Getting HOOKED
PLEASE remember to leave the areas that you fish in a better condition than when you got there. Take a few moments to pick up some litter and take it to the nearest bin. With some foul weather and big seas, the fishing has not been idle but the gaps in weather have seen some good fish landed. The offshore fishing has been plagued with big seas and unfavourable conditions. The hardened skippers have managed to stay on the water, and have been rewarded with some better fish. The north coast has been the place to be if you are after game fish. Sodwana Bay and Cape Vidal are the two hot spots on the north coast, but most of the spots north of the Umgeni have produced fish. Much like the previous weeks, the snoek have been the main target in the early mornings. Fillet baits trolled behind the backline at the break of dawn have been met with a fair success rate. Once the morning bite has slowed, the hunt for tuna begins and this has been the main target for the guys heading offshore. The central area has been much the same as the north coast. The snoek have been around the Blue Lagoon mouth from the river mouth itself, all the way to the uMhlanga Lighthouse. Fillet baits, small-lipped lures and spoons are all deadly for these feisty fish. The wrecks and reefs offshore have been kind to the bottom-fishing guys. The main catches have been daga and geelbek caught both at night and during the day. The red fish have also made an appearance, and make a welcome change to the flavour of the bottom-fish catches.
The south coast has been much the same as the central coast. The seas have been less friendly down south, and great caution needs to be taken if you are going to launch at any of the south coast spots for the first time. The shark tax has been high down south and with prized catches like coppers and cracker on the end of the line, you had better pull hard and rely on your tackle.
For the rock and surf guys, inedibles are starting to make a more regular appearance in the catch reports. Snoek are being landed by the determined spinning guys. Summer is nearly here and the excitement is palpable…
The south coast catches have been dominated by bronze bream. The bream have favoured the rougher waters around gullies and ledges, with a pink prawn sprayed with our new Loutjie Louwies Signature Series Saltwater dip proving too tasty to leave. The bigger inedibles have been around but not in big enough numbers to successfully target yet… Durban harbour has been quiet. Aside from some nice grunter that found a cracker shrimp on a small-circle hook irresistible, the action has been slow. The artlure anglers have managed a few species, but the main catches have been kingies in the day and walla walla at night. Lures that can be retrieved quickly work well for the kingies, while the walla prefer a slower, more vibrating lure like a paddletail. The Kingfisher’s trading hours are Mondays to Fridays at 8am to 5pm; Saturdays 8am to 1pm. Go to www.facebook.com/thekingfisherdaiwa and “Like” us on Facebook to catch reviews, videos, fishing reports, great promotions and lots more. Send any info about fishing, fish caught or competitions in your area to mike.pereira@kingfisher.co.za.