Mike Laubscher

Day 1

We started the course on a rainy Monday, which was perfect because on this day we covered a lot of theory on chart-work; tackle rigging making wind-on leaders, stiff rigs, semi stiff rigs, IGFA rules, lure selection, colours and so on.

Day 2

The practical began and we started out with how to set a spread, fin tune the lures in their positions and how team work must be adhered too when out on the troll.

It was a nice day and we all got to know each other and as the day went on we started fine tuning the team work and how important this is.

We had a multiple hook up with all 5 rigs going at once, and in the end landed only 3 of the 5 Yellowfin Tuna, mistake were made and the guys learnt to get their priorities in order so that fish do not get lost. We also landed 2 nice Dorado on this day. Time was spent on how an where to locate Yellowfin Tuna and signs to look for when searching for fish.

We also covered trolling patterns and speeds with Kona's, Feathers and Rapala's

Day 3

Here we did a very long trip out to the deep travelling more than 250km for the day, it was not a good day with very low barometric pressure and rain spots all over.

We managed to land 2 Dorado and 1 Wahoo on this trip, and we also dropped a 300lb Blue Marlin when the line twisted by the outrigger and parted.

On this trip we spent a lot of time on fine tuning the lures and the teamwork was coming together.

Day 4

This was by far the most exciting trip of the week and here we were covering live bait fishing. This was to be a short session as there was a huge West wind predicted and so we went out extra early.

Whilst trying to find Mackerel we found huge schools of Bonnies and ended up hooking 3 small Black Marlin which got hooked into our bait jigs when we were bringing our bait up, unfortunately bait jigs are not strong enough for Marlin and we lost all 3 even though we managed to keep the one on for around 30 minutes.

Day 5

Here the guys rigged up and did everything on their own, and although the plan was to stay shallow and run small lures we ended out in the deep and managed several Yellow Fin Tuna, 2 Dorado of which 1 was part of a 3 Dorado hook up, somehow 2 fish collided with each other and got their chain gangs entangled and we dropped them both.

A lot was covered during the course, and the guys left feeling confident.

Well done to Corrie Van Wyk and Timothy Scriven for completing the Fishing College Gamefish & Tuna Course.

Fish Species: Gamefish
Bait Used:
Tackle Used:
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Water Depth:
Water Temperature:
Wind Direction:
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Wahoo
Wahoo

Dorado
Dorado


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Mike Laubscher

About The Author: Mike Laubscher

Company: Blue Water Charters - Durban

Area Reporting: Durban. KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Bio: I have been fishing since I was 5 years old in Durban and have fished many places around the world and in South Africa, but Durban is my home waters. I fished competitive for many years and I have been running my own charters since 2008 with 2 companies and 2 boats, fish a variety of styles and target a variety of fish species in both Salt and Fresh water, have many published articles in several magazines on fishing. Love nature and outdoors, Am very conservation minded and have a passion for birds. I am crazy about big Tuna, Marlin Fishing and Game Fishing, and also love light tackle spinning, am a total lure junkie. Represented my province in fly fishing for many years and am also pro staff for Rapala/Shimano. I want to write a book on fishing one day. 3 items left on my fishing bucket list, guess then a new bucket list will be in order. As a writer I have my own quote: \"I love taking people fishing because it releases their inner child, and in doing so keeps my inner child alive.\"

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