I am no Dynamo, David Blaine or some other master of illusion. Enticing a rise or fooling an unsuspecting ghost of the flats to take interest in my offering, a surface lure, having the spotted grunter believe that it is a prawn just doing a bit of backstroke along the surface, oh the disappointment.
The Eastern Cape anglers probably shake their heads in disbelief at my lack of regular success, you don’t know how easy you have it with your swimming prawns and weedless rivers (or so I thought – edit 2016, see update success).
(This is pre-Breede success, before the Kowie-Kyle’s and Skitter-V’s, before the Tommo’s and the boat revelations… my oh my how things have changed – edit 2016, see update success)
I had conceded that this privilege is exclusive to the Eastern Cape rivers (and the select few that have braved the nyami nyami wading waist deep into murky water in the Breede). The swimming prawns you intend to imitate only frequent these rivers and become a favourite meal to all fish that call these estuaries or river systems home. So I have led myself to believe, but whispers in the wind confirm that I am indeed incorrect. It is a code to crack, more difficult than the Da Vinci Code, so where is Tom Hanks when you need him!
Hours upon hours I have spent casting top-water lures at grunters. I have twitched my lures over them, into them, in front of them, everywhere… I have X-Rap Walk-ed the extent of the Breede River (or at least it feels like it)
Catching a grunter on bait is a piece of cake, but since when is angling supposed to be easy. If you are not challenged on each outing then you are missing the point. That is what makes fishing with lures such a big attraction, and success is so much sweeter.
I asked some of the masters of this art to help shed some light into this dark hole that is chasing those nose dancing spotted shadows.
Ignore the advice about specific colours only working – it’s a top water – a fish sees very little of the top of the lure when looking from below, so pick your favourite top-water lures and stick to them
Optimal lure size is probably 6-10cm
Chances are improved when the river contains mud prawn and not only sand prawn. Don’t over think it – if your river has prawns it will work
Don’t get stuck on a slow retrieve – you will be amazed at what speed they will smash a lure
Winter is not impossible but for sure it’s easier in summer
It works like a bomb at night as well
… “XTC”
Another
Basic technique is to cast out your top-water, wait 20sec, twitch, wait another 5sec, a couple of walk the dog twitches, wait, twitch etc. Mix that up in all combinations from just drifting with hardly any input to a slow steady dog-walk.
Fan your casts around, especially parallel to the shore
Boats in shallow water frighten the grunter.
The grunter WILL take an interest in the lure if they are around. This is guaranteed. They will follow the lure as they are inquisitive. Visual signs to look for are bubbling around the lure, swirls, bumping against the lure or just following at a distance.
A fuller tide is better as you can move your lure over the weeds.
Keep your lure in sight.
Ideal conditions are a full tide, deep overcast, just a slight ripple on the water and early mornings.
…“JdW”
One bit of advice I have received over and over,
the 3 P’s
- patience
- persistence
- perseverance.
Confidence is king!
Watch your lure carefully during a retrieve. Any movement around it will help to improve confidence.
Let us know if you have had any success using this technique, especially in the Western Cape.
Good luck and be sure to use this advice in a recreational light keeping conservation in mind with each catch.
Have a look at some detailed info on the Spotted Grunter or some more info on targeting Spotted Grunter on top-water lures
