Land based Hammer
Headed down to my spot on a northern beach tonight which has been producing really well recently, with a couple of bronzies or black tips most outings. Couple of big rays as well, though im still only landing about half of the really big rays I hook up to. Anyway, spent a good couple of hours down there starting off with skippy heads as bait, eventually downsized after a few bites without hookups. This proved to be the right move.
After sliding a whole herring out, maybe half an hour later my drag erupted under about 2kg of pressure, quickly grab the rod, thumb the spool and try to set the hooks.... well all that happened was that I burnt my thumb on a pretty solid bloody run! Crank down the drag and slowly bring the run to a stop... Wait, GONE! reel like hell for about 40m thinking what the f is goin on with so little pressure, sure enough eventually feel something. ON!! Fish was swimming towards me! soon as I feel this he takes off on another nice run, which gave me time to compose myself and plan where I am gonna land the fish, as he went to the left I headed across some rocks that way, yelling to my mate Seb (member name aalfred) yep its a shark!
started climbing down the rocks to the beach where we plan and land the fish before I start feeling dead weight! WTF? "Never mind mate must be a ray" I was actually convinced for a minute it was an eagle ray, despite the headshakes earlier in the fight I had never felt a shark hold its weight in the current like this, not a heap of weight but not the kinda fight you expect from a shark.
Around this time I was making my way down off the last of the rocks and took a stack, did pretty well keeping pressure on the line the whole time though lol. A bit like a drowning Aussie keepin the stubby out of the water. Anyway, my left knee took a bit of a beating but as soon as I was up and taking the fish through the surf I heard Seb call "Hammer head!". Being the first of this species that I have caught I was pretty excited and when Seb had leadered the fish onto the sand I was stoked.
Couple of high fives and the hooks were removed, pics were taken and the fish was released to swim away strong!
Very different fight to any other shark I have hooker. Big thanks to Seb for assistance and a great job leadering and landing the fish!
fish measured 158cm precaudal and 170cm total length.
deepwater
Posts: 1921
Date Joined: 09/05/07
hammer head
nice size hammer there cuthbad ,thats a good effort from the shore thats for sure
jeff
cudbfishn
Posts: 1311
Date Joined: 06/04/09
Man you really know how to
Man you really know how to give some gear a workout. Well done man. Considering going down to my local tonight. Had 3 chances to go out last weekend and people piked.
Nelly
Posts: 518
Date Joined: 04/05/08
At the rate your going and
At the rate your going and the stuff your hooking that torium is going to be rooted before long! Solid shark,Any idea on a rough weight?
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
was actually pretty well fed
was actually pretty well fed n had a fair bit of weight to it. maybe 18kg I reckon.
Gotta admit I gave that TN50 in the for sale section a good look. Reckon tax return will go quickly this year lol
Nelly
Posts: 518
Date Joined: 04/05/08
The new trinidad A looks good
The new trinidad A looks good i had a play with one yesterday.Carbontex drag standard and really strong Anti reverse...Or you could go one better and get a saltiga 50..
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
haha thats debatable,
haha thats debatable, shimanos have treated me pretty well so far (touch wood)
Nelly
Posts: 518
Date Joined: 04/05/08
Hahaha You know where Brenz
Hahaha You know where Brenz and myself stand on the issue.
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
Yea Brenz made that pretty
Yea Brenz made that pretty clear lol. Ill never live it down if the torium fails one day....
cudbfishn
Posts: 1311
Date Joined: 06/04/09
lol He will hafta upgrade to
lol He will hafta upgrade to a trinidad.
John_M
Posts: 967
Date Joined: 17/01/10
Nice one man, they go pretty
Nice one man, they go pretty hard don't they. And good to hear it released well :)
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
cheers mate, yea that first
cheers mate, yea that first run was bloody great for a shark of that size. Almost put the bronzies to shame i reckon lol
bod
Posts: 2319
Date Joined: 03/05/06
good reading
good report cuthbad and a nice size hammer.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18017
Date Joined: 11/03/08
well done on the hammer.
well done on the hammer. they are great eating at that size but well done for the release. gotta be happy getting results like you have
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
DieHard
Posts: 1823
Date Joined: 06/10/08
nice one man! Really putting
nice one man!
Really putting the sharkey to test...
Hopefully the slides will come in the next coming week or 2
DieHard – The Official “Ray & Shark” Chaser!
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
sweet cheers man!I have an
sweet cheers man!
I have an order pending with rockhustler.co.za as well just waiting to hear back from him re shipping. I went down to bluewater today and picked up a few to get me by, 7 bucks each for the ones that get destroyed on the first fish they hook up to.
