FISHING REPORT 30TH JANUARY 2010


Angling
Terry Nel from Port Edward reports that although the surf fishing is very quiet at the moment, reports have come in by divers that the large shad are around in deeper water. Estuaries are producing a number of fish such as snapper salmon, sea pike, grunter and kingfish.

The Durban Bay has been fishing very well with a number of grunter over the 4kg mark boated. Warren Pereira landed a great fish of 4.65kg with his very light Daiwa Megaforce 6’6” rod and Daiwa Regal 2000, 5i spinning reel.

What is also very interesting is the number of rays that have been hooked, some to big to be boated with the light bay tackle.
The other Pereira boys, Lloyd and Smiler took the Daiwa Saltiga’s reels and the Kingfisher Poseidon HMG rods out for a run on Sunday evening and landed some great fish.
 
Fishing at Umhloti, Smiler landed along tail brown ray of 16kg’s and the hooks pulled on a big shark after a fight that lasted about twenty minutes. This shark was probably a zambie, because Smiler slid out a grunter head as bait. Lloyd then landed a honeycombe of 36kg’s after a fight of about twenty five minutes. After a couple of photos both these fish were released back to the water.

Peter Gething landed a duckbill ray while fishing at the Umhlanga  Lighthouse on Sunday morning at about 07h20, Peter was using his Daiwa Saltist 50H reel and had this great fish landed in about 50 minutes. The duckbill ray, was caught on chokka slide and measured 1550mm, 54.5kgs (according to the ORI website measurement calculations)

On the freshwater scene
On the freshwater scene, Ryan Tippet, from Jozeni dam, is that the weather, for the most part, has been better for fishing. The early summer winds stayed longer than usual last year and made fishing a bit difficult at times. These winds seem to have eased up. Even though they are still getting rain, the dam is not so muddy and is clearing up. All signs are that the fishing is improving and will continue to improve. In general all the targeted fish species (tigers, bream, barbel), are feeding and biting better and as a result more fish are being caught. Ryan is predicting that March and April this year will be fantastic fishing months.
Let’s hope so!

The river section is fishing very well of late. The water is not crystal clear, but is definitely clear enough to fish in. The fishing actually appears to be better in the slightly dirty water than over in the clear water on the mountains. The ginger beer coloured water, close to the dirty water line is very productive, especially if fishing lures, spinners, spoons, drop-shot or flies. Gold, white, black, fire tiger and pink are good colour choices in these conditions. Very big fish have been scarce, but tigers of between 2 and 3kg have started becoming more regular catches. Sardine and chicken are now fishing equally well. The tigers are also smashing artificials, although most of these fish have been a bit on the small size.

The productive spots, as always, are near good structure and drop offs. Ryan has had a lot of success in fairly shallow water at the edge of the weed beds.  Patience is needed as not all of the good looking spots are holding fish. Tigers seldom keep to a particular area for very long. They are restless and highly mobile. Sooner or later a hungry shoal should pass by. Fish appearing at your spot and only having a few nibbles before moving off normally means that they are not holding to that area. This is a good time to move.

The Wartburg Angling Club annual babel competition
The Wartburg Angling Club is hosting their annual babel competition on the 20TH March 2010 at the Albert Falls Dam. There are lots of prizes up for grabs which include  Men’s, Ladies and Juniors with a first prize being R10,000 for the biggest fish (ladies are eligible for this prize over and above their first prize of R 1000). The junior section also has a first prize of R1200. For more information anglers can contact Gary 079 692 1478 or Edwin 082 971 2003.

INANDA BASS CLASSIC
THE FAMOUS “INANDA BASS CLASSIC” WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 24 – 25TH APRIL 2010.  EVERYTHING IS ON TRACK AND COMING TOGETHER FOR APRIL AND WE ARE REALLY HOPING FOR A GOOD TURN OUT, ACCORDING TO KEN ANSLEY.
AS CAN BE UNDERSTOOD IT’S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PLAN FOR SOMETHING WITH AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF ENTRANTS!  SO A PROVISO HAS TO BE MADE THAT IF THERE IS 250 - 300 BOAT ENTRIES THERE WILL BE TWO BOATS UP FOR GRABS IF THERE ARE 150 - 250 BOAT ENTRIES THERE WILL BE A BOAT AS 1ST PRIZE IF THERE ARE LESS THAN 150 BOATS THERE WILL BE A CASH PRIZE OF UP TO R30.000.  ALL SPONSORS AND ADVERTISERS VERY WELCOME PLEASE CONTACT KEN ON 031 - 3010404
ENTRY FORM TO BE HAD SOON IN ALL FISHING STORES.  OR DOWNLOADED FROM WEB SITE    WWW.INANDABASSCLASSIC .COM. DON'T FORGET ALL BOATS TO BE REGISTERED AND ALL SKIPPERS TO BE LICENCED. PLENTY OF CAMPING SITES AVAILABLE
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE "INANDA BASS CLASSIC"
PLEASE GET YOUR ENTRIES IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

The Kwazulu Natal fly Fishing Association
The Kwazulu Natal fly Fishing Association has its new website up and running. The calendar of events and league dates for Provincial trials is on there along with registration details and fees. Any anglers interested in participating in this fun league can find more information on  www.kznffa.org . Registration is now online for Senior Men, Ladies & Juniors. New interested anglers are welcome to try out at the first stillwater event of 2 sessions to be held on Sun 31st January. Watch the website for more details on times and venue or contact Linda Gorlei via the website or on 083 631 5301.