’Tis a season to be jolly for anglers, get your boats and tackles

THE fishing has been wild across all facets. The freshwater guys are doing well and the salt is being kind. The winter is on the way and so are the sardines. Let us hope that the silver shoals grace our shores with a good run this year.

The offshore scene has been on fire. The winter swells are here and the sea has definitely settled a bit. The crocodiles are patrolling and the tuna are hungry, so get on your boat and head out.

The North Coast has been the place to launch/fish. The biggest of the couta have been caught from the Umdloti section north. It is the time of the year to put out the bigger baits and look for that shallower water bite.

The bigger fish generally patrol in the shallower water in pairs or alone. It is also a good idea to have baits rigged at different depths. This is done by using downrigger baits with the aid of a sinker on an elastic band. Place this in the line about 10m from the bait.

The Umdloti area is probably the most popular spot currently for both ski and boat anglers. Unfortunately, the shark tax is high so it is advised to take the heavier tackle to make sure you get your fish out before the Johnny comes by for his share.

The Durban coast has seen some excellent catches of snoek, tuna, dorado and couta. The dorado has been the biggest surprise with them being here late in the year (by their standards). Floating structure and colour/temperature lines have been the place to be for a chance at one of these jumping beauties.

Live bait and trolled lures are the way to go. The tuna and snoek have mainly been caught on lures. The tuna have been caught on poppers cast into likely areas or around dolphins. The snoek have been caught in the early mornings around the river mouths or bait marks throwing small spoons on lighter spinning set-ups. The couta have been much the same as the North Coast.

The South Coast is the place to keep your eyes on for the next while. The sardines should be making an appearance in the next month or so. The South Coast is also the place to look for the bigger couta (usually). The South Coast’s shallow reef systems have always produced the bigger crocodiles on slowly trolled dead baits. Get your hands on some walla-walla or bonito and make sure that they are trolling straight and not spinning. The choice of the skirt is up to you but my preference is for a glow bead.

The south has also seen plenty of bottom fish action along with the spots further north. The daga are coming out on all the usual spots so make sure that your KP is spooled and that your back is ready for some long nights of pulling big head nods from the depths.

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Send info about fishing or fish caught in your area to: mike.pereira@ kingfisher.co.za