Some popular angling spots around Chaka’s Rock are experiencing dwindling angler numbers because of crime, specifically cars being broken into and robberies.

High Rock has always been a bit of a dicey area, especially with cars being broken into, which is unfortunate as the area is a really good fishing spot, especially for shad and garrick.

Despite perfect weather conditions fit for sardine activity, not a single one of the silver fish was netted during the first half of last week, although shoals were spotted on the South Coast.

Netters sprung into action at first light last Thursday to land a nice net haul at Isipingo, with Friday seeing birds diving and feeding at Amanzimtoti.

But the fish were again out of range of the netters, and weren’t Natal sardines to begin with either, but instead red eye sardines which presently remain plentiful.

Rock and surf angling fluctuated last week, the main reason likely linked to there being plentiful food in the water with the sardines.

Popular Margate had its moments, but even this normally productive area was quiet on occasions.

Some big shad were caught at first light and during the late afternoons, but only by a select few. Some big garrick were also caught.

Further up the coast it was a similar story, with the exception of some copper bream and stone bream caught along with plenty of karanteen and blacktail.

During the darker hours, kob, some stumpnose and some big grunter were caught. Umkomaas seems to have good activity, but a large crowd fish the area.

Isipingo and surrounding areas had some good catches of shad, plus the odd garrick.

The Durban beachfront remains quiet, aside of Blue Lagoon which was a hive of activity.

Again the target was shad which proved to be the majority of fish caught, but included some nice garrick and one daga salmon weighing in at 30kg.

Further north Umdloti seemed to be returning to life with shad moving in, with also some big blacktail making an appearance.

Surf ski anglers have also been scoring snoek at Umdloti but passing sardines have at times ruined fishing.

La Mercy has also proven to be popular among anglers who target copper bream, but again fishing was quiet often.

La Mercy has recently produced some big spade fish, along with some nice lantern bream, blacktail and karanteen at low tide.

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