When the Coast Fought Back

Rock & Surf.
 
This week was a very different story to the duckpond conditions that spoiled us recently. Forecasts pointed to tough seas and unsettled weather, and while the ocean did its best to make things difficult, anglers who adapted still found a way to make it count. It wasn’t pretty or predictable, but it was rewarding. Sessions were built around short windows, smart positioning and reading what the water was offering on the day. Those who timed it right were still treated to bent rods, solid fights and that quiet satisfaction that only comes from earning your fish the hard way.
 
Up north, Tugela and Mtunzini again showed why perseverance matters. Even with heavier water and movement, inedibles stayed active on mackerel and chokka, while edibles popped up in sheltered pockets for anglers willing to hunt them down. Along the central coast, Durban’s reliable zones like Glen Ashley, Blue Lagoon and the Basin continued to produce in patches, with shad, grunter and stumpnose coming through between the tougher spells. Further south, scratch fishing remained the name of the game, but stumpnose, grunter, the odd kob and flatfish still rewarded effort, especially where anglers worked cleaner lines and adjusted baits.
 
Looking ahead, the contrast couldn’t be sharper. After calm, forgiving conditions, the coast is lining up for serious wind on Saturday and rain on Sunday. It’s not shaping up to be an easy weekend by any stretch, and planning will be everything. But if this past week proved anything, it’s that fish don’t simply disappear and fortune often smiles on those willing to think, wait and move when the moment opens. Choose your windows carefully, fish within your limits, and remember: even when the coast bites back, the bold can still be rewarded.
 
Offshore:
 
Last weekend proved to be a strong reminder that offshore fishing along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline often rewards judgement more than forecasts alone. Predicted conditions pointed toward rough seas and heavy current, leading many crews to sit it out. However, anglers who monitored the conditions closely, waited for workable launch windows, and committed to shorter, well-timed sessions were rewarded far more than expected. While conditions were never easy or uniform, the effort paid off with solid catches and a wide spread of species.
Across much of the coast, water colour and current varied significantly from area to area, making mobility and adaptability critical. Crews who adjusted depth, altered trolling patterns, and actively searched for cleaner water found consistent action. Gamefish were very much in play, with Couta, Dorado and even Wahoo coming onto the bite in the right water. Dorado showed best along temperature breaks and current lines, Couta featured around more stable pockets of water closer inshore, and Wahoo made appearances where clean, fast-moving water pushed through. Bottom fishing also provided reliable backup, producing steady reef species when surface activity slowed.
This coming weekend is again shaping up as a challenging one. Mixed weather patterns, variable swell, and inconsistent current are expected to keep conditions unsettled, and this will not be a weekend for forcing time on the water. Early launch windows and shorter sessions are likely to offer the best opportunities, while crews staying out too long may find conditions deteriorating quickly. Careful fuel planning, close attention to forecasts, and a willingness to change plans on the fly will be essential.
If last weekend is any indication, opportunity still exists for those prepared to fish smart rather than fish hard. Anglers who remain patient, read the water carefully, and stay within their limits may once again be rewarded. Fortune clearly favoured the bold last weekend, but it favoured the prepared even more. Those who choose their moments well could find Couta, Dorado and Wahoo waiting on the other side of a difficult forecast.
 
Freshwater:
 
News from Jan – This week is perhaps MORE fitting of the phrase “from one extreme to the next” mentioned last week, as there is a ~25deg change in the day time temperature from around two weeks ago.  That being said, the sudden cool snap is most welcome … and while there is some warmer weather in the forecast for the week ahead, temperatures generally appear to be on the downswing … a good sign that Autumn has its foot (firmly) in the door.  The longer, cooler nights should have water temperatures dropping as well, and hopefully get the fish waking up from their summer slumbers.  Even though the rains have slacked off somewhat into single-figures, it was enough to push Midmar Dam back over the wall for a few days.  But with the water table well up from the previous heavy pours, river levels are still high.  In short, The Waiting Game continues … but with high hopes and ba(i)ted breath…
 
There were a few intrepid Natal Fly Fishers Club river anglers that ventured out onto the rivers over the last week.  While returns from the Bushman’s and Umngeni River NFFC beats both reported fish, notes indicated that there has been significant water through the system(s). with the “high tide” mark well above current levels … which are still above normal!  The Bushman’s yielded fish up into the 11-13 inch / 28-33cm bracket, while the Umngeni gave fish in the 7-9 inch / 18-23cm range.  On The Bushman’s, the fish initially showed some interest in a large size hopper drifted in the eddy’s and slack(er) water, while for the remainder, it was hopper-dropper or heavy-nymphing. With some little rain in the single-figure range expected over the next week, we can look forward to the rivers and streams dropping some, and conditions improving.  The best time is (just about) now…
 
Only a single return from the NFFC stillwater anglers – “no lunkers found” and water temperature was reported as “warm” … but there were a number of 9-11 inch / 23-28cm rainbows that gave the rod a bend.  A fish is a fish, but more than a couple is happiness!
 
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) continues to be a cause for alarm in The Midlands KZN … biosecurity remains a critical component of FMD control, and all anglers are once again advised to take heed of the newly erected ‘RED ALERT’ notification / signage on the roads to please comply with any movement regulations, and assist where possible with hygiene and risk-reduction measures to safeguard local livestock.
 
Where Albert Falls Dam was once upon a time considered to be THE bass water in the country, all suggestions for fishing for bass point to Midmar Dam.  Recent word from Alberts reported “not a bite in 3 outings” and “spent 3 days there and bagged 2 fish” … whereas reports from Midmar are lot more encouraging : “Bass are active feeding on Blue Gill … you will catch a lot of 300g fish, but between them are some decent fish”.  If Alberts is your destination, the bank anglers are reporting lots of small tilapia.
 
Sterkfontein Dam is reported to be on fire again after some recent wind, squalls, and much needed rain.  Dry Fly is the name of the game in this sight fishing paradise, with hopper / cricket patterns and beetles being the top producing favourites.  Rain will bring out the flying ants / termites, so have some large winged patterns on hand to “match the hatch”.  The Crane Fly, aka ‘Daddy Long Legs’, is another firm favourite yellowfish fodder, and Jan has recently produced a hardy foam rubber-legged version … for more info, and a full colour Step-by-Step to tie this pattern, visit the ‘Fly-of-the-Month’ page on the Federation of Southern African Flyfishers (FOSAF) website … or stop by the shop and get the lowdown direct from the horses mouth!
 
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