CarpFever 2015

SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIMEN CARP FISHING DIGITAL MAGAZINE 

FREE 

www.carpfever.co.za 

Exclusive Q&A 

MARK 

PITCHERS 

Fishography 

» How to 

photograph 

your catch 

» The best 

pics of 2015 

P.8 

50g 

Would it make 

you a better 

angler? 

Tactics 

Glugs and 

hookbait tips 

P.22 

TWO FRIENDS, TWO YEARS AND ONE SPECIAL CATCH 

PEACH TANK 

+ 

RECOMMENDED READS, HOTDOG HAT TRICK, PIC TRICKS 

December 2015 | A 

2015

CONTENTS 

December 2015 

03 

ED’S LETTER 

Note from the editor. 

04 

IN THE MIX 

News, tips and tricks of the trade. 

06 

OPINION 

What does 50 grams mean to you? 

16 

22 

SHARING TAILS 

Two friends, two years, one fish. 

TACTICS 

Glugs and hookbait edges. 

Q&A 

Exclusive interview 

with Mark Pitchers 

8 

24 

28 

34 

36 

FISHOGRAPHY 

How to photograph your catch. 

PHOTO MIX 

Recap the best of 2015. 

PIC TRICKS 

The latest news, tips and tricks. 

BANKSIDE GRUB 

Hotdog hat trick. 

Facebook 

Instagram 

Twitter

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS 

Jaco 

Jacobs 

Razvan 

Vlad 

Otto 

Kruger 

Wynand 

Roest 

My next carpy 

purchase will be… 

Daiwa Basia reels. 

Current rig I’m 

fishing… Hinged 

Stiff Rig and a 

blowback variation. 

My favourite 

bankside grub 

is… biltong and 

also two-minute 

noodles. 

If I’m not catching 

carp, I’ll be 

catching… muddies. 

My highlight of 

2015… That would 

have to be the 

success I had on 

homemade boilies 

this year. The best 

fishing season of 

my life. 

» Check out his 

article on page 22. 

My next carpy 

purchase will be… 

a tarty rod pod. 


fishing… Chod Rig. 

My favourite 

bankside grub is… 

butter croissant 

with coffee in the 

morning. 



catching… sea fish, 

bass and yellowfish. 


2015… Passing my 

Project Management 

Professional. On the 

carpy side, enjoying 

carp fishing even 

more for what it is. 

Being on the bank 

and having a good 

chat with friends! 

Let’s not forget 

Spotty – the carpy 

dog, my fishing 

partner! 

» Check out his 

opinion piece on 

page 6. 

My next carpy 

purchase will be… a 

carp cradle. 


fishing… Combi Rig. 

My favourite 


chops, rump and 

boerewors. 



catching… bass. 


2015… My highlight 

of 2015 was the 

privilege to have my 

Dad joining me in 

search of big carp, 

like we have done 

throughout my life 

and will continue 

to do for years to 

come. 

» Otto 

provides some 

tips and tricks on 

photographing 

your catch on 

page 24. 

My next carpy 

purchase will be… a 

new throwing stick. 


fishing… KD Rig. 

My favourite 


anything on the 

braai. 



catching… trout. 


2015… was being 

fortunate enough 

to catch my new 

PB from a very 

difficult venue; 

while my best friend 

was visiting from 

overseas. Special 

moments I’ll cherish 

forever. 

» Read his article 

about Peach 

Tank on page 16. 

www.carpfever.co.za December 2015 | 1

2 | December 2015 www.carpfever.co.za

Editor: Pieter Grobler 

Proofreaders: Paul Reich, 

Wynand Roest 

Contributors: Jaco Jacobs, Razvan Vlad, 

Wynand Roest, Otto Kruger 

Photography: Christelle Grobler, 

Pieter Grobler 

Design: Pieter Grobler 

ED’S LETTER 

The Journey 

It is with great pride and excitement that I present CarpFever’s 

first digital magazine in celebration of our one year anniversary. 

We hope that you enjoy the magazine and that our love and 

passion for angling shines through, because that in itself is 

what made this happen. We’re an independent team that works 

after hours to produce the content you see regularly. It’s been 

challenging at times as we all want to be behind our rods, 

soaking in the sun and landing those golden beauties. But, I 

found a different set of rewards while working on CarpFever – 

friendships. The amount of wonderful people I had the chance to 

meet and chat with has been amazing and showed me that you 

can only ‘catch’ so much with a rod and reel. Thank you all! 

Then there’s the team. Wynand Roest, Jaco Jacobs, Razvan 

Vlad, Otto Kruger and Paul Reich. No amount of words could ever 

thank you guys enough for the hours spent writing, answering 

questions and proofreading articles. Your dedication and hard 

work is admirable. True legends amongst men. I also want to 

thank everyone else who contributed articles, Q&As and snippets 

during the year. You guys rock. Then there’s the lady of the crew, 

my wife Christelle. She had my back from the go and supported 

me all the way without hesitation. Keeping the team and I on our 

toes all the way. Thank you, I would never have been able to do 

this without you. 

Then the big one, our readers and fans! All this hard work and 

effort would have been in vain if not for the support and positive 

feedback. You have made it worth our while. I hope you all enjoy 

the read and good luck with the final push into 2016. Next year is 

going to be a big one! 

CarpFever 

info@carpfever.co.za 


Cape Town Office 

Howard Hamlet 

University Drive 

PO BOX 10410 

Cape Town, Pinelands 

7405 

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PUBLISHED BY CARPFEVER 

All rights reserved. No part of this 

publication may be reproduced without 

written consent to CarpFever. While 

reasonable precautions have been 

taken to ensure the accuracy of advice 

and information given to readers, 

the editor and contributors cannot 

accept responsibility for any damages 

or inconvenience that may arise from 

incorrect information. 


December 2015 | 3

IN THE MIX 

News, tips and tricks. 

WHAT HAPPENED ON FACEBOOK 

We asked: YAY OR NAY? 

What do you guys think of this little innovation from 

Mustad Hooks Europe? 

HACK 

Yay for the unorganised and quick overnight 

sessions, but I still believe in tying my own rigs. 

You get more satisfaction doing so. Going to try 

the multi rig soon, easy to do, so let’s see. 

– Wayne Malan 

Nah... Fox once did a better version and it wasn’t 

a great seller… – Adriaan Van Der Merwe 

Nee wat... sal die selfde rig kan bou met ‘n stiff 

hair link. – Heinrich Hanekom 

Nay I like to do it myself and be different – it is 

almost like buying a ready tied rig. – Otto Kruger 

I would personally give it a shot, just to test it out. 

