Angling Report

The weather and sea conditions were quite good all of last week but all the attention was on the bad storm that was about to reach the Cape. It was the winds that caused the most damage, fanning the terrible fires creating a disaster situation.
Eleven metre swells were recorded in the storm and it was widely thought that the big swell would move up the coast causing more damage to the local beaches, some of which are already showing signs of erosion. I was talking to a local angler at the weekend who took a trip up to the Tugela north bank because he had heard that some decent fish were being caught in the area. This angler visits the Tugela on a pretty regular basis and said the normally sandy beach is now just solid rock with all the sand bank having been washed away.
During the winter months the local beaches normally become scoured out because of the southerly winds that cause the south to north current that moves the sand built up by the summer north easterly winds. The beaches become dangerous for the surf anglers because of the steep banks that are formed on the shore and it is easy for one to be washed into the sea.
Although not a lot of fish have been caught recently from the beach, the species that have been caught in the rocky areas prove that the water has become deep because of the removal of sand. Anglers have caught spade fish, lantern bream or cave bass and even a few nice sized rockcod. During the past couple of years even red fish have been caught from the beach.
Last week one angler caught a brusher of around 3kg whilst fishing amongst the rocks in the Westbrook beach area, and in the Ballito area a few small shad have been caught. There have also been a couple of small salmon caught in the Tongaat area but anglers were having to fish long and hard and even then some returned home empty handed.
Although it was reported that small shad were being caught at Durban, the regulars that fish the Durban North and Umhlanga beaches report that the fishing is quiet with just a few blacktail being caught. A few of these guys have been trying for garrick using live blacktail but have had no luck. On the other hand, it has been reported that a few big shad, some labotis and salmon have been caught at Tugela. I am not sure whether it is worth the effort and cost of fuel to travel all the way up to the Tugela because I have spoken to a couple of anglers who have done just that and returned home empty handed.
I had a word with a couple of surfski anglers who were fishing for couta off Umdloti and they said that the fishing was quiet. I saw the barometer drop and rise twice last week so maybe the rise and drop in pressure had something to do with the poor fishing.
The residue from the Cape storms could have an effect locally this week and there could be some big seas.
Sealice

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