Milnerton Lagoon

[Chris Shelton]

I stopped next to the feeder channel of Milnerton lagoon today to have a look see and there were lots of little baitfish rising all over the show. The tide was still moving out strongly and water was very discolored. I have a suspicion that there could still be some leeries in there. There used to be and there is no reason for them not be be there now because the mouth is and has been open for a few years. The feeder channel higher up towards the old wooden bridge and beyond is definitely worth a look I think. Have any of you guys checked it out recently?

[Arthur]

I stopped next to the feeder channel of Milnerton lagoon today to have a look see and there were lots of little baitfish rising all over the show. The tide was still moving out strongly and water was very discolored. I have a suspicion that there could still be some leeries in there. There used to be and there is no reason for them not be be there now because the mouth is and has been open for a few years. The feeder channel higher up towards the old wooden bridge and beyond is definitely worth a look I think. Have any of you guys checked it out recently?

I have been thinking about it - the lagoon is not looking too bad - the area in front of the pump house looks quite good.

[cptfly]

hows it looking after that fiasco last year with the heaps of fish that died

[Garage]

I have lived in Milnerton for some years and have tried the lagoon on a number of occasions. I have seen a helluva lot of baitfish and some spectacularly big guitarfish (on spring tides) on a number of occasions, but have never seen hide nor hair of any Leeries. I once saw a shoal of what appeared to be small Elf (Veldrif size) but couldn't get them to chase anything.

On one occasion last year, a senior cirizen gooing pap came to chat and told me that he had been throwing a spoon between the two bridges the previous year and had hooked into something pretty strong that fought at the surface, but he was unable to land it as a passing canoeist picked up and parted his line.

As you can imagine, that story forced me to flog the water in ernest for a few more weeks, but still nothing.

[Chris Shelton]

hows it looking after that fiasco last year with the heaps of fish that died

It wont have affected the lagoon at all, because Rietvlei is closed to the lagoon at the moment. It only flows into the lagoon in Winter when the water level rises sufficiently. The Riet River has apparently been by passed and does not flow into the vlei anymore

[cptfly]

okay I see, I also never heard of somebody catching anything big their

[Chris Shelton]

I was throw netting in the lagoon for live bait a few years ago and I heard a hell of a splash behind me. I forgot about it after a while, but a little while later I came across a 9 inch mullet wriggling on the surface and it had a huge welt on the body. Something grabbed it and it managed to escape and that something was in all probability a Leervis.

About 12 years ago I heard reports from a very reputable Cape fly tackle specialist about juvenile leeries being caught by fly fishermen in the lagoon. Damn, I flogged that water to bits with no results thereafter..............but then again, perhaps I was always there at the wrong time of the day or at the wrong spot for the particular state of the tide. There is much to be considered with estuaries. I have discovered at Sandvlei that the fish are definitely more active in certain parts of the vlei at very specific times of the day. This may also apply to the lagoon.

[deewy]

Guitarfish is a sand shark.....as far as I know and I still would love to hook a nice one,I recon they should bend my 8wt nicely
Anybody keen on going to have alook about let me know,I am quite keen

[Chris Shelton]

okay I see, I also never heard of somebody catching anything big their

The fact that we havent heard anything means nothing. Locals would keep their successes to themselves. I have recently heard of Sandvlei locals who have been catching leervis every day, throughout the day for years. They haven't exactly broadcasted it from the mountain tops either

[deewy]

Its these guys that dont tell that preserve the fish and the area,If they broadcast it from the mountains then every tom dick and harry would be there and they are the ones who take the fish. I saw the same thing on saturday whille fishing with Liam,a guy hooked a leerie and had a good fight with it we came closer and watch until he had the fish out the water,we asked if he was going to put it back and he just said yes and we hung around until he put it back,I am almost sure if we didnt hang around he would have kept it.
I am sure there are leeries still in that lagoon,we must just find them,keep it under wraps and preserve them,after all they are our version off a GT and we are not spending R30 000 on catching a beauty. It is not everyone who gets the oppertunity to catch a trophy like you guys have the past week,but it will be an even better feel to know that they are still there....dont you agree that you will rather keep trying than know that you CANT get them anymore???