Fish Eagle / Angling Report

The wind blew both from the north and south this week which created bad and then good fishing conditions.

Only a few anglers could be seen on the beaches trying their luck during the week but from Friday the sea and weather conditions were ideal.

There were three ski boats fishing on Stud Rock on Friday morning and I watched the guys through my binoculars for about two hours but did not see any fish boated.

I also had a word with several surf ski anglers during the weekend and they all reported negative catches except for a couple of bonnies and a few sharks.

I really don’t know what has happened to the couta this season, but there is still time before the winter sets in.

Anglers were telling me that there are still some nice bottom fish feeding but the problem is picking the right day for fishing on the bottom as the winds have been causing strong currents out at sea.

The usual reds and rockcod have been found on many reefs as well as half-kob.

A skipper told me that he has been taking some very nice sized lantern bream in the Ballito area.

One of the Durban boats that were fishing deep out on Friday morning apparently caught some big trawl soldiers and captain fine rock cod.

Rock and surf angling was pretty quiet last week at the local spots, but a friend who was fishing in the Virginia area said that a few small pompano have been caught there recently on sealice baits.

The fish were generally small however, measuring between 25 and 30cm.

The Blue Lagoon area, which is normally very busy, is quiet at present.

This will change however when the small shad make an appearance but for now things are dead in this area.

Normally at this time of the year anglers catch small salmon in the evenings and early mornings.

All the guys that I have spoken to say that they have not seen any salmon, but I am sure that a few have been caught somewhere locally.

I did hear that anglers fishing the Tinley area have recently been smashed up by big fish from time to time but nobody knows what these fish are.

Down on the South Coast they say that the fishing is quiet with only a few big blacktail being caught from the rocky outcrops.

Apparently a couple of these fish are real bombers like the fish that are caught in the Transkei.

There has been little news of shad and as yet there are no garrick, although it is still a bit early. At this time of the year one must keep an eye out on what is happening down south because this can be a good precursor of things to come locally.

The tides will be ideal for the pompano this coming week so patient anglers should make use of any good weather and sea conditions and they could come right with a big fish.

At present it is really pleasant on the beach during the early mornings and throughout the day as well, but this will not last for too long.

Anglers should remember that the pompano do not usually feed at first light and they are normally caught well after sunrise.

I am looking for a bonito or a kawa-kawa to use for bait during the coming winter season so if there are any offshore anglers that want to get rid of a bonnie, please call me on 073 012 8160 and I will gladly take it off you.

Sealice