Garrick biting in Durban harbour

Good news from the harbour this week - anglers using live shad and mullet have caught garrick off the centre bank early in the mornings.

This is a common occurrence for a few weeks of the year during winter and targeting these species can be extremely simple.

There are many different techniques one can use, but the most simple is the inline float trace.

This trace is tied up as a standard running trace would be, with a size 5 power swivel roughly 1.2m above the hook.

The leader material should be either a 0.50mm or a 0.60mm Siglon fluorocarbon or 0.60mm Maxima Ultra Green.

Hooks vary based on the size of the live bait, but the preferred hook over the last year or so has been the Mustad Kevin Van Dam signature series in a size 2 or 1. 

An elastic band is connected to the swivel and a balloon to the band. The bait is then let out with the wind no less than 20m from the boat or bank.

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

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