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"Kob on the Rocks " - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2011)
Acrylic on Board (54cm X 74.5cm)
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The dusky kabeljou is a robust silver fish with a hint of subtle pink along the dorsal surface. The lateral line is very well
developed with noticeable silver spots running down the flanks. Kob are extremely effective hunters, relying on their
lateral line as they hunt in low light conditions.

Kob are prized amongst rock and surf anglers. They are found along the Southern African coast line and grow to in
excess of 70 kilogrammes. These days though they are becoming increasingly difficult to find due to over fishing.
Of concern is the fact that large fish, which are usually killed, are prime breeding specimens, while only the
smaller sexually immature fish are released. The result is that most of the fish caught and released aren’t sexually
mature, resulting in limited breeding stock.

"Green Goblin '" - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2011)
Acrylic on Board (74cm X 104cm)
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Observing bass habitat, such as flooded timber, I am inspired imagining a fantastical world of claw-like roots, dark holes and
big ambush predators. The mysterious murky depths offer so many hiding places for these large-mouthed hunters.Suspended
like ghosts, bass hover in structure, perfectly camouflaged and waiting for the ideal moment to pounce. In this case,
Rapala's DT-6 crawdad pattern is just too irresistible to ignore.

While painting, I had to visualize an aquatic habitat with gnarled roots and branches that would suggest the perfect territory
for a large bass. A challenging project, as freshwater habitat such as this has a muted colour pallet with subtle colour variations.
I ended up testing different possible background ideas and ultimately re-painting over to try other ideas. After many initial
attempts, I finally chose flat open water just past the roots which defined the shape of the fish and the structure. It was
satisfying when I finally realized that the painting was coming "alive" with a balance of texture and calm. the visual path flows
through the painting as the focus is initially drawn to the bass and lure, moving down to the roots and then past to
the murky distance.

Carpe Diem - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2011)
Acrylic on Board (80cm X 101cm)
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Carp fishing, a relaxing pastime, synonymous with carefully prepared flavored baits, creating feeding grounds, patience and a little bit of
luck. They are beautiful fish, not sleek speedsters like the blue water game fish, but challenging and full of character and charm.
Not to be underrated though, they are no push over especially when using fly fishing tackle, an exhilarating method of fishing for them. When
stalking the big specimens, they fight hard, but the biggest challenge is getting your fly close to their mouths and knowing when they
have taken it. Crust fishing is a lot of fun too, just a hook with a floating crust. Whether targeting them on fly or
specimen fishing with boilies, carp are one of most adored freshwater species worldwide.

In general carp are found in murky water due to their feeding habits. They are the grazers of the mud flats sifting through the debris
for morsels of food. This was tricky to conceptualize as I wanted to show carp in their natural habitat with their interesting fin, scale
and mouth detail but without losing too much of it due to the murkiness of the water. Quite noticeable when stalking them are their orange
mouths and fins of which I emphasized. I wanted to demonstrate their feeding habits as they use their mouths as hoovers to suck up
and taste the mud, separating food particles. They are social, often found in groups when feeding, I took the
the opportunity to paint a mirror carp variant, shifting over to the next feeding section.

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Angler and GT Drawing - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2011)
Pencil (42cm X 52cm)
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Sketching or painting giant kingfish is always a humbling experience reminding me of the monsters that lurk in the blue depths
and those that are just un-catchable due to their size and strength. I also realize that I should be spending more of my time on the
water - the environment where I draw so much of my inspiration from. Every species of fish that I catch is a gift and a special moment,
but I feel in awe when in the presence of a GT. They are a top predator, embodying the very essence of brute strength.

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Africa, wild and untamed, possesses some of the world’s most ferocious predators. Its rivers in particular are full of fearsome
beasts such as crocodile, hippopotamus and the infamous tigerfish. This predator is without doubt the fiercest fresh water
fish in appearance and character. The "water dog", as its scientific name suggests, is the ultimate river predator: Razor-sharp teeth
perfectly designed for disabling it's prey, powerful streamlined body, efficient sickle shaped fins and of course large eyes for hunting.
By holding or patrolling around structure they wait for an opportune moment. Their pounce is fast and brutal as shown in the painting
where bulldog fish are caught unawares.

Apart from its obvious characteristics, the tiger is a fascinating fish. Their colours vary from place to place, but is mostly
strong with deep red fins and dark stripes, so it was only obvious that I wanted to portray this intensity in the painting. What
interested me the most was the intricacies of the fins, scales and head detail, which I put of a lot of study into. I wanted to
illustrate its true nature and the essence of its character interacting with the environment. This continuity was important to
connect the habitat to the fish in a way that best explains its character.

