daga

Just when thought that one of SA's best spearfishermen had stopped spearfishing ... well so we thought. Barry ...A.K.A Boris klaps this 55kg Daga. Now normally when you see some guy with a monster Daga you know there is a whole lot of luck involved. But some how knowing the way Barry dives ... I think this one was just a matter of time.

I dont know the story just yet but I will be sure to find out what went down.

What an awesome fish!! ...Welcome back Barry!

Coatesman

Spearfishing Daga Salmon on the North Coast

Spearfishing the North Coast can be rewarding
 Grant Somers 42kg Daga Salmon

We have a really good run of some very clean water for spearfishing this week. Unfortunately the fish have been a little quiet and not many guys have been getting fish.

Those who have come right have speared some good fish ...mostly Daga Salmon. The Durban Boys have been spearfishing the Daga off the wrecks and with the clean water they said they could see the containers from the surface!!

Grant Somers snuck up the coast this week and found himself a big fat 42kg Daga. I don't have all the details ..but wow what a fish.

Well done Grant!

Lets see what the weekend holds, maybe the swell wont mess things up too much.

Cheers

Coatesman

Pay Dirt

Sean O'Connor Daga Salmon - North Coast

The spearfishing conditions didn't look all that great yesterday afternoon, and most guys gave a dive a miss. Sean took the opportunity and found some cleanish water out in the deeper water.

He said that he shot the fish on a ledge that he has been diving for years. The spot is known for Daga but he has never come right. ... well!! The Daga apparently came swimming over the ledge towards him o the bottom and gave him a perfect side shot.
Mmmm the view that dreams are made of.

Anyway Kudos to you Sean.

Coatesman

Spearfishing in the Gap

Garrick with a 38kg Daga speared of Durban

With all the wild weather the sea was a mess before the weekend. But rumors of clean water off Durban filtered through and the guys who heard the call and took the gap came right.
Garrick clapped this 38kg beast off the Fontao.
And I heard stories of some daga off the Nebo aswell.

Up the coast there was also a small gap on Sunday before the wind and the snoek were loose. One chap clapped a couple but got taxed before he could hit the beach. I tried later on Sunday bt the wind really messed things up, and it will go down as not one of my best dives ever!

The east is pumping and it looks like the sea will return to being upside down!! But there is hope for Saturdays dive ... Who knows?

Look out for that Gap!!

Coatesman

Spearfishing and Surfing Lowdown

Cristo 41kg Dagga

The sea has been good to a few chaps lately, Morne with his 2 good fish out deep and now Cristo with a 41kg Dagga. He must have thought it was Christmas or something!! Went on a mid morning dive on a point on the draining tide and found this giant fish in the shore break. I am not sure of all the details but apparently all hell broke loose trying to subdue this monster.

On the surfing front Parko took top honors at the J Bay Billibong Pro.It looks like he was on fire during this event scoring 2 perfect 10s during the event. Dane Reynolds finaly stepped up to the plate also scoring 2 10's and the highest heat score in the comp. He made the semi's but got knocked out by Damien Hobgod who eventually came second.

At home the banks are *&^*( to say the least and even though a front has just come through the waves are dismal .... so much so I had no problem getting to work early. ...... and even found time to write a blog :-)

Good news is that it looks like the weekend is going to be good for a dive .... hold big toes and thumbs!!!
Maybe I will even shoot a fish!! Nows that for a thought!!

On the Ultimate Spearfishing Magazine front the subscriptions are going very well. We have 250 subscribers already and day 4 has just started!! If you have not subscribed yet just CLICK HERE and get your copy for absolutely nothing .... now there is a real luck if I ever saw one!!

Cheers

Coatesman

Weekend Spearfishing Round Up

Marcus Porgieter 45kg Dagga Salmon

For once the weather came through for us, a light southerly blew on Friday and into Saturday morning making the Freedivers Gamefish comp divable. Most of the action was down south, and the winning fish was a 16kg cuta from the south coast.

Marcus Potgieter missed it by a day when he shot a 45kg Dagga the afternoon before the comp, it would have been real luck if he had pulled the rabbit out the hat 2 days in a row!

We tried a different strategy and tried to go deep up north where the guys had been getting the odd big cuta the week before the big swell. The vis was marginal and it was tough going in the deep. We kinda also hoped that we might bump into a Dagga or 2 but we hit a blank and did not see a fish the whole day. In fact we dived so long by the time we hit the beach it was late in the afternoon. We were finished and did not even make the weigh in!

With doing more surfing than diving I really felt the fitness levels were down, its amazing how quick you loose it. I guess we are coming into that time of year where most of the diving is shallow except for that odd Dagga hunt, and we will have to do a couple purpose fulled deep dives just to keep in shape.

Anyway thats about it for now ..... keep your eyes and ears open for fish and sard action down south. If you can catch it good it can be amazing!!

Cheers

Coatesman

Weekend Spearfishing Wrap Up.

You Got to love long weekends!!! Nothing overly epic happened but we got to dive and surf. There were a few sneaky snoek around once the vis cleaned up. The surf was small and fun and best of all it was a Monday and we did not have to rush anywhere!!

I heard that some nice cuta came out off Umhloti / La Mercy side. And a mate of mine even shot a Dagga Salmon this morning!! But he is not telling where tho :-(

This week looks good all week ... maybe just maybe it will turn on!

lastly anther mate while diving at Jex lost his FreeDivers Reel Gun. He said that some chap had paddled past it on his ski but thought that a spearo was with it. So if by some chance you were up that way or heard of some one finding a reelgun floating around please just give me a shout.

Cheers,

Coatesman

Is ita Malloway or Dagga Salmon?

Here is an interesting question: is a Australian Mulloway the same thing as a South African Dagga Salmon or Kob??
There appears to be two spieces:

Argyrosomus japonicus
Argyrosomus hololepidotus

Both the Mulloway and Dagga seem to be the "Argyrosomus japonicus" from what I have read.
Although the Argyrosomus hololepidotus is found along the South African, Madagascan and East African Shore lines. It is more commonly found in shallow water and is listed as endangered.

Prahaps that is why shore anglers have a restriction on Dagga on our coast?

Here is Barry Paxman with a Australian Mulloway

Here is a South African Dagga Salmon or Kob, or is it a Argyrosomus hololepidotus?

Let me know your thoughts ...just add a comment below.

Coatesman