Big pickhandle in Durban harbour
We have been told of good pickhandle barracuda fishing in Durban harbour this past week.
Durban harbour has had a really good run over the last week with what seems to be one of the best pickhandle barracuda seasons in the last few years. A few specimens of 2-3kg have come out around the BAT Centre and the sandbanks close to Royal Natal Yacht Club on the high tide. These fish have been spotted swimming around in the cleaner water at the moorings at the Yacht Moll, off the central sandbank and also in the deeper waters towards the harbour mouth. The best time of day to fish for these fish is early in the morning and late afternoons into the night. The preferred lures include smaller diving baits such as the Strike Pro jerk baits and the smaller poppers or stick baits. A slightly thicker fluorocarbon leader is referred to combat the razor sharp teeth which do tend to get in the way at times. Next to the boat or shore where the fish will be landed is where the fish will roll around in a last attempt to rid itself of the hooks in its mouth. This is where the line usually wraps around a tooth and gets cut off. To avoid this, make sure that the fish is netted swiftly and is not left with slack in the line.
Kingfish and other small gamefish have also been around and feeding well, again on small lures. Smaller paddletails still remain the king of kings and have outperformed most other lures.
On the bait side of things, many anglers have settled for average fishing from the sandbanks, but some really decent fishing off the boats in the deeper waters. The grunter seem to be holding to the deeper water, possibly due to the salinity of the water after the rains.
(File Photo: Office of the KZN Premier)
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