ROCK AND SURF
FISHING REPORT 21st FEBRUARY 2009.
Heavy seas over the past week and week end had most shore anglers repairing tackle instead of fishing. However before the big seas set in some good angling was to be had especially along the Isipingo to Doonside areas where anglers fishing for Pompano had some good catches. Toti rocks produced quite a few nice size fish but the prize fish was landed at Doonside when Vernon Lantz landed a monster fish of 13,5 kg, this fish is just off the SA record by the smallest of margins.
The week end forecast looks promising for all forms of shore based angling. Fishing in Durban Bay is still as good as it gets with the main target specie being Grunter.
There are plenty smaller fish being caught on a regular basis by pier based anglers as well as the boating fraternity. It is the light tackle boats that are having a field day as far as the bigger fish goes, many fish up to the 7kg range have been reported.
Angling from Durban piers is also stepping up a gear as reports have started filtering in of some small snoek being caught on the ‘drop-shot’ method. Shad however remain a little scarce in these areas.

Ski-Boats and Fishing Ski's
Ski boats that fished out of Durban harbor report some very good catches of Dorado in particular. Couta and smaller Tunny have now made an appearance along the Umdloti stretch which should provide some alternative to the long haul to catch the Dorado. The south coast for the best part of last week was very dirty with huge swells and no positive reports have come from that area. Prospects that this area will clean up for the week-end look good and hopefully the fish are back on the bite.

Rory da Silva
Rory da Silva has sent in this info about the New Hanover Schools Bass Compo. “This is the 6th year the comp has been running and last year we saw a record turnout of 712 anglers of all ages. This is one of the best if not the best comps of this kind around. (Organised and run as only people with a passion and commitment for their school can do)
Date:   
Saturday 14th March 2009
Venue: 
Dalton/New Hanover area in the Midlands.
The competitors will have 12 dams to choose from with a prize for biggest fish being allocated to a senior and junior per dam.
Registration:  
 5.30am at Torwoodlea Dam lines up at 16h00. Pre entries receive a free Tee shirt (before 28 Feb 2009) 
Pre Registration:   
New Hanover Prep School, Dalton Brokers or by contacting, Jurgen Oellerman on 0827858166 or fax 0866946748. Cliff Torlage 0828807088 or 033 5011521.
Cost:   
Seniors is R80/angler and R50/junior (13 and under as of 14th March 2009)                  
Facilities available:    Breakfast, lunch and supper, and a full bar facility is available. A variety of accommodation is available in the area.” If people want an entry form they can contact the above or
email Rory and he will send one via return email Rory’s email address is reds@cookeandson.co.za

Fishing review
January 2009 Fishing Report  for Lake Jozini, thanks Ryan Tippett from  Shayamoya Game Lodge for this report.

“Well, 2008 has already come and gone and 2009 has brought good rains. The weather has started to get really hot. Due to the heavy rain, (They had over 140ml) the muddy water has rapidly pushed out into the main dam. The conditions can be expected to change suddenly as they are expecting more heavy rains. Ryan finds the ginger-beer coloured water to be good for fishing as the tigers seem to feed well in it and they seem less suspicious of bait and lures than when the water is very clear. This is the water between the really muddy stuff and the clean, clear water.

The water temperature has also picked up now and sits at around 28 degrees. As the days are getting so hot it is imperative to head out early because by 9.00 the fishing is virtually dead. Late afternoon can be good, but has tended to be a bit windy of late. BAIT - Sardines are working best at the moment. Ryan has been fishing them along deep drop-offs of between 5 and 10 meters deep with great success. They picked up a 3.5kg tiger a couple days ago in 10 meters of water. It took a sardine fillet off the bottom. Ryan likes to use the heads, bodies and tails. The heads are often good for large barbell / catfish. The tail section is definitely a favorite and seems to have more luck. In some parts of the dam there are frustratingly large amounts of bait stealing crabs, (or possibly very small fish?) that reduce the sardine to a skeleton in quick time.
It is very difficult to detect these pests stealing your bait. Ryan has noticed this along the river stretch and in some places on the dams western shores. Their occurrence is erratic and unpredictable. These "crabs" are clearly less fond of the chicken, but the chicken doesn't work as well as sardine when fished off the bottom. They have been catching well on the chicken too. Ryan fishes the chicken close to the surface as it works best when kept moving. Chicken is highly effective when the tigers are feeding in the shallows. This occurs most regularly in the early morning and late afternoon. In still weather one can see the swirls from large tigers that are feeding in the shallow water.

LURES - Spinners and spoons are deadly at the moment, especially when fished along the large weed banks opposite the campsite. Shallow diving Strike Pro crank baits fished fairly quickly are working in these areas too. The usual coluors like fire-tiger, orange, red & white etc. will work. They have tried drop shot for tigers again recently and got a lot of bites, but it ultimately ended up fruitless as well as being a bit costly. Most of the drop-shots ended up cut and minus the tail on the first bite.

This competition is open to Ski – Boats only.
Early bird entry fee (by 28th Feb 2009) is R190.00 per angler. For more info and entry forms go to www.marlinskiboatclub.co.za.

The Marlin Ski Boat Club
is hosting The Port Edward Ski Boat Festival on the 1st & 2nd May 2009. 1st Prize for the heaviest couta is the Explorer 465 MPB with 2 x Yamaha o/b motors and all the extras – ready to go to sea. Worth over R200, 000.00. This competition is open to Ski – Boats only. Early bird entry fee (by 28th Feb 2009) is R190.00 per angler. For more info and entry forms go to www.marlinskiboatclub.co.za.

The Durban Ski- Boat Club Festival
The Durban Ski- Boat Club Festival is being held on the 25th & 26th April   2009. The main prize for the biggest cuda is a Seacat 565 with 2 x Yamaha 70hp motors, trailer, complete with electronics, safety equipment plus fishing rods and reels worth over R352, 000.00, plus other prizes worth over R550, 000.00. Early bird registration before 31st March 2009 – R225.00, thereafter R295.00. This promises to be, as the last few years, a magnificent competition. Visit www.durbanskiboatclub.co.za for an entry form, or for pre – entries contact Durban Ski – Boat Club Tel: 031 337 9506.

TRADING HOURS
The trading hours of The Kingfisher over the festive season are as follows: Mon - Fri. 8:00am - 5:00pm Sat. 8:00 - 1:00pm .

KINGFISHER CLINIC
The Kingfisher at 53, Hunter Street, Durban hosts a free Fishing Ski Clinic on their premises once a month by Markham Pollard. These monthly 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. Over and above this they also hold Rock and Surf clinics 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.
Shane Breedt from Free Divers will be hosting a spear fishing clinic on the 28th Feb at The Kingfisher in Durban, this should be a good one for all those interested in diving for crayfish and spear fishing. Remember guys, the crayfish season opens on the 1st March. Andy Jones will be holding a clinic on marlin fishing at The Kingfisher on 14th March.
Andy has hosted many clinics and presentations covering all aspects of marlin fishing and has fished the major Sodwana Marlin Tournaments with the best anglers in the country.

This clinic will cover all aspects of angling, from lure speed to positioning of lures, outrigger knots and rigs, plus much more.

To book for one of these free clinics phone the Kingfisher on 031- 368 3903. Any info about fishing, fish caught or competitions in your area send info to kingfish@iafrica.com or fax 031- 368 4137, attention,
Mike. For the latest KZN fishing news presented by O.J., tune into East Coast Radio at 5.40am Monday - Friday.