The Wit Steenbras - Chris Van Der Walt With A catch Of A Lifetime.

"my mind is in overdrive looking for these silver enigmas of our Cape coast. With big seas for the better part of a week there’s a little gap and I set off."

With winter having its way we all have that one fish on our minds. The Wit Steenbras.  I had the privilege of interviewing Chris Van Der Walt, a salesman with us at our Stilbaai branch, a fisherman with a burning passion for conservation and fishing as a sport all together. Wow! I hope that you gain insight as I share this epic true story, about a overpowering obsession that took hold of Chris's hopes and dreams. Not knowing that he was about to triumph in his pursuit of breaking his steenie PB! (96cm Fork-length).

"Stopping by different spots up the coast…not looking great I'm thinking. Paid the old’ honey hole a visit and it had a bank to my left fluffing foam…needless to say I was there in a flash."

He knew how and what the species were feeding, and based his fishing spot off, of experience and knowledge. According to Chris The Wit Steenbras prefers calm, clean and flat seas with just enough churning on the sandbanks, ideal for those white busses to patrol those banks from those deep gullies and feed on those crustaceans loosened by the working water. calm enough for them to feed. That explains why the Steenies looks like they had lip filler surgery.

"a light South Easter accompanying my enthusiasm, my first offering in ,second in…First hour goes by…Second hour goes by…Not a bump on either of the two rods. Water looking good enough to get that “any second now” feeling, you start doubting your tactics and choices. "

This experience goes to show when targeting these Steenies you need persistence,(defined by the Longman Dictionary At its core, as the quality of continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.) He was facing mental opposition from all sides his doubts crept in, bait offering, after bait offering to the point where you start wondering if your experience is worth anything...

Needless to say persistence through tenacity prevailed...

I tweak my rig a little, clip it in and gave it a little to get over the bank as the tide was dropping. I stood back to savour the view, sipping on an idea for new bait presentation when the line on my right hand rod drops and this thing takes off like a bat out of hell!! Drag whining… Tighten up and its ONN!

And so through all the perseverance, the stars align, nature offers Chris an opportunity to tread upon the fish of a lifetime. His drags sings melodies that spikes adrenalin, demanding to tighten the drag and reel up the slack for a fight he will forever cherish.

Massive run and I’m starting to think surely not a Steenie…possibly?? Kites to the left and used the rip very cleverly throughout what was nothing short of an absolute slugfest back and forth.

The White Steenras's intelligence is not to be underestimated. Later Chris concluded that after the Steenie battle, there was two sharp pinnacles left of the fishing spot where the Steenbras was hoping to reef Chris. Displaying the maturity of this 25+ year old Steenie, we are left in awe.

Tag in, measured and spent a few minutes to let her catch her breath. She swims off leaving me speechless, with a new PB, all on my trusty Go-Pro…

I don't think there is any words that gives justice to the pure joy Chris experienced at that moment, reviving that absolutely gorgeous female Steenie, thereafter tagging her, and sending her on her way. tears of joy rolling across his face, his tears teaches a sad yet inspiring lesson.

We are the masters of our own fate. The white Steenbras is on the brink of extinction, and we fisherman are left with a choice carrying immense consequences. What is your response?

By all means keep fish for food. Eat an elf, enjoy a silver-kob, endulge in Yellow-tail and tuna, but put to rest your greed and pride, respect the pull-protect the Steenie.