getting HOOKED
WITH KINGFISHER
AFTER many years of no-shows, the sardines are travelling up the KZN coast in their millions and seine netters are still picking them off Durban beaches.
Here’s what went down with rock and surf angling last week:
KOSI BAY: This saw quite a few decent-sized edibles caught, although the water has been very cold for this time of year. There are a variety of summer species moving through slowly but surely, and there has certainly been no shortage of shad and grunter.
CAPE VIDAL: Had an excellent week’s fishing which included edibles and non-edibles. Blackfin sharks have been in the area and have taken live bait in most cases, with the larger throw baits being picked up occasionally. Shad have been plentiful. These shad also make for a great slide bait for the blackfin sharks in the area.
RICHARDS BAY: Diamond skates and honeycomb rays have been landed on the north bank. A fair number of extremely large flatfish were hooked but not landed. Smaller grunter have been in the area too, feeding on smaller chokka baits.
ZINKWAZI: Has been very productive, with excellent numbers of grey sharks and larger shad. Both shad and grey sharks have been feeding on shad baits.
TUGELA: Is still producing fair numbers of kob and garrick with a few good-sized grey sharks appearing too.
BALLITO: Has also had an excellent run of grey shark and shad, with the odd kob being landed.
SALT ROCK: This stretch and surrounding areas has had a terribly slow run with snoek and shad recently, despite all of the anglers spinning and throwing baits. The only fish reported in these areas have been the smaller bronze bream and other edibles.
BLUE LAGOON: Has been great most mornings and afternoons, but has seen a far better result for larger shad in the afternoon sessions. In the week to come, the tides will be a lot better in the mornings, so be sure to make your way down to get in on the action before the shad closed season commences.
DURBAN PIERS: These are fishing relatively well and have produced shad, grunter, geelbek and smaller kob. Sardines are being netted daily in the vicinity of Addington Beach. Shad are being caught on sardine fillet and mackerel baits.
HARBOUR: There has been a good run of grunter between 3 and 5kgs. Most of these fish were caught in deeper water close to the mouth. Anglers fishing near the Bat Centre managed a few good-sized perch on sardine fillet bait and cracker shrimps.
BLUFF: A decent kob of 8kg was landed here at the weekend. Bronze bream were also landed during the week by anglers using light spinning outfits. A light-gauge hook is necessary for this style of fishing as penetration is important.
AMANZIMTOTI: Quite a few good-sized kob were caught at night on live baits and shad cutlet baits. For those who have been visiting the deeper water points, grey sharks have been the main species landed during the evenings.
SCOTTBURGH: Is back to its usual form, producing good catches of kob, garrick, shad, grey sharks and blue rays. These fish are on and off the bite, so be patient and the fish will present themselves. Diamonds rays were also present and made good account of themselves on light tackle.
PORT SHEPSTONE: Was relatively quiet with only shad and bronze bream reported. The deeper waters have produced the odd hammerhead shark.
PORT ST JOHN: Was on fire with an excellent run of raggies during the week and over the weekend, most landed on grinder outfits. Be sure to fish with a decent braided leader when targeting these raggies as their behaviour around the rocks can be devastating to your leader. The river has had a lot of kob and garrick coming out. There is still plenty of sardine action up and down the coast.
Send any information about fishing, fish caught or competitions in your area to mike.pereira@kingfisher.co.za
Until next week… TIGHTLINES!