Season Shift: Winter Fishing Fires Up the Coast
 
The coastline has come alive this past week, and for those paying attention, the signs are unmistakable — winter species has arrived, and it’s brought the right kind of action with it. From kob to garrick, the shift into the colder season has sparked a surge in activity, setting the tone for what’s shaping up to be an exciting run.
 
Rock & Surf:
 
Rock and surf anglers have been fully dialed in, putting in the effort where it counts — reading the water, working the tides, and trusting their instincts. And it’s paying off. The fish aren’t holding back either. Rockcod are feeding with confidence, shad are on the move, kob are making their presence known along the gullies, and bronze bream are holding steady in the white water, taking advantage of the churn. When the banks line up just right and the surf settles into that perfect rhythm, it’s been nothing short of game-on.
 
What’s most noticeable right now is the clear seasonal shift. It’s not a gradual change — it’s decisive. You can feel it in the air, see it in the water, and most importantly, it’s reflected in the behaviour of the fish. Feeding patterns have become more intentional, more aggressive. The window of opportunity is very real, but it’s favouring anglers who are prepared, observant, and willing to adapt.
 
Further up the coast, things have been just as lively. A good mix of species has been moving through, with kingfish showing up consistently and the odd surprise catch keeping anglers on their toes. Success there hasn’t been by chance — it’s come down to groundwork. Those putting in the time at low tide, mapping out structure, and waiting patiently for cleaner conditions have been the ones finding reward.
 
The central coastline has been a bit more unpredictable, with patches of discoloured water drifting through, but it hasn’t shut the fishing down entirely. There’s still solid action if you’re willing to work for it. Stumpnose, shad, and grunter are all still around, and the occasional grey shark has added a bit of excitement into the mix.
 
Down south, things have eased slightly compared to previous weeks, but there’s still enough consistency to keep rods bending. Bream continue to feed well, and the bait game remains strong. Prawn and chokka are doing their job as usual, but red prawn has really stood out, proving to be a reliable go-to in current conditions.
 
And now the exciting part — if this pattern continues, and right now all indicators suggest it will, we’re heading straight into a highly productive stretch along the coast. The foundations are there: active fish, favourable conditions, and a solid seasonal push. For those ready to seize the moment, the next few weeks could be exceptional.
 
Offshore:
 
Despite a tough week marked by heavy swell and strong winds, anglers still found their moments. Conditions were far from easy, but steady effort, thoughtful planning, and a healthy fishery ensured that those who stuck it out were rewarded. What started as patchy action gradually improved into a productive competitive weekend, particularly for those who had done their homework.
 
Pelagic species led the way, with snoek, couta, dorado and tuna making up the bulk of catches across various areas. The anglers who kept things simple and focused on the fundamentals — steady trolling speeds, good lure positioning, and neat presentation — generally fared best. As always, lure colour sparked plenty of discussion, but it was consistency and attention to detail that made the difference.
 
The North Coast continued to produce, with snoek featuring prominently and bigger fish coming from deeper water for those willing to travel a bit further. Couta and tuna added variety, while dorado showed up along the colour lines from time to time. Durban held its own, with snoek remaining reliable, and although smaller fish were more common, patient anglers still picked up some decent bottom catches.
 
Further south, the conditions were more demanding, as expected. It called for solid preparation and a cautious approach, but those who were ready for it managed to put together worthwhile catches.
 
Looking ahead, there are signs that things are starting to settle into a better rhythm. The seasonal change is becoming more noticeable, and while conditions may still be unpredictable at times, there’s a sense that the fishing is building steadily rather than peaking all at once. For those willing to adapt and put in the time, there’s reason to stay optimistic.
 
Freshwater:
 
News From Jan: Looking at the Level 8 weather warnings in the current forecast, we can finally say that Winter has a foot in the door!  Along with late rains, there is some good snow forecast for the upper reaches of The ‘Berg, which will provide some continued input to the rivers that that have been dropping fast.  Not that this is a bad thing, as the stream fishing has really taken off over the last week or so as conditions have consistently improved, but the snow melt will serve to help keep the rivers from getting down their bones in the long-term over the typically dry Winter period.  And if forecasters are correct, this could be exacerbated by the formation of a strong El Nino system later this year, resulting in drier conditions for southern Africa over the November-March rainfall period. 
 
The proper cold snap ahead will also help to get the stillwater temperatures down, and not a moment too soon, as the Winter Stillwater event season kicks off with not one, but two events next weekend … but more on that to follow.  As always, get out if and when you can and take advantage of the conditions while they hold…
 
The Mooi and Bushman’s Rivers were the primary hunting areas for the Natal Fly Fishers Club River anglers, with good numbers of brown trout in the 9-11 inch / 23-28 cm bracket featuring in the returns … with fish responding to a mix of top dry and sub-surface nymph patterns.  No temperatures were reported, but waters were noted to be crystal clear, especially in the upper reaches.
 
In the current amenable river conditions, the yellowfish of the uMngeni have been making themselves available, with some excellent fish in the 40-50cm / 16-20 inch class coming to hand.
 
The stillwaters are coming alive as water temperatures cool, and begin to dictate the trout’s feeding habits.  In the cooler weather, terrestrial are pretty much off the menu, and the fish turn to the sub-surface larder of minnow’s, frogs and tadpoles, and the remaining dragon and damselfly nymphs.  The NFFC anglers have been out in force, with double-figure number of returns over the past week, and almost all featuring a number of fish in the 11-13 inch / 28-33cm bracket, and some bigger fish starting to show up in the 13-17 inch / 33-43 cm class … and also a couple of prime specimens in the 19-23 inch / 48-58 cm class.  The Winter Class of ’26 has begun…
 
As temperatures drop, and we await the first frost to signal the Official Start of the Winter Stillwater Festival Event Season, next weekend has the kicks off with two events – The Hastings Exclusive (on the waters of the upper Dargle Valley) and Leg1 of the TOPS Corporate Challenge (on the waters around Nottingham Road).  Next month sees The Kamberg Trout Festival and The Boston Fly Fishing Festival.
 
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) continues to be a cause for alarm in The Midlands KZN … biosecurity remains a critical component of FMD control.  With the upcoming stillwater fishing events confirmed, all anglers are advised to take heed of biosecurity measures which will be in place at the Festivals and events, to heed the 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 water quality debate for the local bass Midlands waters continues.  Following the cancellation of the annual Albert Falls Bass Classic last week after organisers raised concerns about possible pollution and declining fish stocks, Msinsi Holdings has rejected claims that effluent inflow into Albert Falls Dam is compromising water quality. 
 
The weekend see’s the KZN Small Craft Bass League hold Event 3 of the 2026 season at Inanda Dam – we wish all anglers Tight Lines and look forward to reporting
 
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Please send any info about fishing or fish caught in your area to Vinesh Soogreem – vineshs@kingfisher.co.za