Bass Illustration - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2011)
Pencil (42cm X 30cm)
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Craig Smith featured in an article onGlobal Flyfishers website

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Electric Blue

Fishes of the tropical seas are some of the most beautiful and inspiring to me. The colours found on the majority of
tropical species are often overlooked as the blue depths wash out most colour. But near the surface , the sun's rays are still strong
enough to reveal their magical hues. This is the case of the bluefin trevally / kingfish, at depth it is a drab and
pale, but close to the surface it is vibrant and vivid.

A highly prized angling species among light tackle fishermen, the bluefin is a bold, aggressive predator yet it's striking electric blues
contrasting against copper flanks make it one of the most beautiful. The fins, spots and edges are so intense that it is as if the colours
are lit up from beneath the skin, which in fact they partly are.

I wanted to emphasize the fishes ‘metallic’ colours throughout the body, presenting the fine details of scales,
spots and fin rays. I wanted to paint the kingfish fully illuminated in an excited state as it chases the fly.
The challenge for me was to bring out the "electric" blues against the predominantly blue background.
The movement in the scene is enhanced by the wave crashing against the edge of the reef.

Turned-on - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2011)
Acrylic on Board (180cm X 85cm)
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For the most part the open ocean is seemingly lifeless. But creatures here live a nomadic existence traveling many
kilometers every day from one feeding ground to the next. And where the seas are teaming with life on one day,
they are desolate the next.

Sailfish are just one of the many pelagic fish that travel great distances in search of food. But they are arguably the
most spectacular. Besides being the fastest fish in the sea they are also one of the most elegant. Sailfish have specialized
hunting techniques. Traveling in packs, they herd bait fish from the depths to the surface. The bait fish are then
kept together in a tight rippling ball as the sailfish, with their characteristic sails extended, circle around from all directions.
Each fish then takes turns to snatch fish from the peripheries. They often slash their bills through the shoal disabling
individuals to be snapped up.

This epic phenomenon is something that has fascinated Craig and was the inspiration for what is his biggest painting.
Other species often gather to take advantage of bonanzas like these so he added a few dorado or mahi mahi.
An obvious choice, given their spectacular ability to “flash” yellow and blue when excited.

Big Brown - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2011)
Pencil (42cm X 60cm)
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Iggy Pop - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Acrylic on board(70cm X 50cm)
Original SOLD

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The inspiration for this painting came from a trip I had to Mozambique's Hells Gate - a narrow channel of water that
connects Maputo bay to the Indian ocean. Fishing off a rubber duck 100 meters from the shore, conditions were
perfect, a pushing tide and as can be imagined the volume of water funneling through, became a washing
machine of turbulent water. We popped live sardines on a surface trace with a float and cast in a section of extremely
churning water pushing over a reef. The conditions created an ideal feeding zone for kingfish.

Three or four large GT's were spotted and seconds later I had a massive surface hit on my helpless sardine. The battle
was on! It was a struggle just keeping it away from the reef, as meters upon meters of braid were being peeled
off - a miracle it never broke me off. The legendary strength of an Ignobilis is phenomenal and after 20 minutes
my prized fish was landed. A few quick photos were taken and then the brute of a fish was released.

The conditions, weather and just the memory of watching that large GT smashing into the bait at the surface was
something that will be with me for a very long time. Earlier this year I started working on a concept for a new
GT painting. It would be a popping scenario as I envisaged the fish swooping onto a Darkstar skipjack popper.
While working through the concept with the help of numerous video & photographic footage and conversations
with GT fanatics, the challenge was on. As is the difficulty with most of my paintings, that actual shot
(the fish at the moment of impact) was inaccessible and still is! I had to visualize the scene using what
reference I had in photographs and video clips and making pencil studies to understand the fish’s
movement, colours and attitude. The lighting was also a challenge and by trying different options in
my sketches and in the painting, a composition was visualized and the scene was put together.

Elusive - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Pencil (60cm X 42cm)
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I have recently had the privilege of sketching the beautiful small-scale yellowfish in its natural habitat - “Elusive”.
I was commissioned to draw the fish, moments before grabbing a dragon fly nymph. It was framed and delivered
to Mr. Harding (owner of Aloe Creek) who gave us the opportunity to fish his stretch of wild Elands river for Large
and small-scale yellowfish.

Being a commissioned piece, it is not available as a print. However, one single canvas gicleé, courtesy of
Mr. Harding was printed and framed. It was auctioned at the 2010 Sterkfontein fly fishing event where the
proceeds go to the conservation trust fund for the protection of yellowfish in Sterkfontein dam.

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Andre Van Wyk and Giant Kingfish - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Pencil (42cm X 60cm)
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Message from Andre Van Wyk:

"Mate, all I can say is that I am completely, and totally gob smacked!!!! Absolutely incredible.. I knew you were good mate, but I had no idea the sketch would turn out this well... My friend you truly are an absolute wizard, magician, master, and of course artist par excellence!!! THANK YOU!

