On cutting fishing quotas and landing monster marlins

[caption id="attachment_210917" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Tim Christy Picture: supplied[/caption]

Having a vocation where business and pleasure can truly be mixed must be an angler’s ultimate dream.

Tim Christy is one such fortunate person. Recently, while servicing a boat in Mauritius, the time came to trial-test it at sea.

During this test, a few lures were dispatched and the results speak for themselves.

Today’s photograph certainly shows the spoils of a good day’s toil! This monster weighed in at 181kg and, I am told, this is only half the size of the fish that abound not even five nautical miles (9km) off shore.

Mauritius must surely rate as one of the capitals of big game angling on the planet. Tim is a big man of some six-foot-four and he is dwarfed by the marlin not every big game angler can have the good fortune to catch.

Tim is no stranger to landing huge fish, which is what he does best.

The ocean temperature in the bay is 16°C at present and deep-sea fishing seems to have gone off the bite in terms of tuna prospects. The warm water is out of practical reach fuel wise at the moment, although I am told there are indications the fish are around.

Along the coast, blue hottentot, stumpnose and baardman (tasselfish) have been biting and even a squid (along with some non-edibles) has been caught at the dolosse.

Generally angling has not been too bad and this weekend’s prospect looks good with the tide and winds in favour.

The warm westerly should produce fish.

An interesting court case has unfolded of late where the Western Cape High Court has ruled that the fishing quota of Viking Fishing be cut as ordered by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery.

The Mossel Bay operation employs about 200 people who now have a bleak future as a result.

We see foreign fishing quotas also being granted where, in my opinion, our country’s transformation needs could have been better addressed here, as well as balanced throughout the 21 sectors.

There are numerous different fishing permit sectors. However, it does not make sense to cut quotas on capital-intense fisheries where sudden reduction in quotas affect the very people (factory processing staff) for whom job creation must be a practical way forward.

Today we experience a north-westerly wind with a maximum of 30km which continues throughout tomorrow, turning strong westerly on Sunday.

The skies are clear (with a UV exposure warning) during this period and temperatures are typical for this time of year.

The midday temperatures are very conducive for a cast. During this period, we experience a full moon spring tide where strong currents can be expected in the rocky surf and river mouths.