A monster 36kg couta landed off Zinkwazi on Saturday has anglers hopeful that the long-awaited ‘croc’ season is finally kicking off.

The catch, around 12kg heavier than the couta which won the Durban Ski Boat Club festival a week earlier, is a timely reminder that this time of year is typically ideal for big fish. The game fish season has not been spectacular yet, but plenty of couta are around. Live bait has been hard to come by recently however, particularly mackerel.

Anglers hoping for big shad, garrick and kob may also have to be patient as these species are still being caught regularly in the Transkei and the Eastern Cape.

Following rough seas early in the week, anglers fishing the bottom reefs reported steady catches from Friday, with large Englishman, soldiers and rockcod featuring prominently. Geelbek salmon are increasing on deeper reefs and while it is a little early for daga salmon, some half-kob were also caught.

Closer in, Ballito’s shallower reefs are expected to start producing lantern bream and rubber lips, while the ledges should soon offer moff grunter.

Surf anglers had a quiet week, with a few fish caught at first light and some inedible species in the afternoon and evening periods. Some kob were hooked at Tugela Mouth but word is that the labotes have gone cold.