Shad were the standout species along the coast last week as anglers enjoyed excellent fishing conditions.
Cool water below 22°C and settled seas produced good returns, particularly at first light, although large shoals kept anglers busy throughout the day.

The action stretched along much of the coastline, with local favourites from Umhlanga Rocks north to the Tugela mouth producing solid fish.

Encouragingly, many anglers are returning fish alive after reaching the four-fish bag limit. Unfortunately, some continue to ignore regulations and catch shad for sale. Shad are classified as a non-commercial species and selling them is illegal.

The cooler water also suited anglers targeting copper bream and other reef species. Bronzies, stone bream and silver bream were caught, while low-water periods produced plenty of karanteen, some large blacktail and big pinkies.

La Mercy, Ballito, Salt Rock and Tinley Manor all saw good activity.

Night anglers targeting salmon and kob reported a few decent catches, including daga salmon, half-kob and the occasional big stumpie, although peckers remained troublesome in some areas.

Offshore anglers were also able to get back onto the water once the swell settled, although strong currents on some popular reefs made fishing hard work.

Red fish and rockcod again made up the bulk of catches. Bad weather later in the long weekend eventually brought fishing to a halt.

Meanwhile, there are whispers that this year’s sardine run may not be over just yet. Sardines have reportedly been milling off the Transkei coast, apparently undecided about heading north.

A recent front was expected to give them a push, but so far there has been no sign of sardines along the lower South Coast.

Sardines have been netted as late as October in previous years, so netters will continue to keep a close eye on activity near the border. There may yet be another surprise from the silver shoals.