Big Game Fishing in South Africa: Black Stingray (Pylie, Black Pylie, Pylstert, Swart Pylstert)

Jacques De Plooy with a monster 261kg Black Pylie

(http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=25088&forum_id=1&highlight=pylie)

The Black Stingray, these are the prehistoric looking beasts of the ocean floor. If i was any fish, i'd want to be one of these guys, super strong mean machines, probably the most dangerous fish to land and handle once landed. This is because of its large stinger that it whips around once out of the water, one klap (klap = hit) with that thing and you're in the hospital, or 6 feet under, or the hospital and then 6 feet under, ask Steve Irwin.

When you hook into one of these big boys, you'll know, then you better hope and pray that your tackle is in good shape and ready for a serious battle because you are in for a long hard slow fight. These black stingrays are more often than none, the winners of the battle leaving you with a broken ego and maybe even broken tackle just to make you feel that much worse.

Fights with these fish can last anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours +, so you better be ready for a fight and bring your camping gear with cause you are gonna be there for a while. When targeting these fish only the best and the strongest tackle, nothing short of that will do, otherwise you are just wasting your time, the fishes and the possible crowd you'd draw while fighting these beasts.

Areas where guys usually get stuffed up by these beasts are along the Gordons Bay mountain area, and around Strandfontein & Maccasser beaches.