Big swells of up to five-and-a-half metres made for challenging fishing last week, but there was occasionally good sport to be found.

Some decent Garrick catches were recorded before the onset of heavy seas earlier in the week, with the majority found at Blue Lagoon and in smaller numbers heading north. Live bait has proven most effective, but there were Garrick hooked on spoon and plug as well. Locally, the typical hot spots at Tongaat, Chaka’s High Rock, Tinley Manor, Blythedale and Tugela Mouth are ‘right place, right time’ at the moment, but it is worth persevering.

Shad were few and far between last week but local anglers recorded the best of what was on offer, with a couple of decent fish of between 4kg and 6kg hauled in. There have been some concerns have been raised about potentially dwindling stocks of the species however, and anglers are reminded to observe the closed season in October and November when shad spawn.

Brusher continue to provide excellent sport around Durban’s Bluff where fish weighing up to 6kg are being regularly caught. The species has been less common locally, but the areas to try include the rocky outcrops north of Westbrook Beach, Ballito, Salt Rock, Sheffield and of course, the rocky La Mercy stretch. Copper bream are slowly increasing in numbers and should be found in similar conditions to the brusher.

Anglers looking for non-edible action should look northwards where the sandies and big rays are beginning to show. It has mostly been small sandies to start, but there were a few big ones caught north of the Tugela. It is early days yet, but anglers are encouraged by what they have seen so far and the rising water temperature will also help.

Some excellent daga salmon were caught offshore and the guys have not had to travel far to find these fish, with plenty of bait available on the reefs too. Red fish and rockcod are still available in numbers, while Garrick and snoek have been hit or miss along the backline.

More wind is forecast for this week, so fishing time will be limited once again.

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