Couta and Dorado off the Bluff

BLUE LAGOON – The guys spinning from the surf and pier have been getting the odd kingfish and shad on the Maria Duplex casting lures and Max Raps.

DURBAN – Durban beachfront has produced far less than neighboring beaches but still in the game with skates and sandsharks coming out after dark on throw baits. Spinning outfits such as the Daiwa Windcast Z5000 spinning reel, loaded with 48lb Triple Fish Gator braid and a 14’ Daiwa Saltist Spin 4oz rod, seem to be doing the trick.

BLUFF – The heavy tackle users have been taken to the cleaners by what are possibly big honeycomb or ribbontail rays and in the Toti area sandsharks and brown skates are giving the guys a very good run for their money.

UMKOMAAS – Most areas are covered with anglers due to the good fishing stories and sandsharks seem to be the main target.

SCOTTBURGH – Grey sharks have moved into the area and are quite keen on any fish bait. These sharks are all between 5 and 15kgs and are great sport on spinning tackle.

TRANSKEI – Transkei has seen great fishing as far as inedible fish go with a number of hammerhead sharks that readily take slide Chokka baits.

SKI BOAT – Fishing has slowed down over the last week due to the strong Easterly winds. The water has turned green and choppy.

NORTH – Areas such as Sodwana, Mapelane and Richards Bay have been producing a decent amount of black marlin between 70 and 130kgs. Couta are still around but in small numbers.

CENTRAL – There has been a lot of talk about The Kingfisher’s range of Rattler lures. These tried and tested lures have outperformed or equaled the performance of all diving lures on the market. Rattlers are half the price of other leading diving lures, which means two things. Firstly one can have double the variety in the tackle box for less and secondly, you don’t cry when your favorite lure and currently hooked fish is being taxed. Durban anglers are quickly learning this and now move whenever the sharks are present. The fish in the deeper water are few and far between but are not troubled by sharks. Last week most anglers got bites at Umdloti but most were taxed. The good news is that dorado have been moving with the warmer water out deep.

SOUTH – The Bluff has surprised us with some quality dorado and couta. The Bluff area has seemed to warm up faster than surrounding areas and this leads us to think that is the reason for the sizeable catches.

DURBAN BAY – Our harbour really comes alive this time of the year with everything from grunter to springer, rock salmon to sharks. We have had reports of a few nice flat fish with some anglers having hooked into several in one session. Grunter are plentiful on smaller baits such as cracker. Kingfish seem to be frequently in the shallows around structures and readily take top water lures such as the Strike Pro Tai Stick and McArthy Drop Shots.

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

- Kingfisher Report

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