Angling has picked up quite well particularly down in the Transkei where anglers are catching some very good size shad.
Sardines are still proving to be a little elusive although there are some unconfirmed reports of them being sighted in and around the Port St Johns area.
For anglers who target bigger fish there are now plenty of big sharks and skates around.

Angling
Angling has picked up quite well particularly down in the Transkei where anglers are catching some very good size shad. These fish seem to be at all spots down there and quotas can be caught very quickly. Some garrick have been reported in the Hole In The Wall and Port St Johns areas but are not there in big numbers just yet. Some fair size kob are also coming out in these areas and are all being caught mainly at night with Strike Pro lures.

For anglers who target bigger fish there are now plenty of big sharks and skates around. Raggies in particular have given anglers some great fun as some of there fish have been reported in the 200 kg range. Duskys and spinner sharks have also been caught on a regular basis down here. Closer to home, fishing has also picked up with shad being found at most points and beaches. Garrick are being caught from the lower South Coast area right up to Toti, but the main concentrations seem to be at the middle South Coast.

Guys from Port Edward reports that apart from the huge sea last weekend, water conditions have been good and the season seems to have begun and shad have been coming out readily with most popular spots producing decent catches. Big fish have been few with only the odd grey and hound shark around. All eyes are on the water now expecting to spot some signs of the sardines and current baitfish here are being spotted on the water often. The Durban area has also seen an improvement in fishing as shad and the odd garrick are now being caught along the beach front and in the Umgeni area. The North Coast is a little quiet but it should not be long before the fish start moving north.

Sardines are still proving to be a little elusive although there are some unconfirmed reports of them being sighted in and around the Port St Johns area.

The results for Postal Round 2 have been posted on the Union’s website.
Website www.kzncau.co.za

Ski Boats operating out of Durban are having a good season as far as game fish is concerned. Couta are feeding well and boats that travel up to the Umdloti area are getting fair catches. Boats operating on and around the Aliwal shoal are also experiencing a great game fish season as there are steady catches of mainly couta but the odd wahoo and kingfish are also around. Charter boats operating out of Durban have reported that bottom fishing has picked up quite nicely. Quality ‘Red fish’ as well as some good size rock cod have been reported. It should also not be too long before the daga salmon and geelbek salmon make their annual appearance.

Janet Hendrikz, the convener of the Belfast Fly Fishing Association sent in this report about the 9th Annual Ladies Fly Fishing Competition 20 – 22 Mat 2011.

Early registration and light refreshments were served on Friday evening giving the ladies and their partners an opportunity to meet and mix with other competitors and the organisers. As usual the ladies received their well stocked “goody bags”.

Unfortunately for us many of our usual entrants had been selected to go to Nationals on the same weekend and whilst we missed them it gave 20 ladies the opportunity to spread themselves around the dam. After several requests we decided to open up the days fishing to those gentlemen brave enough to cross dress. This was well received by the ladies who welcomed them with good spirit.

Saturday morning late registration took place from 6.00 am and at 6.45am when all competitors drew for positions and took to the waters for a very tough days fishing with only one fish being caught in the first morning session. The fish were there but only 6 trout were caught in the morning and 19 in the afternoon. Brunch was served at 11.30, followed by a fly casting demonstration by Hendrika (one of the cross dressers) who also offered to help any of the ladies with casting problems. The afternoon brought great excitement when Davinia (Dave Hepworth) landed a 60cm trout weighing in at 3.3kg, a record for the day but not for long for only half an hour late Angelique Bailey landed a 64cm trout. She had entered our competition for the first time this year, congratulations Angelique we are sure you will be back next year.

The prize giving dinner attended by competitors, partners, and officials followed a strenuous but fun days fishing...  Heather Harvey won the trophy for the longest bag for the 3 rd time previously having won this competition in 2005 and 2010. The total value of her prize was R7950, which included an accommodation voucher from one of our main sponsors valued at R5500. 2nd prize, valued at R6860 went to Robyn van Leeuwen.  3rd prize, valued at R5820 went to Justine Smit. The longest trout measuring 64cm was caught by Angelique Bailey and her prize was worth R4150. There were also prizes for our cross dressers. All competitors received Lucky Draw Bags at the end of the evening and competitors, officials and guest received thank you gifts of bulbs from Hadeco.

Congratulations to all the participants, especially the prize winners
LONGESTBAG: Heather Harvey:  LONGEST TROUT Angelique Bailey. 2ND LONGEST BAG: Robyn van Leeuwen. WINNING TEAM: Chantie Minnaar, Natasha Bean.  3RD LONGEST BAG: Justine Smit , Angelique Bailey and Christelle Price.  4TH LONGEST BAG: Thelani Scholtz. Other prizes were awarded to Natasha Bean, Charmain Calcutt, Ina Meyer, Chantie Minnaar, Mariolette Nel, Franciska Pile, Thelani Scholtz and Justine Smit. Franciska Pile, Justine Smit and Glynis Shoebotham were presented with their 5year awards for having fished 5 of the 9 competitions to date. They join 11 other ladies 2 of whom have fished all 9events. Thank you for your loyalty.

The Sunday competition for competitors, officials and their partners was held on morning and the weekend ended with lunch and another prize giving where a number of prizes were awarded and lucky draw prizes were distributed, all couples received a goody bag. The Belfast Fly-Fishing Association raised sponsored prizes worth R104 000, making the annual event well-worth entering. Our 10th Competition will be held from 18th to 20th May 2012, please diaries now to enter early and ensure your place.  THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPONSORS WHO MADE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.