I am super super stoked mate! Craig once again thank you so much, I am awe struck mate!"

Digging In - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Acrylic on canvas (76cm X 101cm)
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The Cape coasts of South Africa, experience some of the harshest conditions in the country with strong winds and
bad weather giving the water a characteristic murk of suspended debris and turbulence. Wind swept seas and
ripping waves create an environment where only the toughest survive.

Also known as the pignose grunter, the white steenbras navigates, swims and feeds in
these conditions with great ease. They are usually found in shallow turbulent water and estuaries. They are
robust fish, mostly silvery gray with darker bars running down the back, and have a characteristic pignosed snout.
They have a highly specialized feeding ability like its relative the spotted grunter's, of "snouting"and "blowing".
They shove their elongated snouts into the sand and literally"blow" their prey out of the sand.
They feed aggressively as they patrol the sandy turbulent shores for sand dwelling crustaceans.

In this painting I wanted to describe it's natural behavior by illustrating it's unique habitat and suggesting
its feeding techniques. This painting presented a real challenge primarily because these temperate
waters are mostly very murky and monotone. This resulted in a painting with a very limited colour pallet.
I therefore enhanced the muted greens and blues to highlight main characters in the piece. I also echoed the
shape of the steenbras in the ripples of the sand. I followed these shapes in the moving rhythms from the
sand to the surface water.

North American Bison - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Pencil (42cm X 50cm)
ORIGINAL AVAILABLE

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Initially I had planned to follow through to a full colour painting with this pencil study, but, in the end, I was in two minds.
I always thought that it just worked so well as a pencil piece on its own, and so the original drawing and
giclée canvas prints have now been made available.

Ever since I was a young boy, Bison fascinated me - the large woolly buffalo of the North American plains!
They just seemed prehistoric, as if they could be imagined roaming the icy plains with other creatures
like mammoths and sabre-tooths! Almost hunted to extinction in the late 1800's, with only a few hundred remaining,
my impression of the American buffalo was almost fated to become the same as those prehistoric
animals! Thankfully they were saved and protected and have made a come-back, roaming in good numbers
free from hunting and is now a treasured icon.

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Justin and the Giant Kingfish - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Pencil (42cm X 50cm)
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A catch of a lifetime, estimated to be a 65 - 70kg kingfish. This beast of a fish was caught on a popper.
The kingfish must have looked like a small submarine as it pounced on the lure - enough to make anyone
week in the knees!

Show Time - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Acrylic on board (65cm X 84cm)
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Apart from being one of the fastest fish in the sea, sailfish are also strikingly beautiful. Although usually
a maroon-brownish colour, once they become excited or agitated they can literally ‘switch on’ a palette of vivid,
electric blues and violets that flash and ripple in light and dark shades across their body. It is thought that
part of the reason they do this is to confuse prey.

In the painting I have aimed to illustrate this phenomenon, and so the jumping, agitated fish is shown ‘lit up’.
Bands of vivid ultramarine along the fish’s flanks are interspersed with very subtle browns and tans that contrast
strongly with the deep, metallic turquoise along its back. Interestingly, I discovered that the normally
brownish-maroon dorsal fin shows up as ultramarine when backlit, which is how the dorsal fin is
shown here, being partially illuminated from behind by the sun.

As this painting's primary purpose was to be used as a design for the owner's fishing boat, the colours
were intentionally enhanced.

Preliminary Drawing (Approved by the client before the painting is started)

Ambush - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Acrylic on board (45cm X 38cm)
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There are not many species of fish that can boast being bright, luminous greens and partly because of the
intense depth of this colour that almost glows from under the skin, the nembwe is a most striking
freshwater species,

The nembwe is an African cichlids and a robust, aggressive and territorial predator. They lie in ambush amongst
flooded timber, weed beds, or rocks, and are eagerly sought and enjoyed by anglers who chase them on lure and fly.

In this painting I wanted to capture the nembwe’s personality and character, and have shown it rushing from its
lair while the bulldog fish, a tiny indigenous fish (and interesting in their own right), desperately try and
escape the gaping maw.

The painting was designed as a logo for Afri-G Adventures and also a tattoo, but the original has been
framed and put on display.

The Spanish Armada - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Acrylic on board (30cm X 42.5cm)
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**Also available as a A2 Canvas print (48cm x 60cm)

Spanish or king mackerel (couta) are powerful and voracious feeders with a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Apart from their dental armoury, they are highly streamlined and their sickle shaped tails allow them to reach speeds of up to 75km/h, making them the ultimate open water hunter.

They are a pelagic species and highly migratory, travelling thousands of kilometers. I wanted to indicate this in the painting showing a school of them in the middle of their journey, heading for better feeding grounds - possibly the Natal coast in search of sardines.

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