Netters were able to continue their winning streak with hauls of sardines until Wednesday last week when the winds shifted, resulting in a quiet day without a single net cast.

Prior to the winds change, South Coast beaches saw several hauls of sardines taken, especially at Isipingo Beach.

Fast-forward to Thursday, cooler and calmer conditions arrived and sardine activity resumed at Karridene and Amanzimtoti.

A large shoal of sardines were seen passing Splash Rock at Port Edward, with small pockets of sardines all along the South Coast.

By Friday, large parts of the South Coast became a hive of activity, netting taking place at Scottburgh, Karridene and Amanzimtoti.The favo

urable conditions carried on until Saturday, but only one net was hauled in at Isipingo while fish remained in patches along the coast.

The main focus remains on the large shoal moving north past Port Edward. It is said the shoal of sardines stretches into the Transkei, with huge anticipation of sardines being netted this week.

Things were just as quiet on Sunday with no news of any netting.

Some sizeable shad were caught during the early hours but as expected sardines did have the effect of quieting down fishing, too.

Although there has been plenty of bird, dolphin and shark activity, there has been very little news of game fish being seen.Anglers spinnin

g from the deep water outcrops have caught a few big garrick, with Cape Yellowtail being landed down South Coast way as well.

The same areas have produced a couple of outsized shad, but the lower South Coast appears to be fished much better than the upper parts.

Umdloti produced some shad, but Umhlanga remains quiet.

Low water conditions during the early morning periods have been one of the reasons why fishing has been quiet. This week’s tide may improve conditions.

Historically, July is a quiet fishing month.

Rocky gullies have been yielding good results last week, where some stumpies were caught by anglers using the drop shot method.

I used to enjoy this method and landed a few nice sized fish.

Copper bream remain the target of choice among anglers fishing gullies, with some sizeable specimens caught.

Rocky Salt Rock has produced some big lantern bream and cave bass, with a number of stone bream and copper bream also caught.

Anglers at Tugela have had excellent results at times. So far, salmon and large shad and garrick have made appearances.

Excellent sport has been had with labotes as anglers fish right in the mouth.

Apparently, the mouth has now narrowed which is a big help to anglers, but unfortunately I think the problem of gill nets will rear it’s head again in the area.

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