Calm seas early last week gave North Coast anglers a brief window of ideal conditions before a south-westerly front halted most fishing activity.

A similar pattern is expected this week.

Offshore anglers hooked a few big couta, while the bottom reefs continued to produce a number of really decent soldiers and slinger. Some “snotties” have also been spotted on the shallower reefs.

Further out in the deep, captain fine, half-kob, geelbek salmon and various species of rockcod have appeared. If calm conditions continue, anglers should be able to find those sought-after crocodile-sized couta up north.

The Durban inter-club competition was unfortunately cut short last weekend, but some good fish were pulled in during the calmer moments on Saturday. South Africa is also being well represented in an international offshore competition off Guatemala and keen fishing fans should keep an eye out for highlights and results this week.

Rock and surf anglers have seen fewer returns than their offshore colleagues, with blacktail, rockcod and copper and stone bream making up the majority of catch bags. A few small salmon (kob), sharks and the odd shad were found by those persisting, but it has been patchy.

There were some rumours of some nice pompano off Tinley Manor last week, but these are unconfirmed. Summer flatfish appear to have left for now, even though they normally hang around locally for a few months.

For best results this week, it might be worth trying whole crab, prawn, sealice or even mussel baits to try for pompano or stumpie in good surf conditions.

There has been little of note coming from South Coast anglers, who usually start finding small green shad at this time of year. That shad typically brings shoals of garrick which then steadily make their way up north. So far, garrick have only been found at Inyoni Rocks and Umkomaas. It is still a little early and the summer water temperature remains but the majority of reports from down south are of non-edible activity.

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