FISHING REPORT 25TH JULY 2009.

Competition
On the 1St August, The Kingfisher starts their “Biggest Shad Competition”. This year it will be run over a two month period, August and September, with three prizes each month. The heaviest shad for each month will receive a 14’ Kingfisher Poseidon 5pc Graphite Rod, valued at R1, 925.00, the second heaviest shad will receive a Daiwa SL 50SHK Reel, valued at R1,189.00 and third heaviest shad will receive a Daiwa Opus Plus 6000 Reel valued a t R567.00. Please note that all shad (fresh) must be weighed at The Kingfisher, 53 Hunter Street, Durban during trading hours and please remember there is a bag limit of four and the minimum size is 30cm.
For the results of the Kwazulu – Natal Coast Anglers Union’s Common Venue Round 6, click here

Anglers
The Sardines which have threatened an imminent arrival have kept anglers and the public guessing of their whereabouts as there are many conflicting reports of just where these fish are. Although some scattered shoals may have come through the main concentrations are still way down on the Transkei coast and for whatever reason are not moving north at any rate. A late run is still possible if weather, sea temperatures and currents all co-inside to get these fish moving. There has been a lot of other bait fish activity up and down the coast and many shoals of red eye sardines could have been mistaken for pilot shoals of sardines.

News from Port Edward’s Terry Nel is that it would seem that the sardines (the very little that there were) have gone past or disappeared, and hopes are few. Otherwise the season is here, and fishing has now improved. Shad are plentiful, and garrick are coming out regularly from the points using live shad as bait. The sea down there this last week has been extremely calm and although there is a colour line, it was still very clear. However, angling has picked up dramatically as winter fish now seem entrenched on the coast.

Anglers could not ask for better winter weather and sea conditions as the past few weeks have been almost ideal for angling. Fish have also played their part as reports from both North and South Coasts have been positive. Shad as always is the number one target specie and anglers have not been let down in this department. Early mornings and late afternoon sessions have produced some wonderful catches of shad with the average size being well over the legal limit.

Game-fish in the form of garrick and kingfish have come out in good numbers along the Umkomaas North bank stretch as well as Illovo and the Winkle areas. Anglers fishing with live bait have been kept busy in these areas and quotas are attained during the morning session. Some fair size kob have also been reported from these areas. Mr Mahomed Sabjee landed a dagga of about 62kg’s at Kelso Beach last Thursday on a sardine bait, this fish took 40 minutes to land.

The Durban area has also picked up with anglers getting good catches of shad from the piers as well as the odd stumpie. The Blue Lagoon and Umgeni North bank stretch has produced some good catches of shad as well as some much awaited garrick.
Anglers fishing here at night have landed a variety of fish which include some shoal kob, stumpie and fair size grunter.

Further north the Tinley and Tongaat areas have had some good catches of shad and anglers using live bait in the Tongaat area have had some measure of success as far as garrick goes. Yellowtail kingfish as well as snoek have also been landed here.

Ski Boats
Ski Boats are in the middle of a very good season as there are still reports of snoek on the North and South Coasts. These fish are feeding freely and the average size has also picked up. There are many fish in the 3 kg to 5 kg range but a lot of bigger fish well up to the 8 kg mark that have been reported.
Couta are still restricted to the Zinkwazi area in the north where reports suggest that many bigger fish are being taken and very few smaller shoal fish are being reported. Sporadic catches are being made on the South Coast. The Protea Bank area at Shelly Beach has also come to light and reports of some very good catches of yellow fin tunny have come in recently.

General bottom fishing has also picked up and apart from the daga and geelbek salmon a few big red steenbras have been reported from the South Coast.

Ski Boat competition
The TV coverage of The Durban Ski Boat Club Festival competition will be shown at the following times.
Monday 27 July on CSN, SS2 & SS2A at 22h30.
Tuesday 28 July on SS6 at 13h15.
Wednesday 29 July on SS6 at 19h00.
Please note that these are subject to change.

ESA
Catch the ESA team doing battle on ESA Saltwater at 7:30pm on Thursday and don’t miss the bass show at 7:00pm every Tuesday on Super sport 1 (unless mentioned otherwise – check your DSTV guide for details) the latest ESA magazine is out and on sale at The Kingfisher for R19.95. This issue it is jammed packed with great features.

Kingfisher’s trading hours
The Kingfisher’s trading hours are Monday, Wednesday to Friday 8:00 to 17:00, Tuesday 8:30 to 17:00 and Saturday 8:00 to 13:00.

Free Rock and Surf clinic
The Kingfisher at 53, Hunter Street, Durban hosts a free Rock and Surf clinic run by Ivan Stopforth on their premises once a month. 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 Fishing Ski Clinic by Markham Pollard 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. To book for one of these free clinics phone the Kingfisher on 031- 368 3903.

See photo of Mr Mahomed Sabjee’s 62kg’s dagga salmon that was landed at Kelso Beach.