"It's mid-March, and after postponing the trip twice, Barry, the charter, confirms that the weather will finally be very good! We're going for a big tuna outing. I hope to catch one weighing over 50 kg!"
Tuna fishing takes place far from the coast with Shimano reels with huge gear ratios!
After an early wake-up call at 6 AM and arriving at the harbor at 7 AM, the big yellowfin tuna outing was underway.
At that hour, the sunrise at sea against the backdrop of the mountains is truly a magical sight!
After more than an hour of full-speed navigation towards a warm current coming from the Indian Ocean (the coast has disappeared), the skippers start setting up the trolling lines (you often see squids on the surface quite well from the boat, which attract both albatrosses and tuna) or deep-diving trolling lures closer to the engines.
It's a highly effective technique for locating fish and allows you to cover a lot of ground very quickly.
"We hook the first fish very early, after about thirty minutes of trolling with one of the squids on the surface. Immediately, it makes a good run!"
However, the fight is less intense and shorter than with yellowfin tuna, with a gentler initial run.
After about 15 minutes of battling a fish that remains very powerful due to its size, we land a very large 20 kg albacore tuna (a great catch for this species) with magnificent colors and exceptionally long pectoral fins.
Trolling can be quite long without any strikes...
However, it's a technique that can be quite boring. Strikes are infrequent, especially if the fish have moved to an entirely different area!
"After several hours of trolling without a single bite, I start to think that this sunny day is actually bringing bad luck. I gaze out at the vast sea. It's so vast. But where are the fish?"
Suddenly, Barry receives a call from one of his colleagues over the radio, telling him to join him in a northern area where the tuna are actively feeding, and where we'll have a great chance of catching some fish...
Barry gets a call. There's tuna. We're racing over!
No time to waste, Barry hits the gas, and 20 minutes later, we were on the scene. When we arrived, there were already 4 charter boats, all without exception, with a fish on the line!
After changing the rigs, it was time to lure the beast by tossing, no kidding, 3 kilograms of sardines cut in half!
The setup here is extremely simple, a hook with sardines similar to the ones thrown overboard, just letting it drift while keeping an eye on it, waiting for a tuna to take a bite. We're going to spin fish. It's a super adrenaline rush with the promise of crazy runs.
However, physically, it's going to be much tougher than trolling where the fish has already been fatigued. Here, it's truly one-on-one. With the tension of the line, if it just rubs against the boat, it's over. It snaps, and the tuna is off the hook.
"The first strike is almost immediate. Barely had time to fasten the belt, and the fish had already taken out 50 cm of line... A beauty!"
Watch out for a breakage!
On these very stiff rods, it's essential to use the belt effectively; otherwise, the incredibly powerful fish could potentially pull you overboard (although it's almost impossible because the guys are holding you from behind).
Once the first rush is over, that's when you'll need to employ your real fishing technique. In reality, all you need to do is pump and reel in while descending, but the risk is reeling at the wrong moment when the fish takes off again, in which case it'll snap.
And once again, never let the line rub against the edge of the boat! That's a surefire way to break it!
How to fish ? Spinning ?
After fifteen minutes of intense battle, another fish bites on another line, and things truly get complicated! The tuna are going in all directions, and the lines are at risk of crossing. If they touch, it's over. They'll break. The worst-case scenario: two tuna, two lost fish.
This is where the skipper is absolutely essential to manage the tops of the lines and ensure they don't touch because they are so taut that even the slightest contact will break both lines.
And suddenly, my father's fish rushes toward mine, stress levels rise, and I have to pass under my father's rod to avoid tangling the lines, and so on for ten minutes until my father lands his fish estimated at 60 kg by Barry... He's devastated.
The skipper then decides to wait for me to bring up my fish before we put another bait in the water.
"After thirty minutes of battle, I finally manage to land a magnificent 55 kg yellowfin tuna!! I'm ex-haus-ted!"
After that, a colleague hooks a fish weighing over 65 kg for an almost one-hour battle, and my father lands a third one weighing 40 kg just before we leave to end on a high note.
"In summary, this day that started off poorly ended up being a fantastic day of fishing with yellowfin tuna, including one over 60 kg, in a great friendly atmosphere with one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world!"
Where are the fishing spots ?
Out at sea!
Seriously, go through a charter. It's impossible to go on your own.
My two favorites:
Barry Stringer (Hout Bay) http://www.houtbaycharters.co.za/
and Peter McFarlane (Simons'town). https://abundancefishing.co.za/trip/our-skipper/
Also worth visiting in the area
Cape Point, of course
Hout Bay and the magnificent road to Noordhoek via Chapman's Peak (toll road but a must-visit). Constantia and its wine farms.
My father loved the tastings (100 rands) at Groote Constantia. For 400 rands (20 euros), you can apparently buy the bottle of wine that Napoleon drank on St. Helena!