Dana Skunk and South African Sharks

I fished Dana Point with my South African shark assistant, Donovan this morning. Our day started off warm, grey, and glassy. But, soon turned to windy, rainy, and barely fishable. In other words, we got skunked. However, speaking of sharks, Donovan-- who grew up Shark-fishing in Durban--reflected back on that Mako we caught the other day in La Jolla: Back in Durban, they would have kept that puppy Mako alive, put 2 hooks in it, thrown it off of either North or South Durban harbor entrance piers to fish for "Zambezees." Meaning, Bull Sharks. Normally, a Bull hasn't a chance of catching a Mako, but once that Mako is stressed and on the end of your line, it's easy prey for the big boys. Typically, the Bulls range from 500 to 1000lbs. The entrance piers are each a mile long. Hooking an average Bull would tax the angler for a couple of hours. And, after a long walk, the fight would end on the shore at the base of the piers. Zambezees weren't the only sharks fished for. There were plenty of "White Deaths" (or Blue Pointers) and Grey Sharks. Donovan shared this image with me of Wyn Moxley with his huge 1,480lb White Death Shark hooked on the South Pier and landed on the stretch of beach at the base of the pier. Wyn used a bamboo rod, 18 cord flax line and whale meat for bait. It took him 2 hours to land his catch. Huge sharks aren't the only target of Durban anglers. Shad, salmon, 'couta, snoek, kingfish, queenfish, garrick and skates are commonly found in these waters. And you thought we have it good? (Lamb, you like?)

[gary sullivan]

Come on now! You're sure that monster isn't Photoshopped in.

Gary, I've got more photos. Other Durban anglers with other huge sharks caught off those piers. Really.

[lamb]

Impressive...

I like a lot.

You make a great read out of anything...

Did you eat those cheap lobster mackerel?

Check the bag for "not for human consumption" label.

[Kevin]

That is the best "skunk" post I've ever read. Combine that with your report/recipe posts on another site and you are becoming one of my favorite posters.

Come to think of it, someone needs to host a fish and 'Q, land it and cook it challenge. Oh man I'd could go for being a judge of that one.

Kevin

[BrendanM]

Like the reel. Looks like an Alvey. Hell of a fish from shore. That must have been pretty gnarly landing it.

[gary sullivan]

Yani, I believe you. I just like to tease those Texan's, South African's and Aussies that boast of having the biggest everything.

Here's so more: During WWII, both the North and South piers were closed. But that didn't stop dedicated shark fisherman Fred Bennet, from fishing at night next to the piers. Somehow he persuded another young angler, Alby Upton, into paddling his "paddle-ski" out with Fred's whale-baited line in hand. Alby surf launched in pitch dark shark-infested-waters, a quarter mile off shore to drop the bait. Which was instantly hit. Then, Alby would use a torch light to get him back to the beach. The photo below shows how busy Alby was one night in 1942. Fred caught 6 grey sharks and one blue pointer. This was the scene the following morning.

[esdees]

That's insane.

[kurt]

I get tired reeling in pup threshers.

[Handymansd]

Wow...

O' what a night.... late december back in 42....

hey, isn't that a song?

[twitchy]

I am from Durban and have surfed there and seen the toothy fellows out there. I feel pretty safe paddeling out at La Jolla in the dark, but South Africa.......... not so much. A year or two ago, a guy lost his leg fishing in knee deep water next to the south pier......

[striker 7]

howzit china ,donovan here,yanis south african shark handler, im from durbs too,been here 15 yrs,durbs 15,joburg 8. how bout you ? lekker vis vang ,cheers

[twitchy]

I have been here for about ten years now and have been fishing of a yak for a bout a year and a half.
Nie soo feel vis gevang nie, maar ek hoe om dit te doen. Vaar bly jy. Ek woen in Carlsbad.

[striker 7]

wow,its been so long that the afrikaans confused me,but the slang nevr leaves,i live in san juan capistrano by dana point,yani and i fish there all the time,you have got to come up and fish with us soon!!!!!!,were going after halibut on friday am, interested ??write back for info

[twitchy]

Sorry, I just checked it out today. My personal e-mail valentinesurf@yahoo.com.... we can go from there. My afrikaans was a little shakey but I have a guy from Pretoria who helped me get back into it.
Lekker