Weskus Snoek Run
The Snoek run typically takes place between May and July when large shoals of snoek migrate along the West Coast of South Africa. 'Snoek' is a species of fish found in the Atlantic Ocean, and it is highly sought after by both commercial and recreational fishermen. Most notably this species underpins local culture on the West Coast and you would be hard pressed to find a more excited community of fishers when the fish start to bite.
This assignment took me to the small coastal villages of Yzerfontein and Lamberts Bay, where I was able to join a small group of traditional hand line fishers as they offloaded their days catch.
As with any day fishing it generally starts in the pitch darkness. I worked my way round the slip as the icy winter chill ate into my shutter finger. Fishers all over fought with lazy outboard motors getting them warm for the day ahead. But soon boat captains were whizzing out the harbour in thick fog or 'toe-mis' as if they had a developed a sixth sense.
After a freezing ride out to the fishing grounds, hours of waiting and an empty freezer - our skipper decided to try for some other species so as not to return empty handed.
We made our way inshore to target some Cape Bream or 'Hotties' as it is known locally. A fairly light tasting fish that grows quite large in the icy waters of the West Coast. For our skipper, the sustainability of these fish make them a great back up to catch if the Snoek go off the bite.
Pictured above: An undersize Cape Bream gets measured and returned safely to the sea.
Implementing responsible fishing practices in these communities is no small feat, as there are numerous challenges and sensitivities to understand and overcome. That being said, the team at ABALOBI are doing a great job of providing access to tools and resources that will better equip these communities to safeguard their livelihoods.
Luck may not have been on our side this day as far as landing some Snoek, but by the time we got back to the landing site it was a hive of activity. It is like the entire community descends on the harbour to see what the fishers caught.
Most of the Snoek caught in these coastal communities is cleaned and sent to be sold a few hours south in Cape Town. One of the perks for the local fishers is that the Cape Town market prefers the fish head-less, which suits them just fine as Snoek heads as well as the roe form part of some of the more favoured local dish dishes.
The various quality control teams play a vital role in ensuring only the best quality fish reach the market. More commonly known as 'vlekkers', the various QC members will scale, gut, wash and salt the fish in a matter of seconds.
Filming the 'vlekking' process was made even more difficult by the small size of the days catch. By the time I hit record, most of the fish was packed on ice and the ladies were smiling back at me proudly.
The weskus Snoek run is more than just a fishing season; it's a celebration of the west coast fishing communities and their connection to the ocean.