Sedgefield Swartvlei Lake and Lagoon. Boating.

Mike Braun

New member
Hi Folks, I relocated to Sedgefield 2 Months ago from East London. Born and Bred in the Eastern Cape I have over many years collected a fair knowledge of the area and types of fishing offered. I Focused on Deep Sea off East London. No expert but I got by with my boat and
Since been in Sedge I am really battling to get to understand the various factors and workings for rock angling, surf angling and my biggest challenge is going to get my head around both the lake and lagoon. Is there anyone local from Sedge or nearby, who has some good and solid basic knowledge who may be willing to share with me.

I could get in touch with to chat around boating on the Swartvlei, also if possible also give me a broad overview of rock and surf fishing in and around Sedge.

I mostly practice conservation in my sport, however after two months of eating hake out, I am definately boating the first edible of size.🤗
🎣👏🚣
Many thanks guy's

Mike((s((peed)((s((peed):fishn
 

Psy

Sealiner
Hello Mike and :welcomesea:

Quite a temperamental place to fish, weather/climate conditions dependant.
Population density increasing and pressurising fish stock, not nearly as prolific as 25yrs ago!! :shock:

Big kob, really big Kob have been caught from Swartvlei beach, upto the 100lb mark.

The Swartvlei beach is relatively flat, boat launching from the corner on Swartvlei beach, access to area dependant upon club membership with George Ski Boat club.
Outside reefs are also relatively depleted and now only Roman and Kolstert are resident! Poensies are wiped out. Small Copper's can be found!

Swartvlei lake ~ launch from Island Lake resort.
Sedgefield lagoon launch east side of the lagoon, as you are probably aware.
Historical agenda regarding e-coli in the lake and lagoon, probably still on-going, sewage tanks etc from older residential properties and run-off from upper (northern) farmlands also contributing to the pollution of the Swartvlei.
Swartvlei boasts of the largest Leervis caught on 7kg mono many moons ago Angler recently deceased. Elf, Kob, Grunter, Bull Mullet ~ be a few of the species caught in the lagoon and lake area.
The train bridge a favourite for most with easy access,as well as the post office area; other areas include the western and southern sides of the island, producing kob and grunter.

The Goukamma Reserve area to the east of Sedgefield, also very much overfished; tides and weather conditions change the structure often.
Tag and Release outings regularly held with Goukamma Conservation.

West of Swartvlei beach conditions are just as poor as the poaching of reef species cannot be monitored or controlled properly.

See numerous articles via the search function;

https://cse.google.co.za/cse?cx=partner-pub-1072729738596575%3Adrznkt-pnpb&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=sedgefield+&sa=Search#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=sedgefield&gsc.page=1

https://cse.google.co.za/cse?cx=partner-pub-1072729738596575%3Adrznkt-pnpb&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=swartvlei+lake+&sa=Search#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=swartvlei%20lake&gsc.page=1

https://cse.google.co.za/cse?cx=partner-pub-1072729738596575%3Adrznkt-pnpb&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=sedgefield+and+surrounds&sa=Search#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=sedgefield%20and%20surrounds&gsc.page=1

::tight:::tight:
 

SPARRABOS

Sealiner
As ek reg kan onthou is dit oom johny van rensburg....weetie of ek dalk ver langs familie is...lol........gaan try foto uit artikels haal.....ek praat onder koreksie...hyt twee leries gevang in mei...en rekord twee keer op een dag gebreek.....kan in 2000 of 2002 wees.....sy boot was as ek reg is visarend...klein cathedral hul cabin boot....ek het identiese boot stompneus gehad....was op 8 kg igfa lyn....hyt nie met mullets gevang maar lewendige stompies vir lerie...4/0 kendals onder gat......ook 8 en 9 kg grunters....ek sal bietjie vir ryno raad vra oor swartvlei....baie daar met sy kajak....ons kom self te min daar om expert raad te gee.....was nog net twee keer op swartvlei met ons fishing skis.....daai oom johny die meer soos palm van hand geken......sal bietjie in argiewe graaf en kyk od ek iets kan post.....eers ook net bietjie by ryno hoor....nou nie allie geheime uitlap...sommer algemene goedjies..;)
 

Psy

Sealiner
Ja Ryno het al baie daar gekry, die bodem is heels verskillend en daar is ook baie diep gaate in die meer.

