Geelbek and daga off Umhlanga

North

The ski-boat side of fishing in KZN has definitely picked up over the last week with much more excitement all over the coast. Cape Vidal is producing good catches of yellowfin tuna, and although not as big as expected for this stage of the year, they are more abundant and have been caught on almost any lure or bait in the water. Maphelane is still producing good catches of the tasty Natal snoek, mainly on spoons this time around. Strip baits are also working well, but have been producing smaller fish. The standard Sprat spoon is still king, with a slightly heavier Maria spoon coming in at a close second, with its ability to cast much further. The mackerel and the white Maria Spoons have been producing top class results. On the strip bait side of things, green or live glow dusters have been doing the trick. Zinkwazi down to Westbrook has also been hugely productive with snoek, seeing most of the fish on smaller spoons. The fish seem to be much closer to shore recently which means anglers should be using the lightest braid possible to get the right distance. Many anglers would go right down to 10lb and use a 15lb leader, Maxima Untragreen or Siglon 16lb Fluorocarbon.  

Central

Umhlanga has been an angler’s paradise. Geelbek and daga have lined many a hatch, be it paddle-ski or ski-boat. Most geelbek catches have been at a variety of depths, as shallow as backline and as deep as 150m, while the daga seem to be holding around the 50m mark. Durban has seen good catches of snoek, bonito, shad and general bottom species, with the bulk being made up of geelbek and daga. There are also much better numbers of copper steenbras which are being caught from Durban and south, which have also been accompanied by a fair number of Cape yellowtail.  

South

The boats launching from the south have seen good numbers of smaller yellowfin tuna on Rattlers and feathers, along with the odd wahoo. Further down south, anglers are having a good time off river mouths with the garrick, using live baits trawled slowly along backline.

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: Freespool)

Facebook - ECRSportswave

Twitter - @kingfisherdaiwa @SportswaveAndre