Fishing reels in old memories for Port Shepstone pensioner

Ganas Pillay (81) from Palmview, Port Shepstone reminisces about his past fishing experiences, recalling the joy and camaraderie of trips with family and friends, particularly, in his younger days.

He remembers specific details such at the types of fish caught, the locations, and even the weather at 04:00.

Pillay was born in Renishaw, Scottburgh in 1944. He moved to Port Shepstone in 1948 and settled along the banks of the Mzimkhulu River with his family. As a young boy, he took up golf and fishing. He also remembers his days as a ‘caddy boy’ and later as a golfer with a handicap of 28.

As an avid angler, he fished along the banks of the Mzimkhulu and at Sandspit in Port Shepstone, from the age of 10. He mastered kite, rock and surf fishing. He remembers bagging over 30 barracuda, 200 salmon and 200 garrick, and numerous other game fishing in his younger days.

Now, Pillay enjoys life at a slower pace.

“These memories often trigger feelings of nostalgia and a longing to relive those moments, highlighting the enduring power of shared experiences in nature. Age has caught up with me, but I still love fishing. Yes, I still fish, but not like I used too. Now, I spend more time repairing fishing reels and rods,” he said.

He added that fishing back in the day was much better compared to nowadays. “There is significantly fewer fish in the ocean now, primarily due to overfishing and pollution. I remember landing two sharks, a hammerhead and a Zambezi, both were about two-and-half-metres each. I have made many friends and still continue fishing with my children and grandchildren,” said Pillay.

He added that pollution along the South Coast is a huge problem and the local authorities need to fix it. “Our coastline is a popular destination, attracting many tourists because of its beaches, activities and natural beauty.”

Tide times
Sunday, August 24: High 04:19; Low 10:25; High 16:37; Low 22:45; best fishing 16:05 to 17:09.
Monday, August 25: High 04:46; Low 10:51; High 17:03; Low 23:12; best fishing 10:19 to 11:23.
Tuesday, August 26: High 05:12; Low 11:16; High 17:29; Low 23:37; best fishing 10:44 to 11:48.
Wednesday, August 27: High 05:37; Low 11:41; High 17:54; Low 00:02; best fishing 11:09 to 12:13.

Remember, responsible fishing is keeping the shoreline as clean as possible and abiding by the bag limits.

Send news or photos to sugann@dbn.caxton.co.za.

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