But I am not a fan. No room for any adjustments. 

Plus I love tying my own rigs way to much. One 

thing is for certain, the bait will move up and down 

these hooks like a hot knife through butter. 

– Pieter Grobler 

WHEN IT’S WINDY: 

POD HACK 

The guys up in Gauteng might not 

have this problem often, but the 

crew in the Western Cape is in a 

constant battle with the wind. We’ve 

seen some nasty stuff like gazebos 

bending, pods taking a dive, dams 

with waves like the ocean and the 

most bizarre – wind blowing across 

the river causing a rain-effect with 

no cloud in sight! Your heart sinks 

into your stomach when expensive 

gear starts flying around. CarpFever 

came up with a clever trick to secure 

your pod – all you need is a lonely 

tent stake and a cable tie. 

WHAT TO DO: Secure a tent stake 

with a hammer underneath the pod. 

Tie a cable tie around your pod and 

the tent stake to secure the setup. 

Hopefully you won’t have to wake up 

in the middle of the night with a pod 

turned upside down. 


UPFRONT 

RECOMMENDED READS 

know how many other anglers can handle 

pressure and fishing on a lake with some of 

the country’s best and target one specific 

fish. He is not claiming any bait guru glory 

or new inventions; his watercraft is from 

another world and he might look cocky and 

infatuated to some, but in his book he is 

modest and to the point that makes it even 

more interesting to read. – Razvan Vlad 

MY MISSPENT YOUTH 

BY DARRELL PECK 

What I liked about the book is that Darrell 

didn’t try to sugarcoat and make his captures 

something of a supernatural angler. He 

admits that he put a lot of time in which 

wouldn’t have been possible for a normal 

working person. He also admits that if he 

wouldn’t fish tomorrow he would most 

probably be on the streets, as he doesn’t 

have any other set of skills except driving a 

forklift and fishing. A very good heads-up 

for the upcoming anglers that think they 

will become fishing stars and live out of 

sponsorships. 

He is one of the very few, maybe thousands 

of anglers, that succeeded. He wrote about 

his addiction as well and how it almost ruined 

his life. He is a straightforward angler that 

doesn’t look for the magic tricks, but puts his 

head down and fishes long and hard. I don’t 

CARPING RE-CUT 

BY JIM SHELLEY 

Jim Shelley or Uncle Jim as most people 

know him is definitely what you would call 

marmite. You either love the uncle or you 

don’t. With that being said, you can’t argue 

the fact that he is one of the most successful 

anglers in the UK. Carping Re-Cut takes you 

through Jim’s angling journey while sitting in 

the front seat. And you better hold on as Jim 

Shelley puts his foot to the floor, covering 

lake for lake while pumping the trans music. 

It’s an inspirational read that showed 

me what true dedication, watercraft and 

persistence really is. What I enjoy the most is 

the way Jim Shelley paints a picture of each 

catch; it forces you to take a sneak peak on 

the next page just to satisfy the cravings 

while reading your way through the 566 

pages with over 400 photos. There is only a 

handful of books left and they are selling out 

quick. Great read with plenty to learn. 

– Pieter Grobler 

It’s an 

inspirational 

read that 

showed me 

what true 

dedication, 

watercraft 

and 

persistence 

really is. 

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE BLOG 

CarpFever entered the 2015 South African Blog 

Awards and we need your help. Please vote for us 

before 8 January 2016 in both categories, Best 

Lifestyle Blog and Best Sport Blog. We thank you 

for the support and hope to bring you much more 

content in the future. 

Click here to 

vote now 


50 

GRAMS 

The achievement, the rush, all 

those hours spent behind the 

rods. Will it be the same if you 

told friends a little white lie? 

WOULD IT MAKE YOU A 

BETTER ANGLER? 

6 | December 2015 

www.carpfever.co.za

OPINION 

Razvan Vlad 

But, it has 

never crossed 

my mind to 

call it more 

than what 

it was, 50 

grams or not. 

Would being 

part of the 50 

pounder ‘club’ 

make me a 

better angler? 

Left: 

Razvan with 

his new PB of 

22,650kg. 

his year I was fortunate 

T 

to catch a new PB. 

It was the same fish 

I caught little over 

a year ago, and it 

weighed about 1kg 

more compared to my 

previous record. I was buzzing from this new 

achievement. 

The fish had put up a battle of note, pulling 

me through weed beds several times before 

finally giving in. It was an astonishing battle 

that will stay with me for a very long time. 

After netting it, I let it rest in the shallows 

while I soaked the mat and filled a bucket 

with water. Lifting a 20kg plus carp out of the 

water between the weeds is not an easy task, 

so I had to use a weigh sling – it has more 

cushioning, and the carp is more secured. 

The electronic scale announced my 

new PB at 22,650kg. That is an awesome 

achievement for any carp angler. We all have 

goals and targets, and one of those is the 

almost mythical weights that the UK carp 

anglers have made famous over time... the 

40 to 50 pounders. You may ask what it has 

to do with my story? A quick Google search 

will reveal that 50 pounds equal 22,680kg. 

I had checked my scale a day later and it 

had an error of 20 grams which, as the title 

says, put me 50 grams away from the famed 

50lbs mark. 

THE GRIEF 

Now to get to my grief: I have noticed a lot 

of posts on social media with carp reported 

at certain weights. They spark arguments to 

the point where individuals are threatening 

one another, and arguing about who the 

better angler is and which fish weighs 

how much. I have avoided these types of 

arguments as they are not constructive at 

all. I could have called my fish a 50 pounder 

and (most probably) no one would have 

noticed or argued with me (we are talking 

50 grams here). But, it has never crossed 

my mind to call it more than what it was, 50 

grams or not. Would being part of the 50 

pounder ‘club’ make me a better angler? I 

don’t think so, but that’s not the argument 

I am trying to make. What happens when I 

catch an actual 50 pounder? I would be very 

happy, but if I had lied, this ‘achievement’ 

would only be a second fish for me, which 

would not make it as great as it would be 

when I know it’s my actual first 50. I would 

be the only one knowing that. 

I see a lot of young anglers posting 

pictures with alleged 16 to 18kg carp that 

at a quick glance would need a few more 

years to get to that size. The big questions 

are: are they educated in operating their 

scales correctly, and secondly, why would 

they lie about the size and post it on social 

media? What happens if in two month’s time 

the angler catches a ‘real’ 16 to 18kg carp? 

