Numerous encounters with the ‘taxman’ are making fishing at Westbrook’s reef increasingly difficult, according to seasoned local angler Shaun Reid (43).

An experienced kayak fisherman and member of the Umdloti Ski Boat Club, Reid says shark activity on the reef has escalated dramatically.

“The last two years have been bad, and it’s getting progressively worse. The sharks are crazy at the moment. It’s been a major problem because you just can’t get any fish out.”

Two weeks ago, Reid hooked a blacktip kingfish, but before he could land it, a large Zambezi shark attacked.

“When the kingfish was under my kayak, I saw a huge Zambezi bite it in half. Its head floated up under my kayak. I put the remains in my ski because there was still a lot of meat on the head and I paddled away as fast as I could. I was terrified, the shark was massive and I was covered in blood.”

There have been several encounters this month, including one this past weekend when Reid was “taxed” while targeting GT (giant trevally). One of his fishing partners recently lost a 25kg couta, along with another large catch. Reid has also witnessed a Zambezi devour a hammerhead and a yellowfin tuna after breaching the surface.

In 2024, Reid had his own close call, recalling a shark so large its head was “about two-thirds the size of my Fortuner’s bonnet”.

Known among local anglers as the “GT whisperer”, Reid says he will stop targeting GTs on the reef until March to help protect the species. He believes sharks have become conditioned to associate fishing sounds with food.

“We took the clickers off our reels to stop the noise, but they have adapted. If a fish pulls, you have about two minutes to land it before it’s eaten,” he said.

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