An Absolutely Wild Adventure: Crayfishing ‘West Coast’ Style

Hey there! I have a totally crazy story to tell you about my crayfishing adventure on the West Coast. Brace yourself for an insanely awesome time!

So, picture this: I’m standing on the rocky shores of the West Coast, with the waves crashing against the cliffs and seagulls squawking like they’re auditioning for a rock band. It’s a sight straight out of a nature documentary, and it’s absolutely mind-blowing.

Now, you may be wondering, “What on earth is crayfishing?” Well, my friend, it’s like a treasure hunt in the sea. You know those delicious little critters called crayfish? Yep, that’s what we’re after. And let me tell you, it’s not your average fishing trip.

First things first, you’ve got to gear up like a pro. Think wetsuits, snorkels, and flippers. Oh, and don’t forget your crayfishing net – it’s your trusty tool for catching those sneaky sea creatures.

As I plunge into the crystal-clear waters, I feel a mixture of excitement and curiosity. I mean, who knows what’s lurking beneath the surface? It’s like exploring a whole new world – a secret underworld of crayfish and their aquatic buddies.

Swimming with the current, I keep my eyes peeled for any sign of movement. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I spot one! With a burst of energy, I dive down and scoop it up in my net. Victory!

But I’m not done yet. No siree! Crayfishing is all about being stealthy and patient. So, I continue my underwater expedition, searching for more of these elusive crustaceans.

It’s a bit of a waiting game, to be honest. Sometimes, you’re lucky and stumble upon a hidden hotspot crawling with crayfish. Other times, it takes a bit more effort to track them down. But hey, that’s the thrill of the chase – you never know what surprises await you!

After a while, my net is teeming with these spiky little characters. Mission accomplished! It’s time to head back to the shore and marvel at my catch of the day. And let me tell you, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of a successful crayfishing expedition.

So, if you’re up for a wild and wonderful adventure, crayfishing on the West Coast is the way to go. It’s like stepping into a whole new world of marine marvels and getting a taste of the sea’s bounty.

But remember, my friend, respect Mother Nature and follow the rules. Make sure you only catch what you need and release the rest. We’ve got to keep our oceans thriving for generations to come.

Alright, enough chit-chat. It’s time to grab your gear and dive into the crayfishing craze. Trust me, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won’t soon forget. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get crayfishing!

Man, forget about that coronavirus stuff. Like, seriously, who needs to worry about that when there’s a much cooler virus that takes over Cape Coast for a few weekends each year? It’s called crayfish fever, and let me tell you, it’s infectious! Just look at what we witnessed in Pringle Bay – so many people were absolutely hooked on it. So, we decided to head to the West and dive right into this cray-cray experience.

Written by Alan Valkenburg | Photos by Peet Mocke & Catherine Valkenburg

The Pajero Sport was just as comfy on the back roads as it was on regular roads.

Listen up, folks! In the teen world, everything gets shortened. “Totally” becomes “totes.” And “crazy” turns into “cray.” When it’s really crazy, it’s “cray-cray.” Makes sense, right? You’re welcome.

I’ll never forget my first crayfish experience. A friend proudly showed off a pair of live ones and threw them on the grill. They squirmed and screeched as my wife and I watched, jaws dropped. I lost my appetite right then and there.

Okay, I have to admit, I’m not really into crayfish. But, I gotta say, the whole crayfish thing seemed pretty intriguing. You know, diving down into the water, searching for them on the ocean floor, maybe even taking a boat out and using ring nets. Yeah, that actually sounds like a fun adventure.

So, I did a little digging and found out that there are only a few weekends each year when it’s legal to catch crayfish. And guess what? There was just one weekend left this season, and it happened to be on Easter. Talk about perfect timing! Time was running out, so I hurried to the post office to get my permit. It only cost me R94, and that meant I was about to become the proud owner of at least four crayfish. I mean, how tricky could it really be?

The Pajero had such a roomy and cozy interior.

But now, I needed a ride. And not just any ride—it had to be spacious because I had a few other plans up my sleeve. Enter Mitsubishi and the Pajero Sport. This vehicle effortlessly accommodated two adults, three excited kids, a bunch of bags, an empty coolerbox (to hold all the crayfish I planned on catching), a couple of wetsuits, and three long pieces of hardboard (I’ll explain why later). The Pajero’s third row of seats could be folded down to create more storage space, but I chose to keep them up so I could drape the hardboard sheets over the back row, allowing for a clear back window.

Hey there! Let’s talk about our trip to Betty’s Bay. We were running late for check-in and heard there might be a penalty, so we had to hurry. Luckily, our trusty Pajero handled the traffic on the N2 like a pro and navigated all the twists and turns of the beautiful Clarence Drive without a hitch. Although passing other cars was a bit tricky on this road, whenever I needed to speed up, the vehicle responded wonderfully, allowing me to pass even those slow-driving grannies who were too busy enjoying the view.

The ride itself was super comfortable, and thanks to my iPhone connecting to the Apple CarPlay and the USB flash drive filled with tunes, we had plenty of entertainment for the kids.

