Good dorado action off Durban

Zululand - As far as consistency is concerned, the Zululand coastline has for the past month or so been very productive with game fish and Billfish. Couta have finally made their presence felt and are being caught in fair numbers in the Cape Vidal and Sodwana areas. Along with the Couta anglers are also catching fair numbers of Dorado, Tunny and the odd big Wahoo. Billfish have been very active at both these venues with weekly reports of Black, Blue and the odd Striped Marlin coming through. Sailfish have been caught in fair numbers as well but the Mapelane area has been the most productive in this respect.

Durban - Sea temperatures in and around Durban have levelled out at a consistent 24 degrees and with it came the long awaited Dorado. Not only are they being caught on the deeper ‘reefs’ off Durban but some Fishing Ski anglers managed to bag a few in the Sea Belle area during the course of the week. Ski Boats fishing around the Ships in the outer anchorage area have also had some success with the Dorado as well. The Tunny have gone off the boil in the Durban areas but there are quite a few Couta being boated by Ski Boats and Ski anglers alike. Bottom fishing is still doing well off Durban with boats reporting some good catches of Geelbek Salmon off the deeper wrecks. Charter boats are also reporting some excellent catches of Slinger, big Soldiers and Rock Cod off most reefs in this area.

South - This area has also proven to be possibly the most consistent and productive area on the KZN coastline. Clean water and rising water temperatures seem to have kept fish lurking here. Apart from the Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks some good fish have been caught on the Bluff and ‘Cutting’ areas, here some nice sized Couta and Tunny have been caught during the week. Big Snoek have been seen by divers in the Treasure Beach and Isipingo areas. Further South there has been some Couta action in the Scottburgh, Park Rynie, Mtwalumi and Hibberdene areas. The Aliwal is still producing a variety of fish as it has done for the past few weeks. 

Ski Boats and Jet Skis are consistently getting good catches of Yellow Fin Tunny, Couta, Wahoo and Sailfish. Here the lure of choice has been the Kingfisher Rattler series and Halcos. The Shark problem is still very prevalent here with anglers not only losing their catch but the Sharks now have taken a liking to anglers lures which is not only costly but very frustrating. Further South the Protea Banks at Shelly Beach is producing much of the same fish species as the Aliwal but the Tunny here seem to be in a much bigger class. 

(File photo: Gallo Images)