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The furthest one can drive North over the hills, which is very scenic and offers a bit of bronze bream type fishing, is to a point just before Hole in the Wall.
The track leaves the cottages at Labanzi going North.
Tekwane
The Table
Mbolompo Point
The Boulders
Mbolompo River
Mbolompo Beach
Soccer Field Corner
Sharpies
Mpame Point
Porpoise Gully
Scareys
Long Gully
Ndizeni
Manzimyama
Pathencale
Bulungulu
- The rocks on the beach at Pathencale almost half way to
Bulungulu river, is very good for Bream, Brusher, etc. The beach at Bulungulu
is very protected from a Westerly condition, looks fantastic, but for some reason does
not seem to throw a lot of fish. We have caught Shad, Duckbill, Pignose, odd Kob,
etc. If one crosses the Bulungulu river, there are flat rocky ledges which produce a lot
of Bronze Bream, Black Mussel Cracker, Brusher, etc. There is a lovely spot for Kob
just past the most prominent rocky point on this flattish rocky area, which is called
Lolwene. This point produces Black Mussel Cracker when you can get out onto it on
a low tide. The beach from here to Xora can produce some nice fish but is hardly
fished due to its remoteness from Mpame.
- Difficult to get to - either a long walk up and down from Manzimyama or
negotiate a terrible road around the back, but you get to park on top of the hill. A
steep walk down, across the gully and then around the side of this sugarloaf type hill.
In my opinion, the most versatile of all the spots. Very few fish that you can't catch
here. It is especially good for Kob in the evenings, almost an underhand drop, Shad
on the drift. Cameron's brother Brian caught a Wahoo here on live shad floated out
on a beer bottle! Very good shark spot and also Black Cracker, Yellowtail, Garrick,
etc.
- Great spot for Raggies and all other sharks. Kob on the drift,
Black Mussel cracker on a short throw, Shad, etc. Definitely only really worth fishing
in a very strong north-east. If the fish goes North, your chances of getting it out are
really remote. One can also walk back almost into the little bay and fish just behind
the backline for Kob with something like a Catfish leg or up against the base of the
bluff on the southern end. A spot to remember in a moderate sea and a big northeast.
- a very good all round spot for sharks, Kob, Shad, Cracker, etc.
Similar to Qumbu, hard to fish in a really big sea and works best in a moderate to
calm sea. One can dip-stick in the very deep gully that you jump across and hook
some really good fish almost at your feet.
- This very long deep gully is a great spot in really bad conditions
and one can fish with a little float for Bronze Bream, big Blacktail, etc.
Circumcision Beach - Very good for Kob, Shad, Natal Stumpies, but due to
the nature of its gentle slope, only really fishable on the low tide.
Qumbu - One of my favourites for fishing with a drift sard for Shad and as it gets
dark, Kob. In calm conditions sharks can be caught here and some really big Kob at
night on big baits. If the sea is half reasonable, you have to try a drift sardine for a
Kob for the first half an hour or so after dark. Also produces the odd Black Cracker,
Yellow Belly, etc. I like this spot in a brisk north-east. The Cliffs to the south are
relatively inaccessible and not really worth worrying about until you get to the next
spot.
- My favourite shark spot when staying at Mpame, purely because it
is so close and convenient. It generally necessitates a fairly long throw, a lot
easier to fish these days with slides. All manner of sharks have been hooked
here. My preference is a light Westerly condition with a moderate sea. Fish
can then be landed in the bay. In an Easterly there is one spot just north
where the locals fish for Brusher and Black Cracker where smaller sharks can
be landed, otherwise big fish have to be taken across the hills and gullys to
Circumcision Bay. The build-up of sand in front of this shallow sloping point
determines which part of it is going to fish best. Nice for a 'before breakfast' throw,
especially with fresh Shad straight out of Porpoise Gully.
- Great spot to catch Bronze Bream on very light tackle, particularly
in a big sea on a pushing tide. Also produces Shad, Kob, Brusher and even the odd
Raggie at night.
- for big fish, this point works very well in a calm sea with a
North Easterly. Try to get fish to go right and land them in the bay. Good for sharks,
sometimes however a sand bank forms in front of it, necessitating very long casts or
making it difficult to fish for sharks. Very good spot for Shad, particularly on drift bait
and spoon on front left and off the pulpit on the right. The second gully going back to
the beach produces Kob at the entrance on drift sard as it gets dark. Also lots of
Shad. Both Garrick and Yellowtail can and have been caught on the right hand side
of the point as there is normally a big hole and a rip going out. The beach between
here and the cottages is great to land fish on and that's it - don't catch much off it.
