Margate Pier fishing very well

Toti and Winkelspruit have seen a few garrick, shad and stumpnose throughout the week and although catches slowed down somewhat from the previous weeks, garrick are still around and have been stretching the scales a touch more. Spear-fishermen have spotted shoals of kob just behind the backline, just out of reach for many of the anglers in these areas. This is when it becomes important to make use of a heavy spinning set-up. Braid is a must, as well as a decent reel to handle the increased workload. The Daiwa Saltist Nero has been put to the test and has performed extremely well for edibles as well as non-edibles with the use of braid or nylon. Much more affordable than the Blue Black Saltist, for an angler on a budget this reel is a must.

The action down the coast towards Umkomaas has slowed down recently, which is due to the lack of anglers in the area. The shad, kob and grunter are providing good sport for the anglers willing to spend the hours in this area.

Scottburgh Point has seen a few Natal snoek and kingfish for spear-fishermen, as well as the odd smaller fish for anglers spinning from the point. Edibles have been slow, but have been seen on the incoming tide on the river mouth side.

Down towards Margate, the pier is still producing excellent catches, including yellowfin and yellowtail. Shad have not stopped biting and are a decent size.

In the Port Edward area, the weather conditions have not dispelled the keen and eager fishermen and even through bad wind and rain the waterfront is still busy and shad are on the bite. Plenty shad are being caught, a number not making size, many are kept, and disturbing onlookers especially as the numbers are far exceeding the legal limit of four a day. Guys please remember that the legal size for shad is 30cm. Shad used as live baits are paying good dividends as a number of garrick caught on them close to the rocks. Also remember that your live bait forms part of your daily quota and also has to be 30 cm.

Port St John's has had a very good run of kob on artificials, which include paddletails, bucktail jigs, diving stick baits such as the Daiwa D Minnow and also on spoon. Live shad has produced good numbers of kob too, as well as garrick and a few smaller sharks. All the way along the lower south coast, the main target species have been shad and kob, both of which have been in full force and taking baits readily.

Big fishing competition for physically challenged anglers at Durban Naval Base on 1 August 2015 - Call 031 701 7444 for more details.

(File Photo: Gallo Images)

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