ROCK & SURF
With improving weather conditions and the sea slowly warming up, a better variety of fish are now being caught along the KZN coastline. Shad however are still on the rampage and some specimens up to the 6 kg mark have been landed at various spots along the coast by anglers targeting other species especially those who are using live bait. Summer flatfish in the form of skates and sand sharks are now being caught. There are already reports of some big sand sharks in the 30 kg to 40 kg mark being landed during the course of last week end. This could be a welcome return after the dismal run anglers had last year. Anglers fishing along the Umkomaas to Illovo stretches have had a variety of good edible fish lately. Some good size kob are being landed at night and smaller kingfish, queen fish, garrick and the odd pompano have been accounted for by anglers fishing the daylight hours. Brusher are still being caught in the Doonside and Twini ledge areas where some good fish in the 10 kg mark were landed recently.

The North Coast is also producing some good brown skates and some bigger sand sharks. It should not be too long before the first of the annual diamond skates arrive. The Durban area has gone a little quiet apart from the odd kob and grunter being reported. Obviously shad in this area is still a problem for authorities as self proclaimed ‘subsistence’ anglers show little regard for the law.

The Transkei areas are slowly winding down as far as the garrick run is concerned as there are very few reports filtering through from this area, particularly the Port St Johns area where there have been some very good catches lately. Kob however is there for anglers who fish long night hours.

FISHING COMPETITIONS
Toyota Angling Club fished our 4th round for the year on Sunday 02.11.2008 and these are the results. They had a total of 104 anglers who attended however the fishing conditions was not favourable and only 13 fish were landed. Report kindly supplied by Nat Govender from Toyota.
Catches for the Round
1. Preven Pillay from Services with a giant sand shark 30.6kg’s
2. Jeremy Fick from Engine Plant with a rock cod 3.8kg’s and a
brown skate 16.5kg’s.
3. Paddy Hall from Engine Plant Brown with a skate 10.7kg’s and a
lesser sand shark 2.9kg’s.
Top Anglers for the Round was Preven Pillay from Services with 30.6 weight points.
Team Results for the Round:
1. Engine Plant with 8 points, 2. Services with 7 points and 3 TDM with 6 points.

There is one more important item which Nat would like to mention: The Toyota Angling forth coming Annual Meet, which will be from 20 - 22 Feb 2009 will be called the George Simpson Annual Meet. In memory of George who was the founding member of the club and was a good friend to all at the club.

KWAZULU-NATAL COAST ANGLERS UNION Competition dates and nationals for 2009.

SKI BOATS & FISHING SKI'S
Ski Boats are slowly switching there attentions away from bottom fishing and starting to target game fish which seem to have arrived a little early. Dorado, although not in great numbers have been landed by Durban based ski boat and the odd specimen has been reported from the Aliwal shoal and Protea bank grounds. These venues have reported some good tunny catches and a few specimens in the 30 kg mark have been landed. More good news is that divers at the Aliwal shoal have seen shoals of couta and wahoo.
For the Fishing ski fraternity who over the past few months has been particularly frustrated the first snoek have been caught along the Umgeni area. With improving weather conditions it should not be too long before the Scottburgh and Umdloti areas produce the long awaited couta.

KINGFISHER FISHING CLINICS
The Kingfisher hosts free fishing clinics on their premises, 53 Hunter Street, Durban once a month (except for the month of December). The Kingfisher also host a Paddle Ski Fishing clinic by Markham Pollard, a Rock and Surf clinic run by Ivan Stopforth and a Drop Shot clinic by Lloyd Pereira. These Clinics are very informative and covers all the basics, including equipment, knots, bait presentation, and tactics. These free clinics are there to help beginners and experienced anglers to see what the sport is all about and how to target certain species of fish. It also shows anglers what equipment to use and also elaborates on safety. These are very popular so book early to avoid disappointment. To book for one of these free clinics phone the Kingfisher on 031- 3683903.

REMINDER
Don’t forget that the crayfish season is closed and permits will have to be renewed again next year when the season opens again. We will remind you closer to the time.

CORRECTION

Vasie Naicker with a shad of 4.832kg’s caught at Isipingo. in September 2008. Vasie took first prize for the month of September.(Last month we unfortunately had the incorrect name with the photo, our apologies) and won himself a 14’ Kingfisher Poseidon 5pc Graphite Rod, valued at R1, 585.00 in The Kingfisher “Biggest Shad Competition”.