#FishEagle: Bigger shad yet to come

Fishing was most productive last week at first light most mornings, with shad making up the majority of anglers’ catch. 

But just like last season, not all popular fishing spots were producing results.

Ballito is one of the productive spots along with Umdloti and Umhlanga Rocks.

Despite producing some nice catches, the South Coast has become somewhat uncomfortable with popular angling beaches being crowded.

Shad again leaned toward fresh fillet bait but, there were a few nice fish taken on spoon as well.

A few sizable shad are patrolling our waters with the leading catch to date in the Kingfisher competition being caught just before the weekend.

This shad weighed in at some 5.77kg, and was caught at Treasure Beach, but I am sure that there will be a few larger ones yet to come on the bite before the competition closes at the end of the month.

Garrick have also been on the bite, along with a few kob. 

Anglers enjoying fishing at night say that the present curfew is really hampering the sport, especially those hoping to catch some of the larger kob.

Sharks have also offered some good sport just before dusk.

Some have been lucky to land medium-sized brushers while trying for bronzies.

Meanwhile, copper bream continues to create interest and this year has proven to be another good season for these popular angling fish.

I again saw a few plus-sized blacktail last week and one angler had two really nice lantern bream which were caught at La Mercy. 

Rock gully anglers had problems of their own when a north easterly wind pulled through on Sunday.

These winds tend to move the sand around on the ocean floor with gullies becoming badly sanded and useless for fishing.

Another great season has been predicted for up north this year, with a few summer flatfish already having been caught.

Apparently small sand sharks are already plentiful and they have already found their way down south and into local waters.

Other species caught up north include large garrick, a few big shad and some big salmon at some of the river mouths.

I heard that there have been a few big grunter caught but anglers did not say where these were caught, for obvious reasons.

Choppy offshore conditions gave anglers a run for their money at times last week but, some decent catches of bottom fish were recorded.

Among these were captain fine rockcod, daga salmon and a few geelbek with the usual reds such as soldiers and slinger.

Apparently there is plenty of bait to be found on the shallower reefs.

Shad are still making a nuisance of themselves destroying tackle being used to catch the baitfish.

In some areas, anglers have encountered currents at sea that have made for some difficult angling and on two days last week there were complaints of cold water which kept the fish off the bite.

Because of the windy season which is in full swing at present, anglers have to watch weather reports carefully so as not to be caught at sea in a big wind.

Anglers are reminded that shad season is due to close at the end of September and will reopen at the beginning of December.

Also be vigilant once at the beach. Criminals are back at work, breaking into vehicles and stealing what they can.