Cape Vidal Trip Report, November 2014

Salt Water, Trip Report
With the windy months having passed us by, and the water warming through the spring months, it was time for another trip to Cape Vidal. Sadly however we battled with booking and managed to secure just a single campsite, meaning that just 6 fishermen could join us on this adventure. I picked up Graeme at 4:30am and we headed to Durban where we met up with Bruce and Laurence. After quickly packing the trailer we hit the road at 5am with Vidal set firmly in our sights. We stopped just twice on route, once for the maditory cup of coffee, and then again for the even more mandatory Wimpy breakfast. The other two adventurers, Neill and Arthur, were already on route from the South Coast Fly Anglers and had agreed to meet us on…
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Cape Vidal (With NekNominations)

Salt Water, Trip Report
As I'm sure most of you have worked out by now, Cape Vidal is a bi-annual trip we do in conjunction with the Durban Fly Tyers and the South Coast Fly Anglers. This year we moved the first trip forward from April to February in the hope of picking up some bigger kingies. Sadly however we got the dates slightly wrong and ended up at Vidal over neaps rather than spring tides. None the less, we got down to it and had great fun. As per usual Nick and I headed up together and were on the road by 4am on Friday morning. We met up with another group to put some of their kit into our trailer and then the journey began with a steaming cup of coffee. The…
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A Tough Vidal Trip

Salt Water, Trip Report
[caption id="attachment_1387" align="alignleft" width="300"] A bad omen perhaps?[/caption] The much awaited Vidal trip took place over the weekend of the 6th – 8th of September. With 12 Baha and DFT members booking out two separate cottages we once again had quite a crowd! Departing from Durban at 4.30 am we made our way to the St Lucia Wimpy for a quick brekkie and a soup bowl of coffee. Spirits were high and there was much excitement from the “Vidal Virgins” who eagerly asked where to fish, what to expect and what flies work. We left the Wimpy in our hordes to make our way to the beach, knowing very well that a buster was on its way up the coast. While leaving the car park I sadly noticed we had…
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Cape Vidal – Another Trip With The DFT

Salt Water
[caption id="attachment_1139" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Wading at Cape Vidal[/caption] Friday saw 6 DFT fly fishermen climb out of bed at 4am in pouring rain and howling wind to make the 320km drive to Cape Vidal to lay claim to the kingfish that frequent the area at this time of year. The weather reports were not good but we were confident it wouldn't be as bad as they made it out to be. [caption id="attachment_1138" align="alignleft" width="300"] First kingie of the trip[/caption] I picked up Steve and headed to the first rendezvous point to meet the rest of the gang and travel up in convoy. At about 5:30 we were all together; Steve, Neill, Bruce, Joe, Graham and I. And after a quick cup of coffee we were on our way. This…
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Cape Vidal (With The DFT And South Coast Fly Anglers)

Salt Water, Trip Report
[caption id="attachment_544" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Cape Vidal Teaser Image[/caption] After the success of the first Cape Vidal trip in April we headed back, this time with 14 fly fishermen from Team Baha, the DFT and South Coast Fly Anglers, to try our luck yet again. [caption id="attachment_547" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Boys Fishing The Ledges At Vidal[/caption] Nick picked me up just before 4am and we quickly passed Jan and Gavin on Fields Hill as if they were standing still. Clearly it was going to be a long drive for them with Jan cruising at a conservative 100km/hr on the freeway. Our first stop was at the garage just before the Mvoti Toll Plaza where we met up with Clinton and Hayden (and waited for Jan and Gavin). They eventually arrived as…
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Cape Vidal

Salt Water, Trip Report
[caption id="attachment_452" align="alignleft" width="300"] Fly Fishing Reels[/caption] At 4am on Friday morning Nick pulled into the Plantations parking lot to pick me up for an epic long weekend at Cape Vidal. The Baha Boys had teamed up with the Durban Fly Tyers for a fly fishing trip that was certainly not to be forgotten. We vigorously packed the car and then headed for the garage at the first toll plaza on the N2. Despite it being so early we were oozing excitement and rearing to go. Just before 5am (the planned meeting time) we pulled into the garage and found ourselves a stool in the Steers where we ordered ourselves a steaming cup of coffee. Feeling a little peckish we also snuck in a small Steers burger which was quite…
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Friends Of Baha At Vidal

Salt Water
[caption id="attachment_404" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Kings And Queens At Vidal[/caption] On arrival on Friday evening we were disappointed to see that the zone between shore break right out to backline was brown with water from southern river mouths. Did not even attempt to fish. Miraculously, the following morning was much better. Whilst the water was murky, it had cleaned up considerably, helped by the north easterly wind change. I focussed my fishing in one area, namely where the diagonal rock outcrop meets the beach. the landward, protected side of this rock formation forms a funnel during high tide that kingfish and other gamefish use to concentrate baitfish. The sight of schools of small baitfish being smashed near to ones feet was a little distracting. Anyway, I was not too successful in…
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