Spend time with the kids on a cruise in Durban

Spend time with the kids on a cruise in Durban.

www.durbancruiseboat.co.za

 

Sunset Cruise with your Bestie - Bring Champagne

Sunset Cruise with your Bestie - Bring Champagne.

www.durbancruiseboat.co.za

 

 

FAMILY CRUISES - COUPLES CRUISES - SUNSET CRUISES.

FAMILY CRUISES - COUPLES CRUISES - SUNSET CRUISES.

Good times - Connect - Enjoy - Relax.

 

www.durbancruiseboat.co.za

1 Bull and 4 Queens for Fat Girl

1 Bull and 4 Queens for Fat Girl

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 21^st December 2018

Fat Girl and Nawty Girl made their way out of port together for short morning trips after exiting port we parted ways. We headed out for the deep and at the 90m we had our first Dorado on board, a nice Bull. We headed out deeper and North but the water got green and so we came back on the inside and found shoals of bait fish all over and managed to get 4 nice Queen Dorado bring the tally to 5 for the day and a draw with Nawty Girl who also got 5 fishing a completely different area. The water was clean on the inside and averaging around 22.4deg.C. I have mentioned the colder water temperatures a lot in my reports of late because it is out of season for such cold water which should be averaging 24 deg.C this time of year and so very unusual.

 

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

2 Bulls and 3 Queens for Nawty Girl

2 Bulls and 3 Queens for Nawty Girl

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 21^st December 2018

With short morning trips Nawty Girl and Fat Girl made their way out, sending the 2^nd line out Nawty Girl had her first Dorado hook up long before reaching no.1, this turned out to be a nice Bull. For the next 2 hours it was impossible to get the entire spread set as before all the lines were out there was another Dorado on and in the end there was 5 Dorado on board, 2 Bulls and 2 Queens.

 

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

Backline Fun on Nawty Girl

Backline Fun on Nawty Girl

Backline Fishing Report – Durban – 19^th December 2018

A fun backline trip with a good sized Rockcod. Also some Sarda Sarda a lot of Shad and a few Mackerel being caught. Most shad were above size and all undersize were put back

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

Ice Water, Bottoms up and a Tuna

Ice Water, Bottoms up and a Tuna

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 19^th December 2018

The water was ice cold between 19 deg.C and 20 deg.C and even though conditions were reasonable, the SE swell was very steep making for an awkward roll and pitch when taking them from the side. We got out to some reefs and did some bottom fishing catching a variety of bottom species including some nice size Slinger and after a few hours of this we took a slow troll back and hooked up 1 Yellowfin Tuna, dropped another one and then got 2 decent size Sarda Sarda.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

Grand Slam on a Fatastic Day

Grand Slam on a Fantastic Day

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 18^th December 2018

Just as the warm water arrived, it vanished again and we had to head far out to find some good water. We found water so clean that we could see our Rapala’s running in the water, and the best temperature we got was 22.4 deg.C. Even though not an ideal temperature this water was holding a lot of fish but all the way there and all the way back was dead. In this water we managed to land 3 Dorado and drop 3, they were hitting so soft that in order to get a solid hook up I had to bang the throttles. We also managed to land 4 good sized Yellowfin Tuna and drop one. Along the way early morning we managed 6 Bonnies as appetisers for the day ahead. A Marlin came in and knocked our starboard inside rigger off and then it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za                

 

 

One Wave, then Another

One Wave, then Another.

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 12^th December 2018

Finally the warmer water has arrived and we found 23.5deg.C water. We launched into what the forecast said will be a 15 knot NE, but in reality it was around 30 knots and as the morning went on the sea picked up and we ended up punching wave after wave. The water was good and we found nice blue water with lots of life and plenty flying fish, turtles and we even saw Dorado swimming by.

1^st up was a Dorado that hit the shot gun, which was followed by good size Bull Dorado. Then we had a Sailfish come into the spread as I was tuning the boat and the tag lines were slack as he hit our bullet and we did not get a hook up, things where quiet for a while and then we got two decent sized Yellowfin Tuna and were back at the dock before lunch. Hello Summer.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za        

        

 

Nawty Dorado Queen.

