SKI-BOAT May/June 2017 • 9RELEASING DEEP WATER FISH
Dear Editor,
I’ve been catching quite a few wreck
fish lately off Port Alfred while targeting
copper steenbras over a deep reef of
around 80-85m depth and it’s been dis-
tressing to see them struggle to get
down when released.
The smaller fish seem to be able to
get back down pretty well, but the big-
ger ones (15kg+) have a real problem.
I have been releasing the air with a
tagging needle and have tried various
methods of weighting the fish to get
them back down, but I was wondering
what is the best method to give the fish
the best chance of survival?
I know some mates who fish north
of East London for coppers and they
seem to think the fish survive, but they
have never had a recapture in all the
years and they tag plenty. Do they actu-
ally survive?
Our rule is we fish ’till we each have
a copper then leave the area and go do
something else — troll for gamefish etc.
— as I worry that catching and releas-
ing them from that depth may just be
murder in disguise.
Is there any scientific study on the
topic with evidence one way or anoth-
er to support any specific procedure?
Please tell me or, better yet, come fish-
ing with me and show me.
I hate feeling like I’m killing these
beautiful fish.
DAVE DUNCAN
[email protected]
Dear Dave,
There are indeed ways of safely releas-
ing these fish. In the March/April 2013
issue of SKI-BOATwe ran an article
titled “Letting Go” by Bruce Mann and
Stuart Dunlop from ORI, which gave a
few ways anglers can maximise the sur-
vival rate of red steenbras, seventy-four
and other deep water species. (See dia-
gram above.) Then Gary Thompson
wrote an article for the January/
February 2014 issue about using the
Seaqualiser — a device that helps you
safely release bottomfish.
I hope those articles help. — Ed
IGFA PRESIDENT RETIRES
Dear IGFA Members, Supporters and
Friends,
Recently, Rob Kramer announced his
retirement as President of the IGFA.
The Board and staff are sad to see
Rob move on, but he believes that now
is the right time for him, his family and
the organisation. There have been
many positive changes to IGFA over the
last several years, and it is now poised
to grow from a new firmer foundation
— a foundation that Rob laid.
Change is normal in the course of
any enterprise, and Rob will remain
fully engaged as our President through-
out the next few months. He has com-
mitments to friends, donors, trustees,
and representatives around the world
that he plans to keep. He is also com-
mitted to helping assure an easy transi-
tion to a new President. He will official-
ly step down at the end of August.
We thank Rob for his nearly 15
years of service and loyalty to the IGFA,
and we look forward to his friendship
for years to come.
CHARLES “CARLOS” DUNCAN III
<[email protected]>THE NEXT GENERATION
Dear Editor,
In March I turned two. I love fishing
from my “fighting chair”. My adopted
dad, Nino, is a great fisherman and skip-
per who has been teaching me from a
young age. One day I’ll be big enough
to go out with him on the ski-boat. For
now I love watching him launching
through the surf and taking charters
out deep sea fishing.
KEELEY ESTEVES
<[email protected]>NO BLUE MONDAY
Dear Editor,
Monday mornings are normally not
good for us working fishermen; it always
seems like the sun shines brighter and
the sea is flatter on Mondays.
Luckily Tuesday 22 March was a
public holiday and thus Monday was
also a holiday and we seemed to trick
the weatherman. I woke up to a glori-
ous sunrise and got to go fishing with
my best friend, my son James.
James was always a social fisherman
but loved his surfing, motorbikes and
cycling more. The fishing bug has just
recently bitten him and he started walk-
ing in his dad’s footsteps.
After launching at Hibberdene on
Monday 21 March, we got some live-
bait, rigged them for ’cuda, and began a
slow chug in a northerly direction.
James was in the front looking out for
any activity and I was at the helm with
my morning coffee in hand.
Suddenly some bonnies were being
smashed to our left and I shouted to
James, “Grab that rod with the spoon
and cast over them.”
Without hesitation he made a solid
cast, put the rod tip down and after
only three or four winds he was on.
As a father, seeing the joy and
excitement of him hooking this speci-
men made me feel so proud. James
fought the fish like a pro, and next
thing I knew it was next to the boat.
This being his first croc ’cuda on
spoon, he was over the moon with
excitement.
What more could a father want than
to spend time with his lifelong fishing
buddy? The 25kg ’cuda was very tasty
too. Well done my boy!
PETE THEUNISSEN
<[email protected]>MAILBAG Got something to share? Write to The Editor [email protected]