Pass the salt!

Field Editor Graeme Field takes a look at salt water fly fishing in South Africa

South Africa, with its dynamic and varied coastline offers exciting fly fishing for anglers of all shapes and sizes. From the deep waters of the Cape, to the tranquil estuaries of the Eastern Cape and Transkei, to the endless beaches and rugged surf zone of the KwaZulu-Natal Coast, salt water fly fishing is booming, and more and more anglers are turning to the gentle art as they seek to create and fulfil new challenges. Salt water fly fishing is re-inventing the sport of angling, using old knowledge to create a more challenging and satisfying method of outwitting piscatorial adversaries. Whether enjoying a peaceful afternoon gently casting small flies along the bushy river banks, or throwing a huge fly to a crazed sailfish or yellowfin tuna from a pitching and rolling boat miles out to sea, the satisfaction of successfully fooling a fish into eating an artificial fly is what drives the sport. Whether it is relaxation you seek or the ultimate adrenaline rush, it can be found in the endless salt water of South Africa’s coastline – fly rod in hand.

For beginners, the thought of tossing such a small offering into a limitless expanse of water may seem daunting at first, but with the correct advice and some initial instruction, this first foray into the salt could be far more rewarding than frustrating or intimidating. Once the basics are understood and some time has been spent practising casting, one will quickly learn how to read water and maximise the chances of catching a fish. We have attempted to outline the species most sought after by South African fly anglers, the areas one is most likely to encounter them and the methods most successfully used to take them on fly.

Estuaries

If you already have some knowledge on fly fishing, then it makes sense to start out in the salt at a venue that offers a similar environment to what you are used to having fished in fresh water rivers and dams. The major differences are the size and type of fly tackle you will be using, as well as the flies which are tied to imitate baitfish and crustaceans rather than insects. Estuaries are also ideal for beginner salt water anglers, as they are far less demanding physically and technically than surf or offshore fishing. Generally quite protected from the coastal winds, they are small in area with well-defined channels, sandbanks and deeper drop-offs, allowing the fly angler to easily find and reach productive water.

Estuaries are utilised by many gamefish as a nursery area for their young, which means that there are large numbers of juvenile fish inhabiting the area. This not only offers the beginner excellent sport with the smaller fish, but it allows you to familiarise yourself with catching of fish on fly. Smaller estuaries and smaller fish mean smaller flies, which are easier to handle and cast. In the salt, distance casting is more essential than in fresh water, and big, heavy flies can inhibit the distance you are able to reach. You will also find that the speed at which you retrieve your fly is slower, as you will be imitateing prawns, crabs, shrimps and smaller baitfish that don’t swim as fast as their ocean-dwelling brothers and sisters.

   

Species vary dramatically throughout the country. In the western Cape, leery (garrick), elf (shad), grunter and mullet form the main fly rod targets. From Port Elizabeth up to the Wild Coast one would be concentrating on species such as skipjack (springer), leery, juvenile kingfish, kob, grunter and river snapper. As one travels further north into the warmer waters of KwaZulu-Natal, the number of fish species increases and one can target more of the kingfish, ox-eye tarpon, queenfish, skipjack and torpedo scads.

Most estuaries have well-defined areas where fish can be targeted. The mouth is always a good bet as fish will be moving in and out of the estuary with the tide. There is generally a deep channel through which the fish move. Further up from the mouth, the channel often widens forming a well-defined sandbar and deeper drop-off, and predators gather in the deeper water to feed on baitfish that huddle in the shallows. Further upriver, channels, mudbanks and rocky areas bordering on deep water are the places to fish.

Tackle for estuaries should consist of an 8-wt rod, a decent salt water fly reel with both a floating and intermediate fly line. This setup should be more than adequate to tackle any of the fish you are likely to encounter within these diverse estuarine systems. Be warned though that big fish can and do enter these rivers, and if you spend some time on the water you will soon gain knowledge and insight into where and when they are likely to be found. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to put yourself in with a real chance of hooking into a quality specimen sooner or later!

