The August winds have come on time. Winter fish are still well entrenched and summer fish are now starting to filter through. North Coast has now picked up with garrick as far up as Cape Vidal plus a few big daga salmon and grunter reported. Shad still the target species in Durban.

The August winds have come on time as we recently experienced the first real big North Easterly followed by a strong South Westerly. This is the pattern for this time of the year and anglers are just going to keep a close watch on the weather because this time of the year is a very productive time as winter fish are well entrenched on both North and South Coasts. As the sea and daily temperatures raise the first of the summer fish start filtering through, namely sand sharks and skates. Fishing on the North Coast has now picked up considerably as garrick are being reported as far up as Cape Vidal but the main concentration of these fish are in the Tugella and Mtinzini areas where anglers are getting some good catches. A few big daga salmon and grunter have been reported in the upper North Coast areas. Willie Vorster from Zululand reports that there is still plenty of garrick caught at the swimming beach at St Lucia and at Cape Vidal a nice kob of 33kg's was landed as well as lots of stumpies.

Locally, fishing in the Durban area has been going very well with shad being the main target specie. Anglers fishing from Durban's piers and the Umgeni areas report good catches of shad and the odd garrick has been reported along the Umgeni North Bank area.

The South Coast is also fishing very well with shad obviously being caught freely at most spots like Toti and Isipingo. Almost all well known along this stretch is producing some good garrick, most fish are being taken on live shad.

Terry Nel from Tackle net in Port Edward reports that fish have been on the bite here since the rough seas have settled and points have been producing some really nice species from many spots and also, kob have been caught on throw baits rather than live baits slid out. A nice sized garrick was also caught at the popular Splash Rock on live bait and the rocks there have been 'fully booked' by the fishermen who frequent these waters in search of these status fish. Some reef fish are biting and bronze bream are popular now.

The Kingfisher is hosting a shad competition for the biggest shad caught for the month of August then again in September. The heaviest shad for each month will receive a 14' Kingfisher Poseidon Gold Class 5pc Graphite Rod, valued at R1, 675.00, the second heaviest shad will receive a Daiwa SL 50SHK Reel, valued at R998.00 and third heaviest shad will receive a Daiwa Opus Plus 6000 Reel valued at R498.00. Please note that all shad (fresh) must be weighed at The Kingfisher, 53 Hunter Street, Durban during trading hours (8-5pm weekdays and 8-1pm Saturdays) and please remember there is a bag limit of four and the minimum size is 30cm.

So far the winning shad for the month of August is a fish of 4kg's caught by Mesigan Chetty whilefishing in the Transkei and second place, at this stage, goes to Arveen Paresaran with a fish of .536kgs caught at Addington Beach.There has been no fished weighed in for third prize, so guys make sure you bring your fish in to be weighed at The Kingfisher, you could be missing out on a very nice prize. Ski boaters are still having a wonderful winter season as daga and geelbek salmon are still feeding freely on both North and South Coasts. Big sharks are making for difficult angling as many fish are being 'taxed'. This is happening mainly on the South Coast and it seems hordes of sharks are accompanying the shoals of kob. General bottom fishing is also producing some very good results of mainly reds and rock cod. A few boats that have ventured out to the deeper grounds off Durban have reported that there are a few flying fish around already.

Bobbies Boat Angling Club and the KZN Light Tackle Boat Angling Association are proud to announce the 2011 edition of the Christmas Classic Fishing Competition will be taking place on the 4th December 2011 in the Durban Bay. The competition is now entering its 4thyear of being hosted by Bobbies Boat Angling Club and KZN Light Tackle Boat Angling Association. In the past 3 years the Christmas Classic Bay Fishing Competition has grown to be the biggest bay competition in South Africa attracting over 400 boat and paddle ski anglers and thousands of spectators from all over South Africa.

Due to the generosity of our sponsors, the Organising Committee of the 2010 competition awarded a fully rigged Blue Water Boat Raider Ski, trailer and Yamaha motor as first prize to the winning angler Sheldon Mostert who caught, tagged and released the heaviest fish. The total value of prizes handed out to anglers in 2010 was in excess of R200 000.00.

Durban Yamaha has taken over the role as main prize sponsor for 2011 and has up the prize stakes. This year the winning angler will walk away with a Yamaha endorsed Explorer 465 Lagoona and a 40hp Yamaha motor on a trailer. The boat will be fully rigged with tackle, a fish finder by Lowrance, the safety equipment will be provided by Viking Safety Equipment and Mc Crystal Insurance will be sponsoring free insurance on the boat. The total value of the 1st prize will be in excess of R175 000.00.

In another first for the competition, GWM S A has sponsored a Steed 5 Double Cab 4 x 4 which will be handed to the lucky angler who catches and releases the mystery fish. This vehicle is valued at over R220 000.00,

This year, the newly named Christmas Classic Bay Fishing Competition has managed to secure broadcasting sponsorship from G W M and Distell to broadcast the competition on Super Sport. The event will be 26 minutes long and broadcasted approximately 8 times on Super Sport DSTV channels and will ensure that our sponsors get the recognition they deserve.

The Christmas Classic Bay Fishing Competition will be teaming up with East Coast Radio in this year's competition, and as part of their entrance fee, each angler will be required to donate a toy which will go towards East Coast Radios Toy Story. This is a worthy cause that will enable the unfortunate children of KZN to enjoy their Christmas this year courtesy of the participating anglers.

The Organising Committee believe that by promoting the release of fish alive in this competition, it will enable us to conserve and protect the future stocks in Durban Bay, which is a nursery for most east coast species. Once again the first three prizes will only be awarded to anglers who have had their fish weighed and released alive by the marshal boats.