Seasonal Shift Sparks Strong Fishing Action Across KZN Waters

Rock & Surf:

Anglers have been going full tilt all week, with steady action and zero mercy from the fish. Edibles and inedibles both showed up to the party, with rockcod, shad, kob and bronze bream featuring hard—especially where the banks were alive and the white water was absolutely foaming. The seasonal shift is hitting its peak, and you can feel it… the fish are feeding with intent and purpose. Game on.

Up north on the KZN coast, things switched into FULL BEAST MODE. A wild mix of species smashed through the area, from Triple Tail and Snoek to Kob and Speckled Snapper. Anglers who did their homework—scouting at low tide, waiting for that magic combo of a northeast breeze and calm seas—were rewarded beyond belief. When it turned on, it was lights out… you basically couldn’t miss.

The central coast delivered a proper mixed bag and kept rods bent all round. Shad were on the chew along beaches and piers, with drift baits doing serious damage in calmer conditions. Stumpnose and smaller kob worked the sandbanks where white water pushed hard over the banks. Chokka and prawn once again proved deadly, but the real chatter came from the non-edibles—honeycomb rays, massive grey sharks and diamonds cruising a few Durban beaches and keeping pulses racing.

Down south, the week’s showstopper was a MONSTER 20kg Couta landed off the bricks on a live shad—absolute jaw-dropper. Beyond that, the fishing didn’t skip a beat. Every facet was firing. Bream and grey sharks kept coming, with anglers zeroing in on quality fish. Prawn and chokka stayed lethal, and red prawn stood tall as the go-to confidence bait.

Bottom line? The season is delivering BIG TIME. Conditions lined up, the fish answered the call, and anglers knocked it clean out the park. If this trend holds—and it looks like it will—the coming weeks are set to be next-level along the entire coastline. Strap in.

Offshore:

Anglers who put in the time over the weekend were well rewarded. Glassy seas and ideal conditions set the stage for an outstanding few days on the water, coinciding perfectly with several competitions along the coastline. Those who answered the call found consistent action and quality fish, proving that the pre-weekend predictions were spot on.

Pelagic species dominated the catches. Snoek, couta, dorado and tuna all featured prominently, with success hinging far more on approach than pure chance. While lure colour always sparks debate, the most consistent results came from anglers who focused on speed control, depth management and clean presentation. Keeping lures working effectively in the strike zone made all the difference.

The North Coast continued its strong run. Snoek were plentiful, with better-quality fish coming from slightly deeper water. Those willing to push out were rewarded, and the action was spiced up by couta and tuna moving through the area. Dorado appeared along the colour lines, tuna remained active, and there was always the sense that a bigger bite was a real possibility.

Durban proved more inconsistent, but methodical anglers still found success, particularly on snoek. Smaller fish were common, yet quality specimens were available to those who fished patiently and presented baits correctly.

Further south, the fishing lived up to its tougher reputation. This zone demanded strong tackle, reliable knots and a disciplined approach. Mistakes were quickly exposed, leaving little margin for error.

All in all, the long weekend confirmed what the build-up suggested: the coast is alive, the seasonal shift is underway, and fishing has moved into a highly productive phase. For anglers paying attention to conditions and committing the effort, the rewards were clear — and all signs point to even better fishing ahead.

Freshwater:

News from Jan: With the weather blowing hot and cold, and then (some more) rain, there is never a dull moment when The Weatherman is involved!  Overall however, it is pretty much balmy Autumnal weather, with just some light rain here and there over the last week, and anything in the forecast for the week ahead is well down into the single figures … just enough to keep the dust down!  The trout rivers are finally settling down, and some excellent fish have been reported over the last week.  Daytime temperatures are still on the pleasantly warm side, but with evening / nighttime temperatures down, stillwater temperatures are cooling off, and the trout are getting active.  Still not much word from the bass and other freshwater fraternity, but overall, it looks like fishing is finally picking up … so let’s get out there

With about 6 weeks to go of the trout river season, there have been some excellent fish reported locally in the Natal Fly Fishers Club returns for the Mooi, Bushman’s Rivers and uMngeni Rivers.  Fish ranged from 3-5 inches / 8-13cm through the scale up to 14-15 inches / 35-38cm.  Fish were taken a variety of nymphs and dry fly.
The NFFC stillwaters are also firing up, with some good fish being noted in the returns.  Fished ranged from 13-15 inches / 33-38cm, though a cracking 19-21 inches / 48-53cm.  With water temperatures cooling and now falling below the 20deg.C mark, fish will start getting active and feeding up.  Popular stillwater patterns are the ever-reliable Woolly Bugger, dragon/damselfly and minnow patterns in black, olive of brown livery currently … the brighter colours see duty as the water cools even further.

This weeks Natal Fly Dressers meeting showcased a popular minnow pattern, the Muddler Minnow, tied by Prof. Matt Akerman … I am looking forward to taking it for a swim when the stillwater event season kicks off next month.  Anyone interested in taking up fly tying, do come and chat to Jan at Kingfisher-PMB.

With the stillwater event season kicking off in a month’s time, a reminder that entries are open for the TOPS Corporate Challenge (May-August), Kamberg Trout Festival (4-6 June), and Boston Fly Fishing Festival (19-20 June).  Looking forward seeing many of you there – come and say Hi!

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) continues to be a cause for alarm in The Midlands KZN … biosecurity remains a critical component of FMD control, and all anglers are advised to take heed of biosecurity notices / signage in and 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 stillwater events listed above have received the go ahead from landowners, and biosecurity measures will be implemented for vehicles traversing The Midlands.

On the bass front – the water quality discussion still surrounds the mystery that is Albert Falls.  Word from the water is that very few fish are being caught by the boating fraternity, but the shore-anglers are having a bit more success.  Good numbers of tilapia are also being reported.

Midmar is reported fishing better numbers wise, with plenty small fish about, as well as some Bluegill.

After what has been described as a “spectacular season” by guide David Weaver, the yellowfish of Sterkfontein Dam are starting to wind down.  They haven’t disappeared just yet, and some fish are still being reported.  But as the water cools, the fish will go off the surface feed and start hugging the bottom, necessitating the use of wet fly patterns (e.g. dragon/damselfly and caddis patterns) and lures (e.g. small Salmo’s).

And for those anglers looking for something completely different, Shaun Dickson from Walkabout Fishing Co. recently reported some double-figure tigerfish on a couple early season exploratory trip to Jozini.

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