Prodigal son action off Maphelane
The northern coast of KZN has seen some excellent fishing recently, setting the target high for the rest of the coast.
Sodwana had a few anglers running far for fish as there didn't seem to be much happening close in apart from a few early morning Natal snoek. Anglers had decent sprat showings in the deeper water and fished them heavily with poppers, spoon, drop-shot and also live bait which all seemed to do the trick for bonito and small tuna on this bait. Out deep, the odd sailfish was landed, a few larger tuna and also a few wahoo.
Further down at St Lucia and Cape Vidal, fishing was good and most boats that launched hooked into some decent couta and snoek. Snoek of 8kg has not been uncommon recently and in decent numbers too. Spoon still seems to be the best tool for the job, with Clark spoon coming in at a second best. The larger Clark spoons have worked well.
Two good prodigal son were landed off Maphelane during the week, as well as a few decent kingfish, which were caught on poppers off Lighthouse area. The couta have been up to their usual antics, taking bonito around the 50m mark down-rigged almost all the way to the bottom.
In the Richards Bay area, fewer boats launched than usual, however results were pleasing and most went home with fish. Bottom fishing was the way to go last week, with anglers seeing the best of the best on certain marks. Good musselcracker and geelbek were landed daily, along with half kob and daga. General bottoms were also plentiful and kept anglers busy. Gamefishing seemed rather slow for some reason, but still put a few fish on the table. Most of these fish were snoek and small tuna.
Tugela River Mouth saw a few boats which were out for garrick, however very few were caught during the week and the weekend weather did not allow for another attempt.
Durban saw some snoek action around Blue Lagoon during the week on the afternoon launches, which have been by far the more popular times to catch a quality snoek. In the deeper water some anglers managed a sailfish or two, a few tuna and also good bottom fish. Some excellent amberjack were landed while bottom fishing off Durban on Saturday.
The spots along the upper south coast saw some good fishing during the week, with boats landing garrick and snoek almost daily.
The river mouths have been the spots for garrick and snoek, particularly in the slightly off-coloured water recently.
Paddle-ski anglers have done well with snoek around Winkelspruit in particular.
Fishing off the lower south coast has been good, however has seemed to slow down slightly since last week. Bottom fishing continues to impress, producing good numbers of musselcracker, geelbek, trawl soldiers and yellowtail.
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: Caroll Hermann)
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