This Weekend – Be There, or Miss the Madness!
THE WAIT IS OVER.
THE SHOALS ARE HERE.
And the KwaZulu-Natal coast is about to go completely ballistic.
 
From Margate to Kosi Bay, the ocean has flipped the switch — and Sardine Fever is raging at full tilt! Silver shoals are exploding up the coast, game fish are in full predator mode, and anglers from every corner are loading up for one of the wildest weekends we’ve seen in YEARS.
 
Rock & Surf: TOTAL CARNAGE
Whether you’re shoulder-to-shoulder on a North Coast ledge or tucked into a South Coast gulley — it’s chaos in the best way.
Every cast could be the one and every hookup feels like a freight train. Kob are slamming chokka like missiles, Garrick are ripping through the backline in silver blurs and the Kingfish are snapping leaders and testing drag like beasts. This isn’t the calm before the storm…THIS. IS. THE. STORM.
 
North Coast Watch: LOCKED & LOADED – They’re not waiting — they’re going to war. Bait lines are lit and the surf is boiling From Salt Rock to Zinkwazi, the coast is primed to explode.
 
Central Coast: SHOCKWAVES THROUGH SLAB CITY
From Glen Ashley to the piers at uShaka, it’s non-stop action. Massive kob on live bait, aggressive greys on the chase, and Garrick schooling hard.  This zone is ON FIRE.
Locals are calling it Slab City — and trust us, it’s EARNING that name.
 
South Coast: GEAR-BENDING GLORY from Margate. Port Shepstone. Port Edward.
It’s an all-out FISHING FIRESTORM from  dinner-plate sized stumpies. Angry bream. Rampaging shad. And sharks? They’re running HOT.
 
If you’ve been waiting for a sign — THIS IS IT.
Grab your rods, load your bait, and hit the beach early.
 
Sardine Run 2025 isn’t building. It’s not warming up. IT. IS. HERE.
 
Offshore:
If bent rods, heavy bottom action, and a salty grin are your thing — it’s game on. Offshore conditions are lining up beautifully, with a mix of couta and snoek keeping things spicy. The fish are active, the water’s alive, and every drop is delivering something worth writing home about.
Gamefish are cruising, bottom species are holding tight, and there’s no shortage of excitement out there. The bite is strong, the energy is electric, and the ocean is delivering in full force.
With Durban living up to its reputation as the warmest place to be, summer species are still feeding hard. It’s the perfect time to pack your gear, saddle up, and make the most of this prime window.
 
North Coast Update – Umdloti’s On Fire
Umdloti is delivering consistently, with good couta and snoek action lighting up the mornings. Fishing ski missions at first light are putting anglers onto quality fish, and small-lipped lures are proving deadly. Even the backline is buzzing — a spoon drop as you launch might just kick things off with a bang.
 
Durban – Consistent, Reliable, Rewarding
Durban has been a solid performer across all fronts. Charter boats are staying busy for a reason — couta are feeding aggressively, and the geelbek are coming through with size and power. Half kob are adding variety, especially on lighter setups, while bottom fishing remains dependable with good pulls throughout the day. And the big news? The garrick have arrived.
 
Umgeni – Snoek Strike Zone
At Umgeni, the snoek are coming on hard and fast at first light. Fillet baits are triggering aggressive hits, and the action starts right from the first cast. If you want in, you’ll need to be on the water early and ready to move.
 
South Coast – Bottom Bite Holding Strong
The southern waters are delivering a steady bottom bite. Reds, slingers, and soldiers are coming up regularly, with full coolers to show for it. While the gamefish scene has been quieter, that can turn in a heartbeat — so stay sharp and keep your gear close.

And this weekend? It’s going to be absolutely next level.

Freshwater:
News in from Jan Korrubel, The Kingfisher in PMB –  With the trout Festival season in full swing, the recent spell of stable, cooler weather has provided some great fishing across The Midlands.  Till this week that is, as a massive frontal system covers the country.  Some good rains (avg. 15mm across The Midlands), and snow on high, reported that will stand the dropping water levels in good stead.  The high winds will mix waters for a wee while, but as soon as the weather settles, and the pressure rises out of its current dip, it will be Game (back) On…
The stillwater trout anglers have been out in force, and the returns from the Natal Fly Fishers Club showing off some excellent fish from their waters.  With the cooling waters, the big ‘uns are starting to come out to play, and there have been good numbers of the fish in the 15-19 inch / 38-48cm bracket, as well as some lunkers in the 21-23 inch / 53-58cm class.  Water temperatures have also started to cool nicely, with most waters now sitting at around 10-12deg.  Anglers are reporting fish in the shallows, a sure sign that the trout are beginning their nuptial ritual.
Of concern across The Midlands with its large bovine population, is an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. To protect the stock of the landowners, the NFFC has issued notice on the current closure of a number of its waters, with possibly more to follow in the short term, as they monitor the outbreak.  The advisory further requests that anglers follow any landowner, or staff, requests to respect their vehicle / footwear sterilization protocols if required.
This last weekend saw the 28^th edition of the highly popular Kamberg Trout Festival, hosted by the Kamberg Valley Association … the longest running such event in the country.  This highly popular event sees some 120 anglers get to fish waters across the Kamberg, most of which are unavailable for the rest of the year.  The event saw some 451 fish brought to the net over 2 days and 4 fishing sessions, with the biggest rainbow trout coming in at 58cm / 23 inches, and a whopping brown trout at 62cm / 24.5 inches. Award were also made for 4 biggest fish per angler across the 4 sessions, with Top Lady Angler measuring in 75cm / 29.5 inches, the Top Fisherman measuring in 195cm / 76.7 inches, and the Top Team measuring in over 600cm / 236 inches of fish.  Between the fishing and the festivities, I am already looking forward to next year’s event!
While the trout fishing is on the up, news from the rest of the freshwater spectrum remains quiet.  It’s either a case of the fishing being in the doldrums, or rather that “No News is Good News”, and the anglers are keeping their cards close to their chest. 
Don’t forget Dad this weekend as The Kingfisher will have some specials to spoil the men!
 
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 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