Shad Carnage & Coastal Chaos with Midlands Rain Surge
Rock & Surf:
The KZN coast is ROARING right now — pure chaos, pure carnage, pure MONSTER ENERGY from end to end! We’re talking massive, relentless SHAD smashing through bait-balls like they’re fueled by jet engines. The season’s open and these things are STACKED, violent, and absolutely unhinged. If you’re not hooked up, you’re not trying!
Up on the lower north coast? IT’S STRAIGHT-UP MAYHEM.
Grey sharks cruising like gangsters. Honeycomb rays gliding in like warships. Every skate you can name rolling through the shallows looking for a fight. It’s a full-on brawl out there — and the fish are WINNING.
And mackerel?
Still the undefeated, undisputed, heavyweight KING of BAIT.
Dead, alive, bruised, confused — doesn’t matter. You drop a mackerel in and it gets OBLITERATED on impact. It’s not even fair.
Rocky gullies? BRONZE BREAM BEHAVING BADLY. Prawn baits are getting demolished, the wind’s finally chilled out, and every cast feels like a sniper shot locked onto something with teeth. Precision meets violence. We LOVE it.
Durban anglers who pushed through the madness are already eating good — and now with conditions flipping in our favour, THE BITE IS GOING FULL NUCLEAR.
The harbour is still a goldmine if you can dodge the Wala Wala circus, and that size 14 light-gauge circle hook? Cheating. Straight-up cheating. It hooks fish that didn’t even want to be caught.
Down south, Margate Pier is STILL a battlefield — Shad charging, Bream brawling, Hammerheads circling, everything ON THE CHEW and ready to detonate. With calmer seas incoming, we’re locking into FULL. SEND. MODE.
This weekend is lining up crisp casts, smoother seas, and fish that are absolutely SWITCHED ON and looking for trouble.
Gear up. Get out there. Smash it. THE COAST IS ABOUT TO ERUPT.
Offshore:
DORADO-O-O-O-O-O has become the rallying cry along the KwaZulu-Natal coast this week, ringing out from every slipway and ski-boat like a celebratory siren. The offshore scene is crackling with energy, and anglers from north to south are reporting one of the most electric runs of the season.
North Coast:
The north has been on fire. Boats and skis have been bending under consistent action, with tuna showing up in heavyweight form. Live bait has been the standout producer, especially mackerel rigged on Pelagic Series Live Bait Clips, keeping baits lively and irresistible. When bait schools have been scarce, anglers have turned to Pelagic Bait Swimmers to stay in the game.
Couta have been hitting hard across the region, responding well to dead baits dressed in chartreuse or pink flashers, while green glow beads on live bait traces continue to be a reliable crowd-pleaser.
Central (Durban):
Durban’s anglers have kept the momentum going despite patches of rough weather. Sheltered launch sites have ensured steady access to the action, and dorado has dominated catch reports, often leading the day’s tally. Tuna and couta have followed close behind.
Skirted trolling lures have delivered exceptional results, drawing strikes from tuna, dorado and even the occasional billfish. Snoek remain in the mix, and bottom fishing has produced quality rockcod. Anglers are reminded to release undersized fish and protect reef stocks for the future.
South Coast:
The south mirrors the excitement seen elsewhere, with dorado appearing in strong numbers and tuna and couta feeding actively. Trolling skirted lures continues to be the most productive technique across the region. Snoek remain in schooling mode, and bottom anglers have reported steady rockcod catches. Conservation-minded practices are encouraged, with smaller specimens best returned to the water.
With such widespread action and favourable conditions on the horizon, anticipation is building for the coming weekend. Rods are rigged, tackle is prepped, and the coastline is bracing for another surge of offshore enthusiasm.
Freshwater:
News From Jan – The recent rains has pushed the level of the Mngeni System across The Midlands to 95% – and with both Midmar and Albert Falls over 96% FSL, the next BIG rains will push these waters over the wall. There was some excitement that Midmar had already started going over, but this was wind-driven surface water in last week’s storm that wreaked havoc in Hilton. Reports are that there has also been plenty more rainfall at the mountains, and that the rivers and streams are coming down full bore. The upper reaches remain relatively clear due to the natural vegetation, but lower down, any runoff from clear(ed) areas will input some serious chocolate colour. With the flows up, last week’s suggestion of a 3rd Leg (wading staff) is even more prescient for those anglers planning to tackle the moving waters…
There have been no returns from the Natal Fly Fishers Club river anglers for the past week. The local community contact for The Bushman’s River reported that the river was “high”, with a likelihood of more rain … usually an indication that trees, cars and buildings could come floating down.
A report from further afield noted that the weather and river conditions were “challenging to put it mildly” … “definitely not dry fly water”. The angler did, however, put a weighted nymph rig down and was rewarded with a solid brown trout … Well Done for persevering; and this after taking a tumble (see 3rd Leg recommendation above).
The NFFC stillwater anglers did not fare much better over the past week – just a few returns, most making some snide remark about the weather – but a single return with a fish, and a good one at that, landing in the 19-21 inch / 48-53cm class. Surface water temperature was reported at 18-19deg.C. Weather again playing a large role here … you might get chased off the water by an afternoon thunderstorm, but the period before is (usually) the most productive.
And if you ain’t out there, you certainly ain’t catching, and there are some private stillwaters that are happily giving up the goods and showing off their residents.
Of news to the flytying fraternity, is that Ed Herbst, widely considered to the High Priest of Flytying (and small stream fly fishing) in South Africa, has released his long-await boot “The Delicate Fly Fisher”. There is an inspection copy available to preview at Kingfisher PMB, and print-on-demand copies can be ordered on Amazon.
To assist landowners in protecting cattle / dairy stocks in the increasing concerns around Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in The Midlands, the NFFC has closed a number of its waters at their request, and the NFFC further requests all anglers to please follow any landowner / staff / SAPS / SANDF requests to respect their vehicle/footwear biosecurity and transport/travel protocols as required.
Once again, no word from the bass anglers at Albert Falls … Midmar is reportedly still giving some numbers of small(er) size fish. Last weekend saw the KZN Small Craft Bass League held event no.8 in the National Small Craft Bass League at Mearns Dam. Biggest fish was 57.5cm, in a 5 fish winning bag of 237cm – Congratulations Henry Herrmann. The new season for the Small Craft League kicks off in February.
Carp, and barbel in amongst them, have been active on the surface at Albert Falls … and, weather dependent, being targeted by fly anglers. Calm, still conditions are required to be able to see the fish on the surface, but as soon as the wind gets up, it makes spotting fish almost impossible. Red Breast Tilapia have also been around.
The Sterkfontein yellowfish are still up for a tussle, reports Jeremy Rochester from Escape Fly Fishing. There have been some good fishing on the dry fly, using hoppers, along with beetle and ant patterns.
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