|
These fishermen were helping to catch carp and
catfish at Zandvlei.
There are 27 indigenous fish species recorded at
Zandvlei. 5 exotic species which threaten the diversity of the indigenous
species are also present. The Sharp tooth Catfish eats vertually anything that
fits into its mouth. The Carp are a real problem as they are bottom feeders and
stir up the mud and sediment. The birds such as Kingfishers which hunt by sight
through the waters surface are not able to find their food source as a result of
the the turbid waters. The mud and silt also adversely effects the tubeworm
filter feeders and the aquatic plants which filter the water.
photograph by Ken Williams
Ken Williams took this photo
in March 2007 showing the mullet of his deck in the Marina. The quality
of water is evident as well.
 
photograph by David
Watt
photograph by David Watt
David Watt shares his
experiences with us. These fish were caught at various times of the year
and all were released.
photograph by David Watt
David has caught a leervis
which was tagged in Durban, indicating the distances of their range and
movement of such fish. By recording information like this fishermen can
help manage the conservation of all the fish species.
photograph by Peter Kruyt
Dave Todd with the Leervis he caught in
Zandvlei in March 2005. He emphased that the fish was released and that all
responsible anglers should do so in the name of conservation.
The
big one that got away Article
from the April/May 2005 Marina News text by Dave Todd. I
hear much about the caring for birdlife, but not much about taking care
of our fish resources. Being a keen sports fisherman I spend a fair
amount of time on the water fly fishing and have had some really
pleasant times in our channels as well as the main vlei. although having
caught more than 250 on fly here, I have yet to kill one, being a firm
believer of "catch and release". Dont get me
wrong. I know
some will want to keep their first- especially the younger set. No
problem there. There are many Carp in our waters along with Mullet and
lesser numbers of Kurper, Elf and Bass. The fish which I believe most
need our help are the Leervis (Garrick – in Kwazulu Natal). These
fine fish you will often see slashing at mullet during the summer
months. The picture shows a good specimen I caught and released a couple
of weeks ago. It was in excess of 20kg certainly larger than our
average. While reviving it before taking some photographs I had a chance
to look over this fine gamefish. These fish are far too special to kill.
In fishing circles it is often said "fish are too valuable to
catch only once". Live
and let live. These
fish spend some of their lives in the sea and enter estuaries to breed.
They migrate up the eastern coast between here and Kwazulu Natal, so not
only would we kill a fish – we would break a life cycle.
Anyway my suggestion is to do as the hunters have done; "hunt with
a camera". I know full well that one never has a camera when
needed. In the case of my recent fish I called my good neighbour Peter
Kruyt by cell phone. Peter had no hesitation and it is his fine
photography that records the catch on this page. Meanwhile the
fish swims free to chase more mullet. As
residents of the Marina we need to do our share. Another fishing friend
and long time Marina resident Richard Borden has done just that. Seeing
a guy landing a good Leervis he fetched his camera and took
the pic, allowing the angler to release the fish. What
I am suggesting is we as residents could do the same good neighbourly
thing. In a time of email and digital cameras, getting a print to
somebody is a case of punching a few computer keys. Parents can
provide a more direct service to children or grandchildren ; humour them
when they call take the picture and lets save this valuable fish
resource. "Quick to kill, slow to grow and survive" A
fish of that size would be – how many years old? As
much as children might resist releasing a fish they have caught
just watch their faces as it swims away as they experience a very
special feeling of pride! Over
fished waters. There
are so many stories about over fished areas all over the world. Too late
people wake up. Folks trust me, we have a very special resource in our
Marina. I have travelled to many international fishing spots both as a
sport fish skipper as well as an angler and have seen first hand the
huge benefits in releasing fish. Places where catches were declining now
with sensible conservation provide tremendous fun for all young and old. My
thanks to our fellow users the canoeists One hears much of competing
interests in our waters, but I must say from what I have experienced
there has been a great sense of sharing. We need to respect their set
courses and they us as we anchor/drift and fish. Thanks guys and gals.
It was pleasing in the school holidays to see the young anglers rods
over their shoulders and eyes bright with anticipation. With all the
less desirable distractions of our modern life, can there be a better
way for them to spend there time? In my case I had two of the best
fishing buddies my son and daughter and now my grandchildren. Have
you ever been out on the main vlei before the sun rises behind the
Hottentotts Holland Mountains? You look across flat calm water seeing
swirls of mullet and carp. Far above we hear the cry of the African Fish
Eagle, and see a group of otters swimming out of the gloom inquisitively
cruising near the boat or maybe even the crashing of a Leervis storming
mullet. It does not get better than "Another tough Day in Africa's
Marina da Gama" – and if we handle it correctly it will stay that
way for years to come. See you on the water and tight lines.
See a previous similar catch below.
Oreochromis mossambicus Mozambique Tilapia was
taken on 19/12/2003 at the Westlake Walkway Pond.
Tilapia sparrmanii Banded Tilapia
was taken on 19/12/2003 at the Westlake Walkway Pond.
A mud crab in the Westlake Walkway Pond on 19/12/2003.
Peninsula
Canoe Club Members participating
in the data collection programme.
| Date
seen |
Persons
name |
Species |
Present |
Quad.
seen |
Time |
| 07 - 08 - 2005 |
Roy Linley |
Bronze Carp |
1 |
SE |
08h40 |
| - |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
WOW!!
Look at this. This extract from the Cape
Argus – 25th August 2003. The article by John Yeld.
photograph by Tanya Graham
Mike Bailey and Alaistar
Graham, SA Angling Team members with a 19.8kg Leervis caught
at Zandvlei in 2003. This particular fish was caught and released after
being weighed by Alaistar. "There are even bigger ones in the vlei,
I've lost a couple of them" he said.
Steve Lamberth (
Scientist and Researcher at Marine and Coastal Management ) informed
us at The Zandvlei Trust – Spring
Festival 2003, that the commercial value of the
Zandvlei estuary, to inshore and marine fisheries is estimated at R4
million per annum.
There has been an overall decline in estuarine dependent species
such as White Steenbras, Leervis and Harders in Zandvlei. This is mostly due to
infrequent mouth opening events, reduced saltwater intrusion and much lower salinity levels. Steenbras
and Leervis are at 23 % and Harders at
51 % of their pristine abundance in Zandvlei.
The system has become much fresher resulting in freshwater fish
being 380 % of their pristine levels. Unfortunately, most of these are alien invasives such as
Carp and Sharptooth Catfish which have almost entirely replaced (out competed or eaten) indigenous species such as the
Cape galaxias from Zandvlei.
(The above information was supplied by Steve Lamberth and are
deductions from previous years of study.) 
photograph by Clifford Dorse
Pipe fish 
photograph by Clifford Dorse
Closeup of Pipe fish head
Management
Clifford Dorse has
been encouraging all fresh water anglers to try and catch and not return
the Carp and Catfish, to reduce their numbers. He monitors the bi – monthly mouth opening and Adele Pretorius has been doing her
2003 practical Student subject on the fish populations of Zandvlei.
To show how quickly systems respond to management, there are water
plants which have nearly been eliminated in one season, due to salt
water intolerance in the Centre Pan in the Nature Reserve. The water
levels are control managed for other reasons; to build up the salts for
small food sources for the different wading birds. Also the Cape Teal
requires a high salinity level for feeding.
|