Nawty Dorado Queen.

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 7^th December 2018

With a short early morning trip on Nawty Girl we headed out in search of a Dorado that was requested in some difficult conditions, the sea was very unsettled and the water is still cold and green but a bit deeper out it does have a better colour but it took some time to get to this better water. Heading out to the location we were heading into a stiff NE wind which them switched to a strong SW wind which came through 4 hours earlier than expected and so the way back was again heading into the wind. The bumpy trip and getting splashed from time to time was rewarded with a really good sized Queen Dorado.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za                

Good Bottoms and hungry Dorado.

Good Bottoms and hungry Dorado.

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 7^th December 2018

Fat Girl headed out for a short morning of bottom fishing and I must say I am really impressed with our new Shimano spinning gear that we use for this type of fishing. Many species caught, good size Copper Bream, Englishman, Soldiers, Sarda Sarda, nice Rockcod and even some Dorado came up chasing the baits a few times but evaded getting landed and we ended up with a fair amount of fish for the morning.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

Little Guy gets his Dorado

Little Guy get his Dorado

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 2^nd December 2018

Dad wanted his boy to get a good fish, water is still freezing cold and under 21 degC. 1^st up was a nice Bonito, followed by a small Dorado which he fought hard on light tackle. Of all the things we were not expecting in that cold green water was a Marlin hook up with a Black of about 110kg but the little guy even with help could not hold it and it threw the hooks to the crews dismay.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za    

 

            

                                                               

Tough Fishing in Cold Water

Tough Fishing in Cold Water

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 27^th November 2018

We had an 8 hour charter booked for tomorrow which we moved forward to today due to the big SW wind forecast for tomorrow, we launched very early to avoid the big NE wind forecast for this afternoon. Inshore waters are still green and cold under 21deg.C so we decided to head out deep where the SST charts showed warmer water and once we got past 500m depth about 40km from shore we found warm blue water around 23.5degC but the current was screaming S-N from the deep to the shallows. We found lots of bird life and even small bait fish jumping but no fish. I was really disappointed as the water looked so good. Eventually we decided to head back shallow and put some light tackle squids on the corners. We got back into shallower cold green water and it was not long before the light tackle gave us some consolation prizes in the form of 1 small Dorado and after that the Bonnies kept us busy with us catching 1 after the other all the way back to port and ended up with quite a lot of them with only the last 2 hours producing us fish. Not ideal fishing but at least some action.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za            

    

                                                               

Number 30.

Number 30.

Harbour Fishing Report – Durban – 25^th November 2018

With a rather unusual request for a school project where they had a list of 30 things they had to do for the year we had a young lady who had to do her last item which was to catch a fish and so we suggested a 3 hour harbour charter. 10 minutes after we dropped baits we had a nice Salmon on the line and her list is complete and she wanted to end the trip, we convinced her to try for 1 more and she hooked up into a shad. Both fish were released and less than 1 hour from launch we were back on the dock and trip completed along with a completed list of things to do.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za                

                                                               

Big Sea, Xtreme Fishing

Big Sea, Xtreme Fishing.

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 20^th November 2018

We had a short trip this morning. NE was blowing around 20 knots making for a large swell especially after last night’s strong winds. The water is still cold and green and the best we found was 19.3deg.C. We had not even finished putting out our spread when the one Tyrnos with the Rapala Xtreme running went off and we got a Sarda Sarda, shortly after the same Xtreme produced another Sarda Sarda, both were big Sarda Sarda’s. We then had some medium sized Kawa Kawa take the same Xtreme. Deeper out the Xtreme got hit again, a really good sized fish and before we knew it the line was out about 300m into the backing and a 45 minute fight ensued. I was convinced that this was a large Wahoo as the line stayed and the top and the fight was really strong, in the end it turned out to be a super sized Kawa Kawa. On the way back running with the swell we picked up a Dorado on the Xtreme again followed by a few more medium sized Kawa Kawa.

