A-Grade Conditions on the KZN North Coast | Testing the NEW Coatesmans Unicolor Camo Rollergun.

 

Testing the NEW Coatesmans Unicolor Camo Rollergun

Every now and then the North Coast gives you one of those rare proper A-Grade days that reminds you why we put so much time into diving this coastline.

This trip was right in the middle of summer up on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, and the conditions were honestly ridiculous. Flat sea, warm blue water, and visibility that looked more like somewhere tropical than the North Coast of South Africa. If you dive here often, you’ll know how uncommon that really is. Usually there’s a bit of colour in the water, current, swell, or something making life difficult. But on this day, everything lined up perfectly.

Being the weekend, my good mates Warren and Mark joined me on my C Ski-444, the DEVILFISH. And we launched out of Salmon Bay in Ballito just after first light. From there we made the run north towards Tinley Manor, probably around 20km or so up the coast, looking for couta.

The ocean looked fishy from the start. Clean water, bait around, and good current. it just felt right. We spent a good amount of time looking for Spanish Mackerel, but despite the conditions being absolutely perfect, the couta never really arrived. That’s fishing though. Sometimes you can do everything right and still not find the fish you originally went searching for.

Luckily mother nature had other plans for us.

Instead of couta, we found big shoals of Queen Mackerel — Natal Snoek — moving through the area in good numbers. Once we got onto them, the action became pretty non-stop. Fish coming through clean in the blue water, good shot opportunities, and proper fun diving with mates in epic conditions. All three of us managed to get some really good fish.

For me personally, this day was also about getting some good video of my new Unicolor Camo carbon barrels.I was diving a 110 CSR3 single roller from the Unicolor Camo carbon barrel range, and honestly, the gun could not have performed better. Shot after shot went exactly where I wanted it to. The 110CSR3 is one of my favorite setups and the gun just felt completely dialed in from the start.

There’s always something satisfying about testing new gear in genuinely good conditions because you really get to see what it’s capable of. This wasn’t one of those difficult scratchy days where you’re forcing opportunities. The visibility allowed us to relax, hunt properly, pick our shots carefully, and really enjoy the diving.

And those are usually the days where you realise whether a gun setup is truly balanced or not.

This video is basically a full look into that session onboard the DEVILFISH on the North Coast. Amazing conditions, good fish, proper diving with good mates, and a chance to show the 110CSR3 doing exactly what it was designed to do.

The new Unicolor Camo range is available from 90cm all the way through to 130cm in both the CSR3 and CDR4 rollerguns.

If you’ve ever wondered what a real A-Grade North Coast dive day looks like, how a properly setup rollergun should shoot, or wanted to see the 110 CSR3 in action on pelagic fish, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

Some days everything just comes together perfectly.

This was one of those days.

Great White Shark Off Christmas Bay

The Great White Shark 'Courage' not far from Christmas Bay KZN

Where were you spearfishing on Wednesday 3rd July??? Well hopefully not off Christmas Bay on the Dolphin Coast!! Because you might have bumped into 'Courage' the 12'6" long, 1372lb (856.5kg) mature male Great White Shark!!
If you had, I think you might have needed much 'courage'. I shark that size in 3-5m water is enough to make you crap yourself to death, let alone the fact that it is a Great White!!

Follow Courage Click Here 

On the other hand... when you are not crapping your self, it is quiet cool to see where these beasts have been roaming. Great White sharks are serious travellers, travelling for thousands of kilometers between continents. I am happy with that as long as where I dive is on of the layovers on their prowling route. 

I know sharks don't 'really' eat people, and I am the first to say not to worry about the sharks. But the thought of spearfishing in the average murk we have with a Great White is daunting. Just thinking about the idea makes me respect the spearfisherman who dive around the Western and Eastern Cape coastlines. No wonder they hide in the kelp hunting 'Hotties' .... I would also be too s*%t scared to venture out :-)

To follow some Great White sharks in your area go to Ocearch Global Shark Tracker
But may I suggest that 'ignorance is bliss'

Coatesman

Daga Salmon Time

James "Hogga" Bieth 35,3kg Daga Salmon

One of the best things about spearfishing in winter on the KZN coast is the fact that the Daga Salmon start to make their appearance. James Bieth headed up the coast last week and landed up getting a really good Daga Salmon.

This is his PB and he said that it was literally the last down for the day. James said that he saw a smaller one come in and dash out before he could get a shot, only to swim a bit further to see the 35kg fish lying near a ledge.

Well done to James I know he has been hunting this fish for a good few years, so Kudos to you. Lets hope that this is the first of many good Daga this season.

Coatesman

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

Weekends Spearfishing In KZN

Koos Jordaan - Large Sailfish -  Cape Vidal 

This weekend saw some of the coldest water we have spearfished in KZN. On Sunday the water was a fridged 17 deg on the North Coast. The forecast looked good for Monday so we decided to extend the weekend and get away from the cold water by venturing to Cape Vidal with Koos Jordaan.

The water there was a bit water 21-22deg and we got some great Wahoo between 16-18 kg, some couta and a decent sized Cobia arround 18kg. Koos got a nice big Sailfish that was the cherry on the top of a great day.

Gary Uys - 23 Kob

Back home the guys dived the KZN trials on Sunday. Although the water was very cold at least it was reasonably clean. Gary Uys got a brilliant Kob, this with his 10 fish total gave him first place in the trial. Second was Sean Burns .. who was also diving with Gary! Do you think they found the fish??? I know some of the more competitive guys would have been pretty bleak at not placing well, especially since 'Burnsy's' competitive diving is strictly speaking a 'social' affair. ...... well so he says!

