Fishing Report - Queenfish at Aliwal Shoal
We have been told of good queenfish action at Aliwal Shoal and of big grunter success in Durban harbour over this past week.
Durban harbour has come to life in the recent weeks with last week being no exception. Charter boats have reported a number of good catches around the harbour in various spots of grunter up to 5kg. They have also reported snapper salmon, huge Malabar rockcod and plenty of others in the mix. It was good to see that most of the boats who set out came back with some good fish, including the anglers from the boats who had a chance to use some spinning gear and had good success with the rockcod, kingfish and torpedo scad close to the harbour mouth area. It seemed that the fish were feeding closer to the ground and drop-shot such as 5" McArthy Minnows or the smaller paddletails were being cast out and allowed to sink and retrieved with an erratic action along the bottom. This presentation around the rocks can be deadly for the Malabar rockcod and rock salmon. However, one should stock up on lures and jig heads before attempting this as the target species tend to run straight for the rocks once hooked, which can lead to tackle loss.
In the deeper water there have also been good catches of grunter which have been caught more and more over the last week. A two hook trace seems to be the best option in the deeper waters and have been accountable for most of the reported catches. The Mustad Mosquito hook is the best option for this presentation as the hooks light gauge tends to give the baits a far better action in the water.
Many marlin were landed over the last week and weekend throughout the entire Zululand region as well as down the coast out in the deep as well as some fish in surprisingly shallow water. Good reports of Natal snoek on backline and slightly deeper water off Maphelane being landed on strip baits with pink dusters and also small Rattlers, Halco sorcerers and chrome spoons. For those lucky enough to have some of the 18g Anchovy spoons, there was no better option. Most snoek have been between 2kg and 6kg with reports of larger fish being landed on fillet strip baits. Couta have been on the bite throughout the week, many of which have been landed from St Lucia and Cape Vidal on live baits. Bonito seems to be the best bait at the moment - preferably live.
Dolphin Coast has produced plenty of gamefish over the last week, seeing the majority of them coming out of either live baits or diving lures. With the introduction of the new Rattler 120 range to the already popular Rattler diving lure selection, kayak anglers will be extremely happy to know that there is now a range of lures which are able to be trawled at a much higher speed with the same excellent results. Available in five new mouthwatering colours, the new range has already been tried and tested and has proven to be a winner. The best seller - the 150 Range has also received a new set of colours which will come into use for this winter's yellowfin tuna and couta on the north coast.
The annual Durban Ski Boat club Festival is being held this weekend and has been the talk of the town for the last few weeks as eager anglers prepare for this anticipated event. There have been a few couta coming out around Durban, most of which are being kept on the down-low in order to reserve spots for the comp. Most of these fish have been coming out off the Bluff and close to the Cutting and also on the north coast closer to Umhlanga and north towards Umdloti. Live walla-walla and live shad have been the two most effective baits. Failing the capture or purchase of walla-walla, bonito has been an ideal substitution.
Further south has seem good catches of Queenfish on Aliwal Shoal. They have been landed on McArthy drop-shot and also live bait.
There have been good catches of kingfish at Mtwalume on live bonito.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
Twitter - @kingfisherdaiwa @SportswaveAndre
In the deeper water there have also been good catches of grunter which have been caught more and more over the last week. A two hook trace seems to be the best option in the deeper waters and have been accountable for most of the reported catches. The Mustad Mosquito hook is the best option for this presentation as the hooks light gauge tends to give the baits a far better action in the water.
Many marlin were landed over the last week and weekend throughout the entire Zululand region as well as down the coast out in the deep as well as some fish in surprisingly shallow water. Good reports of Natal snoek on backline and slightly deeper water off Maphelane being landed on strip baits with pink dusters and also small Rattlers, Halco sorcerers and chrome spoons. For those lucky enough to have some of the 18g Anchovy spoons, there was no better option. Most snoek have been between 2kg and 6kg with reports of larger fish being landed on fillet strip baits. Couta have been on the bite throughout the week, many of which have been landed from St Lucia and Cape Vidal on live baits. Bonito seems to be the best bait at the moment - preferably live.
Dolphin Coast has produced plenty of gamefish over the last week, seeing the majority of them coming out of either live baits or diving lures. With the introduction of the new Rattler 120 range to the already popular Rattler diving lure selection, kayak anglers will be extremely happy to know that there is now a range of lures which are able to be trawled at a much higher speed with the same excellent results. Available in five new mouthwatering colours, the new range has already been tried and tested and has proven to be a winner. The best seller - the 150 Range has also received a new set of colours which will come into use for this winter's yellowfin tuna and couta on the north coast.
The annual Durban Ski Boat club Festival is being held this weekend and has been the talk of the town for the last few weeks as eager anglers prepare for this anticipated event. There have been a few couta coming out around Durban, most of which are being kept on the down-low in order to reserve spots for the comp. Most of these fish have been coming out off the Bluff and close to the Cutting and also on the north coast closer to Umhlanga and north towards Umdloti. Live walla-walla and live shad have been the two most effective baits. Failing the capture or purchase of walla-walla, bonito has been an ideal substitution.
Further south has seem good catches of Queenfish on Aliwal Shoal. They have been landed on McArthy drop-shot and also live bait.
There have been good catches of kingfish at Mtwalume on live bonito.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
Twitter - @kingfisherdaiwa @SportswaveAndre