Knysna lagoon

Bait:  Before you start collecting bait, get the required permits and avail yourself of the bait regulations. There are still plenty of bloodworm, sand and mud prawns, river chokka, pencil-bait and mullet in the Lagoon.

Bloodworm may be collected in the open area at Leisure Island.  The prohibited area is indicated by notice boards.  To locate the bloodworm one must look out for small depressions in the sand, 3-5 cm in diameter.  Nearby will be a small heap which resembles a miniature volcano.  A prawn pump is used to collect the bloodworms.  The worms can be kept alive in a bucket of sea water which is regularly replaced.

At night you will notice the river chokka (“Chummie”) in the shallows.  They may be collected by means of a small purpose-built fork, obtainable from tackle shops. Use your prawn pump to collect mud prawns in the muddy areas and sand prawns in the sandy areas of the lagoon. Pencil-bait, the holes of which look like the key hole of a door, are to be found on the white sandbank in the lagoon. The easiest way to collect this bait is to hook them out of their shelter by means of the bent end of a bicycle wheel spoke. Shoals of mullet occur in the small channels and may easily be caught with a casting net, especially with the incoming tide.

The spotted grunter – one of the most popular fishes in estuarine fishing.

Fish to be caught in the lagoon:  Spotted grunter and white steenbras occur in good numbers.  One can often see their tails extending above the water surface when they blow prawns out from the lagoon bed. The spotted grunter, being more active in warm water, is a tenacious fighter, more so when coming close to the boat.

In contrast to the grunter, white steenbras prefer the cooler water which occurs after a few day’s south-easter.  No angler will ever forget the sensation experienced when a white steenbras grabs the bait and sets off.  It will take 100 meters of line from your reel in seconds!  During a competition in 1995 it took an angler more than an hour to subdue a white steenbras of 18,65 kg on nylon line of 4 kg breaking strain.  As regards bait, sand and mud prawns and bloodworm are the downfall of any white steenbras.  A sliding sinker rig with a 1/0 or 2/0 hook is used.  The sliding sinker is also recommended for all the other fishes described in this chapter.

Being a predator, the cob will always be on the lookout for a live mullet.  However, an octopus tentacle, a fillet of river chokka (“chummie”) and bloodworm will not easily be refused.  Cob, averaging 3-15 kg, are often caught in the lagoon, but the large “rietbulle” (a local name for big cob) of 35 kg and above are scarce.  Bigger hooks (4/0-6/0) and a thicker hook trace are recommended for cob.  When using live bait always use the lightest hook.  Insert the hook either through the tail or in the middle of the fish, just below the dorsal fin, without injuring it.

Leerfish (garrick), just like cob, frequent the deeper channels of the lagoon and prefer live bait.  Many anglers believe that the following method is the best to catch this tenacious fighter:  Insert a light round bend 6/0 hook through the top jaw of a live mullet and troll it slowly 10-15 meters behind a boat, allowing it to swim freely.  The leerfish will grab the bait with full force and will be hooked instantly. However, when fishing for cob and leerfish with live bait in the conventional way, the fish should be allowed to take the bait without feeling any resistance.  The clutch of your reel must be disengaged and the spool just lightly controlled by your finger.  Give the fish ample time to swallow the bait.  Both the cob and leerfish scale the bait fish and drop it before the scaled fish is finally picked up and swallowed.  The safest way to ensure that you do not strike too soon, is to slowly count to ten after the bait has been picked up.

Elf (shad) prefer sardines or a fillet of a small baitfish such as strepie (karanteen). This delicious table fish may also be caught on drift bait on the lagoon.  A short steel wire trace is needed to prevent bite-offs. When fishing with a live mullet you may encounter the skipjack, nephew of the mighty tarpon!  Then you will know that you have a fight on hand!

Fishing spots:  Some of the most popular spots in the lagoon are the following.

•  The red poles on your right and the green poles on your left as you proceed down the lagoon towards the mouth (spotted grunter and white steenbras).

•  At the spot where the lagoon diverges, known as “The Split” (spotted grunter and  white steenbras).

•  In the vicinity of the train bridge (big white steenbras and cob).

•  “Kabeljougat” to the left of the oyster beds at Belvedere (cob).

•  When the water is cold fish seek the warmer water high up in the lagoon.

Best fishing times:  The most fish are caught at night, as the water is too clear during the day. Spotted grunter and white steenbras are caught throughout the year, although summer stays the best. The best catches are made during summer, especially February, March and April.  Ideal conditions for cob occur after a south-westerly wind when the water is warm and has a dark-brown colour. Neap tide is better than spring tide, as your live bait stays alive longer when the currents are not so strong. Summer is also the best time for leerfish (garrick) and elf (shad)