“CRACKER COUNTRY”
Anyone who has fished the coast of South Africa will understand the abundance of fish that we have access to as recreational anglers. Whether it is fishing for big sharks off the rocks or targeting edibles for the table at camp, few places can compete with South Africa when it comes to rock & surf angling as well shore entry spearfishing. My most sought after species, whether fishing off the rocks or spearfishing, is the black and white mussel cracker.
Targeting these species with rod & reel is best done in large surf, strong winds and all round extremely testing conditions. These fish latch on mussels on the rocks and use the large swell to assist them rip off what they are seeking to eat. They are incredibly powerful. With both species growing to well over 20 kilograms, they are a worthy adversary. Targeting these fish is extremely difficult as they are very shy and, once hooked, are very dirty fighters. They are known to use all their strength to pull your line into the bricks which often results in the line being cut by the sharp reef.
When spearing these fish, one would prefer to have greenish water which allows you to blend into the reef. However, you still want enough visibility to see the thick silhouettes of these fish coming in from a distance of 3-5m. While a spearo prefers clean water for obvious reasons, if the water is too clean these sly fish pick you up quickly and refuse to come in close enough for a shot.
We shoot these fish in depths from 3 – 20 meters. One would need to hyperventilate thoroughly, pump your body full of oxygen, and then slowly sink down to the ocean floor letting your weight belt do the work for you. This ensures that you don’t use too much energy too quickly. We only have one single breath of air and you have to use 20 seconds getting to the bottom, 20 seconds getting to the top and sufficient bottom-time to allow these Crackers to come in. In order to shoot a decent Cracker, you need a breath-hold of at least 1.30 – 2 minutes.
As you approach the seabed, one needs to find a solid reef structure, preferably keeping a slab of rock on your back, with an overhang throwing a shadow over your body. This will mean that you are camouflaged into the rock and the overhang will mean that no sharks can sneak up behind you, giving you a serious scare. Lying dead still is pivotal in a successful hunt as any unnatural movement will spook the incoming fish.
Once you've been in your position for about 15 seconds, you will notice smaller fish returning and the reef begin to come alive again. This short period is all it takes for the fish to either forget about you or accept that you are part the sea floor. In my experience, if no small fish are returning then you’re wasting your time as it is extremely unlikely that a monster cracker is hiding in the depths nearby. Under these circumstances, I wouldn’t push myself to the limits. I would resurface, move a 100m, and seek a new piece of reef which may be holding the fish I’m looking for.
However, if the fish start to return, then one should expect fireworks. Generally, the Cape Knifejaw or West Coast Parrot Fish will come in first. These fish are very delicious, but if you are seeking a big Cracker, I recommend resisting the urge to shoot these guys. The Cape Knifejaw would then be followed by Bronze Bream, Tassel Fish and any other of the wide variety of edible species we are so fortunate to have in our waters. After about 40 seconds of bottom-time, the Cracker will start coming in. I very rarely shoot the first cracker that comes in. Experience has taught me that the bigger fish always hang back and, if they notice that their smaller compatriots have passed through a piece of reef unharmed, they can follow suit.
Similarly, Crackers very rarely patrol the reefs on their own and will often be in schools of around 5 or more. When picking what I would term a shooter, I have realised that unless the fish “jumps” out at you, it is not a fish worth taking. Crackers are extremely slow growing and are very susceptible to overfishing. Due to this, one should only be looking to take a Cracker that is about 70cm in length. In my humble opinion, there are very few experiences as impressive as witnessing a 70cm+ Mussel Cracker under the water. They are an extremely thick fish, full of power and aggression, and do not take lightly to being shot by a 1.3 Rob Allen Speargun, my gun of choice. They will take off rapidly, tying up your buoy line in the reef, and have the power to rip the spear right out of them. I have lost the battle a number of times by my spear not punching right through the fish meaning that my barb doesn’t open up and effectively lock into the Cracker.
When one lands a fish of this calibre, it is, in my opinion, one of the greatest accomplishments in underwater hunting. Of all the fish that South African waters have to offer, shooting a 10kg+ Cracker is, in my opinion again, by far the hardest fish to take. In the words of my father, he said to me when I first started spearing at the age of 14, when you shoot a 10kg+ Mussel Cracker, then you are a man my son!
There can be no debate, free-dive spearfishing is by far the most ethical form of hunting.