Durban harbour kingfish and grunter
The harbour fished well during last week's northeast winds, producing decent catches of grunter.
Charter boats managed to keep clients happy with good catches of grunter, stumpnose and perch, most of which were caught on the high tide around the mouth.
A small group of anglers fished the mouth along the Coaling Wharf and had good fun with the smaller kingfish on small Strike Pro jerk baits on spinning tackle, many of which were blacktip or big-eye kingies.
The best technique on the day was to cast the Jerk bait of Popper against the side of the wharf or as close to it as possible and let it settle there for a few seconds. When the ripples have disappeared, a fast stop and go retrieve is used, letting the jerkbait float up slightly or allowing the popper to lie motionless on the surface. Most of the strikes occur on the pause when the fish see an ambush opportunity. There are a variety of species that can be caught like this and in the same areas.
Moving into spring and in summer to follow, the harbour comes alive with smaller gamefish species such as torpedo scads, kingfish, garfish, pickhandle barracuda and many others. So for those days that the bait fishing is slow, move through to the wharfs and try your luck at spinning.
On 1 August The Kingfisher started their annual Biggest Shad Competition. This year it will be run over a two-month period, August and September, with three prizes each month. The heaviest shad for each month will receive a Daiwa SL 50SHK Reel, valued at R1625, the second heaviest shad will receive a 13’6” Kingfisher Coastline Medium, three-piece, 4-6oz Graphite Rod, valued at R1145 and third heaviest shad will receive a Daiwa AG 6000 Reel valued at R598. Please note that all shad (fresh) must be weighed at either, The Kingfisher, 53 Hunter Street or Tackle Centre, Old Fort Road or The Fishing Tackle Shop, Warner Beach during trading hours.
Please remember there is a bag limit of four and the minimum size is 30cm and that the season closes 30 September and re-opens 1 December 2015.
(File Photo: Frank Kruger)
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