Another epic week of fishing in KZN
It has been another bumper week of fishing in KZN.
Pictured above: Aatiquah Ballim with a stunning 25kg Kingfish caught off Rocky Bay using a Bonito bait on Wednesday morning - 1 May 2024.
Anglers have experienced an abundance of fish species this week, offering perhaps a taste of what's to come as the season changes to winter.
Edible bait is becoming more prevalent, while sharks are finally giving offshore anglers a fighting chance. As for freshwater, trout fishing appears to be hot this week.
Offshore:
The recent Couta Classic Fishing Tournament saw a lot of decent Couta caught, along with a mix of other gamefish.
Rock and surf:
Summer fishing is starting to give way to early winter. This means switching to smaller, more natural-looking bait rigs and focusing on bait presentation over size.
Freshwater:
The dams and rivers are fishing well. Bass are still the most popular catch, but trout are making their presence felt and carp anglers are having success as well.
Listen to the latest Angler News South Africa podcast at the top of the page or below, and scroll down for some incredible photos of some of the catches.
Pictured above: Steve Pretorious with an absolute beauty of a shad caught off Tugela Mouth.
Pictured directly below: Ricardo Gounder with a Brown Skate caught off Ballito on Wednesday.
Pictured above: Hugo Botha with a massive 58cm trout caught off Matatiele.
Meanwhile, in Monday's episode veteran angler Dave Irvin, with over 30 years of experience in competitive fishing, joined Vinesh Soogreem to discuss the critical role of wind in fishing.
You will be able to find out how wind direction, speed, and interaction with other environmental factors like water temperature, clarity, and upwelling affect fish behaviour and feeding patterns. Plus, you'll learn how northeasterly and southwesterly winds impact coastal fishing for both edible and non-edible species.
Dave also explores how barometric pressure, moon phases, and tides intertwine with wind to create optimal or challenging fishing conditions. Listen below to gain valuable insights to elevate your fishing strategy by understanding the nuances of wind.
[Pictured above: Aatiquah Ballim with a Black Fin Shark caught last week off Ifafa Beach. Note, all non-edible species are Catch & Release.]
Find more episodes of Angler News SA in the full channel below:
More about the Angler News South Africa (ANSA) podcast:
ANSA is Africa's only fishing podcast that focuses on the latest fishing reports, whether they're hot or not. ANSA delivers true and accurate content from the country's most prominent anglers every week on various facets of angling.
• The KZN Fishing Report (Thursdays, 3 PM)
The fishing report kicks off down the Lower South Coast with Adam Lyon, who covers everything fishing-related from Port Edward to Port Shepstone. The news then flows down to the Kingsburg/Illovo stretch, where Gary van Sluys gathers content from the rocks every morning.
For the Durban report, we have two correspondents: Mike Vlcek, a seasoned competitive angler, and Brad Grobbler, known as the East Coast's Davie Jones for the time he spends on the water keeping anglers up-to-date on the week's activities.
North Coast reports from Tongaat to Richards Bay are covered by Jesse Schubach, who not only delivers reports but also provides detailed advice on various aspects of angling. The fishing report rounds off in the Midlands with Jan Korrûbel reporting on all facets of freshwater angling..
This weekly report ends with Vinesh and his reporters sharing their predictions for the upcoming weekend.
• Expert Angling Interviews (Mondays mornings)
Dive deep into the world of fishing with Vinesh's in-depth interviews. Each week, he chats with leading anglers and industry experts, tackling topics that are on every angler's mind. Learn how to read tides and weather, master specific techniques, and even explore the path to becoming a protea angler.
Meet your host, Vinesh Soogreem!
Vinesh Soogreem is a legend in the South African fishing media scene. With over two decades under his belt, he's not just an angler who's explored the KZN waters extensively, but also a passionate communicator who's shared his knowledge through books, magazines, and now podcasts and social media. Vinesh lives by the motto "Fish for the future," reflecting his dedication to both the sport and conservation.
Vinesh's authority on KZN fishing is unmatched. Actively involved in the community since the 90s, he's competed at club and social levels, covered major angling competitions, and earned the trust of the media during the Sardine Run. He currently serves as the National Media Liaison for the South African Surf Casting Association, solidifying his reputation as a key figure in the South African fishing scene.
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