With a very successful sardine run almost behind us, most anglers would have stocked up with bait for a long time.
The North coast has also kicked up a gear and good reports of shad angling has come from places like Umdloti, Tongaat, and the Tinley area.
Ski Boats have now changed their focus from game fish to mostly bottom fishing.

FISHING REPORT 9TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Angling
With a very successful sardine run almost behind us, most anglers would have stocked up with bait for a long time. These fish were for once very prolific in the Durban area which made for easy netting and angling. Big sharks made an appearance on the beachfront in conjunction with shoals of sardines and anglers fishing for sharks caught a few big fish here

Along with there shoals came quite a few big diamond skates and edible fish, mostly shad were caught freely. The Umgeni north bank area worked well during the night sessions where a variety of fish were caught. Both edible and non edible fish were feeding and quite a few nice big kob were reported. Some fair size shad and grunter made for enjoyable angling. On the south coast the annual garrick run is in full swing with anglers getting some very nice fish in the Toti and Illovo stretches.

Shad are also feeding very well and anglers are able to get their quotas in fairly quick time. There are reports of some very big shad being caught during the early evening sessions at places like Park Rynie, Scottburgh and Greenpoint, some fish have been in the excess of 3 kg. Night fishing along the Umkomaas north bank are has produced some good results as far as kob are concerned. Anglers putting in the time are being rewarded with some good size fish.

Terry Nel from Port Edward informs us that, after a weeks very quiet fishing and bad weather seas fishing has again picked up. On certain days there has been a shad bonanza but unfortunately, no reports of big fish have come in till now. Not for lack of trying though, as Splash has been a landmark of live bait rods ready to strike in the mornings and during the days. Expectations are for the reappearence of garrick which normally happens through September. Shad season closes at the end of September and the October favourite becomes bronze bream and already a musselcracker of around 8kgs has fallen prey to a 'bronzie' bait at Port Edward south.

The North coast has also kicked up a gear and good reports of shad angling has come from places like Umdloti, Tongaat, and the Tinley area. Garrick have also made a welcome appearance in these areas and quite a few fish have been landed in the Tongaat Long Beach area.
Those anglers venturing into the Transkei can expect some very good angling as there is now a variety of fish on offer. Garrick is the number one target specie down there right now and good numbers of big fish have come from the Port St Johns and Poenskop areas. Shad are also prolific at most known spots and can be caught freely.

Ski Boats
Ski Boats have now changed their focus from game fish to mostly bottom fishing. Good catches of daga salmon and geekbek salmon are being reported from both North and South coasts. Bottom fishing in general has also picked up with nice reports of ‘reds and rock cod.

Fishing Ski’s
Fishing Ski’s are now basically targeting snoek as the couta season seems to have ended. Some good size fish have been reported from the Tinley and Westbrook areas.

Chris Rippon sent in this very interesting report about the fishing conditions in Jozini Dam.

“PONGOLA GAME RESERVE FISHING REPORT- August 2010

Water Temperature: *River 17 – 20 degrees *Gorge – 20 -22 degrees.
Water Clarity: 100 % River Stretch * Main Dam – 100 %
Water Level: 78 %
Area of Fishing: River Stretch and entrance to main dam
Average Size: 500g – 3,5kg
Artificial Lures: Spoons 3g – 10g, 3 g spinners (red/ silver)
Bait (sardine/live): Live Bait, sardine
Fly Fishing 4.3 kg – Mavungana Fly fishing
Biggest Fish: 4, 5 kg tiger fish – David Bell Group
Skipper of Month: Jetro
GPS Co ordinates:
Mvubu: 27 22’ 09.26” S by 31 50’ 42.16 E
Mpalane: 27 23’17.89” S by 31 53’ 20.21 E
Nkwazi: 27 22’ 46.58” S by 31 53’54.92 E

Yes Yes Yes, its finally happening. We have had a great August though its still needs to pick up a bit. The weather is still playing a hell of a role in the fishing, but in no time the water temperature should be over 20 degrees. Unfortunately an odd cold front or two has caught us this month; otherwise we would have really been lucky. Saying that quiet a couple of fish in the 3- 4, 5 kg category have come out. Remember big fish time is on its way. The water temperature has been fluctuating between 16 and 20 degrees, and this has really been hampering our fishing. We have had some wonderful summer days and I m sure by mid September we will be in the twenties, remember above 23 degrees and things really get interesting. We have been fortunate to have some old clients who have done extremely well. Live bait seems to be top at the moment, with the majority of the bigger fish been taken on them. I must add that the fisherman have brought their own live bait. I am still struggling as usual to get enough to supply Nkwazi Lodge and Mpalane and still have not found anyone reliable enough to give out their number. The majority of the fish are caught free swimming and not on cork, obviously has to do with the thermo cline. The ideal water depth seems to be around 4 – 6 m though the shallows are working too. Sardine is also starting to work, but one needs to keep working it so it does not sit on the bottom too long, still too cold down there. I have had success on whole sardines, though the smaller bite sizes are still better. Remember I want that 10 kg! I have tried sardine on cork at about 2/3 rds of the way down and have not been as successful as thought I would be.

