Big snoek caught off Ballito

With many boats beaching with at least a fish or two for their efforts. It has reached the point where the most difficult decision in an anglers day is whether to target Dorado or Couta.

As the saying goes, "In life, there are good problems, and bad problems... And this is a good problem!". Couta have been relatively elusive over the last few months but it is believed that a good Dorado season is a bad Couta season and vice versa. Most anglers have been catching Couta on live bait, as it has always been the more effective method, but a dead bait swum dead strait with a duster above it will also produce the goods.

Preferred baits being Bonito, Mackerel, Shad, Walla Walla, Maas Bunker and Sardine. Tackle is relatively simple, with a Rod such as a Poseidon Couta 8ft paired with a Daiwa SL50 reel is ample. A good 30lb nylon is the norm, with a 5m leader of about 0.60-0.70mm. Baits are either drifted over a mark, or slow trawled with motors just in gear. Apart from Couta, there are still many Bill Fish, Dorado and Wahoo being landed all on Rattlers or Williamson Kona's.

Durban - With the water being off colour due to the rain  washing muddy water into the sea, angling close in shore has been slow but has picked up as the water cleared up. Snoek at Blue lagoon have been on and off due to water conditions, but north of Blue Lagoon at Glenashley, Virginia , Ballito and Sheffield the Snoek have been firing on all cylinders. Some specimens of over 8kgs on Strike Pro Magic minnows and Halco Jelly prawn Sorcerers.

In the deep, more Marlin have been landed and one boat who has set a standard is Taurus Charters, who have seen their fair share of Marlin over the last two months, landed another beauty of a Black over the weekend, keeping yet another client happy. Couta have been landed off Umhloti on live baits, with the odd Yellow Fin Tuna jumping onto the baits as well.

(File photo:Gallo Images)

- Kingfisher