The best part? The Pajero had two USB ports for the backseat passengers. It was a friendly reminder to the kids that they couldn’t have their own phones just yet, despite their constant begging and pleading.

Warren and I decided to venture into the water once again, hoping for a more enjoyable experience. Little did we know, things were about to take a drastic turn.

Attempt number three: Poor visibility
I woke up bright and early at 7am to meet up with my friend Warren. By 7:30, we were already at Hangklip, ready for another diving adventure. Unfortunately, the conditions weren’t ideal. There was a rough swell in the water, stirring up the seabed and causing the visibility to drop to zero. It was like diving into a thick fog. As I struggled to take off my wetsuit, my kids couldn’t help but chuckle at the comical scene. We had spent more time wrestling with our wetsuits than actually wearing them. But giving up was not an option for us. With determination, we decided to try our luck at Pringle Bay, just a short distance away.

Take 2: Who turned the cold on?
I have no idea how ocean water can be five degrees colder just a few miles away. What I do know is that the water at Pringle felt like something straight out of the Arctic, not the Atlantic. When I stepped into the water and walked through the rocky channel, it felt like my feet were being scorched. And just as we got used to the waves pushing us around, I found myself stumbling onto the rocks. It gave me a bit of a dead leg, but nothing serious. Funny enough, once we got out of the water, the waves calmed down, leaving us wondering if the plot was really to get past the waves.

So, here’s the thing. I had this crazy experience while diving in the ocean. Let me tell you all about it.

We decided to explore a kelp forest, which is like an underwater jungle. It was pretty serene at first, but that quickly changed. As I was swimming along, a huge wave crashed into me out of nowhere. It felt like being caught in a washing machine. To make matters worse, there was a massive rock jutting out of the water just a few yards away from me. I couldn’t help but wonder how many more sneaky rocks were lurking below the surface, ready to ruin my day.

By some stroke of luck, we managed to dodge the rocks as more waves came crashing down around us. It was an intense and exhausting experience. We finally made it back to shore, freezing and completely worn out.

We told ourselves that things would be better the next day. Well, here’s hoping!

My Sandboarding Adventure

So, today I took my kids out for a sandboarding adventure. We decided to try a cheap, do-it-yourself style, and let me tell you, it was quite the experience!

First things first, I want to assure you that no one got hurt. We had a total of seven rides down the dune on our trusty hardboard, and there were no near-death experiences. Well, except for a few bumps and bruises on my toes from all the braking.

After our sandboarding fun, we hit a little snag. The Pajero got stuck while trying to do a three-point turn on a narrow trail. But thanks to the Super Select II-4WD settings, we were able to quickly get back on track without any problems.

All in all, it was an exhilarating day filled with ups and downs (literally!). My kids and I had a blast, and it’s definitely an adventure I won’t soon forget. If you’re looking for a thrilling outdoor activity, sandboarding is definitely worth a try!

Artisanal Sandboarding: An Adventure on a Budget

Hey there! So, here’s what you’ll need for a sandboarding adventure that won’t break the bank:

• Get yourself a 3.5mm hardboard sheet from Buco, which will set you back R135.
• Grab a bottle of Cobra floor polish from PnP for only R35.
• And don’t forget the baby powder from Clicks, priced at R33.

When you add it all up, it’ll only cost you R203. Not bad, right?

Now, imagine this: you’re out with a group of friends, having the time of your life. You meet up at the Maasbaai slipway and your buddies lend you a kayak and a ring net. But this time, you’re not diving. No sir, today you’re going cray-cray for crayfish!

We head out to the mesmerizing kelp forest, our net rigged with fish heads as bait. With bated breath, we lower the net into the water and wait patiently for around 15 minutes. Anticipation builds as we prepare to pull up our net. But alas, luck isn’t on our side today. No crayfish this time.

Undeterred, we continue our adventure. Paddling around, we drop our net every 15 minutes like clockwork. Meanwhile, Warren’s friends take their trusty inflatable boat and do the same thing with three more ring nets. We spend three hours on the water, tirelessly repeating the process.

Finally, we see the results of our efforts. Three crayfish! It may not sound like much, but those little critters make the whole experience worthwhile.

And that, my friend, is the beauty of a sandboarding adventure on a budget. It’s about the thrill of the chase, the challenge of the hunt, and the joy of the unexpected.

So there we were, cruising along in the Pajero with our wet wetsuits, sadly coming up empty-handed in terms of a catch. It didn’t really bother me that we didn’t have any crustaceans to take home. To be honest, I had no idea how to cook them anyway. And let me tell you, there was no way I was going to throw live crustaceans on the grill!

I finally got my hands on a crayfish, thanks to a ring net that I borrowed from some friends. It was a thrilling experience while it lasted, but unfortunately, I had to return the net.

