KZN surf fishing update
Kosi Bay - Good reports have been received throughout the week of kingfish being caught on live baits as well as plugs in the Kosi Bay region and towards Sodwana Bay. Some excellent bluefin kingies are being landed on plug as well as drop-shot in the shallows. The outfit of choice here has been an Exceler Saltwater series 10'6" paired with a Daiwa Ballistic 4000. There have also been plenty of bonefish throughout the week, which have taken smaller baits in the shallows and off the sand banks. Anglers who have used these as bait have managed to catch the odd GT or shark. One of our top Zululand lady anglers, Liezel Steenkamp, managed to land a bus of a blackfin shark off a slide bonefish. The shark weighed in at a whopping 65kg and was landed using a Daiwa Saltist BG 50.
Cape Vidal - Anglers have caught some nice raggies at night on big bloody baits off the ledges. Whole mackerel slide baits have also been effective.
Richards Bay -The north side of Richards Bay produced a good number of flatfish, with honeycombs being the main target species. Along with the honeycombs, a few sandsharks and blackfin sharks were landed too. On the South side of Richards Bay, anglers saw a few diamonds, browns and sandies.
Zinkwazi - At Zinkwazi and Blythedale, the fish were not as abundant as the weeks before and due to holiday time restrictions, fewer anglers had lines in the water. At Ballito, the sandsharks were on the bite and anglers also saw some honeycombs and diamonds in the evenings. A few small stumpies were landed during the night on smaller throw baits.
Durban - It is nice to see a high volume of anglers spinning from the Blue Lagoon north banks in the mornings, catching shad and kingfish of decent size. For anglers getting into spinning and looking for a cost effective outfit, be sure to take a look at the new range of Poseidon Power Angler rods, which are available in a 3-piece option for easy storage in any vehicle. These rods matched with a Daiwa Laguna in a size 4000 should have enough power to stop even the most stubborn fish. There were good reports of huge flatfish sighted off the piers, which are targeted far too seldom. Anglers who have targeted them have managed to land some beautiful honeycombs up to 100kg. Of course, bigger bloody baits are the way to go when targeting these fish, with care taken to use the freshest bait possible. If it is edible fish that you are after, then be sure to make your way down to uShaka to target some of the many stumpies and grunter which have been in the area. Red-eye and chokka baits or sea lice have been deadly. Closer to the North Pier, on the extreme low tide, the stumpies have had a good run on sea lice and heavier tackle. Mustad Kendal Round 3/0 has been doing the damage. Mr Sanjay Bharioparsad landed a pompano at Beachwood on 18 Dec 2014, the weight reported was 8kg. In Durban harbour, Brian Naidoo landed a Grunter of 5.10kg on 20 December 2014 from a boat, using cracker shrimp as bait.
Bluff - Here the water has been a few degrees warmer than around Durban and the fish seem to have been more active. Plenty of smaller blacktip kingfish around, as well as bonefish and stumpnose.
Toti - This area has produced some very nice shad recently, mainly on the weekend though. Umkomaas River is flowing strongly and the amount if fish being landed in the area is impressive. Grunter, kob, stumpies and a variety of inedibles from brown skates to Zambezi sharks, but in the moving water, bigger baits are a must.
Scottburgh - Point is fishing well at the moment, if the tides are fished correctly. There have been good lantern fish and sea pike action on smaller baits. Kingies are biting off the pool on spoon or McArthy drop-shot. Umdoni Point has had some good fishing in the mornings, producing bonefish and smaller edibles.
Port Shepstone - This area has been quiet apart from some smaller kingfish which have been landed.
Port Edward - The town has become very busy with fishermen from all over the country and they have been treated to some of the best fishing here for many years. Gamefish are still being caught in good numbers with yellowtail heading the catches taken on live shad and others fishing for the shad with drift baits are being smashed by these fiery feeders. Garrick also appear in the daily reports and are caught with live Shad too. Shad are plentiful at most spots day to day, fishermen filling their bags and spooning is working as well as bait. A great relief is the availability of sardines again after a shortage over the past few weeks. Two rock and surf anglers hooked into yellowin tuna here, one landed over the 20kg mark and the other took Dean Pretorious from Suicide Rock to the main beach nearly two kilometres down the line and when he finally had some command, it was eaten by a large shark right at the swimming beach. Many onlookers witnessed the sad story.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre @kingfisherdaiwa