The results are as follows:

1. Gary Uys
2. Sean Burns
3. Brent Borstlap
4. Guy Le Meme
5. Carl Werner
6. Corry Versluis
7. Iain Ewing
8. John Girdza
9. Brandon Barth
10. Niel Barnard
11. Calvin

The next trials will be next year and probably on the south coast.

The weather and ocean forecast this week looks a bit bleak and it does not look like there is much chance of it warming up just yet.

And talking about cold and warm waters here is a segment out of the one fish film. The one section is in the Arctic circle with sub 10deg water and the other is in the Persian Gulf with plus 28deg water!!

If you cant see the Spearfishing Video - Go Here

Enjoy Coatesman

 Book your own Spearfishing adventure go to: Cape Vidal Spearfishing Charters and Guided Trips

KZN Spearfishing Trials

Hey guys the SAUFF guys have finalised the dates and rules for the KZN Spearfishing trials for those who want to qualify for the team next year.
Here are the proposed dates & rules.
For more info contact Iain Ewing on iain@ewing.co.za

DATE	AREA
14 November 2009	Westbrook to Umhloti
5 December 2009	Rocky Bay to Scottburgh
30 January 2010	Bluff to Toti
20 February 2010	Hibberdene area
13 March 2010	Off Durban

This is subject to conditions. Area may be moved or postponed and reserve dates to be decided depending availability of divers.
GENERAL RULES:

1. Natal Spearfishing Trials will be held from October 2009 to March 2010 to prepare and select the best team to represent the province at National Champs. National Champs are scheduled for May 2009 in KZN.
2. Refer to attached plan of scheduled Trial dates and reserve weekends.
3. Each province can select a maximum of four teams of four divers to represent their province at Nationals. In Natal we have three divers per team and sacrifice the fourth team member for a top man to handle the boat during the competition.
4. Thus the top twelve divers are determined from a series of three competitions called “Trials” held to very strict rules and regulations similar to those of Nationals.
5. The selection of these divers is orchestrated by a selection committee made up of the Natal Underwater Union (NUU) Spearfishing Officer, The DUC Spearfishing Officer and one other experienced spearfisherman (to be selected by the NUU Officer) .
6. In the event of dispute and or conflict the decision will be referred to the committee for adjudication and advice, however in the event of deadlock, the Natal Underwater Union Officer has final say.
7. Every diver participating in Natal Trials must be a paid-up member of a Club recognized by the Natal Underwater Union.
8. The Entrance Fee for trials is R400.00. To enter contact Iain Ewing 0824592812. This must be filled in and paid to Iain BEFORE the first trial.
9. The R400 will go towards the four teams’ costs during Nationals and is also a token of your commitment to competing in Trials and at Nationals.

  RULES OF THE COMPETITION:

1. Divers are required to phone Garrick between 5pm and 8pm on the Friday before a trial to confirm the dive area, meeting place and time.
2. If due to bad weather a trial has to be canceled on the Saturday it then takes place on the Sunday. Decisions on whether or not to dive will be made by 8pm on the day preceding the competition. If the weather is not suitable then the trial will be carried forward to the allocated reserve weekends (Refer planned dates and reserve weekends).
3. Remember that a lot of people are getting up early and may be traveling from afar to attend a trial so divers can be forgiven for being ten minutes late but will lose one point for every five minutes thereafter. (This will be strictly monitored.)
4. There will be a meeting to discuss the day’s proceedings, and a meeting place at sea will be decided. Once all the boats meet at sea the trial can begin. (No spearing is allowed before this time.)
5. All diving will be from boats because Nationals take place off boats and World Champs are dived off boats.
6. Each boat is allowed to have a top man to handle the boat during a Trial and no less than 2 divers may dive on a boat. Prior to a Trial commencing divers must arrange the boat they are diving on. It is not the responsibility of the organizers to do this.
7. Note that no chum or burlying is allowed.
8. All divers must dive within 40m of their OWN float. Floats must be used at all times when a diver is in the water, must be a readily visible color, be a minimum of 1.5 liters, and be clearly visible in the water during choppy or rough seas.
9. A trial lasts for six hours. Any diver seen in the water after the six hours will be disqualified. For safety reasons at the sixth hour the safety boat must be notified by radio or cellular phone that all is ok, and the boat is heading for the launch site.
10. All participants must comply with current regulations of Sea Fisheries and Marine Resources legislation
11. Points are allocated to each divers catch as follows.

• Only one fish per species is allowed. All fish may be weighed in un-gutted
• A maximum of 10 fish may be shot
• Divers may keep their fish after the weigh-in is complete.
• Each fish must weigh a minimum of 1 kg to qualify.
• Seven species that are excluded from competition are Surgeons, Angel fish, Unicorn fish, Batfish, Sea Barbel, Barbel Eel and File fish

12. After beaching all divers are required to load their fish into bliks and proceed to the weigh-in.

13. It is forbidden to exchange catches.
14. To facilitate comparison between different competition days, each diver’s points are calculated as a percentage of the top diver. The top diver scores 100%.
15. After four trials each diver’s top three percentages are averaged and thus ranked.

AWARDING OF COLOURS AND TROPHIES

1. If a diver makes the top twelve in Natal Trials they are divided into the A, B, C and Development Team. All twelve divers are awarded NUU Colors (Dolphins).
2. For a diver to get Natal Colors (Wildebeest) they must have dived in the A, B or C team at least three times and at least once in the A team or if never in the A team then they must have come in the top ten at Nationals once.
3. The Natal Underwater Union Awards three trophies each year to competitive divers based on Trials results.

• Anthony Benjamin Trophy for the biggest bottom fish. Biggest Gamefish Trophy. –
• Top of the Log Trophy for overall highest percentage.