Fishing Report 12 July 2010 
Although the sardine run did not materialize for the tourists and holiday
makers, the shad run has certainly made up for it.
Already some fish in the 3 kg mark have been landed. Along with the shad have come the garrick and quite a few kingies.
 “Shark wrestling and Albatross’s that Water-ski".

Angling
Although the sardine run did not materialize for the tourists and holiday
makers, the shad run has certainly made up for it. These fish are now being caught freely on almost the entire coastline and in good numbers. The general size of the shad that are coming out now seem to be a bit bigger than a few weeks ago.

Already some fish in the 3 kg mark have been landed. Along with the shad have come the garrick and quite a few kingies. These fish have been caught in good numbers at traditional places like Illovo, Winkle and Toti rocks. Anglers fishing along the Twini ledge and at Isipingo have experienced an excellent run of garrick and shad as well. Anglers who brave the cold weather and fish at night have recently started getting some nice size kob particularly along the Umgababa and Umkomaas stretches. These fish have also been caught in fair numbers along the Port Shepstone stretch.

Terry from Port Edward informs us that bonanza fishing has been on the go this whole week and they have had a real shad run there with plenty garrick falling prey to the live bait fishermen off Splash Rock and nearby points. While the sea conditions have been fair most of the time reports of shad are coming in from other areas and Splash Rock has been packed like a bamboo forest with live bait rigs and close rocks are delivering the required shad for this. One morning Terry counted 11 lines out from Splash targeting garrick. A troubling fact is that many of these rods belong to local fishermen who inhabit this rock most days of the year and watching from the congested car park, Terry saw a small shad get taken from another fisherman (who probably wanted to throw it back) and slid out on one of the lines and the rod replaced in the rod spike now loaded for a garrick. Soon after another rod 'went down' and the same young fisherman ran, grabbed this rod and proceeded to fight and land a garrick.

He then immediately cast that sinker out again claiming the spot once more and went in search of another shad to launch. Later Terry was told by a visitor fisherman that this same young man had 4 rods out and he was loading these with freshly caught fish all the time. The visiting fisherman complained that they get "bullied" off the rock and they don't want to come back because of this. Our little coastal towns survive on these people coming here to fish and as much as the local fishermen shun this fact we need them!  Allow them the space and prove a big thing to yourself and this is that you really are a good fisherman!!

Transkei
Anglers venturing to the Transkei now can expect some excellent fish; reports coming from this area suggest that there are lots of shad, garrick and kob around. Most of the bigger rivers down there are also producing some good fish. Mainly big grunter are being caught but smaller garrick and kob have also been landed.

Ski Boats
Ski Boats are also in on the action with some good bottom fishing being
reported. Kob and geelbek have started feeding but general bottom fishing has also been good with some fair size red fish and rock cod being caught. The game fish season has stared tapering off but those anglers who pursue these fish are still getting the odd couta in the Zinkwazi area. Further south the Aliwal Shoal and Protea banks are producing some good catches of yellow fin tunny and wahoo.

Bait Encyclopaedia
Volume 2 of the Ray de Bruyn bait encyclopaedia is now available; this volume covers all the baits you could wish to make using the Mackerel as bait. It is very informative with easy to follow full colour step by step photos. Plus hordes of other information from catching to cooking your mackerel.

Bait Encyclopaedia
Volume 2 of the Ray de Bruyn bait encyclopaedia is now available; this volume covers all the baits you could wish to make using the Mackerel as bait. It is very informative with easy to follow full colour step by step photos. Plus hordes of other information from catching to cooking your mackerel.