Angling Report

Some big shad weighing over 4kg have been recorded for the Kingfisher largest shad competition this month but I think that these big blue shad were caught down south as these fish have not as yet turned on along the local beaches. The few shad that have been caught have been on the small side and the early morning anglers have been struggling to record any decent catches.

I was in contact with one of the regular anglers and he told me that he had fished most mornings last week and all he had caught was one shad of 400mm and had seen just a couple of fish caught at the time that he had spent on the beach. Other species that had been caught were a few big mullet, one or two rays and a couple of small stumpies.

I had a word with another local angler who told me the fishing was really good in the same area with a variety of edible fish being caught including a big pompano weighing around 7kg. Fisherman’s stories? I am not sure but anglers have just over a week to catch one or two of the big blue shad that appear at this time of the year.

There will be a great temptation to poach the big shad when they arrive because the perception is that there will be a lack of policing. But most regular anglers I have spoken to say they will not target the shad in the closed season and will switch to fishing for the summer fish that are now appearing in local waters.

The summer flatfish are still being caught along the northern beaches although they are not as yet in great numbers but the warm sea water seems to suggest that it will not be long before these hard fighting fish arrive in numbers. At present there have been a couple of big skates that have been landed and a couple of big sharks have also given anglers tired arms. The appearance of rays along the Durban North beaches is encouraging for anglers that enjoy fishing during the summer months and the signs are that these fish will make an early appearance this year.

News from the offshore anglers is that dorado have been caught around the fads that are placed out deep in secret locations and these sought after game fish seem to have arrived early as well and it could turn into a great gamefish season this year. The swell has averaged around two and a half meters this past week but the winds have not been fresh so fishing out deep was possible. Anglers fishing the northern areas have recorded a few big couta mostly on live baits but I think that the locals will have to wait a while yet before the couta are due to arrive in local waters.

At present anglers are targeting the garrick along the backline with mixed results because of the large surf but I believe a few pretty big garrick have been landed by those that have persevered. Live bait does not seem to be much of a problem with all the small shad around that have been classed as real pests by those seeking other bait species. One surf ski angler fishing the backline off Glenashley beach landed a nice queenfish of 8kg while fishing with a lure and the angler said he had duffed a kingie in the same area on Friday morning.

Conditions for surf launching have not been all that favorable especially for the surf ski anglers but I think that the conditions will moderate nicely this coming week. Anglers looking for the big gamefish should consider the northern areas where some big snoek as well as the big couta have been landed.

Sealice

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