Then anyone can match the two pictures 

and decide for themselves. I’m not pointing 

fingers here, and I do understand that we 

are designed to push our limits and achieve 

more every time. But, in not being truthful, 

you will have to face yourself every time you 

catch a carp and report its weight. What if 

the carp is 12kg and you report it at 14kg, 

then you catch a 14kg and report it 16kg, 

then a 17kg and report it at 21kg. Where 

does it stop? 

If I see an angler with four carp over 10kg, 

I will think that he knows more about what 

he is doing right then someone else who 

caught that one ‘fluke’ 16kg and no other 

notable catches. The angler with more carp 

on the bank will catch a bigger one when the 

time is right. He will know what he did right 

and wrong, being able to repeat the catches 

compared to the lucky angler who got a fish 

in a lifetime, for a lifetime. 

A NUMBERS GAME 

So far I have mentioned more numbers 

than what you will find in a boilie recipe. 

At the end of the day this is what they are, 

just numbers. In a pond where you have 

an average of 5 to 6kgs, a catch of 10kg 

will be an awesome achievement. A 50 

pounder, in a big carp lake in France, is only 

an average size fish. At the end of the day, 

anglers should be enjoying themselves and 

not worry about reports; the weight should 

be a personal achievement. From my side, 

I will not post weights anymore and if I do 

catch a PB; it will be just that, a personal 

achievement. 

I would like to leave you all with a quote 

from the classic book The Carp Strikes Back 

by Rod Hutchinson and Friends. “If it makes 

you rush to the garage, grab the rods and 

head for the lake, don’t forget to smell the 

hops along the way.’” 

Until next time, catch a big one. 


IN THE 

SPOTLIGHT 


Q&A 

WITH 

MARK PITCHERS 

Mark’s favourite capture of 2015 is this 

stunning 40lb 6oz common from a very 

busy (and very tricky) day-ticket water. 


Mark Pitchers needs no 

introduction. We all know him from 

the extremely popular series by 

Fox International, The Challenge. 

CarpFever had the privilege to ask 

him a few questions: 

Mark Pitchers 

Age: 37 

From: Middlesbrough, North East England 

Personal best catch: 56lb 8oz 

Daily occupation: Angling consultant, journalist, 

tutor and fishery owner 

Sponsors: Fox and CC Moore 

Where did your interest in angling start? 

It started when I was just five years old and 

I use to catch small fish in the local stream 

with my bare hands. Then one day I went into 

the local village shop to buy a hand net and 

the guy behind the counter said something 

along the lines of “I think you’ll do better with 

one of these” and he gave me one of his old 

fishing rods. It’s amazing to think that that 

one event set me off down the angling path; 

no one in my family fished, so if that hadn’t 

happened who knows what I would have 

ended up doing. 

Mark, you are very popular down here 

in South Africa due to The Challenge 

series, how did your ‘break’ in the industry 

came about? 

Well, I’m sure it sounds pretty sad but carp fishing 

is always on my mind, I have fished from a very 

early age and I have never lost that ‘buzz’. 

Where did it all start? I guess it started 

when I was 16 years old. Back then I was 

a match angler and was representing the 

Drennan England Youth Team. I fished 

two World Championships and Home 

International, picking up a team gold and 

team bronze in the process. It was around 

this time I started writing for the match 

fishing magazines, and when I made the 

transition to carp fishing I began writing 

for the carp mags. In 2003/04 I had a 

crazy 10 month period when I banked fish 

of 49lb 15oz, 50lb 10oz and 56lb 8oz and 

as a result I got nominated for the Carp 

Angler of the Year award. I didn’t win, but I 

guess it did get me ‘noticed’ by a few more 

people within the industry. 

You are a consultant for CC Moore and Fox 

International, what does it take to become 

an consultant for these top brands? 

Becoming a consultant doesn’t happen 

overnight, a lot of people catch a couple of 

big fish and think that’s all they need to do, 

but it is being able to do that with consistency 

over a long period of time that is the mark 

of a good angler. Also, it’s not just about 

catching fish, it’s about having a strong media 

presence too, both in the magazines and also 

on social media, so I would say good writing 

and photography skills are a big advantage. 

The chances are, if you are doing everything 

right, companies will notice and approach 

you, rather than you approaching them. 

Above: Mark’s 

biggest fish of 

2015 (so far), a 

chunky 46lb 1oz 

mirror. 


Q&A 

What does a busy day look like in the life 

of Mark Pitchers? 

What was your biggest achievement 

in angling the past 12 months? 

It is pretty hectic. I hold around four 

24-hour tutorial sessions a week which 

by the time travelling is taken into the 

equation means being away from home 

for five days at a time. Around these I also 

fit in magazine features, filming and my 

consultancy work, as well as carrying out 

work and maintenance on my fishery. It is 

very demanding of my time; I’m lucky I have 

a very understanding family. 

Below: Mark 

and Harry 

Charrington 

busy filming last 

year’s C.A.R.P.Y 

Challenge for the 

Fox Edges DVD. 

Wow, that is a tough one. I would probably 

have to say the whole Challenge concept. 

I never thought for one moment it would 

become as popular as it has, and I am very 

proud, and also incredibly humbled by the 

positive response it has received. 

What makes you a carp freak? 

Well, I’m sure it sounds pretty sad but carp 

fishing is always on my mind, I have fished 

from a very early age and I have never lost 

that ‘buzz’. I love everything about the sport; 

the nature and the environment, be it either 

urban or rural, and when the alarm sounds 

the adrenaline still pumps, and regardless of 

size I just like catching carp. So, I think that 

makes me a carp freak… 

We’re not used to naming our fish… 

what is the craziest name you have heard 

someone name a catch in the UK? 

I’m not a fan of naming fish. Some lakes in 

England allow you to name a fish if you’re the 

first one to catch it or if it’s over a certain 

size. As a result there are fish with silly or 

inappropriate names. However, some of the 

fish in my lake do have ‘descriptions’ rather 

than names, just as a way of identifying them 

for my records really. One fish has a white 

waxy patch on its face, it’s had it for years, 

I’m not sure I can say here what it gets called, 

it’s a bit X-rated! 


The word ‘carpy’ has become synonymous 

with Mark Pitchers, how did this come 

about and how would you describe a true 

‘carpy’ individual? 

It was whilst filming episode 2 of The 

Challenge that I mentioned the word ‘carpy’ 

to describe a few scenarios and it snowballed 

from there really. It’s not really for me to 

say what’s carpy and what isn’t, I think we 

all have our ideas on that. I get hundreds 

of messages every week on Facebook and 

Instagram from people asking me if their 

setup is carpy or not; it’s brilliant and I have 

great fun looking through everyone’s pics. 

Do you have a venue that is close to 

your heart? 

