#FishEagle: Shad are on the bite

As the weatherman predicted, windy conditions prevailed for much of the week, creating rough seas and strong currents.

This made things very difficult for anglers but, is also to be expected in the windy month of August. Fortunately, from first light on Friday morning, weather and sea conditions were good and allowed anglers to get back on the beach for the weekend.

Sardines were netted at Snake Park and at South Beach on Friday and anglers I had a word with now wished they would just disappear.

I am not sure why the netters keep on because everyone has just about had their fill and the selling price is really low. 

Shad were back on the bite at first light on Friday morning and there was a fair crowd fishing the Umhlanga Rocks area from Durban View to the lighthouse.

Most caught their limit bags of 4 fish with the larger shad on the bite near the lighthouse.

All it takes these days is just one cell phone call and anglers seem to arrive from everywhere.

On Saturday morning there was a fair crowd fishing and they caught fish again so the shad have finally arrived.

Garrick angling has improved with several of these hard fighting fish being caught.

A favourite spot is Chaka’s High Rock but anglers just beginning to fish for garrick should rather try other spots like Tongaat River mouth, Machaortwa in front of the Zimbali hotel and the Salt Rock area.

Live bait is a must when fishing for garrick and the perfect time is low tide.

Be prepared to wait in between pulls and be patient.

At the weekend anglers were targeting copper bream, with a few big blacktail among them and a couple of really nice stumpnose as well.

There have also been whispers of a couple of brusher caught by local anglers, so there is something for everyone in the surf amongst the stones.

Offshore anglers were along the backline at the Tongaat River mouth on Saturday morning and this was good to see after a long absence.

The backline can be a little tricky and unpredictable at the mouth itself but a little north in the Zimbali area, the surf is normally quite safe to fish behind as long as one keep one’s wits.

Normally the Umhlanga ski boat guys fish here for garrick and a couple of nice fish have been caught.

Other game fish caught at the weekend were some really decent snoek at Umdloti.

Fillet baits were most popular but many a fillet was snatched by shad along the backline.

The snoek anglers are saying the shad are a real pest.

As always at this time of the year, ski boat anglers fish the deep sea reefs.

Some really nice fish have been caught on the bottom and these include cracker, daga and shoal salmon plus some half-kob, sizable soldiers, slinger and some big rock-cod.

There is plenty of bait to be found on the reefs so all that is needed is some decent weather and favourable seas.

Anglers are reminded about the Kingfisher Biggest Shad competition that is on the go at present.

Apparently, the largest shad so far is in the region of 4.5kg.