Bonito and tuna off Umhlanga
North - Good reports of queen mackerel action on the northern Zululand coast this week. Most fish have been caught on Maria Duplex lures in the natural colours and also on small Sprat spoons. The Shad have also been plentiful and take baits intended for snoek. The daga salmon seem to be on the north coast stretch now, with many reports of catches on the wrecks and ledges. A whole sardine with a Yamashita green glow squid skirt seems to be the best choice of bait. Also on the wrecks and shallow reefs have been some very nice musselcracker which have also been eating bigger baits used for daga.
Central - Anglers around Umhlanga Rocks have been landing many smaller yellowfin tuna around 5-7kg on live baits and also Rattlers. The bigger tuna still seem to be hanging around the dolphins and on The Barge. There have been many bonito between the tuna as well, some of which have weighed in at around 10kg. These fish often don't survive after a long fight especially if they have been hooked badly and lose a lot of blood. This fish doesn't have to go to waste, rather consider either using the meat for bait, biltong or even cooking, if bled properly. Snoek have been landed in ones and twos along the Durban North to Virginia stretch and have been taking spoons. Almost any bait put in the water has been eaten by shad, which can be annoying. Consider a super-fast retrieve with a spoon to avoid being bombarded by shad.
South - Shelly Beach and surroundings have produced a number of yellowfin on the trawl, with lures such as Rattlers 150s and Halco Lazer Pro 160s. Bigger fish have been landed on baits, but they have been far between. There are still a number of wahoo around, but due to insufficient tackle, most of these fish have been lost. Be sure to upscale on the size of your wire and to use extra strong Mustad Treble hooks. Bottom fishing has been excellent with good catches of musselcracker and also some excellent shad.
(File Photo:Gallo Images)
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