Getting HOOKED
THE biggest news to come from our ocean last week was the arrival of the elusive sardines.
The shoals brought with them game fish and anglers are making merry while the sardines last.
DEEP SEA: Quite a few couta were caught at Sodwana. They were caught on down rigged mackerel. Guys throwing artificial baits had success with tuna, a few dorado and the odd sailfish.
Maphelane to Cape Vidal produced GTs. Spoons and drop shot was the way to go.
Live baits attracted the dagga salmon around the reefs.
Richards Bay was not as productive. However, there were still some decent fish around. Some very big tuna were caught. Guys also spotted marlin in the area.
Nhlabane was quite active over the past week. Couta were caught on live bonnies and mackerel. The cold spell should bring in the dagga salmon. Try chokka baits for salmon. The kob can be found near the estuary mouth.
Amatikulu to Tugela has not been too active. However, boats got their fair share of snoek and dagga salmon. Most of these fish were picked up near the backline.
Princes Grant to Umdloti continues to produce decent number of couta as well as tuna. There are quite a few sharks in the area so be prepared to reel in half a fish. Local waters were a bit quiet last week with only a handful of couta being caught. Bottom fishing was more productive with reports of rock cod, salmon and geelbek being caught. Guys fishing at the backline caught quite a few decent size stumpies and grunter.
Quite a bit has been happening down in Umkomaas with some decent catches in the Aliwal Shoal area. Live baits, lures and drop shots have been working. Garrick have been coming out from Shelley Beach to Port Shepstone. The odd snoek also too the bait.
ROCK AND SURF: Lots of edibles were caught between Kosi Bay and Cape Vidal. Wave garrick and kingies were caught on small 3 inch drop shot. Stumpies and rock cod took sealice and small chokka baits.
Cape Vidal to Richards Bay produced a sew smaller raggies and when the sea was right grey sharks came on the bite. Guys with spinning outfits landed quite a few wave garrick. Early mornings and late afternoons were the best time to fish here.
Lots of spinner sharks were accounted for between Richards Bay and Ballito. Blackfin sharks were also hooked but few were landed due to their sheer size. on the edible side, bronze bream and stumpies were taking prawn, sealice and chokka baits.
Lots of greys were caught from Ballito to Durban. There were also small brown rays and the odd diamond skate.
Durban beachfront is still producing lots of stumpies, pompano and grunter. Sealice and mussels are the bait of choice. Use a running trace.
Some excellent catches of kob, garrick, kingies and pompano were enjoyed from aManzimtoti to Port Shepstone. Most of the kob were caught towards the evening while the kingies and garrick went after live baits.
Loads of kob came out between Port Edward and Port St Johns on drop shot. garrick took live baits.
HARBOUR: It was another poor week at the Durban Harbour. A few garrick and springers were pulled out. The garrick were caught mostly on live baits.
Send any info about fishing, fish caught or competitions in your area to mike.pereira@ kingfisher.co.za
Until next week… TIGHTLINES!