Trophy Fish, Calmer Seas and Non-Stop Action
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to hit the coast this weekend, this is it.
KwaZulu-Natal’s rock-and-surf scene is absolutely exploding right now, with action stretching from Durban right down the South Coast. Fish are on the chew, rods are folding, drags are singing, and every session has the potential to produce something special.
Rock & Surf:
Kob are leading the charge, with some proper brutes being landed up and down the coastline. These aren’t just fish, they’re serious slabs, and they’re keeping anglers on high alert with every cast. Adding to the excitement, rockcod, chunky bream, and pan-sized shad are all showing up in good numbers, ensuring plenty of bent rods and sore arms.
The bite has been a little stop-start at times, but when it comes on, it comes on HARD. Anglers lucky enough to hit the right window have been treated to nonstop action, with multiple species keeping things exciting from sunrise to sunset.
For the adrenaline junkies, the game fish are in the mix too. Hard-fighting kingfish, aggressive garrick, and quality kob are cruising the surf zones looking for an easy meal. Live bait remains the undisputed king, but spinning enthusiasts are getting their share of the action too, with several kingies smashing spoons and plugs with reckless abandon.
And then there’s the wildcard…
The sharks are back! Blue rays are making a strong appearance, along with grays and skates moving into the lower South Coast systems. That’s a massive indicator that baitfish are on the move, and where the bait goes, the predators follow. The entire food chain is firing up and the coastline is alive with activity.
The forecast couldn’t be more exciting. Whether you’re targeting trophy kob, hunting screaming kingfish runs, chasing a personal-best bream, or looking for a tussle with a blue ray, the opportunities are everywhere.
THIS IS THE WEEKEND TO FISH!
From blacktail and bream to kob, kingfish, garrick, blue rays and sharks, the variety on offer right now is nothing short of spectacular. So load the cooler, stock up on bait, and get down to the water. KZN is firing, the fish are feeding, and the next cast could be the one you’ll be talking about all season.
Offshore:
The North Coast is absolutely on fire right now, delivering phenomenal catches and unforgettable action week after week! Just when anglers thought it couldn’t get any better, tuna have exploded onto the scene, turning an already incredible fishery into a full-scale fishing frenzy. The snoek bite has been nothing short of spectacular, with screaming drags and bent rods becoming the norm rather than the exception.
While kob have been grabbing most of the headlines lately, anglers targeting the reefs have been quietly enjoying some exceptional bottom fishing. Live bait continues to reign supreme, proving irresistible to hungry winter predators and triggering savage strikes from quality fish. The further north crews have pushed, the better the rewards have been, and with fish stacked throughout the region, there is still plenty of action waiting for those eager to get amongst it.
The Central Coast has delivered its own share of thrills, despite challenging weather conditions and persistent winds. Dedicated anglers who have braved the elements have been richly rewarded. Snoek continue to provide fast-paced action, smashing both trolled lures and live baits, while offshore anglers have been finding quality kob and geelbek on the deeper reefs. It’s been a classic case of the harder you work, the better the payoff, and those putting in the time are reaping the rewards.
Down on the South Coast, anglers have had to carefully pick their weather windows, but those who timed it right have experienced some truly outstanding fishing. Garrick have been lighting up the coastline, while monster snoek have delivered adrenaline-pumping battles that won’t soon be forgotten. Offshore, the bottom fishing has remained incredibly productive, offering anglers plenty of reasons to head for the horizon whenever conditions allow.
And now for the best news of all… the forecast for the weekend looks absolutely sensational! With calmer seas, favourable conditions, and fish spread throughout the coastline, everything is lining up for an epic few days on the water. Spring has arrived, the ocean is alive with opportunity, and all signs point to some of the best fishing we’ve seen this season.
Charge those batteries, stock the bait freezers, and get the gear ready because this weekend could be one for the record books!
Freshwater:
News from Jan: With last weekend’s rain and mizzle, one might have been forgiven for thinking that the Spring/Summer rains had arrived … but it was nothing more than a wee final winter wobble … a light sprinkle, enough to settle the dust. Reports indicated that the precipitation received was in the low single-figures, with an accumulated figure of around 15mm in total … nothing of consequence unfortunately that would salve the ailing rivers which are in dire need of a couple of solid 50mm dumps to get the waters moving.
The international environmental press, and now the national press, are however setting the stage for a potentially devastating summer season across southern Africa. According to the latest outlook from the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there is a greater than 90% chance that the incoming El Niño will evolve into one of the most intense events on record during the Southern Hemisphere spring and summer of 2026/27. The impact of this is expected to be diverse: while South(ern) Africa may grapple with extreme heat and drought, East Africa could be inundated with excess rainfall and flooding … if that proves to be the case, fingers crossed that some of that East African precipitation finds its way south as well.
With the opening of the trout river season on September 1st, unsurprisingly the bulk of the returns from the Natal Fly Fishers Club have been from the river anglers, who have been biding their time over the winter, stocking their boxes and polishing their gear. Only to be greeted by some of the lowest water conditions seen on Opening Day. Those anglers that fished lower beats reported fish … for the most part, fish were in the 9-11 inch / 23-28cm class, but there were some excellent fish, taping into the 13-17 inch / 33-43cm class, that came to hand. Anglers that went to the headwaters reported far fewer fish. Water temperatures reported ranged from 14-18 deg.C. Now the wait is on for the first proper flush to get the fish moving.
The yellowfish bonanza continues, with some excellent fish being reported from the NFFC beats on the Umkomaas, as well as further afield on the uMzimkhulu and Tugela systems. Anglers report unrivalled water clarity. Fish were taken on a mix of dry and wet flies – Shuttlecock Emerger, jig bugger, and a basic black CdC nymph. The yellowfish beats are normally the first to be affected by the Spring/Summer rains, but will come into their own if the El Nino prevails.
There has been only a single stillwater return from the NFFC anglers for the past week. Fish were in the 13-15 inch / 33-38 cm class. Larger patterns (e.g. buggers, dragon and damselfly patterns) were doing the business.
KZN remains an active containment zone for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and biosecurity protocol remains a CRITICAL component for the control of the disease. A recent notice by ‘FMD Response South Africa’ states that “South Africa is not controlling FMD”, and that in order to control the spread of the disease, the national herd (estimated at some 14 million head) needs to be vaccinated twice a year – FMD is not controlled by vaccinating some animals some of the time, it is controlled by vaccinating enough animals, fast enough and at the same time, within tight 8-week windows, that build collective immunity before the virus has room to move.
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 frontal system of last weekend made for a massive pressure drop, but immediately after the system passed over, the pressure was back on the up, and even though the weather remained mizzly, the fish were on the bite at Midmar with some fish around 1kg mark reported.
Last weekend’s Event 6 of the KZN Small Craft Bass League appears to have been moved to Hazelmere (from Midmar) – 28 registered anglers, but official full results are still pending release from the organizers.
Inanda Dam is reported fishing well, producing fish around the 2kg mark.
The campaign to save Albert Falls from the impact of pollution continues, with the DA pursuing legal recourse against the uMgungundlovu District Municipality (uMDM) to stop pollution entering the dam. Anglers are being warned about the pollution and requested not to take fish.
For the best in tackle and advice, pop into any of the eight Kingfisher stores, they are open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 8am-1pm on public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
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Please send any info about fishing or fish caught in your area to Vinesh Soogreem – vineshs@kingfisher.co.za