I am surprised that we are getting Dorado in 19deg.C water and the only lure all the fish are hitting are the Rapala Xtreme’s, they are not touching the bullets and kona’s. When that warm blue water finally hits Durban I think we will have some really explosive fishing.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za                

                                                               

Tuna on Ice

Tuna on Ice

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 18^th November 2018

The water off Durban is getting colder and making the wind so icy that my ears get extremely sore so it is still beanies on early mornings in November, going out the port the water temperature has been 18deg.C and deeper out a maximum of 20deg.C, the water is also green. We are hoping that warm band of water that has been seen up north will be with us soon and we should see some Marlins coming out by month end. It has been extremely difficult to produce fish in this cold water but fast trolling is getting us Yellowfin Tuna and the Eastern Little Tunas are still out in the deep so at least we are still bending rods and stretching lines.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za                

                                                               

Cold Green Xtreme Dorado.

Cold Green Xtreme Dorado.

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 15^th November 2018

We got going at 04h30 and to my dismay as I left port I saw the water temperature was 18deg C and it was green, I was hoping that deeper out maybe we could find warmer blue water but this did not happen and even up to 400m it was green and cold, the best water we found was 21.3deg on the 100-200m so we ran North with this. The sea was not settled and swells all over the show with strong 30 knot winds out in the deep but much calmer on the inside so the 100-200m line was the best choice for the day but I was not optimistic. I decided on a mixed spread of bullets, konas and some of the new Rapala Xtreme’s which I have been testing and like very much and ran faster than usual at 9-10 knots to try cover as much ground as possible.

It turned out to be an interesting day with what we would call impossible conditions for producing fish and first up was a bunch of Eastern Little Tuna on 165m which is very odd as normally we never get these deeper than 50m and usually the 165m is Oceanic Bonito (Skipjack) territory. They were eating on the Rapala Extremes. After this I came back in to about 110m and we hooked up a nice Yellowfin Tuna and this was followed by another one, both on the Rapala Extreme’s. I moved out a bit deeper to about 190m and again the Rapala Extreme produced and we landed a small Dorado. The water was really green and as I went further North I tried the 80-90m and running at about 12knots with the swell and we had a triple hook up on Rapala Xtreme’s and landed 2 very nice Dorado, time was out and so we brought in the lines and ran back to port. The bullets and konas and not been touched and all fish came out on the Rapala Xtreme’s and I think had we not put these out we would have had a blank for the day, they really awesome as even at 12 knots running with the swell and surging up to 15 knots they run true, and because we had a number of lures out we had run them very close off the corners about 7m from the transom and all the fish came right in there so a great tactic for future days with cold green water.

               

www.bluewatercharters.co.za                

                                                               

Family Fun Harbour Trip

Family fun Harbour trip

Harbour Fishing Report – Durban – 27^th October 2018

We had a local family book an afternoon 3hr Family Fun harbour fishing trip with a delighted young man who had his first ever fishing trip on a boat. During the 3hrs we managed to hook up 7 shad (All released as it is closed season). Dad managed to have a fantastic tussle with a smaller Hammerhead Shark on light spinning tackle and Mom got herself a nice Bar Tail Flathead. We were hoping to get a grunter for the young man but he caught his first fish ever from a boat, he was so excited.

                                                       

www.bluewatercharters.co.za    

            

Tuna Grand Slam on Nawty Girl

Tuna Grand Slam on Nawty Girl

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 27^th October 2018

Our morning trip started out with great conditions and we had just set our spread when the Tyrnos started screaming and the rod had a good bend on it, after a good fight what we thought was a Yellowfin Tuna turned out to be a Beast of an Eastern Little Tuna. After that we managed 2 Oceanic Bonito and on the way back we hooked into 2 Yellowfin Tuna giving us a Grand Slam of 3 species of Tuna on 1 trip.

