The early arrival of dorado, along with catches of yellowfin tuna and wahoo on the South Coast, are positive signs for another excellent gamefish season this summer.

Last week’s hot, humid north-easterlies gave way to a southerly at the weekend, bringing relief from the heat while seas remained settled with a small swell. With the water warming, offshore anglers are adjusting their tactics ahead of the gamefish season.

Bottom fishing remains good, with daga and geelbek salmon, quality half-kob, soldiers and rock cod being caught on popular reefs. Lunchtime north-easterlies made mornings the best time to head offshore. Garrick anglers continue to do well, with live bait, though sometimes scarce, producing the best results.

Surf anglers enjoyed favourable conditions, with water temperatures reaching 23°C early in the week. Stumpies weighing five to six kilograms continue their excellent run this year, with night fishing or the hours before dawn offering the best opportunities. Not fussy feeders, they often take baits meant for shad, salmon and summer species.

Small salmon also featured in last week’s catches, while snapper salmon are becoming more common around river mouths, particularly the Tugela. Reports of daga salmon remain scarce, although anglers seldom publicise these catches. Large to medium grunter and small pompano have also been landed, with Umhlanga Rocks producing good catches.

Grey sharks are increasingly common at local fishing spots, as is typical at this time of year. In previous seasons, they have been known to take almost any bait cast from local beaches.

A few small diamond rays have been reported, with larger rays expected soon. Late afternoons generally offer the best opportunities for targeting rays and sharks.

Night fishing and the hours before dawn continue to produce the best catches, particularly large grunter and salmon. For safety, anglers fishing at night are advised to go in groups.