That would have to be my own fishery. My dad 

and I created it back in 1994 and these days 

it is the leading carp water in the northeast of 

England. In fact, I now have more 30lb+ fish 

swimming around in there than all the rest of 

the northeast carp waters combined. 

In South Africa, a lot of guys are against 

syndicate waters and believe it’s similar 

to canned lion hunting. As a fishery owner 

yourself, can you please give us a few 

positive points surrounding ‘privately 

owned/syndicate’ waters? And do you 

believe the mindset associated with 

syndicate waters is justified? 

No, it’s quite the opposite here in the UK. 

My own water is ran as a syndicate with 

members going through a screening process 

before being able to first go on the waiting 

list, and even then that doesn’t guarantee 

a place on the syndicate. I keep the 

membership numbers down to a minimum, 

that way the banks are quiet and the carp 

can go lengthy periods without receiving 

angling pressure, which in turn will provide 

a more favourable environment for them 

to grow. That’s not to say it results in easy 

fishing, however, in fact, the ‘top rod’ on 

there this year has fished most weekends 

for nine fish which is very good going. Most 

of the inhabitants only see the bank once 

a year, although some are entering their 

fourth, fifth and even sixth year of 

evading capture. 

Above: Stood 

in the predawn 

twilight, 

looking out 

across 1000+ 

acres, kettle 

steaming away 

– carpyness in 

pixel form… 


Q&A 

If you had the choice, which would it be: 

large, wild non-stocked waters or stocked 

UK waters and why? 

What would you say are your main 

strengths in carp fishing? 

All UK waters have been stocked at some 

point in time, either legally or otherwise, but 

I get what you’re asking. I think we would 

all like to be fishing for the ‘unknown’ on a 

large untapped water, after all it’s the air 

of mystery that attracts so many people to 

angling in the first place. 

Because I fish such a huge variety of venues, 

I like to consider myself an adaptable angler. 

One week I could be fishing a huge inland 

sea, the next it could be a tiny farm pond, 

and I find myself employing lots of different 

tricks and tactics to try and achieve the best 

results. Because of this constant variation 

I like to think I can adapt quickly to most 

venues or situations that I encounter. 

Below: Mark’s 

most memorable 

catch; his first 

river carp caught 

while filming The 

Challenge. 

Please tell us more about your most 

memorable catch? 

That was earlier this year actually whilst 

filming episode 8 of The Challenge; River 

Revenge! I had never caught a river carp 

before and we had filmed a river challenge 

the previous year but unfortunately I failed 

after hooking a carp but then unfortunately 

the hook pulled. This time round everything 

went to plan. We fished on the opening 

night of the season and the atmosphere was 

electric. To our surprise that night passed by 

uneventfully, but the following day I found 

several carp cruising around a slow moving 

back channel and I was able to stalk one on a 

piece of freelanced bread crust just feet from 

the bank. It weighed around 19lb and I was 

shaking just as much when I landed that as I 

did when I landed my personal best, which 

was nearly three times larger. 

When you arrive at your selected venue, 

what is the first thing you do? 

I know it sounds obvious, but I find the 

fish, regardless of how long it may take. 

So many people are in a rush to get set up, 

often jumping in the first aesthetically 

pleasing area they see, but I’m happy to 

walk around all day, and into the night if 

need be. On many venues I fish the carp are 

more active during darkness and it’s not 

uncommon for me to be setting up in the 

dark once I have located them. 

Lead size and arrangement preference? 

Depends on the situation. For PVA bag work 

it’s a flat inline lead, which is less cluttered 

than other lead arrangements and folds 

neatly into the confines of the PVA bag. For 

long-range work I’d employ a helicopter 

setup, which is more aerodynamic and 

reduces air resistance to enable me to gain 

extra yards. But, for the majority of my 

fishing I use a simple lead clip with a fairly 

heavy 4 to 4.5oz distance shaped lead. I 

prefer a lead of this size to improve the 

hooking potential and it also cuts through 

any side winds and aids accurate casting. 


What is your favourite rig, regardless 

of conditions? 

What is your favourite bait you fish with? 

The Hinged Stiff Rig. It’s virtually tangle free 

and has superb hooking properties. It’s the 

rig I use for around 90 percent of my fishing. 

I do like fishing with boilies, it’s such a 

positive way of angling, and I always believe 

that in the long run a positive approach will 

bring about better results. 

Do you prefer fishing with braid or mono? 

Do you roll your own boilies? 

I prefer to fish with a braid because the 

lack of stretch results in far superior 

bite indication than a mono. I do like to 

incorporate a short length of 6 to 7ft of 

Trans Khaki Fluorocarbon as a leader 

though, to ensure the last few feet is pinned 

down and invisible, and also give me some 

sort of cushion when playing fish at close 

quarters. Having said that, however, most 

of my fishing is done with mono, simply 

because many waters in the UK ban the use 

of braided mainlines. 

What would you say is the single most 

important thing to remember when 

fishing for big carp? 

Regardless of the size of carp, the most 

important factor above all else is location. 

Watercraft is not something that can be 

learned in books or on videos, only by 

spending time at the water, either in angling 

capacity or simply by just being there. The 

more time you spend by the water the more 

in tune you become, and even the tiniest of 

carpy signs seem to jump out at you. 

I used to make my own boilies but these 

days I’d much rather leave it in the hands of 

people who have much more knowledge on 

the subject than I do! That’s one less thing to 

worry about when I’m fishing. 

Preferred weather conditions? 

I tend to just go when I can regardless of the 

conditions. The big low air pressure systems 

that bring with them overcast conditions and 

strong winds are certainly more favourable 

feeding conditions though. 

Which do you enjoy the most: short, blitz 

sessions or are you in it for the long haul? 

I don’t really have the time to fish long 

sessions to be honest, generally speaking it’s 

24-hour or 48-hour sessions for me. On the 

rare occasions when I have fished for longer 

I always tend to break the session down into 

individual 24-hour periods and take it one 

day at a time rather than setting my stall. 

Above: Mark has 

been having a 

lot of fun on his 

tutorial sessions 

this year, and 

finds great 

joy in seeing 

others achieving 

their goals and 

dreams. 

What’s you favourite feature to fish? 

What is your favourite boilie flavour? 

I don’t really have one to be honest, as 

I would just fish wherever the fish are. 

However, as I mentioned earlier I do enjoy 

fishing in the margins, especially if the water 

is gin clear and you are able to observe the 

carp’s every move. 

The new CC Moore Pacific Tuna has already 

become my favourite bait of all time. It 

smells, looks and tastes like a ‘familiar’ old 

skool bait but with modern ingredients and 

developments. 


