GREAT CATCHES COMING UP AT NBS!
Bass fishing, fly fishing, shore fishing, offshore fishing – South Africans are flocking to the waterways in their droves to try their hand at this ancient pastime. Some do it for the fun of it, others for the competition, but all do it for the love of it, and nowhere will this be more evident than at the National Boat Show AND Dive Expo (NBS).
NBS shows every promise of being the very best show ever from an angler’s perspective.
Every year, seasoned professionals and novices alike visit NBS to get the scoop on the latest fishing tackle, boats and accessories and to acquire all the knowledge the experts are willing to share. It’s the ultimate one-stop shop for those looking to either raise their game or get into the game.
Want to update your tools and techniques so you’re not left behind? Can’t decide what type of fishing you want to try next? Want to find the best new tools for the job? Trying to determine which is the right boat for you and your kind of fishing? Want to attend useful workshops packed with the best information, practical advice, tips and coloured by the rich experience of leading fishing experts? Come to NBS to explore all of this and more!
Long, long before fishing became a popular pastime, it was of course exceedingly popular as a means of survival. Ancient though it may be however, about the only thing modern fishing has in common with the earliest variety, is the end-result! Technology has made its mark on this sport’s gear and has greatly enhanced the enjoyment and competitiveness of its followers, in the process.
Everyone’s Talking About Vertical Jigging
Strangely though, the latest trend in fishing is in fact a return to a practice that many suspect might well be thousands of years old, but which has recently become hugely popular, called ‘vertical jigging’.
Vertical jigging is a very technical and active style of fishing and is attracting an entirely different type of person to the sport – the kind who doesn’t like to just cast off, then sit and wait. With vertical jigging you drop the line, then you’re working at it all the time.
Anglers around the world are using it to catch everything from Halibut to Black Bass and fresh water Trout in fresh and salt waters, stretching from Alaska to Australia and even the Amazon River. The beauty of vertical jigging is that fish bite not out of hunger, but out of aggression, in reaction to the jigging movement.
Nearby hot spots for vertical jigging include northern Mozambique, particularly Pemba and the Bazzaruto Archipelago, and even Seychelles and Madagascar, thanks to the compactness, portability and lightweight nature of Vertical Jigging rods.
Bass is Best!
On then to another trend that has been dominating the local angling scene since around 2005, when television and other local media started broadcasting and introducing the sport more thoroughly to local fishermen, that of bass angling.
At present, Zimbabwe is an appealing bass destination, with several of its lakes and dams qualifying as hot spots, where records are regularly broken thanks to its substantially warmer climate, which is favoured by large mouth bass and the more aggressive Florida bass. These fish are also active in South African waters, particularly in the warmer coastal regions like Goedetrouw Dam in Eshowe as well as Rust de Winter Dam, en route to Zimbabwe and its Lake Mteri, Lake Kyle, Lake Darwendale and Mayfair Dam. The Vaal River too remains a favourite spot, especially the Barrage where there is a very unique and diverse amount of structure available to the bass angler.
Finding the Right Fishing Boat
Buying a boat is a big step for an angler and one that demonstrates his or her commitment and readiness to take their passion to the next level. It’s also a big investment however and therefore one that needs to be tackled systematically and entered into after thorough investigation of all the available alternatives.
There simply is no better place to find all the experts with all the available boats, under a single roof, in a single occasion than at the National Boat Show.
It would be extremely ambitious to attempt to describe how to choose the right fishing boat for you. So many different factors come into play and everybody’s situation is unique. The best way to find the right boat is quite simply to do your homework. Visit all the various exhibitors, ask questions, get advice from fellow anglers and know your budget.
As a starting point though, some of the key things you’ll need to take into account are whether the boat will be used in open or shallow water, if you’ll be using live bait, which configuration will suit your needs and what size motor you’ll need to drive it. Some universal angling considerations include ample fishing rod storage space, sufficient dry storage for gear and fish boxes of the right size and volume for the kind of fish you’ll be after.
The great thing about NBS is that apart from the sheer number of boats on display, there are always new boats and motors being launched and new technologies being revealed.
Motors have certainly come into their own in recent years and with the growing popularity and superb performance of the new 4-stroke outboard motors, there is more choice available to the boat owner, than ever before.