Strange that you can get great quality ones shipped internationally for 3 bucks each, but lower quality ones also made in SA cost 7 bucks at bluewater. Dont get me wrong, stoked that they stock them. Maybe when it becomes a more common fishing method they will go up in quality and down in price.
DieHard
Posts: 1823
Date Joined: 06/10/08
yeah do agreepicked up ONE
yeah do agree
picked up ONE for $5.50 and on the first small ray at Ocean Reef it bent straight....
SA makes some damn good stuff at a great price! the grapnels i saw in the tackle shop i bought from were R3.90...ahaha
DieHard – The Official “Ray & Shark” Chaser!
cudbfishn
Posts: 1311
Date Joined: 06/04/09
Ive been trying out and
Ive been trying out and making my own. Havent caught anything descent on one yet but can make them outa 2.4mm wire. Just gota work out how to solder them without melting the swivel. Tried about 5 different types. all made of brass and all melt instantly. Been using split rings.
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
sounds like a good idea mate.
sounds like a good idea mate. I was watching a guide on how to make them online the other day somewhere, looked pretty hard.
Would be cool to see how yours have turned out if you get a chance to throw some pics up some time?
cheers
cudbfishn
Posts: 1311
Date Joined: 06/04/09
yer ill post some later.
yer ill post some later. There only costing me about $1.50 to make. Best ive got is a small shovelnose so far. Did get busted off on something a while back but dont know if the clip wrapped around my line. Have since upgraded to 35 pound mono. so we will see.
brenz
Posts: 2182
Date Joined: 15/06/06
nice effort pitty we cou;dnt
nice effort pitty we couldnt replicate the same tonight. .... still want any shitmano product after the same problem as the week before? ;)
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
mate what I witnessed tonight
mate what I witnessed tonight has even me doubting shimano products, what a freakin joke!!
Still spewin you didnt get to see the spot under good conditions, can really fire. even more devo about said shimano product though, that sucks mate.
brenz
Posts: 2182
Date Joined: 15/06/06
was a complete joke
was a complete joke considering th rod is rated to 10oz an i was casting 8 oz with no bait .... u know what they say ya give em an inch they take a mile
Nelly
Posts: 518
Date Joined: 04/05/08
Gotta stop going to level
Gotta stop going to level 10000 and breaking rods brenz they can't handle your power.
brenz
Posts: 2182
Date Joined: 15/06/06
mate dissapointment is a
mate dissapointment is a understatement friken ridiculouse 2 tiralejo in 1 week .... not to self no more going super sayen as shimano cant handle it..... oh well back to daiwa
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
Becoming more and more clear
Becoming more and more clear only the south african gear is up to the job of sharks from the surf man...
nah joking.... but ill pm you the site i got my sharkey from just in case ;-)
Nelly
Posts: 518
Date Joined: 04/05/08
I reckon the rods are fine
I reckon the rods are fine adam...It just your a jynx and cause them to blow up....
2 in 1 week pretty unlucky.
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
starting to wonder if your
starting to wonder if your right man... I think I have pretty much blanked every time I have fished with Brenz as well.... Maybe we r just not meant to fish together?
Nah f^ck that, watch this space. big shark coming soon from one of us!!
crasny1
Posts: 7002
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Brenz
How did you break 2 Tiralejo's in a week. Was it from casting weight or was it fish-fighting. Either way it makes you wonder. I am just asking as I have been looking at what to get next as a beach rod when (if) I return to Mandurah or down south. Left my beach gear down south and dont need them up here. I was tossing between a Moonraker and Tiralejo, but now I am worried a little. Depends on the circumstances.
Also is it just me, or is Shimano's rods not up to par with Diawa. I am a Shimano reel man, all basically them, but lately added a Saltiga LD30 2S OH to the collection (I like the name better than the Shimano equivalent -- Lol).
However my rods have drifted to Diawa, and after some failres I only have one (T Curve Lucanis Spin PE 3-4) out off 30-40 Shimano rods. Go to is Diawa and I just love Monster mesh and have 5 off them in various setups.
Just wondering if I am a loner in this "sense".
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Nelly
Posts: 518
Date Joined: 04/05/08
The first tiralejo broke
The first tiralejo broke pretty much under no load as he was winding line in....The replacement blew up first cast under a medium power cast...Makes you wonder but having said that my tiralejo has been good since i have had it and i have used it heaps in the last year..I also have a moon raker and the moon raker is the better rod.Daiwa make much better rods than shimano IMHO.