As I chatted with the fishermen returning to shore, I noticed sour looks on their faces. They hadn’t caught their quota, and many of them blamed the commercial fishermen for exploiting these waters. Just a few days ago, authorities caught a group of poachers with over 2,500 crayfish tails. It’s truly disgusting, not only because that catch would have been the legal yield of more than 600 fishermen, but also because it’s hard to fathom the ecological consequences of such significant damage.

We decided to drive back home through Kleinmond and Highlands dirt road. I wanted to show my family the beautiful view of Elgin. The Pajero handled the dirt road perfectly, although I had to trust my wife’s opinion on that since she insisted on driving. Instead of having crayfish for lunch, we ended up enjoying some delicious padstal pies. Well, there’s always next year for the crayfish.

A Comparison of Vehicles

Perfect for Road Trips

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.4 MIVEC 4×4 AT

So, I got to try out this car that claims to be the ultimate family 4WD. Let me tell you, my family absolutely loved it! It had so much space inside, and there were plenty of cool features to keep us entertained. Plus, it looked really tough and classy; it definitely didn’t disappoint in the style department. And let me tell you, that eight-speed automatic transmission was awesome! It gave us good fuel efficiency and smooth acceleration, which made driving a breeze.

Here are the specs:

• Power: 133kW @ 3,500rpm
• Torque: 430Nm @ 2,500rpm

The price for this car is R674,995, which seems pretty fair considering all the great features it offers.

Now, let’s talk about another contender in the 4WD category:

Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4×4 VX

So, Toyota’s top-selling car is getting an upgrade for 2021. It’s getting more power, a sleeker look, and a much-improved interior. But there are a couple of things that haven’t changed – the ride comfort still isn’t the best, and the way the third row folds is just plain strange (it folds to the side, not into the floor!). And while it may not be the most fuel-efficient, one thing you can count on is that it will last forever, just like cockroaches.
This bad boy is packing 150kW of power at 3,000-3,400 RPM and a whopping 500Nm of torque at 1,600-2,800 RPM. That’s some serious muscle!

Now, let’s talk price. You’re looking at around R806,300 for this beauty. It’s definitely a contender!

Now, let’s move on to contender number two – the Isuzu MU-X 3.0 4WD.

This car is a great value for your money. It’s bigger than the Fortuner and Everest and also cheaper. The 3-liter diesel engine runs smoothly and quietly on the highway. It has an impressive build quality, a sophisticated interior, and excellent off-road ability. There’s really not much to complain about here, it’s a dependable vehicle. The engine has 130kW of power at 3,600 RPM and 380Nm of torque at 1,800-2,800 RPM. The price for all these features is R747,900. If you’re looking for a reliable and capable car, this is a great option.

Welcome to Jack’s Seaview Inn!
I stayed at Jack’s Seaview Inn, located in the beautiful Betty’s Bay. I found this cozy place on AirBnB, and I have to say, while it may not be super fancy, the rooms were incredibly spacious. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to cook any crayfish we caught because there are no braai facilities on the property. Thankfully, there is a fantastic restaurant available for all your dining needs.
Accommodations: Prices start at just R250 per person. If you’re interested, you can also add breakfast for an additional R75 per person.
For more information, you can reach them at 083 554 7789 or visit their website at jacksbettysbay.co.za.

Hey there! Welcome to Jack’s Seaview Inn!

Come Enjoy a Meal

Gnochi

Looking for a place to relax and grab a delicious bite to eat? Look no further than Gnochi, located on Clarence Drive in Betty’s Bay. This place is always buzzing with energy, so you’ll want to make sure you snag a table. They have an amazing selection of cocktails and their chilli poppers are to die for, priced at only R14 each. Trust me, it’s worth every penny! To make a reservation, give them a call at 060 550 6536 or shoot them an email at [email protected]. Don’t miss out on this fantastic spot!

Lemon + Lime Deli

Craving a tasty breakfast? Lemon + Lime Deli in Pringle Bay is the place to be. Their bacon and egg pie is a total game-changer, and it’s only R35. I could devour a few of those every morning! If you’re in the area, make sure to stop by and satisfy your cravings. You can reach them at 073 698 0737 or visit their website at lemonandlime.co.za. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

In Pringle Bay, there’s this wonderful place called La Galerie. I highly recommend trying their amazing dish called the Meatball Melt. It’s an absolute delight! Picture this: tender, juicy meatballs sliced and smothered with caramelized onions in a secret sauce. And as if that wasn’t enough, they top it all off with a generous amount of melted cheese. Trust me, one bite of this heavenly creation will have you hooked!

Now, let’s talk about the price. You won’t believe it. The Meatball Melt at La Galerie is only R95! That’s such a steal for a dish of this caliber. Where else can you find such a mouthwatering meal at such an affordable price?

If you’re salivating just at the thought of it, I don’t blame you. You need to experience the Meatball Melt for yourself. Head on over to La Galerie and indulge in this flavor explosion. The combination of flavors will leave your taste buds dancing with joy.

Don’t just take my word for it. Call La Galerie at 028 273 8155 or visit their website lagalerie.co.za to get all the details. Discover the Meatball Melt and treat yourself to a culinary adventure you won’t forget.