The KingFisher’s Scratch & Win Event Makes a Splash Across KZN
The wait is over — The KingFisher’s Scratch & Win Event is officially up and running, and anglers across KwaZulu-Natal are already diving into the action. Running throughout October across all seven KingFisher stores and online, this month-long promotion is reeling in excitement with over R500,000 worth of discounts and giveaways up for grabs.

Adding to the buzz, seven Golden Tickets are hidden among the prizes, each giving one lucky angler the ultimate reward — their entire purchase absolutely free.
Getting involved is simple: spend R300, collect a Scratch & Win ticket, and you’re guaranteed a prize. With every ticket winning something, and Golden Tickets waiting to be discovered, October at The KingFisher is shaping up to be a month of unbeatable value and fishing fever.

Rock & Surf:

After a weekend of wild winds and rolling seas, the ocean finally looks ready to play ball again — and just in time for the weekend! Last week’s rough ride had many boats hugging the shore and plenty of surf anglers ducking flying spray, but guess what? The blow is behind us, and the water’s settling. From here on out, things can only get better, brighter, and bite-filled!

The rock-and-surf scene has officially shifted into full summer mode. The fish are feeding, the weather’s calming, and the bite windows are becoming more predictable — perfect timing for planning those golden fishing days ahead.

NORTH COAST – FIND THEM AND FIRE UP!
The North Coast is alive with action, though the fish are keeping anglers on their toes. This is a time to stay mobile — move, cast, and cover ground until you find the magic zone. Bloody, fleshy baits are doing the heavy lifting, tempting diamonds off the banks for those putting in the grind.
Off the points, sandies and honeycombs have been the stars of the show, with the ever-reliable grey sharks keeping the lighter tackle rods bending. And here’s the kicker — reports of edibles are on the rise! Time to break out the sealice, prawn, and chokka baits and get scratching for those table fish.

CENTRAL COAST – HOT, HUNGRY, AND HAPPENING!
This stretch has been on absolute fire, delivering a prime mix of both edibles and inedibles. The Basin area has been a standout hotspot, producing an impressive range of species before the big blow hit.
Blue rays are dominating the action — smaller models in particular giving light-tackle fans all the fun they can handle. If you’re heading out, stock up on redeye sardine and mackerel — they’re the baits of the moment and the ticket to steady action.

SOUTH COAST – LIVE BAIT FOR THE WIN!
Down south, live bait is king! Garrick and kob have been on the hunt, smashing livies with real enthusiasm. Artificials have slowed a bit, but don’t count them out — a well-presented lure in the right spot can still trigger chaos.

Remember, predators love the edges — colour lines, current breaks, rocky structures — that’s where the ambush happens. Keep your bait or lure in that strike zone and be ready for fireworks.
“Scratching” sessions around the rocks are also producing the goods, with pink prawn and chokka leading the charge. It’s all about patience, persistence, and precision — the rewards are there for those willing to put in the time.

WEEKEND VERDICT: GAME ON!
The winds are gone, the seas are calming, and the fish are feeding. From North to South, the coast is primed and ready. So dust off those rods, stock up at KingFisher, and hit your favourite spot — because this weekend, it’s you vs. the bite!

Offshore:

If last weekend’s rough seas kept you grounded, you definitely weren’t alone — conditions were tough and made things tricky for even the most dedicated anglers. The good news is that the ocean is finally starting to settle, and this coming week is shaping up to be far more inviting. The spring switch has been flicked, the east coast is warming up, and Durban’s waters are showing real signs of life again.

Surface Action – Garrick, Tuna & Kingfish
The surface bite is on the rise. Garrick are smashing live baits, tuna are showing flashes of aggression, and kingfish are starting to hit lures with more intent. It’s not full-on mayhem yet, but each day’s showing more promise — a sure sign that the bite is building.

Deep-Water Targets – Geelbeck & Daga Salmon
For the deep-drop crew, things are beginning to look up. Geelbeck and daga salmon have both been on the chew, and a few solid catches have already come through. With calmer seas on the horizon, expect more consistent action through the week.

Snoek – The Tricksters
Snoek are still keeping anglers guessing — around in good numbers one day, completely gone the next. Keep those light setups and small spoons handy, though; when they’re feeding, the action is electric and worth every cast.

Bottom Fishing – Reef Variety
The reefs are ticking over nicely, with slinger, soldier, and rockcod keeping rods bent and coolers filled. It’s steady rather than red-hot, but perfect for those looking for some reliable fishing time.

Looking Ahead
The forecast shows calmer conditions and a steady improvement after last weekend’s heavy seas. The fishing is picking up, and this could well be the turning point we’ve been waiting for.
So, get the gear ready, line up your crew, and plan your next launch — things are finally looking up out there.

Freshwater:

Just in from Jan: The rains over the last week have given the rivers a nice boost – just enough to get the moving waters moving a bit more than that of the last month … and conditions have improved and the fishing is starting to take off.  But dare we ask : just a little bit more … a little, not a deluge … and conditions will be sublime.  That being said, the current chill in the air shows that The Weatherman is still somewhat betwixt and between, as there has been a good snowfall reported up top of The ‘Berg again.  Recent visits to the base of the mountains have shown that there is some good water coming off, which just needs to make its way into the main streams.

The stillwaters will benefit from the rainfall too, and making getting there all that much more “fun” if you can call it that … haven’t seen so much mud, or the Traction Control dashboard light in my vehicle, before! … and temporarily forgot what colour it was!

Returns from the Natal Fly Fishers Club river anglers note that The Mooi River has been coloured up by the recent rains … this on the middle to lower beats, while the upper reaches of the river (e.g. in Kamberg Nature Reserve) will still be running clear.  Anglers on The Bushman’s and Umngeni Rivers report crystal clear water in the upper reaches, and brown trout happily taking off the surface.

The NFFC stillwaters are fishing well – as recent return noting “One of the best days I have had … the dam was in beautiful condition.”  A couple of the returns reported fish (rainbows, and a brown trout) in the 19-21 inch / 48-53cm class.  October is noted as officially being post-spawn, and a period where fish are feeding up after the winter, in order to regain condition.  Larger prey items should be back on the menu … flies that are currently working well are woolly buggers, minnow and dragon/damselfly patterns, as well as tadpoles.  Takes can be significantly harder on these larger patterns, so tippet up in order not to get snapped off!

KZN remains the epicentre for infection of Foot and Mouth Disease in South Africa, with 180 outbreaks reported to date.  To assist landowners in protecting their stocks, the NFFC has closed a number of its waters at their request, while they monitor the outbreak(s).  The NFFC requests all anglers to please follow any landowner or staff requests to respect their vehicle / footwear sterilization protocols as required.

As the weather warms, so should the bass activity … but there hasn’t been a peep from the two premier Midlands bass waters : Albert Falls and Midmar.  Reports from the private waters however, are coming in with some excellent fish – even as far afield as Winterton with a report of a 5kg bucketmouth!  Micheal Dickason from KF-PMB has been putting our new Daiwa ‘Black Series’ rods through their paces, and has some glowing praise for these sticks – come in and chat to Michael to get the lowdown!

Scaly’s continue to fly the flag for The Midlands anglers, as well as a further afield on The Tugela.  If that yellow bar of gold is still on your radar, the time to get on the water of NOW, before (too) much rain arrives, and the lower reaches go chocolate.

For the best in tackle and advice, pop into any of the seven Kingfisher stores, they are open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 8am-1pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

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Please send any info about fishing or fish caught in your area to Vinesh Soogreem – vineshs@kingfisher.co.za