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
I wont be going anywhere near
I wont be going anywhere near a shimano rod after witnessing those 2 incidents.
Bungel
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 12/10/08
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
cheers man
cheers man
cudbfishn
Posts: 1311
Date Joined: 06/04/09
Ive pendulumed 5 oz with my
Ive pendulumed 5 oz with my tiralejo (its rated at 4/110g) and havent had a problem. 5oz seemed too heavy for pendulum for that rod but. 4 oz iss perfect. I cast 6oz with mulie with it normal style cast.
brenz
Posts: 2182
Date Joined: 15/06/06
the 2 rods i had were rated
the 2 rods i had were rated to 10 oz the most i run was 8oz with no bait (as i was sliding) . very dissapointed and as the others who witnessed both of them said a complete joke ... i will not be going near any shimano rods again.
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
first guess at weight was
first guess at weight was just under 20kg, SASAA tables put it at a little over 50kg. call it somewhere in between maybe....
these tables are pretty usefull for shark weight estimates http://www.sasaa.co.za/sasaaftp/allspeciescalculator1.xls
Jim
Posts: 1334
Date Joined: 05/05/06
Nice hammer
Would love to know that spot!
I tried placing an order thru Rockhustler awhile back and couldnt get any word on the shipping. Did it go ok for you?
I always thought tailor were 2kg at 60cm but that table says 2.9kg. Im happy with that!
Bend over
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
Still waiting mate, havent
Still waiting mate, havent had any issues before with them though. Apparently theres a heap of ppl in Aus making orders so he is trying to suss out who is interested in combining orders for shipping or something....
Yea those tables deff overestimate in a lot of cases (maybe the fish are better fed in South Africa), theres no way that hammer was 50kg. But its really usefull for rays and stuff where there is no way you could get a weight measurement.,
BTW that spot has gone to cr@p now. all the sand has washed away and I snag up on almost every cast. Shame, its a great spot but only fishes well for like 2 months a summer max.
Blue Whaler
Posts: 382
Date Joined: 05/10/10
Sliding is a total different
Sliding is a total different type of fishing. Therefore the choice of rod to be thought thru properly. I would recommend getting a rod blank that has the specs to withstand 8 0z - 12 oz sinkers. Makes life a bit easier when you can have a rod made up to your specifications, height and to the way you like to cast.
I have a custom-made 400 / 8 T24 Blue Marlin (brand of blank) 15 ft rod made up as my sharky rod. I can pendulum cast quite easily a 10oz sinker with the broom stick - and she does handle very stiff. I strengthend the butt section and added a finger grip, flip up guide and fuji guides. You can manhandle the rod and she will not give in. I had a look at the AU shimano site and it looks like the closest would be the beach master? - see no 13 or 14 ft?
I you are serious about Shark fishing and want to use a 14 ft rod for distance, have a look at this site...www.basilmanning.co.za....Basil has designed and made a series called the Assassin - Blade - specifically for SA shark landbased fishing. They are not cheap - but incredibly light and very strong.
On a budget - try the Loomey Sharky / Shimano Exage 1468 or the Elbe Sharky. Tried and tested - they all are good value for money.
Every day at the Beach is a Good day!
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
gotta agree on the sharkey as
gotta agree on the sharkey as a value for money rod. It took me a while to get used casting and fishing with what is an incredibly stiff rod compared to those generally used in Aus, but now I love it. Can put most of my weight into a fish using that rod, though it was tested a couple of times this summer and I can see the need for an even stiffer rod in the future.
Have heard good things about basilmanning but didnt realise there was a website, will check that out. Cheers
Blue Whaler
Posts: 382
Date Joined: 05/10/10
On a different note - I was
On a different note - I was at Rockhustler in Jan this year - he did mention he supplied some guys of the slides to Perth. They good guys. The shipping costs seems to be the problem. I brought about 30 with - guess the answer is to get a bulk order made up. (Is there no one local who can make and supply these?)
Every day at the Beach is a Good day!
Bungel
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 12/10/08
beach master... or Beast
beach master... or Beast Master???
Keep away from the beast masters. they are toys. have run a few of the 10footers fishing 8kg line and they max out real easy.
Sliding is definatly a different kettle of fish, gotta be able to handle some serious punishment even before it hooks up. Have heard alot of good stuff about your South African rods, but they do come with a decent price tag. Might as well look into the custom thing as BW has said. Least you know what your getting then!!
2mm SS wire, 1/8 - 1/4 ounce sinker and a medium sized plastic bead is all you need to get started with those slides. There is a toutorial on youtube as to how to make them. Just gotta make up the jig. I might give it a go actually..