Amazing black marlin catch from the beach

André Mellet, fishing from the beach at Rocktail Bay, in KZN’s far north, may well have landed the catch of a lifetime.

While spinning with a large chisel nose plug, André hooked and successfully landed a young black marlin – an extraordinary feat by any measure.

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Black marlin are regarded as deep-sea species, and landing one from the shore is nothing short of remarkable, and certainly a contender for catch of the century.

Adding to the excitement, Paul Swift landed a respectable ignobilis kingfish at the Mtunzini banks.

This venue has produced several of these magnificent fish recently, confirming it as a hotspot worth watching.

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Another noteworthy trip was shared by Theo Pillay.

Following the heavy rains over Christmas, Theo and his son Keagan hooked and landed several sizeable barbel in the Mtunzini lagoon.

As the lagoon is normally saline, barbel are not commonly found there.

The recent rainfall likely diluted the salinity enough to allow these predators to venture in – an unusual and interesting occurrence.

Competition angling

The Zululand Shore Angling Association will be hosting its second Postal Round this weekend.

Postal Rounds are fished over an eight-hour period within boundaries set by each individual club.

These locations are chosen based on local knowledge, so members are understandably cautious about sharing details.

Last weekend also saw the South African Shore Angling Association host the Junior Nationals in the Border region.

Conditions were tough, with limited fish landed overall. Local knowledge proved decisive, with Border Rock and Surf claiming victory in both the U16 and U21 categories.

On the local front

We are now in the heart of the Zululand flatfish season.

Anglers targeting larger fish should focus on the beaches at Tugela North Bank, Amatikulu, Mtunzini, Port Durnford, Richards Bay and St Lucia.

For those targeting edibles, Mtunzini is producing decent snapper salmon, well regarded for the table.

Anglers are reminded not to confuse snapper cob with dusky cob, which carries a minimum size limit of 600mm.

Snapper cob can easily be identified by the long, sharp teeth at the front of the mouth.

Get involved

Anglers, residents and visitors are encouraged to share information, sightings or comments with the writer at [email protected]

Whether you’re looking to improve your skills, discover new fishing spots, or become part of a passionate angling community, now is a great time to get involved.

To learn more about the Zululand Shore Angling Association and its affiliated clubs, visit their Facebook page.

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