Big snoek action off Maphelane
We have been told of big Natal snoek caught off Maphelane this past week.
North
The Cape Vidal and Sodwana areas at this time of the year are possibly some of the better areas to fish as far as gamefish are concerned. There have been dribs and drabs of couta over the last month or so, however the first of the shoal couta have made their presence felt from Sodwana down to Maphelane which is a good sign for the local couta run. Apart from these fish there are also dorado, wahoo, tuna and a number of sailfish being landed. Billfish have moved their way down the coast early and have been caught all the way down to Durban already. Natal snoek have been plentiful in the Maphelane area and have been rather large too, with specimen of 10kg being reported caught on Strike Pro Magic Minnows. For these larger species, it is advisable to add a small length of steel trace to the front of your diving baits as well as spoons, as they have been known to feed more aggressively and bite a few lures off.
Central
The lower north coast and the Durban area have also reported some fairly decent catches of tuna and the odd dorado has also been landed off the deeper water marks and off floating debris. Areas that should start producing soon would be the Highpoint, Ballito and Seabelle marks. As far as bottom fishing is concerned, anglers are still finding some significant catches of both geelbek and daga salmon. General bottom fishing with regards to reds and rockcod has also been quite productive in most areas, when weather permits. Durban has seen a few Natal snoek off Blue Lagoon over the last week, from anglers who wanted to avoid running far and being caught out by the westerly. All round, general bottom fishing and tuna fishing has been productive in the Durban area.
South
Much the same can be said for the ski-boaters on the south coast, but the shark problem here has recently become a growing concern. Aliwal Shoal has started producing some good catches of yellowfin tuna with a few good size wahoo also being reported. There have also been quite a few nice sailfish landed here and the Park Rynie area. Fishing further south, the Protea Banks at Shelly Beach are also yielding some good catches of yellowfin tuna.
(File Photo: Caroll Hermann)
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre @kingfisherdaiwa
Facebook - ECRSportswave
The Cape Vidal and Sodwana areas at this time of the year are possibly some of the better areas to fish as far as gamefish are concerned. There have been dribs and drabs of couta over the last month or so, however the first of the shoal couta have made their presence felt from Sodwana down to Maphelane which is a good sign for the local couta run. Apart from these fish there are also dorado, wahoo, tuna and a number of sailfish being landed. Billfish have moved their way down the coast early and have been caught all the way down to Durban already. Natal snoek have been plentiful in the Maphelane area and have been rather large too, with specimen of 10kg being reported caught on Strike Pro Magic Minnows. For these larger species, it is advisable to add a small length of steel trace to the front of your diving baits as well as spoons, as they have been known to feed more aggressively and bite a few lures off.
Central
The lower north coast and the Durban area have also reported some fairly decent catches of tuna and the odd dorado has also been landed off the deeper water marks and off floating debris. Areas that should start producing soon would be the Highpoint, Ballito and Seabelle marks. As far as bottom fishing is concerned, anglers are still finding some significant catches of both geelbek and daga salmon. General bottom fishing with regards to reds and rockcod has also been quite productive in most areas, when weather permits. Durban has seen a few Natal snoek off Blue Lagoon over the last week, from anglers who wanted to avoid running far and being caught out by the westerly. All round, general bottom fishing and tuna fishing has been productive in the Durban area.
South
Much the same can be said for the ski-boaters on the south coast, but the shark problem here has recently become a growing concern. Aliwal Shoal has started producing some good catches of yellowfin tuna with a few good size wahoo also being reported. There have also been quite a few nice sailfish landed here and the Park Rynie area. Fishing further south, the Protea Banks at Shelly Beach are also yielding some good catches of yellowfin tuna.
(File Photo: Caroll Hermann)
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre @kingfisherdaiwa
Facebook - ECRSportswave