eventually all of this discussion must somehow relate to practical casting and fishing. the reason for my original question is due to an experience I had during late November last year at pulpit rock (preekstoel), glenmore beach kzn south coast. one of my favorite places on earth. the sea during that time was crystal clear, which made daytime fishing very difficult.
on the attached image, from google earth history, preekstoel is at the red dot. the red line closer to the coast is my approximate casting reach with straight eight, 1.2mm leader and 0.55 line. that is to say where i can measure it, thus over grass. it definitely is shorter at the coast on the rocks. on a regular basis i could see the huge shapes of some big sharks, i think, moving behind the submerged rocks close to preekstoel, approximately where the outer red line is. good polirization sunglasses makes a big difference. due to the ultra clear water catching baitfish was difficult. I tried to swim all the rockfish I caught (caranteen, rock bream, bronze bream), but none reached the distance. understandable. as slide bait I used whole mackerel with its gills and stomach cut, inside an 'inside out' hammered squid. lots of nice juices flowing out. hoping the smell would reach the target, but no success. I did pick up three smaller +- 10 kg black tips but didn't have the guts to swim them.
it seems that the bigger shapes would not move over the submerged rocks (reef) closer to the rocks I was casting from.
so being a clear cut rock and surf guy, my conclusion is that I must improve my casting distance. i think my equipment is up to the task, daiwa saltist xtra heavy surf rod with talica 25, but (doubt sets in) am i.
to be honest, my over the grass casting distance is 120 to 130 m, measured. my mango trees are spaced exactly 4m * 7m, counting them i cant bluff myself.
I tried various casting techniques including john holden's fishing pendulum, brighton and otg( both impractical on the rocks and when wading), hatteras or sa pendulum, but that remains my max distance. with this result I stick to my overhead thump. same result with less swinging lead around.
so, maybe I must tweak my equipment. all the bits might add up to greater distance.
my train of thought was (is) that if I lessen the standing inertia of the heavy spool with light oil, control the flight with mags ( to prevent loose spools of line) and control the end with my thumb I might get further. the mags are installed, very good control of the flight. spool is braked and stopped dead with thumb during end flight. or maybe all this analysis paralysis should just get me to the gym.
all input this far and coming is greatly appreciated.
on the attached image, from google earth history, preekstoel is at the red dot. the red line closer to the coast is my approximate casting reach with straight eight, 1.2mm leader and 0.55 line. that is to say where i can measure it, thus over grass. it definitely is shorter at the coast on the rocks. on a regular basis i could see the huge shapes of some big sharks, i think, moving behind the submerged rocks close to preekstoel, approximately where the outer red line is. good polirization sunglasses makes a big difference. due to the ultra clear water catching baitfish was difficult. I tried to swim all the rockfish I caught (caranteen, rock bream, bronze bream), but none reached the distance. understandable. as slide bait I used whole mackerel with its gills and stomach cut, inside an 'inside out' hammered squid. lots of nice juices flowing out. hoping the smell would reach the target, but no success. I did pick up three smaller +- 10 kg black tips but didn't have the guts to swim them.
it seems that the bigger shapes would not move over the submerged rocks (reef) closer to the rocks I was casting from.
so being a clear cut rock and surf guy, my conclusion is that I must improve my casting distance. i think my equipment is up to the task, daiwa saltist xtra heavy surf rod with talica 25, but (doubt sets in) am i.
to be honest, my over the grass casting distance is 120 to 130 m, measured. my mango trees are spaced exactly 4m * 7m, counting them i cant bluff myself.
I tried various casting techniques including john holden's fishing pendulum, brighton and otg( both impractical on the rocks and when wading), hatteras or sa pendulum, but that remains my max distance. with this result I stick to my overhead thump. same result with less swinging lead around.
so, maybe I must tweak my equipment. all the bits might add up to greater distance.
my train of thought was (is) that if I lessen the standing inertia of the heavy spool with light oil, control the flight with mags ( to prevent loose spools of line) and control the end with my thumb I might get further. the mags are installed, very good control of the flight. spool is braked and stopped dead with thumb during end flight. or maybe all this analysis paralysis should just get me to the gym.
all input this far and coming is greatly appreciated.