KZN anglers celebrate best weekend of the season
KZN's waters have been teeming with fish inshore, offshore, and freshwater! From record catches to early signs of a great edible season, the latest Angler News South Africa podcast episode has everything you need to know.
This week, we've felt a wind sent by the fishing gods, blessing KZN with an abundance of catches. Despite a touch of an early morning winter bite, anglers are still enjoying the spoils of the summer species, with South Coast, Kingsburgh, and Durban reaping the rewards from these conditions across all facets of fishing.
Listen to the latest Angler News South Africa podcast below, and scroll down the page for some of the highlights.
[Pictured above: Aatiquah Ballim with a Black Fin Shark caught this week off Ifafa Beach. Note, all non-edible species are Catch & Release.]
Offshore Fishing in KZN:
The offshore fishing has been a good combo of bottom fish and gamefish, which has come through at the perfect time as we reach the peak of the ski boat competition season. Couta are plentiful all along the coastline. However, be sure to reel in your catch with a bit of extra muscle as the "tax man" is around for his share of the bounty (referring to sharks). Amongst the Couta, anglers have reported an exciting week of Snoek coming in at good sizes, and if you're planning to feel like Adele and 'Rolling in the Deep', you will find yourself arm-wrestling with some Geelbeck.
Rock & Surf in KZN:
Diamonds aren't just a girl's best friend, especially not between Warner Beach and Addington. If there was ever a time to land a fish from the beach weighing between 30-50kgs, this was it! Reels were screaming for days with non-edibles from the lower South Coast to Durban. Even if you were targeting the good-sized Shad on the bite, you were being stripped by Rays. However, it wasn't all doom and gloom if you were looking for something for the table. The early signs of a great edible season are brewing with a variety of species landed by anglers in the same areas.
Above: Bryan with his first Diamond reeled in off Warner Beach.
Below: Eckhard Potgieter and friend with a great morning's haul of Snoek off the rocks.
Freshwater Fishing in KZN:
The freshwater fishing has seen great fishing in all facets with slower but still exciting Bass action, big Carp, and Trout mania. With the near-30-degree temperatures earlier in the week, summer seems to be keeping its toe firmly in the door. Temperatures have ameliorated somewhat since then, so let's hope that it continues to do so, as autumn time is running out fast! Perhaps more importantly, we are headed into winter with probably the best water supply in recent history – the Mgeni System is at FSL (Full Supply Level), with pretty much all the dams in the system across the board showing 100+% capacity. Long may it last... and there appears to be a spit and spot of rain still to come this weekend. On a side note, we only have six weeks until the river season closes, so make the most of it while the summer sun shines.
For a greater insight into this week's fishing report, make sure to listen to our podcast (Angler News SA) and tune in on Monday where we are talking about Understanding Winds with Dave Irving. Listen on East Coast Radio under the podcast tab or your favourite podcast app.
Until next week, always remember to keep your fishing area tidy, respect your bag limits, and Fish for the Future.
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, 6 AM)
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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