Offshore

Offshore fly fishing is probably the fastest growing facet of the sport. Once people began to realise just how hard one could actually pull on a fly rod, they began to look at the pelagic gamefish as a possible target for the more adventurous fly angler. Getting out to sea on a boat opens up all sorts of possibilities for catching salt water fish on fly. Whether fishing down deep on a shallow inshore reef or casting at sailfish, tuna and even marlin that have been teased up to the boat using conventional hookless teaser baits, offshore is where the real trophy fish lurk.

Down in the Western Cape, the prime species targeted offshore are yellowtail, snoek and tuna. Yellowtail and snoek are found close inshore and average at 4 – 6 kilos in weight, which is ideal for the fly angler. Yellowtail are tough fighting fish, and a 10-wt rod with an intermediate line is recommended. Fishing for yellowtail can be extremely exciting and visual, as under good conditions you will be casting at visible fish as they plough into baitfish on the surface. This often means chasing the flocks of diving birds as they swoop down to grab the small fish as they leap from the water in an attempt to flee the frenzied yellowtail below. The best times of the year are during the summer months from September to May when they move into the area around Cape Point and False Bay. They can also be caught all the way up to the Wild Coast during the winter shad and sardine run up the east coast of our country.

Snoek are our winter species in the Cape, and arrive in huge numbers between May and October. A valuable commercial species, they form shoals below the surface and fast sinking lines are favoured to get the heavy flies down to where they are feeding. Shoals can often be tracked down by taking note of where the commercial boats are gathered, but be warned - the commercials are fishing for a living and do not take kindly to sport anglers getting too close – so keep well out of their way.

Far out off Cape Point lurk the big, powerful yellow- and longfin tuna and hooking one of these bruisers is best left to experienced fly fishermen with specialised big game fly tackle. Big rods, big reels, big flies and big fish – this is not for the faint hearted. The largest yellowfin tuna landed on fly to date clocked in at 78 kilos!

Off the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal coast the variety of species increases and great fun can be had catching shoaling species on the surface, or fishing deeper down on the inshore reefs where a variety of snapper, couta, queenfish and kingfish hug the underwater pinnacles. Here one needs to track down surface activity or concentrate on underwater structure where the fish gather to feed, and a local skipper is invaluable in ensuring that you locate fish and get your fly into the strike zone. Fortunately, unless one is casting at shoaling species, lengthy casts are not always required offshore, and as long as you are getting your fly to the right depth, you are in with a shot.

The surf zone

Rock and surf fly fishing is the most challenging type of salt water fly fishing in South Africa, and novice anglers may find themselves becoming frustrated in this environment. The surf zone holds similar species to the estuaries, but generally more adult fish and in smaller numbers than within the confines of estuaries. Surf fishing is not always easy – the fly angler battles wind, tides, waves and rocky ledges - and distance casting will be essential in order to reach the deeper water where the fish are holding. The surf area in the immediate vicinity of a river mouth is the best place to start, as the fish will be within relatively easy casting distance. When fishing from the shoreline, concentrate on areas of deeper water, channels, cuts and holes close to the beach are likely areas. The use of an intermediate or sinking line is essential to cut through the waves, currents and wash along the shoreline.  Surf fishing in the Western Cape is limited, and one should concentrate on the areas around river mouths where elf and leery gather to feed on the baitfish that get flushed out of the estuaries.

Along the Eastern Cape coast, kob are likely targets in the surf zone, and bigger, bulkier flies in brighter colours like orange, pink and green are the best choice. Kob love foamy, washy water in holes and channels and are bottom feeders so get that fly down deep! Shad and leery can also be caught under the right conditions, especially around the Port Elizabeth area.

Along the KwaZulu-Natal coast kingfish, queenfish, shad and wave-garrick can be caught – especially during the annual sardine run in the winter months. It can be difficult to find a suitable area that is not over-run by conventional tackle fishing though, so you need to explore the coast and find an area where there is access to deeper water and space to cast a fly. A stripping basket (to hold your loose line) is essential when fishing the surf zone. Be aware of the dangers of waves and tides when venturing out into the surf – do not take any chances out there.

Whatever facet you prefer, salt water fly fishing adds a whole new dimension to the art of angling. Get started, gather some solid advice, take the time to have a casting lesson from a professional and before you know it, you will be hooked on catching salt water fish on fly.