Chicken strips seem to be working better than sardine, but again needs to be constantly retrieved. The action in the water is so life like that they can’t resist it. I have not started fishing with all the other baits, but soon anything will be working. On the art lure side fishing has been really productive, with a lot of fish in the 2, 5 kg range coming out. Again working the shallows and mid water range. Remember to replace the treble hooks with single hooks and a bit of bait tied on really helps too. Colors don’t really seem to matter, though red still the most wanted. The red/white combination, silver, gold and fire tiger colors are probably best to use. Ideal trawling speed is about 2500 rpm. Remember not to trawl in straight line the whole time, vary your direction and sometimes work a pattern e.g. figure of 8. Trawling has really helped us out when fishing quiet. I was speaking to Bramson from Shayamanzi, and he said the gorge is also fishing well on trawling. Colors seem to be similar though did mention orange probably working best for him. He is concentrating against the cliff faces late afternoon, and says the fishing is really only coming on hour an hour before dark. Fish around the 2 – 3 kg mark as seeming to be coming out quiet regularily.

On the fly side, start fly fishing!! No disrespect to the bait and art lure fisherman, but your butts is getting kicked. I cannot remember a day this month when the fly fisherman have not caught more and bigger. I am not going to get too much into it but if you have a fly rod at home and can cast a reasonable distance, bring it down with you. We were fortunate enough to have Jonathan Boulton from Mavungana Fly fishing down with us for about two weeks. He trained up Simphiwe, Dumi and Bonga again, and has really helped them to understand and appreciate fly fishing. The majority of the time Jonathan uses 300g sinking line, though I know he eventually started experimenting with intermediate line too. It s still my favorite line especially when fishing over the Hydrilla beds. Black and olive, black, olive and grey definitely were preferred colors with the reds, oranges etc working too. Think most important thing is to make sure you have chemically sharpened hooks and a variety of sizes too (No 1 – 2/0). Vary the retrieve, but faster is definitely better. Remember don’t strike, just carry on retrieving when you get knocked and inevitably the fish will hook itself. Keep rod tip down and pressure on. 8/9 weight rods normally will do the rest. We fished all depths of water but the 2- 4 m range is ideal. Drop offs are really important too, so fish them well trying all the depths. On the where to fish place, I will say anywhere, but just check water temperature as a degree or two definitely makes the difference at the moment. I am going to be a bit vague on precise places as the competition is coming up soon and don’t want to quiet give all the hot spots away ( heard really catching good fish in the gorge area – ha ha). As you most probably know spawning season is upon us and its quiet evident by the missing scales you will find on the tigers back. Please where possible release these big females.

We are finally getting some results with the gill netting. Kemp and I went out with the SAPS one evening and managed to confiscate a boat and 5 nets. On another occasion the SAPS confiscated another 4 boats and some arrests were made. I definitely seems like we will be getting a permanent water wing for the dam. Unfortunately everything needs to get controlled and hopefully a solution will be found to allow restricted netting , otherwise the way things are going, we won’t have any fish left in the next decade or two. If any is interested in some keen fly fishing guides, speak to Marietjie or myself and were possible we will see if they are available. Simphiwe, Dumi, Bonga and David have all had training.”

Mnini dam fourth annual bass classic
Mnini dam, located within 15 kms of Amanzimtoti is hosting its fourth annual bass classic over the weekend of 4th and 5th September 2010. Thousands of rands are available for the heaviest bass and for the heaviest bags of 5 bass on both days. Entry fee is R150 per angler, maximum 2 anglers per boat and covers both days. Terms and conditions 

Action packed ESA fishing shows on TV
The ESA Saltwater show is broadcast weekly on Thursdays between 19h30 and 20h 30 and the ESA Freshwater show will air weekly on Tuesdays between 19h00 and 19h30.
ESA Saltwater: 02.09.2010: In LBSA Ray helps a worthy cause at the Buddycare Angling Competition. In DSSA Ray is challenged by the ESA editors and has a little competition on his hands. In OSSA Craig is fishing off the Wave Runners at Tinley. 09.09.2010 : LBSA Ray investigates a washed up whale carcass. Catch some DSSA action in Mossel Bay with the Abel, while we check out night fishing in OSSA for geebek.

16.09.2010
This week we visit a familiar ESA face, Abel, in Mossel Bay for LBSA. In DSSA we take a look at fishing off Durban south pier for kingies. Join Craig off Durban catching some fair size geelbek in OSSA.

23.09.2010
We head down the South Coast of KZN for some LBSA action with Dean. We catch up with Abel once again in Mossel bay for some DSSA action.
Join Craig in the Durban harbour for another dose of OSSA action.

30.09.2010
We head back to Mossel Bay to meet up with Abel for some more LBSA action. ay takes us to his favourite north coast spot for DSSA, while in OSSA we take a look at fishing off the KZN North Coast.