This last Saturday saw great catches off the boats and Ski ’s in and around the Durban area.
Terry Nel tells me this last week gone bye down Port Edward area a variety of fish came out off the reefs, banded galjeon, stone bream and wrasse together with karrenteen and blacktail.
Sunil Pillay did tell me he landed a lovely raggie last week down in Port St Johns of over 250kgs, which was his only bite in three days though!

Angling
This last Saturday saw great catches off the boats and Ski ’s in and around the Durban area. Mostly shoal size couta were being caught but there were some bigger fish amongst them. This game fish season continues to supersede the previous 3 years with more couta, tunny and dorado caught. Getting to the nitty gritty of what’s been happening…

Terry Nel tells me this last week gone bye down Port Edward area a variety of fish came out off the reefs, banded galjeon, stone bream and wrasse together with karrenteen and blacktail. Dean tells me there have been some “screamers” off some of the points stripping the occasional angler to the drum. Some hounds have been coming out but the problem with all this north easterly wind is one day the fish will feed, the next they won’t…I don’t even think the fish know what to do with all this north easterly!

Estuaries are still producing fish with rock salmon and perch being the main target species. Shad are few and far between but when the water warms up, catches are expected.

Sunil Pillay did tell me he landed a lovely raggie last week down in Port St Johns of over 250kgs, which was his only bite in three days though! He was using he much love combination of the Daiwa Saltiga 50 Reel and Poseidon HMG Extra Heavy Rod.

Come to think about it I haven’t heard much other news from down Transkei area for quit a while… Raymond De Bryan is doing a guided trip at Mazzeppa bay at the moment so I’ll get an update soon.

There were some bites to be had on the “upper South coast” area last week Wednesday and Thursday (the only 2 real fishable days) with some sandy’s, browns and honey’s coming out. This last Saturday Alan Botha landed a ribbon tail ray of thirty odd kilos off Scotborough. Alan was using the most modern style outfit which has taken the competitive anglers by storm, a spinning reel (coffee grinder) and braid. He was using a Daiwa Saltiga Surf 4500 reel with 50lb braid. This method gives anglers an advantage of throwing a good distance with no stress of bunches, a sensitive bite and less drag in the water due to the thin diameter of braid! Even Springbok anglers are using grinders now, times are changing!

Craig Stubbs and I took a charge up to Mtinzini last Thursday but I knew we were being optimistic…surgy seas and plenty weed made for a short and unsuccessful trip. There is still no news from up there as the conditions just haven’t been perfect yet...and for the diamond smashes they have to be perfect!

The harbour has been very quiet…There have however been some big eye kingfish around with smashes being heard in the dark.

Off the boats (like I said before) there has been plenty action! Saturday in particular produced a lot of fish. Most of the reports came from close to the Durban area, this is due to the fact that big seas have prevented anglers launching anywhere else beside the protected waters of Durban!

There was a paddle ski competition this last weekend up Salt Rock way, few anglers actually launched with some taking a beating on there attempt to get out. Apparently few fish were caught…

The middle south coast has been throwing lots and lots of couta over the last week, lots! Obviously being caught off the boat and the Ski…

Aliwal Shoal has been on fire again but the crowds of Jet Ski’s and boats have been out of control.

Since then the North Easterly has been blowing continuously; cooling the water and turning it “off colour” which is generally no good for pelagic species such as couta. I launched on Tuesday but the water was cold and brown, I had a couple bites but only managed one snoek on my couta bait!

The Natal "A" team are currently competing in the nationals down in Cape Town! I’ve just spoken to Kyle Simpson and he caught a nice raggie of 80kgs with lots of bites to be had. The South Easterly wind has been howling down there and that’s the wind you want for the sharks. Natal is leading the pack with a commanding lead and Natal’s Deon Naidoo is currently holding top weight!

Looking ahead for some possible angling sessions, some of you are probably thinking you should have launched this morning…and predicting from now…that is the case! A decent south westerly was supposed to have blown yesterday which should warm and clean up the sea. In my next report I’ll let you know if I caught fish!

Tomorrow does however look a peach of a morning so all isn’t lost! If you half considering launching then do so. Sunday is looking pretty average for the boat. For Rock and Surf its looking iffy on Saturday for non edibles but if you are going to throw a spoon for a snoek from the side then I do fancy your odds…and if you don’t get a snoek you’ll most likely hook a paddle skier!  Sunday afternoon is looking good for non edibles.

And just to wet your appetite, the crayfish season is officially open…so get your license and gear and go get some for bait or the braai! Make sure you stick to your daily limit of 8 though…

If you do wet a line, try keeping our beaches and sea free of trash and always leave the area better then you found it…Tight lines