KZN School Holidays Offer Plenty of Fishing Action
The KZN school holidays are in full swing, and there’s no better excuse to spend a few extra hours on the beach with a rod in hand. Families, holidaymakers, and regular anglers alike are making the most of the winter weather, and the fishing has been rewarding across much of the coastline. With favourable sea conditions and plenty of baitfish around, a wide variety of species are keeping anglers entertained while everyone waits for the sardine run to hit full stride.
Rock and Surf:
North Coast
The excitement continues to build as anglers keep one eye on the ocean for signs of the main sardine shoals. In the meantime, fishing has remained productive, with kob, Garrick, stumpnose, and pompano all featuring in catches. It’s proving to be a great time to wet a line, whether you’re squeezing in an early morning session or spending the day at the beach with the family.
Central Coast
From Glen Ashley through to uShaka, anglers have enjoyed steady action with Garrick, kob, kingfish, and grey sharks all coming out. Both chokka and live bait have been producing consistently, and those putting in the time are being rewarded with some quality catches.
South Coast
The South Coast continues to deliver a healthy mix of species, including stumpnose, bream, shad, and the odd shark. Conditions can still change from day to day, so keeping an eye on local reports and being prepared to adapt your approach will give you the best chance of success.
Whether you’re planning a dedicated fishing trip or simply enjoying the coastline during the school holidays, there’s plenty happening along the KZN shoreline. Pack the rods, enjoy the fresh air, and make the most of what promises to be another exciting week on the water.
Offshore:
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to get the family out on the water this KZN school holiday, this is it! Winter is serving up some absolutely electric offshore fishing, and if the weather gives you a window, you need to make the most of it.
The North Coast is on absolute fire right now! Couta and snoek are dominating catches, with boats returning to the slip wearing smiles from ear to ear after unforgettable sessions. Live bait continues to reign supreme. A lively baitfish swimming naturally behind your boat or ski is still the ultimate weapon for drawing explosive strikes from these speedsters.
Can’t find live bait? Don’t panic. Trolling lures are stepping up in a big way and continue to put quality fish on deck. Keep them working and you’ll stay in the game.
The Central Coast is matching the North Coast blow for blow. Snoek have been incredibly consistent, with many anglers hooking fish on nearly every trip. Covering ground with fast-trolled lures has been the key to finding the feeding fish, but if you’re chasing that trophy, slow things down.
Drift quietly over productive bait marks, send down a live bait, and be ready… because that’s where the bigger fish have been smashing baits. Patience has been paying off in a big way.
Bottom fishing has also been nothing short of spectacular. Kob and geelbek have been filling the hatch, and the tried-and-tested combination of chokka and sardine continues to get the job done. If you’re looking for fresh fillets, now is the time to hit those reefs.
Further south, all eyes remain on the deeper reefs and the legendary Aliwal Shoal. Wahoo have been making appearances, but they’ve definitely been playing hard to get. The anglers who have managed to connect have earned every fish.
Tuna, however, have been stealing the show! Fast-diving trolling lures have been getting absolutely hammered, with blistering runs and drag-screaming action that reminds you exactly why winter offshore fishing is so addictive. Those same lures are also picking up a variety of other gamefish, making them an essential part of every trolling spread.
With the school holidays in full swing and some promising weather windows on the cards, there couldn’t be a better time to load the boat, grab the kids, and create memories on the water. Just remember, winter weather can change quickly, so choose your days wisely and always put safety first.
And while you’re out there enjoying this incredible fishery, let’s all do our bit. Take a few extra moments to pick up any litter you find at the launch site or on the water. Every small effort helps protect our coastline and keeps these amazing fisheries thriving for the next generation.
Freshwater:
News from Jan – While we still appear to be in summer mode, the wider forecast has some frontal action coming up from the deep south, and there are warnings of snow impending. It will actually be rather nice to have some sign that we are still, in fact, in the middle of winter … and a proper snowfall will be beneficial to the catchments and the waters that they supply.
The waters of the Natal Fly Fishers Club has seen some good action over the last week or so. With water temperatures still in the double-figure range, the bigger fish have ben absent from the returns, as no doubt they are still betwixt and between deciding on whether to go full spawn mode. And if you’re watching the barometer, it looks like a trail runners elevation profile : not exactly flat with lots of ups and downs. As a result, the fish that have ben coming to hand are primarily 2nd year “stockies” in the 11-15 inch / 28-38cm bracket, with a couple of better fish showing up in the 15-17 inch / 38-43cm class. Fast stripping gaudy patterns (e.g. white and orange) seems to be the way to go to get the eat and that bend in the stick that we are all after, and then “low and slow” to “upgrade” to some bigger specimens with more natural patterns (e.g. leech in black, brown or olive).
Biosecurity protocol remains a CRITICAL component for the control of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). All anglers (and visitors) traversing The Greater Midlands are advised to take heed of biosecurity measures, and to heed all biosecurity notices / signage around The Midlands, and to please comply with any movement regulations, and assist where possible with hygiene and risk-reduction measures to safeguard local livestock.
The 24hr biosecurity spray stations on the Kamberg Road at the Connington Road junction, and at the beginning of the amaHlubi Tribal area on the way up to Giant’s Castle are required to stops for all travelers going up and down the valley.
As is usual for winter, the bass fishing remains on the lowdown, but there have been reports of some fish coming from both Albert Falls and Midmar Dams. Water temperatures are still up, and fish are reportedly showing signs of spawning behavior. The Albert Falls water quality discussions continue.
Kingfisher would like to extend a Hearty Thank You to all our customers that came in and supported our massive 30th Birthday Sale!
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