It has been an unusual sardine run this season. Netters enjoyed large catches when the first shoals arrived, followed by several quiet days before another successful spell at Port Edward. After two or three productive days, the fish disappeared again.

That changed last Friday, when a large shoal of sardines was spotted close inshore off Casino Beach near Port Edward. Netters had to wait until the afternoon before the shoal moved within range, marking the return of the sardine run.

Early on Saturday, sardines were netted at Uvongo and St Michael’s, where exceptionally large hauls were landed. Netting continued at Margate and Ramsgate, attracting large crowds as the beaches filled with fish. Anglers fishing near the shoals enjoyed exceptional action, catching sizeable shad on almost every cast.

The excitement continued on Sunday at Hibberdene and Mtwalume in excellent weather and sea conditions. Late reports confirmed shoals off Umgababa, with many experts predicting the sardines will reach Durban waters this week.

Anglers along the lower South Coast also enjoyed outstanding fishing, landing daily bag limits of quality shad. The upper coast was quieter, although Durban and Durban North anglers still reported good catches. The best fishing has been just before first light, with this season’s shad proving larger than usual, some weighing up to 2kg. Smaller shad have also made excellent live bait for garrick.

Garrick continue to be caught from Port Edward to Richards Bay, with many anglers reporting excellent catches in the backline.

As in recent seasons, the fish have been plentiful, with many anglers enjoying success on every outing before releasing their catches. Both live bait and spoons have produced fish, and the improving availability of live bait should further boost catches.

Winter reef fishing is also improving, with copper bream, lantern bream, stone bream, karanteen and sizeable blacktail becoming more active, particularly during low tide.

Ski-boat anglers reported slower fishing on the reefs, although patience has been rewarded with daga salmon, half kob and the usual rockcod and red fish species.

A few barracouta are still being caught, while snoek continue to appear sporadically in the backline. Although baitfish remain plentiful, offshore fishing may stay slow while the sardines remain in the area.