Legendary fishing feats and legends

**Chris Shelton** · 25-01-08

I would like to dedicated this thread to all the fishing legends that have gone before us. If any of you have any stories from the past to share, please do. It does not have to be from personal encounters either, something interesting that you have perhaps read about would be just as good.

**Nepptune** · 25-01-08

Jackie Wheeler - 186 lb Yellowfin Tuna from Rooikrantz Ledges... sometime in the 60's..... For me that is the pinnacle of angling....

**chris williams** · 25-01-08

Yep Nepptune that's one of the all-time greats. I think I've got a copy of his description on fighting the fish in the old 'Strike' by Schoeman - wasn't it in the forties or fifties? Maybe I've got it wrong, will check up tonight unless someone like CS can elaborate? They bred them tough in those days - always hard...

**Surly Ghillie** · 25-01-08

Jackie Wheeler? Now there's a blast from my own past. How about his black marlin caught off mossel bay? cant remember the exact weight, but it was way over 1000 lbs. Strangely enough i bought his ski boat, the Bonita, I think it was in 1972, or there abouts. What a boat!. i scored a real luck. i was 22/23 and he was in his late 40's . He had just had a heart attack & felt he couldn't do the small-boat-in-big-seas thing anymore. Without really knowing what i was doing, i became the skipper of the best off-shore fishing ski boat ever built; designed by renato Levi and built by Munna, both giants in their field.
Spent a couple of years fishing False Bay & the tunny grounds from her decks. What a blast. That boat & I created some legends off Cape Point!!!
What a boat!

then there was Tim Condon's 300 plus point marlin speared off lookout rocks at plet. He landed the fish off Keurbooms River mouth ...about 7 miles from where he speared it.

And who can forget the gargantuan great whites and tiger sharks caught from the mole at the old whaling station in durban harbour, back in the 1950's. O *** I cant stand it! I've lived through it all and now we got Yuppie poofter scum that spend their days going virtual fishing on websites, f'rkrissake!!!!

**Wade** · 25-01-08

Originally Posted by Surly Ghillie

And who can forget the gargantuan great whites and tiger sharks caught from the mole at the old whaling station in durban harbour, back in the 1950's. O *** I cant stand it! I've lived through it all and now we got Yuppie poofter scum that spend their days going virtual fishing on websites, f'rkrissake!!!!

The Natal Shark Brigade.............

I was reading about them the other day. One of the few time i wish i were older....

**Korrie** · 25-01-08

A couple of years ago, there was a series of articles in the Stywe Lyne.
In these series of articles they discussed the legends of the R/S.

The only contempary that was mentioned was Michael Peterson.
Having met Michael, and chatted to some of the more recent R/S anglers, I must confess he is somewhat a legend in his own lunchtime.
Maybe there are some Flytalkers that want to share some of his anecdotes.

**Scythe** · 25-01-08

Originally Posted by Surly Ghillie

then there was Tim Condon's 300 plus point marlin speared off lookout rocks at plet

Please explain this point system or was it just a quick way of referring to pounds/kgs ?

**Nepptune** · 25-01-08

More from the Shark Brigade of South Pier

Reg Harrison - 1660 Lb Great White 1953 6.5 hour fight time....
Wyn Moxley - 1480 Lb Great White 1952 2.5 hour fight time...

Both fish taken on bamboo rods, centre pin dragless reels, 18 cord flax line.... nothing but a leather palm pad for a drag....

Bertie Puttocks baby Blue Marlin of approx 30 lbs off North Pier on a shad rig... 1930's... first Blue Marlin of Terra Firma in Africa...

Some of Len Jones's Spearfishing tales are worthy of legend in my book... Hunting giant Brindles in Durban Harbour under the jetties....

CW - I would love to get a copy of Strike again... I seem to have misplaced mine over the years... anyone know wher I can get it? I may well be off on the dates of the big YFT of Jackie's....

**Chris Shelton** · 25-01-08

Originally Posted by Surly Ghillie

Jackie Wheeler? Now there's a blast from my own past. How about his black marlin caught off mossel bay? cant remember the exact weight, but it was way over 1000 lbs. Strangely enough i bought his ski boat, the Bonita, I think it was in 1972, or there abouts. What a boat!. i scored a real luck. i was 22/23 and he was in his late 40's . He had just had a heart attack & felt he couldn't do the small-boat-in-big-seas thing anymore. Without really knowing what i was doing, i became the skipper of the best off-shore fishing ski boat ever built; designed by renato Levi and built by Munna, both giants in their field.
Spent a couple of years fishing False Bay & the tunny grounds from her decks. What a blast. That boat & I created some legends off Cape Point!!!
What a boat!

then there was Tim Condon's 300 plus point marlin speared off lookout rocks at plet. He landed the fish off Keurbooms River mouth ...about 7 miles from where he speared it.

And who can forget the gargantuan great whites and tiger sharks caught from the mole at the old whaling station in durban harbour, back in the 1950's. O *** I cant stand it! I've lived through it all and now we got Yuppie poofter scum that spend their days going virtual fishing on websites, f'rkrissake!!!!

Yes!!! That was an epic struggle if ever there was one, 15 hours and 20 minutes it took to bring the fish to gaff. They covered a distance 85 miles during that time!

Your weight is slightly out Wolf, only slightly mind you, but being a fisherman, what else did we expect

Just checked my records, the Marlin weighed 720lbs, the man140lbs. The man was 5ft 9 1/2", the fish 13ft 9". Tailspan was 4ft. Girth 5ft.9" - Bill 3ft.3 1/2".

After he landed the fish, everyone embraced and kissed him, all saying it was one of the greatest moments of their lives.