Fishing the channel above the steel Bridge has been very un-productive the llast couple of weeks, but with recent reports of nice 4-5kg Grunters coming out I was determined to share in the success.
Since my best catches in the past was on low tide it was a given that the dead time between Breakfast and fetching kids at school to flick some cracker prawns and strip bait out and see what on the bite.
Half way through I saw my one line moving oddly up and down the stream. For the cast was not far a huge strike was not required and as I lift the tip of the rod it felt stuck. Keeping the pressure on I waded into the water to attempt to lift what seems to be a small Ray.
What a surprise when this critter popped out the water and showed it self.
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Wikipedia:
Mantis shrimp or stomatopods are marine
crustaceans, the members of the order
Stomatopoda. They may reach 30 centimetres (12 in) in length, though in exceptional cases have been recorded at up to 38 cm (15 in).[2]
The carapace of mantis shrimp covers only the rear part of the head and the first four segments of the thorax. Mantis shrimp appear in a variety of colours, from shades of brown to bright neon colours.
Although they are common animals and among the most important predators in many shallow, tropical and sub-tropical marine habitats, they are poorly understood as many species spend most of their life tucked away in burrows and holes.[3]
Called "sea locusts" by ancient Assyrians, "prawn killers" in Australia and now sometimes referred to as "thumb splitters" – because of the animal's ability to inflict painful gashes if handled incautiously[4] – mantis shrimp sport powerful claws that they use to attack and kill prey b spearing, stunning, or dismemberment.
Although it only happens rarely, some larger species of mantis shrimp are capable of breaking through aquarium glass with a single strike from this weapon.[5]
Ecology
These aggressive and typically solitary sea creatures spend most of their time hiding in rock formations or burrowing intricate passageways in the sea bed.
They either wait for prey to chance upon them or, unlike most crustaceans, at times they hunt, chase, and kill prey.
They rarely exit their homes except to feed and relocate, and can be diurnal, nocturnal, or crepuscular, depending on the species. Most species live in tropical and subtropical seas (Indian and Pacific Oceans between eastern Africa and Hawaii), although some live in temperate seas.
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Are They Edible? YES
Was this one Plated? NO
It was returned after the photo shoot although I very much contemplated on using it for bait on the incoming tide under the Steel Bridge.
Petrus
Pin:2B84CDD7
petrusviv.bbm@gmail.com
0813427371
BBM Pin:2B84CDD7
Cell: 0813427371
In 2000 The Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park entered a prolonged drought cycle and the Authorities mechanically closed the mouth to trap valuable fresh water in the system to keep salinity stable and protect the Hippo and Crocodiles against hyper saline conditions.
This lead to the drying up of the upper regions of the Lake and Thousands of Marine species perished. For years the decaying smell of marine life hung over False Bay, Fanies Island and Charters Creek.
In 2007 a storm surge created by tropical storm Gumede opened The Estuary Mouth briefly and ocean water did not significantly raise the water levels in the upper regions of the Lake. The storms surge was so high that it almost devastated Durban's Golden Mile beach front and the damages done on the South Coast has not been repaired yet.
At the end of the 175 days of healthy functioning the Authorities closed the St Lucia Estuary Mouth once again entrap breading stock inside the Estuary for another five years. This management decision lead to the total collapse of the prawn population on the Tugela shelve.
With no tidal movement in the Estuary the Mangrove Swamps has been water locked and are now infiltrated with fresh water specie vegetation like Acacia Species. Fresh water reeds and low energy flow has made this once pristine Estuary into a hunting ground for poachers fishing with gill nets harvesting the remainder of the breeding stocks from the system.
Once again the Recreational Angler Fishing for Fun and Fresh fish has to take the brunt of poor management decisions. Local Anglers are all agreeing to the fact that specie breeding habits has been altered and declining populations in the oceans of these species is trapped inside a man made fresh water pond.
This threatens a Sport with proven massive income potential World Wide and impacts on many thousands of Families which substitutes its protein source from recreational catches.
With current implementation of park rule 06/2011 that prohibits Recreational anglers only from bottom fishing one can make the deduction that manipulation of The Estuary Mouth is blatantly to invoke the demise of this World Recognized Out Door Sport and impacting on a valuable Job creation and subsistence fishing.
Petrus
Pin:2B84CDD7
petrusviv.bbm@gmail.com
0813427371
BBM Pin:2B84CDD7
Cell: 0813427371