Hou ons op hoogte wat se Ryno!

:)
 

Mike Braun

New member
Thanks Psy and SPARRABOS,
Stunning picture Psy. Thanks for the Great Info. Went to Pine Lake on Friday late, moored the boat (THANKS Marius along with a great bunch of guys at the water sports - helped me with their own version of the lake via a handrawn map with depths, fishing spots and species caught highlighted areas).
Set out just before sunrise and on the mountain side and trolled for Leeries. Got two nice ones, around 90cm with "neon coloured" rapalas. Really Great Fun. In the afternoon went to Knysna and fished overnight. Opposite Brenton area some nice grunter came out. Although I personally did not do well, I saw another boat close by who got good grunter - 3 to 4kg. Must be a bait thing. Very slow on prawn.
Heard that prawn works most of the time. Is it better to use sand prawn or mud prawn?
Where do prawn best come out - both types? Anywhere between Wilderness and Knysna?
Also on live bait the "Raggies" were wild. Is this becoming a problem in the Knysna lagoon? If So A Big Pity.
Where in the lagoon do cob come and Steenbras come out?
I launched at the top white N2 bridge. Is it a high risk area to park?
Went down as far as the train bridge mainly exploring the bottom.
What bait is best and which tide is better - a spring or neap tide?
Any other weather patterns which I must follow before I do the next trip.
Catch up soon with more questions if I can please?

Great guys.
Many thanks.
 

SPARRABOS

Sealiner
Het op ou artikels oor swartvlei afgekom.....ook bietjie met ou gesels wat hom baie hengel.......die geleerdes beweer swartvlei en groenvlei waar hulle black bass vang was duisende jare terug verbind........ja die twee grootste probleme van swartvlei is die ou rioolstelsels en die goetertjies kom deur grondwater in die meer...alge blom op....verrot later en stink...veral as die monding toe is....ook daai destydse treinbrug het groot gemors gemaak....strem die getyinvloed op die groot meer watermassa bo dit.......die mond gaan toe....gaan oop....word ook kunsmatig oopgemaak.....siklus....dink treinbrug storie was ook destyds op 50/50 op tv.
 

SPARRABOS

Sealiner
Ouens glo as mond oop is en dis spring gety waar see lekker in die meer instoot is beste visvangtyd......ek het self al moerse kurpers in meer gesien!!!die area oorkant poskantoor en dan area by swartvlei caravanpark en die groot bloekombome is gewildste vir jou spotted grunters en kabeljou.....blykbaar die stukkie waar rivier baie nou word anderkant bloekoms is goeie spotted grunter plek.....area bo treinbrug in groot deel van die vlei vang hul leries....ook elwe.........grunters op vars knysna bloedwurm en prawn....kabeljou op live mullets......leries like stompies...elwe op sardyn....ou vaar maar beste met kanoo of kajak of lekker platboomskuitjie wat lekker vlak loop met klein enjin en dalk electric............daai oom johnny het blykbaar in 15 meter water die rekord leervis gevang......hy het eers een van 18 kg en toe een van 22.2 kg gevang!!!!!!hy vang toe daarna daai rekord van 25.8kg!!!!!die selfde vis het hy vroeer die oggend verloor......toe hy hom later vang was sy strop in die vis se bek(afgebreekte strop)........dis darm drie groot visse op een dag!!!!was 11 mei 2002.......hy het ook al n 8kg skipjack en 6kg elf op meer gevang.....die oom her blykbaar met abu katrollietjies gehengel.....ek kon foto uit ou artikel kry.....dis darm groot lerie!!!!
 

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SPARRABOS

Sealiner
Daars my bootjie stompneus agter my ........daai oom johny se boot was identies.....syne visarend......ai mis hom nogal...wonder waars hy nou?
 

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