                                                       

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

Bass Fishing, Tiger Fishing and Camping Safari

Bass Fishing, Tiger Fishing and Camping Safari

 

Bass Fishing Report – Inanda Dam – 9-11 October 2018

Day 1:

I met up with Olivier and Janick from Reunion Island on the afternoon of the 8^th of October and we set up camp with 3 days of Bass ahead of us, it was windy that afternoon making setting up the tents a challenge but with everyone working together it went rather fast, we then proceeded to make a fire and had a braai (barbecue) whilst getting to know each other and discussing the events for the next few days.

Day 2:

Awesome weather was presented to us and our morning session went well with 6 largemouth bass landed and released, most of them around keeper size (30cm), nothing took on top water and so we had to fish deeper to get some fish. The afternoon went slower and we went even deeper and we got 4 more bass, Janick was going really slow and this paid off and he landed himself a large bass. Olivier was not going to be left out and very shortly after landed himself a good size bass but not as big.  Janick had caught himself the bass of his lifetime we had caught and released a total of 10 bass for the day. We went back to camp and had a good braai and early to bed.

Day 3:

Again we had awesome weather and the morning session delivered us 7 bass all around keeper size, the afternoon session proved to be tough and we only landed 3 bass giving us a total of 10 for the day. Back at camp everyone had their duties and very quickly a braai was on the go.

Day 4:

The weather was fantastic and we went to the bottom of the dam this time, the water was crystal clear and there was 1000s of baby bass swimming around the weed beds, we also saw some monster size carp. Here we were able to get 8 bass on top water for the morning session.

For the afternoon we went up towards the top side again and landed another 7 bass. All our bass for the day were keeper size. We got 15 bass for the day, bringing our final tally to 35 bass over the 3 days including 2 good size fish.

Day 5:

I was awoken at about 01h30 in the morning by what sounded like my tent being ripped open along with some really strange grunting sounds, so after looking around the tent and seeing no holes I proceeded to quietly open up the tent and investigate, I discovered 5 Zebras chewing grass right on the sides of my tent and the grunting noises was the Zebras farting, between the 5 of them it was a continuous string of farts each one producing its own notes, with some harmony they could have made a melody. Later that morning we woke up to overcast conditions with light rain and after breakfast we packed up camp to make our way to Jozini to hunt some Tiger fish.

The almost 400km trip to Jozini was not pleasant, heavy rain with poor visibility, terrible Friday drivers making it a long trip. Olivier and Janick went off ahead of me and stopped in St. Lucia for some sea food, towing took much longer especially in the conditions.

 We arrived at the campsite and the rain gave us a break to set up camp, make a fire and have a braai for supper, later on the rain continued.

 

Tiger Fishing Report – Lake Jozini - 13-15 October 2018

Day 6:

It was raining and cold and we launched the boat and went out fishing anyway, it rained most of the day with a few breaks and we managed to land and release 15 Tiger fish for the day. The rain let up and brunch time so we could make some food. That evening it rained heavy and we had to make our braai under the roof ledge and went to bed very early.

Day 7:

The rain was gone, we saw a beautiful little owl n the tree above our campsite. The overcast conditions made for perfect tiger fishing and we landed and released 26 Tiger fish for the day. The animal and bird life around the dam is phenomenal and we saw a huge variety of bird life including a Marshall Eagle, a Vulture and a Fish Eagle up close. Plenty Giraffe were around, the White Rhino were at the launch site and they had a small calf with them and we even got to see a Jackal. That night at the campsite the little owl reappeared and we saw another larger grey on in the same tree.

Day 8:

Our last day was hot, humid and sunny and later on the wind blew hard and fishing was tough and we only managed 7 Tiger fish for the day bringing our tally to 48 Tiger fish for the 3 days.

 

The water was clear and we only did spinning for Tiger Fish the whole trip, most our Tigers were caught on top water, although the water level is still slow there is plenty greenery around and it looks awesome. Bringing the boat out the water we where given the task of changing a flat rear tyre on the car which I later discovered to be bits of smashed up wheel bearing that someone has left on the slipway.

