Angling Report

The weather was more settled last week and the only problem really was the fresh south westerly wind on Wednesday afternoon. Sea conditions were okay during the week but a groundswell moved inshore on Thursday that created some bad surf but the conditions remained fishable.
Surf anglers fishing among the rocks produced most of the edible fish caught last week but there were no spectacular catches except for the first karranteen that I have seen caught in a long long time. These fish once moved up the coast in their millions during the winter months but are now somewhat scarce, I believe mainly through overfishing in the past. Today there is a catch limit that has been important but maybe too little too late because in the past, anglers would catch sackfull’s of these small fish during the low tide periods. The karranteen used to be an important source of bait when fishing in the winter months but today it is rare to see an angler using a karranteen for bait either live or in fillet form.
Blacktail are biting almost everywhere at present but unfortunately, most are on the small side. Live blacktail have produced a couple of medium sized garrick recently from the well known garrick angling spots but these fish do not seem to be plentiful in local waters as yet. But having said that, a few decent garrick have been caught from the beach up north. One or two copper bream have been caught locally along with stone bream and small stumpies but locally the fishing is still a bit quiet.
I have been following the story about the point development and it seems as if the water sport clubs are fighting for survival. The Point Yacht Club and the Durban Ski Boat Club have been operating from this area since long before my time, but they have been notified that they must move within two months. The negotiations with the developers are ongoing but as the commodore of the Durban Ski Boat Club has said, what has been offered is not sustainable. They have been offered temporary premises for two years but these premises have still to be built within the two month period but the club is liable to fund the fitting out of the temporary premises. After the two year period these premises will be removed.
The Clubs will see a fall in membership because, to cover costs, subscriptions will have to be increased substantially. The commodore of the Point Yacht Club has said that they have been offered an area much smaller that they now operate from but although they will not be charged rates for the property, they will have to pay a rental of R108 000 a month subject to annual increases. Other clubs involved are the Paddle Ski Club and Durban Undersea Club. Nothing has been said about the seine netters that have been operating from this area since the days of row boats.
I have heard it said that if the Durban Ski Boat Club survives, it will have an exclusive membership of people with very deep pockets. I feel privileged because I have been able to fish through some of the best years of fishing along the coast, being from the shore or deep sea. As the coast is being “developed”, anglers are becoming like the wildlife. This world is becoming smaller and smaller.
Sealice

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