Q&A 

I’m in the process of writing my 

first book! It’s something I’ve 

always wanted to do... 

Who’s your biggest inspiration in 

carp angling? 

Oh, that’s a tricky one. I can’t think of any one 

person, but there’s a number of people who 

spring to mind that have, and continue to 

inspire me. Lewis Porter, Shaun Mc Spadden, 

Scott Day and Harry Charrington from Fox 

are not only some of the most exceptional 

anglers I have come across but are also 

people I have a huge amount of respect for. 

Do you have any lucky charms or special 

routines you like to follow? 

No, nothing like that. I’m not superstitious 

at all, and I’m not religious, but occasionally I 

have been known to say a little prayer to the 

carp gods when things haven’t been going 

quite to plan! 

Have you set any goals that you wish to 

achieve this year or in the future? 

Not really, I just want to keep going fishing, 

catch a few carp and enjoy myself along 

the way. 

Do you enjoy fishing for other species 

of fish? 

In my earlier angling days I used to fish for 

anything that swam and I’ve tried my hand 

at fly fishing, predator fishing, sea fishing and 

match fishing; but nothing has given me that 

buzz that carp fishing has. 

What is next for Mark Pitchers? Any new 

stuff you’re working on? 

Well, actually yes, I’m in the process of 

writing my first book! It’s something I’ve 

always wanted to do ever since I was a young 

match angler, and it feels great to see that 

come to fruition. 

Above: A 38lb+ 

mirror from last 

year’s C.A.R.P.Y 

Challenge on the 

Fox Edges DVD. 

Thanks 

Mark! 


SHARING 

TAILS 


FISHING TAILS 

TWO FRIENDS, TWO YEARS 

AND ONE MEMORABLE CATCH 

Targeting a public day-ticket venue 

is challenging. And not knowing 

what stock of fish a water holds; 

leaves one with only one option. 

Start catching. Over the past 

two years, Pieter and I dedicated 

ourselves to targeting a public 

day-ticket venue; fuelled by our 

curiosity of wanting to know what 

lurks beneath this wild water. This 

is a story about two friends who 

share a passion for carp fishing. 

And one special catch. 

Wynand Roest 

Above: Wynand 

Roest with Peach 

Tank, caught for 

the third time. 

n 2011 a friend and I 

I 

started fishing a venue 

near Cape Town. Armed 

with the maddest mix 

of particles (or so we 

thought) and loads 

of boilies; we were 

convinced that we’ll catch the biggest fish 

simply by piling in loads of bait. 

Not quite. 

Blank after blank; our over-confident 

approach was greeted by extra fat slices of 

humble pie. Looking back, it was Mother 

Nature’s way of saying: “Thank you. Come 

again”. I remember us spodding out a 15L 

bucket full of feed all in a day; maze, tiger 

nuts, hemp, your good’ol classic pap mix, 

whole boilies, chopped boilies, a few tins of 

tuna, peanut butter, you name it. We did not 

realise that we were ruining our chances of 

catching even before we put a rod out. 

Seeing that you’re only allowed to fish 

during the day; such a large spread of bait 

drastically reduces your chances of catching 

from the get go. There are simply too many 

Looking 

back, it was 

Mother 

Nature’s 

way of 

saying: 

“Thank 

you. Come 

again” 


freebies. And too little time. We had to 

change our tactics. 

But in life (as in fishing) you learn through 

experience. And even though fishing was 

tough going (landing the occasional carp 

here and there); we knew we had to be 

persistent and put our time in next to the 

water to start unlocking its secrets. 

Every chance my friend and I got we 

went fishing; dreaming that one day we’ll 

be fortunate enough to catch one of the 

venue’s gems. I started keeping a logbook; 

detailing information about our sessions 

in the hope that it’ll help us identify 

patterns, patrol routes and how the venue 

operates. For me it almost became like 

a puzzle that I wanted to figure out. I 

included information about the weather, 

the different spots we fished, the amount 

of runs we had, the size of fish we caught, 

what bait we used, time of captures, etc 

and soon started reaping the rewards. 

In 2012 we put a good run of sessions 

together where we were catching about 

six carp on average a day between the 

two of us (but all being between 2 to 

8kgs). Don’t get me wrong, I love catching 

fish of all sizes, but when you’re trying to 

catch a specimen and don’t know if you’re 

searching for something that doesn’t 

even exist; it will result in some serious 

introspection. The question remained: “how 

do you go about catching one of the biggest 

carp at a day-ticket venue; when it’s filled with 

loads of nuisance sized fish?”. 

We weren’t disheartened. In actual fact 

it had the opposite effect; as it made us 

want to try harder, spend more time on the 

bank, refine our rigs and tweak our tactics. 

Because in the back of our heads we knew 

the effort we put in had to pay off eventually. 

I normally fish with three rods. Two 

targeting spots I feel confident about or 

caught fish out of before, and have one 

maverick rod. When I say, “maverick” I mean 

unorthodox, different, targeting spots other 

anglers might have overlooked. This approach 

has served me well over the years; producing 

quality fish from some unusual places. 

In 2013 I fished the venue with a friend 

and decided to target a spot I haven’t fished 

before. My maverick rod for the day. I 

remember getting action on my other two 

rods (catching about five carp throughout 

the morning), but my maverick rod wasn’t 

Above: Peach, 

caught by 

Pieter Grobler 

weighing, in 

at 12,9kg. 

moving an inch. Seeing that I was only 

allowed to fish for another few hours, I 

decided to leave it out for the rest of the day. 

And in hindsight I’m really glad I did! Just 

after 2pm my maverick rod tarred off. The 

result. My first 20lb fish from this venue; an 

uncaught, pristine 9,5kg common. I could 

start to hear the specimen calling and knew 

it was only a matter of time. 

Later that year I had the privilege of 

meeting Pieter through a mutual friend. 

And after targeting the venue together for 

about a year (catching loads of nuisance fish); 

we both managed to finally catch our first 

specimen from this difficult venue. Pieter 

caught a 10,3kg common and I caught an 

11,2kg common. Proud angling moments. 

To put things into perspective. Over the 

past five years I’ve fished the venue more than 

50 times, catching 202 carp (196 commons 

and just six mirrors) and managed to land 

carp over 10kgs on only three occasions. 

But just as we thought we were starting to 

unlock the venue’s potential; the unthinkable 

happened. Three times. 


FISHING TAILS 

I remember looking at Pieter 

and saying: “it’s a beast”. 

