Durban harbour pickhandle barracuda

After a long period of time where there were very few pickhandle barracuda around, there have been hundreds caught on light spinning tackle around the harbour on the boat and off the side. BAT Centre Pier has been one of the more productive spots in the last week, seeing plenty of light tackle enthusiasts getting their fair share of fish between 0.5kg and 2kg. Most anglers have made use of smaller McArthy paddletails in natural colours, fished relatively slowly. Poppers have been working well too, mainly on the calm days where the poppers are noticeable. Spoons can also be used. However, a slower retrieval is required. All of the above mentioned lures can be used for other species but need to be fished slightly faster or with a more erratic action.

On the piers too, anglers have had plenty of fun when targeting flatfish such as diamond and brown rays. Cracker shrimp has worked well for these fish. A slightly larger bait such as red-eye cutlet has also been working very well. The boat anglers have also run into some rather large flatfish over the last week while targeting grunter in the shallows.

A few good sized grunter have also been taken on cracker on the banks as well as in the deeper water around the mouth. Closer to the rocky areas near the mouth, there have been quite a few rockcod caught on bait during the evenings.

(File Photo: Office of the KZN Premier)

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