Few people know much about jutjaw, a southern African endemic reef species, except for that saltwater recusant, Jimmy Eagleton, who knows how and where to catch them on fly.  

WHAT

Jutjaw (Parascorpis typus) resembles a largemouth bass that’s been smacked flat with a muddy shovel and sprinkled with purple and blue fairy glitter. This gives them an aura that no camera can really capture. Scientists placed this fish in its own genus and family with no close relatives. Virtually nothing is known about this fish which is endemic to South Africa and Mozambique.

The assumption is that they feed on zooplankton. That might be true for small ones but, in my experience, they are very aggressive and definitely feed more heavily on small baitfish and prawns. The maximum recorded length is 60cm but fly anglers who hook fish over 30cm will have their eyes light up. Honestly, every one of them is a trophy because of their unicorn status. 

“Jutjaw resemble a largemouth bass that’s been smacked flat with a muddy shovel and sprinkled with purple and blue fairy glitter”

WHERE

Given that they can be found in anything from 20 to 200 metres of water, fly anglers can get a shot at them from shore starting in November until April, with January and February being the peak windows. They randomly show up in a group and hold in very specific structure.

Overhanging ledges and cave-like formations are where you would find jutjaw, or in deep calm bays and harbours. 

HOW

Bait and lure anglers hardly ever hook jutjaw, except for larger specimens that they land every now and again on jigging gear offshore. But they are more common than everyone thinks. Fly fishing for them when they are close to shore is an ideal method because of the stealthy presentation and approach required for these wary ambush predators.

Best set up is a 6-weight rod with 7 to 9 inches-per-second sinking line and an 8 foot/8lb leader. Bonefish Charlies and small Clousers tied with translucent synthetic material in all-white, all-pink and all-olive will do the trick.

Get in good casts towards or along structure, then move on and rotate between these areas throughout the day. Fish throughout the water column and keep your eyes open. Look long and hard for narrow static objects in dappled shade and dark corners. You will hook up quickly if they’re around and, if you do, you will definitely get more than a few. Enjoy those moments because very soon they’ll be out of reach and probably gone by tomorrow. 

WHO

Any fisher who likes German cuisine can go to Kapstadt Brauhaus at Mykonos Marina in Langebaan for a meal. Thereafter go flick a fly in between the jetty walkways and yachts. A float tube will give you unimpeded access around the marina.

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