1ST CAPTURE 

Pieter was eager to try out a spot none of 

us had ever fished before. Two hours after 

putting our rods out, Pieter’s one alarm let 

out a few single bleeps; the bobbin dropped 

and he was in! To our surprise the fish 

swam straight towards us and didn’t put up 

much of a fight. All of a sudden we saw the 

scaly shoulders rise out of the water and I 

immediately slipped the net under the fish. 

It all happened so fast and it’s only once 

upon looking inside the net that we realised 

the true size of the fish. A 12,9kg mint 

mirror! Which Pieter named Peach. 

Standing holding the net in utter 

amazement and disbelief; I remember 

looking at Pieter and saying: “it’s a beast”. 

* 8 March 2014 – Peach (12,9kg) 


Above: It is 

clear she loves 

bearded men. 

Tank weighing 

in at 13,77kg 

caught by 

Wynand Roest. 

2ND CAPTURE 

I went fishing with two friends and seeing 

that none of them had any fishing equipment, 

I let each of them fish with one of my rods. 

Evidently that day I was only fishing with one 

rod, targeting the same area Pieter caught 

Peach from. Within the first half an hour, my 

friend had a run and managed to catch an 

8kg carp. He really struggled to land the fish 

and in the process took out my line. But that 

was completely understandable seeing that it 

was the first fish he had ever caught. I reeled 

in, attached another PVA bag and got it back 

out there. Bang on the spot. 

An hour later my alarm started screaming. 

Upon striking the rod, I was met with 

unexpected resistance as the fish took off 

like a submarine. I could feel it had weight to 

it and just stood there holding the rod. I tried 

to turn the fish as it was heading straight for 

a snag, but there was no way I was going to 

force this fish to change its course. 

Snagged. 

I couldn’t believe it. All I could do is keep 

pressure on the fish and hope it somehow 

comes loose. However, some days the carp 

gods are just on your side; as I could feel the 

fish suddenly free itself. I was back in the 

game! 

After getting the carp loose, I remember 

seeing it multiple times before we could 

finally net it. An absolute battle royal. And by 

far the nerviest fight I’ve ever experienced. 

When I saw it going into the net I was 

so elated and relieved; I just screamed: 

“YESSSSSSSSSSSS! Get in.” In that moment, 

all the hours and effort next to the bank was 

worth it. Weighing in at 13,77kg; it was my 

first ever thirty-pounder and new personal 

best at the time. I named her Tank. 

After catching Tank; I didn’t realise it was in 

actual fact Peach (seeing that it had put on so 

much weight in such a short period of time). 

But after comparing photographs it was clear 

that it was the exact same fish. That’s when 

Pieter and I decided to combine the two 

names. And “Peach Tank” was born. 

We couldn’t believe we caught the same 


FISHING TAILS 

fish; but isn’t it strange how history tends to 

repeat itself… 

* 1 May 2014 – Tank (13,77kg) 

3RD CAPTURE 

My friend (who I initially started fishing the 

venue with back in 2011) was visiting from 

overseas, so we planned to fish the venue for 

three consecutive days. On the first day, we 

caught nothing. Mother Nature again gently 

reminding us who’s in charge. It was as if she 

was testing us, but we were prepared. 

The next day a massive cold front came in 

and we decided to give it a skip; knowing that 

the two warm days that were to follow will 

give us a better chance of catching. 

After the cold front had passed, we were 

back on the bank; determined to catch carp. 

That day we had an epic session catching 

nine carp between the two of us. Quantity 

wise we were content; all that was missing 

was that one quality fish. 

I remember on our way home that night 

that we were talking about the day’s fishing 

Above: Peach 

Tank roaming 

free once more. 

Until we meet 

again. 

and jokingly said that “tomorrow we’re 

coming back for quality” (and aim to catch a 

10kg plus carp). 

The next day Pieter joined us on the bank. 

He arrived first, but being the gentleman he 

is; he allowed us to fish the spots my friend 

and I had been targeting (and baiting) over 

the past few days. The weather was looking 

really good, yet the rods were dead quiet. It 

was the calm before the storm. I could almost 

feel how it was building up to something. 

At 10am my middle rod ripped off. Having 

my best friend there (who I started fishing 

the venue with) netting the fish and Pieter 

taking photographs; made the whole 

experience all the more special. Peach Tank 

you beauty. This time weighing in at 14,51kg 

(31,96lb)! 

It was such a surreal experience catching 

and holding her for the second time. But 

that’s what makes fishing so special. Anything 

can happen. Whilst sharing ideas, memories, 

and sometimes even catches. 

* 6 August 2015 – Peach Tank (14,51kg) 


GLUGS AND 

HOOKBAIT 

EDGES 

Jaco Jacobs 

Every angler I know has their own secret 

combination of baits and flavours. Often these 

secret ingredients are only boosting one’s 

confidence and are hardly contributing to 

attracting the fish. But, there are certain definite 

edges, and I’d like to discuss a few of mine. 

GLUGS 

Glugging a hookbait is one of my favourite 

ways to entice a quick bite. By glugging 

a hookbait in liquids, you are essentially 

accomplishing two things. Firstly, the liquids 

are absorbed meaning that the hookbait will 

not absorb any of the smells or scents on the 

bottom. This method is especially effective 

when fishing over silt. Secondly, you are 

drawing the carp’s attention to your hook by 

making it stand out from the free offerings. 


TACTICS 

COMPOSITION OF A GLUG 

It is important to keep in mind that carp do 

not ‘smell’ flavours the same way humans do. 

They make use of chemoreception, which 

consists of at least two types: olfaction 

(smell) and gustation (taste). The best way 

to exploit this is to add substances that 

stimulate the carp’s senses. I’ve found the 

best way to stimulate them is by adding 

amino acids combined with other stimulants. 

Amino acids are the basic building blocks 

of protein. Proteins have been discussed 

extensively in carp fishing; I don’t think it 

needs any introduction. By adding proteins 

to your baits, you are effectively adding 

amino acids and increasing the bait’s 

attractiveness. Additional stimulants that 

could be considered in a glug could be 

compounds like betaine and aspartic acid; 

betaine by far being the most commonly 

used. Betaine is basically a sugar beet extract 

that is available in liquid form as well as a 

powder form, and aspartic acid is a form of 

amino acid. These elements have shown to 

enhance a carp’s response to soluble aminos. 

So how do you put this information to use 

you may wonder? I always try to match my 

glug with the liquids in the actual boilie I’m 

baiting up with and boost the glug with some 

stimulants. I never use any concentrates, as 

I believe the carp can detect the chemical 

composition. Carp are deterred by bitter 

tastes, which could render your hookbait 

very unattractive if it is heavily scented. If I’m 

fishing with a pineapple boilie for example, I’ll 

add the following liquids to my glug: 

» Corn steep liquor 

» Aminol Feedstim (Minamino or any other 

free amino acids) 

» Liquid betaine 

» Pineapple liquid food 

» Syrup from tinned pineapple 

» Pineapple oil 

There are no rules in carp fishing, so there 

aren’t any limitations to the ingredients you 

can use. These general guidelines can 

however assist you in making a simple, 

yet effective glug. 