- This is just south of Mpame Point, very good for Shad and Kob and
all rock fish. Quite a few Brusher and smaller Black Cracker come out here - very
rocky.
- Does have another local name, very protected in a big
Westerly. Great spot to throw a plug for a Garrick before dawn cracks. Odd
Yellowtail, lots of Shad, occasional Kob (good drift sardine spot), Blacktail,
etc. The rocks going south to Mpame Point work well for rockfish, Bream,
Silver Steenbras, Black Cracker, etc.
- From the Boulders to the Soccer Field, the most productive area
seems to be just inside the off-shore reef which breaks white in a big sea. This area
is slightly north of a little blind river/stream that is evident on the beach. Generally this
beach washes very easily and is most fishable on the low tide. However, if the sea is
particularly calm with not too much wash, it will be very productive over the high. Fish
to target are Kob on spoon/Rapala, low spring tide at night, in the channels on the
drop-off of the outside bank. If the water is cool, these beaches fish well during the
day, if it is warm and calm, best at night. Lots of big Shad, Pignose, Kob, Natal
Stumpies, Spotted Pompano, Lessers, Blacktail, etc.
- Definitely works best in summer, especially after a bit of a flash
flood when the Spring Tide starts pushing some clean water back into the river. In
summer the Rock Salmon are generally up the river in amongst the rocks by the
Krantzes, but will come down to the Mouth and feed on the sandy areas during the
night. During winter, the occassional Kob can be caught as it gets dark.
- There is normally a sandbank just in front of these boulders and if a
deepish channel has formed close to the boulders, the Kob fishing here can be
outstanding during the day in cooler water, especially with the pushing tide. In warm
water, particularly if it is clean, better to fish at night. The fish are often very close in -
Chokka type baits.
- Whilst the Table is almost on the point, the point goes out further,
very rocky and a little bit harder to fish for the same sort of species as caught off the
Table. On the southern side of the Point, Shad and Kob can be caught, particularly
during strong North Easterly conditions when most places are almost un-fishable.
- probably the most favourite Yellowtail spot on the coast. Lots of big
Sharks, great for drift bait fishing with a whole sardine for Shad, Yellowtail and Kob
as it gets dark.
- small little bay just back from Mbolompo Point - big fish hooked at
Mbolompo can be landed here and this bay works very well for Shad and Kob,
especially during strong Westerley conditions.
Fishing the Mpame Area, Transkei Coast, South Africa – by Barry Wareham
The furthest one can drive North over the hills, which is very scenic and offers
a bit of bronze bream type fishing, is to a point just before Hole in the Wall.
The track leaves the cottages at Labanzi going North.
Tekwane - small little bay just back from Mbolompo Point - big fish hooked at
Mbolompo can be landed here and this bay works very well for Shad and Kob,
especially during strong Westerley conditions.
The Table - probably the most favourite Yellowtail spot on the coast. Lots of big
Sharks, great for drift bait fishing with a whole sardine for Shad, Yellowtail and Kob
as it gets dark.
Mbolompo Point - Whilst the Table is almost on the point, the point goes out further,
very rocky and a little bit harder to fish for the same sort of species as caught off the
Table. On the southern side of the Point, Shad and Kob can be caught, particularly
during strong North Easterly conditions when most places are almost un-fishable.
The Boulders - There is normally a sandbank just in front of these boulders and if a
deepish channel has formed close to the boulders, the Kob fishing here can be
outstanding during the day in cooler water, especially with the pushing tide. In warm
water, particularly if it is clean, better to fish at night. The fish are often very close in -
Chokka type baits.
Mbolompo River - Definitely works best in summer, especially after a bit of a flash
flood when the Spring Tide starts pushing some clean water back into the river. In
summer the Rock Salmon are generally up the river in amongst the rocks by the
Krantzes, but will come down to the Mouth and feed on the sandy areas during the
night. During winter, the occassional Kob can be caught as it gets dark.
Mbolompo Beach - From the Boulders to the Soccer Field, the most productive area
seems to be just inside the off-shore reef which breaks white in a big sea. This area
is slightly north of a little blind river/stream that is evident on the beach. Generally this
beach washes very easily and is most fishable on the low tide. However, if the sea is
particularly calm with not too much wash, it will be very productive over the high. Fish
to target are Kob on spoon/Rapala, low spring tide at night, in the channels on the
drop-off of the outside bank. If the water is cool, these beaches fish well during the
day, if it is warm and calm, best at night. Lots of big Shad, Pignose, Kob, Natal
Stumpies, Spotted Pompano, Lessers, Blacktail, etc.