Day 9:

We were up early, packed up camp and left by 05h30, Olivier and Janick got to the airport well within time for their flight home and the trip back to Durban was a pleasant one.

For the whole trip our total tally of Bass and Tiger Fish was 83 Fish so a really great trip with some great fishing action and tons of wild life. Other than the rainy night the camping was also superb.

 

Big Bull Dorado to open the season.

Big Bull Dorado to open the season.

Offshore Fishing Report – Durban – 1st October 2018

After yesterdays NE winds it was a bit choppy today but settled down as the day went on. We had a short morning trip and on our lighter tackle managed to land a really large Dorado Bull to open our Dorado account for the new season. Wow, what a fish to open the season account and congratulations to the young man who fought so hard to land it.

                                                       

www.bluewatercharters.co.za                

                                                               

Marlin Food is Here

Marlin Food is here.

Fishing Report – Durban – 23 September 2018

Stunning conditions today but the water was cold, inshore was green water. We made our way out to some reefs and did some bottom fishing getting some Englishmen and Slinger, then we trolled 1.5hrs back making a detour out deeper along the way, swells were rather large but far spaced so comfortable and out deeper the water was warmer than inshore but still cold. We had an on/off with a small Dorado on the Rapala Xtreme and as we went along we picked up 3 Oceanic Bonitos. These Oceanic Bonito are Marlin food, and along with some flying fish that we saw, I am sure we will start getting Marlin early this season.

                                                       

www.bluewatercharters.co.za

Bonito are getting bigger.

Bonito are getting bigger.

Fishing Report – Durban – 22 September 2018

It was stunning conditions early this morning with light winds and flat seas when we launched for a short Inshore/Mini Deep trip on Nawty Girl. The forecast was showing a great day. It was not long before the first line went and we ended up the day with 4 nice Bonnies and 1 really nice Skipjack. Water was around 22deg.C. A strong west wind blew for about an hour during our trip and made for a very choppy sea and then all calmed down and the rain set in making us soaking wet by the time we got back to port. Weather forecasts have been so inaccurate of late we can’t even know the night before what the conditions will be the next morning.

                                                       

www.bluewatercharters.co.za                

 

Tuna, Tuna, Tuna. Fat Girl Wins Again

Tuna, Tuna, Tuna, Fat Girl wins again.

Fishing Report – Durban – 14 September 2018

We launched at 2.30pm in the afternoon for a short fun trip and were back on the dock by 6.00pm.

It was one of those last minute trips and I must say I was not that optimistic about getting any fish in such a short time, none the less we gave it our best shot and I started to work areas that I thought would hold some Bonnies or Tuna. It was not long before we had our first bonnie on the line, then another and then another, the Bonnies are getting bigger now with a really nice one which was followed by a decent Yellowfin Tuna. After the excitement and 2 nice fish in the hatch and a bunch of others being caught I went to target my next spot and BINGO we all 9 lines go off at once with all 9 guests each fighting a fish at the same time and after some chaos and mayhem we managed to put another 9 Bonnies on the deck. Lines were reset and it was off to the next spot, I went over the spot and saw a great showing, turned around to the guys on deck and was about to shout when 4 reels started screaming at the same time and so after some more chaos and mayhem we landed 3 Yellowfin Tuna and dropped one right at the boat. So take 30 minutes out and 30 minutes back for travel time we landed 4 Yellowfin and over 20 Bonnies in 2.5hrs, not bad for an afternoon we were not optimistic about. With the 100s of Bonnies we have been getting and already some good Tuna I think we going to have a bumper game fish season this year, already one Marlin has been spotted in Durban and it is just a matter of time before the 1^st Dorado comes out, especially since the water is warming up nicely, I reckon the first Dorado will come out this month. Hope I am right and we get a lot of fish, I am certain of some great Tuna fishing for the next while.

                                                       

www.bluewatercharters.co.za