Carp are 

deterred by 

bitter tastes, 

which could 

render your 

hookbait 

very 

unattractive 

if it is heavily 

scented. 

OTHER BAIT EDGES 

Apart from making the hookbait appeal 

to the carp’s taste and smell, you can also 

enhance the bait visually. I’ve had some 

phenomenal results by adding Robin Red to 

my hookbaits, a well known and effective 

additive in the carp fishing world that 

makes the bait a dark red colour. Apart from 

the obvious reasons for its inclusion, the 

variation in colour could make the hookbait 

stand out nicely. You could also add bait 

dyes and colourants to accomplish this. 

Bright popups also add to the visual effect 

and could balance out the weight of the 

hook, giving you a nicely balanced hookbait. 

Washed out pink and bright yellow popups 

have landed me many carp in the past, and 

are also amongst my favourite colours. 

Balancing the hookbait by adding some 

cork dust is another useful tip. I have been 

applying this to my fishing for the past few 

months and have had some really positive 

results. If the hookbait is pinned down by the 

weight of the hook only, it becomes really 

difficult for the carp to eject the hook as it is 

sucked into its mouth further than expected. 

These small edges can sometimes make 

the difference between a blank and a 

special capture. 


HOW TO 

PHOTO 

YOUR CATCH 

Otto Kruger 

Preparation is key to catching that 

once in a lifetime carp, and when 

you’ve succeeded all your time 

and effort will be captured in 

a photograph. The last thing you 

want is a rubbish trophy shot. 

T 

here are many factors 

that play a role in taking 

quality photos of your 

catch – despite the 

camera’s settings, there 

are a few more things to 

take into consideration. 

HOLDING A CARP 

There are two things to think about when 

holding a carp – safety of the carp and how 

the photo will look afterwards. Carp safety 

is a priority in big carp angling and holding a 

carp correctly is no exception. The correct 

way to hold a carp is to limit discomfort and 

reduce pressure to its organs. When picking 

up the fish don’t push your hands underneath 

the body, rather slide one hand down the 

head of the fish and get your fingers around 

the ball joint of the pectoral fin. The fin 

on the other side should be flat against his 

body to reduce discomfort. Slide your other 

hand down the tail of the fish and grip your 

fingers around the anal fin. Make sure you 

can fully balance the weight of the fish before 

lifting it too high. If you don’t feel confident, 

make sure you keep the fish close to the 

unhooking mat. 

When photographing your catch, the 

sides of the fish should be perfectly vertical, 

not leaning back or forwards and when 

you look down on the fish, it should be 

straight from head to tail thus showing its 

full magnificence. If the fish is leaning back 

towards you or bending its body, you will 

make the fish appear far smaller. 

When you hold your catch, don’t push the 

carp away from your body to make your catch 

appear bigger. Banana fingers are a dead 

giveaway! The best way to hold a carp is to 

keep your elbows bent close to your body and 

as low as possible from the unhooking mat. 

If the carp starts to tense up, which usually 

happens just before it loses control, simply 

roll the carp back towards you into your arms. 

Just let the fish flip backwards and forwards, 

but keep it low on the mat until your catch is 

calm enough to pose for the camera. If the fish 

is very heavy and you find yourself wobbling, 

then use your knees to support your elbows. 


FISHOGRAPHY 

HEADING NEEDED FOR THIS SPACE 

GRAPH 


December 2015 | 25

CARP CARE ESSENTIALS 

Preserving and caring for your catch is an 

essential part of specimen angling. The main 

goal is to release your catch in a healthy 

condition for others to catch and enjoy again. 

Or, for yourself to one day stare the monster in 

the face once more after it gained another kilo 

or two. Care can be given in a number of ways: 

1 

Before the carp is placed on the mat, wet the 

landing mat with a bucket of cold water. It 

helps to prevent the carp from losing mucus, 

particularly in summer. 

2 

Always have a container of water next to 

you and keep the fish wet at all times. This is 

for the fish’s safety with the bonus of a nice 

shine that will look great on the photographs. 

3 

Do not hold a carp too high from the mat, or 

even worse, stand up with the carp. If you 

should drop the carp, you can cause a lot of 

damage to the fish or it could even result in 

its death. 

4 

Never leave the fish unattended on the mat 

unless you have a carp cradle and the carp is 

wet and closed up. 

5 

Use clinic or something similar on all 

wounds including the hook mark – it helps 

to prevent infections. Apply clinic after you 

have taken the photographs, as a big yellow 

stain on the fish and your fingers doesn’t 

look great. 

Above: When 

you photograph 

your catch, hold 

the carp over 

the landing mat. 

When it decides 

to flop around, 

simple catch it in 

your arms, and 

lay it down until 

it’s calm again. 

Preserving 

and caring 

for your 

catch is an 

essential part 

of specimen 

angling. 


FISHOGRAPHY 

shining on the fish and angler, but make sure 

the photographer’s shadow is not seen in 

the picture. If the sun is behind the angler 

holding the fish, then the shot will be very 

dark. Another mistake the photographer 

tend to make is to stand up straight when 

taking the photo. By getting low on the 

ground, level with the angler and their catch, 

will result in a far better picture; showing the 

carp’s full magnificence. The angler and fish 

must be the centre of attention in the picture 

and the shot must be taken from close range. 

BACKGROUND 

When choosing the background for your 

trophy shot, make sure that the area is clean 

and clear from any rubbish, trailer or pickup 

truck. Capture nature at its best in the 

background. Choose more than one place to 

photograph your catch and keep the position 

of the sun in mind for sunrise and sunset. 

A photo is all that’s left of your trophy 

catch. Put more time and effort into the 

photography to ensure you have a trophy 

shot to match your trophy catch! 

Left: When holding you catch, tuck your fingers 

gently under your catch’s pectoral and anal fins. 

Preserving 

and caring 

for your 

catch is an 

essential part 

of specimen 

angling. 

Below: Always 

have some clinic 

handy to touch 

up any bruises. 

6 

Transport your catch back to the water with 

a weigh sling or an unhooking mat the carp can 

fold into. Do not transport the fish by hand. 

7 

Keep your catch in the water either in 

the landing net or slide the fish into your 

weigh sling – this will give you time to 

gather and prepare all your gear on the 

bank and keep your catch save and time 

to recuperate after the battle. 

