Off the Hook: Summer fishing is hotting up
Over the course of last week, Park Rynie and Rocky Bay seemed to be the hot-spots for rock and surf fishermen.
THERE have been some good catches of tuna lately, and although several big game fish such as couta, garrick and dorado were landed, fishermen are still waiting in anticipation for the weather to start warming up a bit more for the summer fish to arrive.
Over the course of last week, Park Rynie and Rocky Bay seemed to be the hot-spots for rock and surf fishermen.
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Even though this has been stressed many times before, a reminder to please clean up after yourself.
There seems to be a handful of fishermen who leave hooks and fishing line on the sand after a day out, and a good couple of metres of fishing line was found at Park Rynie beach over the weekend.
It is of utmost importance to respect marine life and to be responsible while fishing.
All litter must be removed from rocks, river banks and beaches when you leave.
A few other things to take note of for responsible fishing, is to understand and adhere to all fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, closed seasons and closed areas.
You do not choose what type of fish takes your bait, so return any illegal or unwanted fish safely to the water.
Report any environmental damage or pollution where there might be vegetation or stream damage fuel and oil spills or stranded or dead marine life, to the relevant authorities.
Another major concern on the mid-South Coast is the amount of illegal fishing which occurs on a regular basis.
Late last month, a few men were caught fishing illegally with nets in the Umkomaas river.
Illegal fishing can cause a decline in the fish population of a specific area, and this could affect the food supply.
Besides over fishing, those fishing illegally sometimes dump their fishing gear into the rivers or the sea, which adds to the pollution crisis.
Report illegal fishing to either a police officer or to Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife.
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