Soccer Field Corner - Does have another local name, very protected in a big
Westerly. Great spot to throw a plug for a Garrick before dawn cracks. Odd
Yellowtail, lots of Shad, occasional Kob (good drift sardine spot), Blacktail,
etc. The rocks going south to Mpame Point work well for rockfish, Bream,
Silver Steenbras, Black Cracker, etc.
Sharpies - This is just south of Mpame Point, very good for Shad and Kob and
all rock fish. Quite a few Brusher and smaller Black Cracker come out here - very
rocky.
Mpame Point - for big fish, this point works very well in a calm sea with a
North Easterly. Try to get fish to go right and land them in the bay. Good for sharks,
sometimes however a sand bank forms in front of it, necessitating very long casts or
making it difficult to fish for sharks. Very good spot for Shad, particularly on drift bait
and spoon on front left and off the pulpit on the right. The second gully going back to
the beach produces Kob at the entrance on drift sard as it gets dark. Also lots of
Shad. Both Garrick and Yellowtail can and have been caught on the right hand side
of the point as there is normally a big hole and a rip going out. The beach between
here and the cottages is great to land fish on and that's it - don't catch much off it.
Porpoise Gully - Great spot to catch Bronze Bream on very light tackle, particularly
in a big sea on a pushing tide. Also produces Shad, Kob, Brusher and even the odd
Raggie at night.
Scareys - My favourite shark spot when staying at Mpame, purely because it
is so close and convenient. It generally necessitates a fairly long throw, a lot
easier to fish these days with slides. All manner of sharks have been hooked
here. My preference is a light Westerly condition with a moderate sea. Fish
can then be landed in the bay. In an Easterly there is one spot just north
where the locals fish for Brusher and Black Cracker where smaller sharks can
be landed, otherwise big fish have to be taken across the hills and gullys to
Circumcision Bay. The build-up of sand in front of this shallow sloping point
determines which part of it is going to fish best. Nice for a 'before breakfast' throw,
especially with fresh Shad straight out of Porpoise Gully.
Long Gully - This very long deep gully is a great spot in really bad conditions
and one can fish with a little float for Bronze Bream, big Blacktail, etc.
Circumcision Beach - Very good for Kob, Shad, Natal Stumpies, but due to
the nature of its gentle slope, only really fishable on the low tide.
Qumbu - One of my favourites for fishing with a drift sard for Shad and as it gets
dark, Kob. In calm conditions sharks can be caught here and some really big Kob at
night on big baits. If the sea is half reasonable, you have to try a drift sardine for a
Kob for the first half an hour or so after dark. Also produces the odd Black Cracker,
Yellow Belly, etc. I like this spot in a brisk north-east. The Cliffs to the south are
relatively inaccessible and not really worth worrying about until you get to the next
spot.
Ndizeni - a very good all round spot for sharks, Kob, Shad, Cracker, etc.
Similar to Qumbu, hard to fish in a really big sea and works best in a moderate to
calm sea. One can dip-stick in the very deep gully that you jump across and hook
some really good fish almost at your feet.
Manzimyama - Great spot for Raggies and all other sharks. Kob on the drift,
Black Mussel cracker on a short throw, Shad, etc. Definitely only really worth fishing
in a very strong north-east. If the fish goes North, your chances of getting it out are
really remote. One can also walk back almost into the little bay and fish just behind
the backline for Kob with something like a Catfish leg or up against the base of the
bluff on the southern end. A spot to remember in a moderate sea and a big northeast.
Pathencale - Difficult to get to - either a long walk up and down from Manzimyama or
negotiate a terrible road around the back, but you get to park on top of the hill. A
steep walk down, across the gully and then around the side of this sugarloaf type hill.
In my opinion, the most versatile of all the spots. Very few fish that you can't catch
here. It is especially good for Kob in the evenings, almost an underhand drop, Shad
on the drift. Cameron's brother Brian caught a Wahoo here on live shad floated out
on a beer bottle! Very good shark spot and also Black Cracker, Yellowtail, Garrick,
etc.
Bulungulu - The rocks on the beach at Pathencale almost half way to
Bulungulu river, is very good for Bream, Brusher, etc. The beach at Bulungulu
is very protected from a Westerly condition, looks fantastic, but for some reason does
not seem to throw a lot of fish. We have caught Shad, Duckbill, Pignose, odd Kob,
etc. If one crosses the Bulungulu river, there are flat rocky ledges which produce a lot
of Bronze Bream, Black Mussel Cracker, Brusher, etc. There is a lovely spot for Kob
just past the most prominent rocky point on this flattish rocky area, which is called
Lolwene. This point produces Black Mussel Cracker when you can get out onto it on
a low tide. The beach from here to Xora can produce some nice fish but is hardly
fished due to its remoteness from Mpame.