THE PHOTOGRAPHER 

The photographer’s part in capturing the 

perfect shot is the most important and 

can make or break your trophy shot. The 

sun should be behind the photographer – 


PHOTO MIX

2015 in pictures.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING

TIGHT LINES FOR 2016

PIC TRICKS 

The latest photography news, tips and tricks. 

WHAT’S HOT ON INSTAGRAM 

HOW TO HOLD YOUR 

CAMERA CORRECTLY 

If you own a digital SLR camera, the 

correct way to hold your camera when 

photographing is to support or rest 

your lens in your left hand. You should 

be able to zoom or focus with your 

left hand with ease while you grip the 

camera with your right hand, enabling 

you to to control your dial buttons and 

press the shutter release button with 

ease. 

ED SKILLZ 

We truly enjoy the spectacular 

photographs by tattoo artist 

and CarpCrossing owner 

Ed Skillz. Ed is a passionate 

carp angler and nature 

photographer based in the 

Netherlands. 

Follow Ed Skillz on: 

www.facebook.com/ 

ed.skillz.carper 

www.instagram.com/ 

edskillz/ 

www.twitter.com/ 

edskillzcarp 

Other things to consider: 

1. Keep your camera sturdy by keeping 

your arms close to your body. 

2. Always have the camera strap 

secured around your neck, you don’t 

want any unnecessary accidents with 

your gear. 

3. When switching to portrait style, 

simply flip your camera anticlockwise, 

applying the same principles 

from above. 

Always have the camera 

strap secured around your 

neck, you don’t want any 

unnecessary accidents with 

your gear. 


FISHOGRAPHY 

6 EASY TIPS 

* Read 

the full 

article 

here. 

TO IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY 

Know your camera – Take the time to study your camera’s 

manual. The buttons or functions you avoid may be the key 

to unlocking your camera’s full potential. 

Shoot in high quality – Smartphone users should always opt for 

HD when photographing or taking videos, simply make sure you 

have enough storage capacity! 

Get your horizon straight – Make sure that you have your 

horizon straight – it will drastically improve the overall look 

of the image, and it will appear more professional. 

Up close – Cut the clutter by moving closer or ‘zooming in’ to 

your subject, and only frame the essential parts of your scene. 

Avoid harsh shadows – The best times of the day to pick up 

your camera is in the early mornings or late afternoons when 

the light is still soft. 

Love clouds – Clouds can add a dramatic touch to any scene 

you photograph. 

SHUTTER SHOOTOUT 

UK’s Stuff magazine has put 

five of the best smartphones 

to a camera test. The 

‘Shutter Shootout’ involved 

the Apple iPhone 6, iPhone 6 

Plus, HTC One M9, Samsung 

Galaxy S6 and LG G4. They 

tested things like detail, 

zoom, colour, exposure, etc, 

and the phone that came out 

tops in their view was the 

Samsung Galaxy S6. 

STARTER GEAR 

The leading 

camera manufacturers 

are 

Nikon and Canon. 

If you want to 

buy a starter kit, 

we recommend 

the following 

affordable camera 

bodies: 

Canon EOS 100D DSLR Camera Body 

* 18.0 megapixels 

* Full HD 1080p video 

Price: R3 989 

Get this at takealot.com 

Nikon D3200 DSLR Camera Body 

* 24.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor 

* Full HD 1080p video 

Price: R4 195 

Get this at Orms 


HOTDOG 

HAT TRICK 

Hotdogs are convenient and easy to 

prepare – the meal of choice for many 

hungry anglers! This traditional campsite 

meal received a three-way makeover. 

CRUNCH DOG 

Bockwurst sausage with coleslaw and apple 

(Makes 4) 

• 4 bockwurst sausages 

• 4 hotdog buns, buttered 

Salad ingredients: 

• 1½ cup coleslaw mix 

• 1 apple, grated 

• 2 radishes, sliced 

• 3 Tbsp mayo 

• 2 tsp Dijon mustard 

• Salt and freshly ground 

black pepper 

• 2 Tbsp toasted almonds flakes 

Mix the salad ingredients and set aside. 

Lightly score the bockwurst, then heat 

them over your gas stove or fire. Once the 

bockwurst sausages are cooked, add to your 

bun and top with the salad. 


BANKSIDE GRUB 

Christelle Grobler 

SPICY DOG 

Boerie with a sweet and spicy 

tomato relish 

(Makes 2) 

• 1 Tbsp oil for frying 

• 1 small onion, sliced 

• 1 Tbsp brown sugar 

• 2 chillies, chopped 

• 1 pinch cinnamon 

• 1 pinch cumin 

• 1 pinch cloves 

• 1 pinch ginger 

• 200g pack of cherry 

tomatoes 

• 2 Tbsp water 

• salt and freshly ground 

black pepper to taste 


• leftover boerewors from the previous 

night’s braai 

Heat a pan with oil and caramelise the onion. 

Add the sugar, chillies and spices and fry for 

another minute or two. Add the tomatoes 

and fry until soft. Add the water, and season 

with salt and pepper. Reduce the liquid 

slightly, then remove from the heat. Reheat 

the boerewors, then place them on the 

hotdog buns. Top with the tomato relish and 

enjoy. 

TIP 

Toast the 

buttered 

hotdog 

buns over 

the coals 

for extra 

crunch. 

TIP 

Go the 

extra mile 

– top the 

breakfast 

dog with 

fried or 

scrambled 

eggs. 

BREAKFAST DOG 

Porky with breakfast mix 

(Makes 4) 

• 2Tbsp oil for frying 

• 8 pork sausages 

• ½ onion, chopped 

• 125g bacon, diced 

• 2 tsp honey 

• 125g button mushrooms, quartered 

• ½ tsp mixed herbs 

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper 


• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese 

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a skottelbraai 

and fry the pork sausages until cooked, 

then set aside. In the same pan, heat the 

rest of the oil and fry the onions and bacon. 

The onions must begin to caramelise and 

the bacon needs to become slightly crisp. 

Add the honey, and fry for one minute. Add 

the mushrooms and fry until cooked. Make 

sure your pan is hot to prevent liquid from 

forming. Season with the mixed herbs and 

add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. 

Take your buttered hotdog buns and 

layer it with grated cheddar cheese, add 

the sausage and then add the bacon and 

mushroom topping. Enjoy! 

TIP 

If you have any leftover 

breakfast dogs, wrap 

them in foil. When you 

get the fire going again 

in the evening, simply 

reheat them and enjoy!

CarpFever 2015

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