The much anticipated sardeines are on their way up the coast!

Last Wednesday thousands of gannets were seen diving in the waters of the lower Transkei, and on Friday a shoal of sardines 3km long was spotted at Mazeppa.

Last year similar sightings in the same area were recorded mid-May.

The water temperature along the local coastline at present ranges between 22 and 23 degrees, which is still a bit warm.

Last season many shoals of sardines moved up the coast but out of range of the netters and shore anglers, the reasons attributed to the murky inshore water and similar temperatures now in play.

As an aside, it was noted on Monday morning that foreign fishing vessels have been detected gathering on the migratory path of the sardines but are still far out to sea.

Other news from last week was of garrick being caught at Blue Lagoon, suggesting another amazing winter garrick season.

Anglers will recall the garrick were “thick’ last winter and even the most inexperienced anglers made good catches.

Ski boat anglers caught garrick on every outing and it was basically the same for the rock and surf brigade.

Big shad came out strong, caught by anglers using baits, lures and spoon. It is unusual for big shad to be around locally at this time of the year, but for a while now the seasons as we know them are all mixed up and difficult to forecast.

Anglers targeting pompano recorded good catches as sea conditions have been perfect for the species. They avoid rough surf.

Crayfish baits are the preferred bait but sealice, mussels, crab and even chokka can be used to lure pompano.

Anglers fishing in the dark are still finding salmon or kob on the bite. Salmon have been patrolling local waters from some time now and should continue to make up anglers catch bags during the winter.

A couple of nice-sized stumpies were caught in the dark last week, so fishing at night continues to be productive even though a fair amount of grey sharks are also being caught.

I think everyone has heard of the big 179kg zambie landed at Umdloti. It was caught on a live grey shark bait, and interestingly the angler was using a “coffee grinder” reel.

The offshore gamefish season continued with some big barracouta caught last week. Although couta traffic seems to have sunsided, those hauled in were all on the big side.

From now on, anglers targeting snoek or couta will be able to persevere on the backline for the garrick now arriving when the other gamefish go off the bite. All it takes is a live bait, spoon and even a plug to hook one of these hard-fighting fish.

The Tongaat River mouth stretch to Ballito is bound to become busy in the near future but fishing for garrick along the backline can be a little nerve-wracking, especially if a north-easterly winds chop up the surf and the backline becomes unpredictable.

This week’s long-range weather report consists of light north-easterly winds through the week up until Friday, when a southerly wind is forecast.

The north-easterly will probably cool down the water temperature somewhat but the early morning periods before first light is probably the best time for anglers wanting to wet a line.

The fishing may be a bit slow but there will be the chance of catching a decent sized shad and even a salmon before first light. If the water remains calm, then pompano should be back in the surf and another outsized fish could be waiting for a lucky angler.

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