Patient Richards Bay angler hooks massive salmon

The catch was a 20-minute fight that was not without its drama

Dave Savides

July 15, 2020

Every reason for Calvin to smile with his trophy PHOTOS: Dave Savides

ON a regular basis, a hardy group of Richards Bay anglers fish for shad or other live bait in the darkness, and target garrick, salmon and other edibles well before the sun rises.

Often this patience and perseverance go unrewarded, but that was not the case for regular Alkantstrand pier angler Calvin Munien.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Monster fish fight for Richards Bay casual angler

While shad were in abundance this past weekend, big strikes were absent… until his rod’s ratchet started screaming at about 10am on Saturday.

That was the beginning of a 20-minute fight that was not without its drama.

Apart from the fact that it might be a lot of hard work for nothing if there was a shark at the end of the line – which was Calvin’s first thought – there was the dangerous task of getting the catch out the water and safely up the dolosse.

Thanks to kind help from a fellow angler who expertly handled the gaff, Calvin was able to parade his beautiful salmon, which weighed at least 15kg.

And it wasn’t a moment too soon, as the idyllic early morning condition gave way to a howling south-westerly buster and the pier was soon deserted of anglers.