Editor’s Note
At the beginning of August we launched the first edition of the Salt Fishing South Africa
online magazine and to say the response was overwhelming is an understatement. We are
very grateful to all who took the time to enjoy the read and to subscribe to the magazine.
With your support we will be able to bring you much more of what you want to see, so
please share the link and get your mates to subscribe.
August also saw eighteen species of sharks and rays, threatened by the scale of international
trade in their fins and meat, included in Appendix II of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species. Amoung these were Giant Guitarfish and Mako sharks,
and while this doesn’t directly affect South African recreational angling, it does serve to
highlight the overall plight many of our shark and ray species face.
In this edition Rob Kyle gives us some insight into how best to deal with our Giant Sandys
once you get one on the end of your line, Stefan Oosthuizen gives us an exciting look at
the speedsters of Struisbaai and we take a look at another must-visit fishing destination
in the Transkei.
On a more serious note, August also saw us say goodbye to one of the country’s icons
of ichthyology, Dr Phillip Heemstra, who passed away late in the month. Phillip Heemstra
was involved in so many of our marine fish identification and research books, including
Smith’s Sea Fishes, and Fishes of the Southern Ocean amoung many others, and was
Curator Emeritus at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (formerly J.L.B.
Smith Institute of Ichthyology.) His passion for our marine environment was legendary and
he will be sorely missed, both because of his immeasurable knowledge and dedication to
the science of ichthyology and taxonomy and for all the lives he touched on his journey.
Looking forward, spring is upon us and this heralds the start of some exciting times for
both shore angling and offshore anglers alike.
All along our coast it’s time to relook your tackle
for the change that is coming and we hope that
some of the highlights from the recent SAFTD
expo held in Johannesburg in mid-August will help
find exactly what you need to get your best catch
this summer season.
As always, we welcome any ideas or suggestions to
bring you what you want from a fishing magazine
and you can contact us via e-mail at cameron@
sfsamag.com
Enjoy the read!