The Heat Is On: Big Bites, Calm Seas, and Coastal Chaos!
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.

THE COAST IS ALIVE — SUMMER FISHING IS ON FIRE!
The rock-and-surf scene has officially exploded into full-blown summer mode! The fish are feeding, the weather’s calming, and the bite windows are locking in like clockwork — it’s go-time for those golden fishing missions we live for.

NORTH COAST – FIND THEM AND LIGHT IT UP!
The North Coast is buzzing with energy, but the fish are keeping anglers sharp. This is no time to sit still — move, cast, grind, and chase that magic zone! Bloody, fleshy baits are doing the real work, tempting diamonds for those putting in the sweat.
Off the points, it’s pure chaos — sandies and honeycombs stealing the spotlight, while the trusty grey sharks keep the lighter setups screaming. And here’s the cherry on top — the edibles are starting to fire! Time to break out the sealice, prawn, and chokka and get scratching for those plate-sized prizes.

CENTRAL COAST – HOT, HUNGRY, AND HAPPENING!
This stretch is lit! The Basin has been dishing up a buffet of action, with a wild mix of edibles and inedibles before the last blow.
Blue rays are running the show — smaller ones, but full of fight and fun for the light-tackle crew. Want in on the action? Load up on redeye sardine and mackerel — the baits of the moment, guaranteed to keep the rods bending and the reels singing.

SOUTH COAST – LIVE BAIT = BIG BITES!
Down south, it’s all about the livies! Garrick and kob are smashing bait like they’re on a mission. Artificials have cooled off a touch, but don’t sleep on them — the right lure in the right spot can still turn the ocean electric.
Predators are hugging the edges — colour lines, current breaks, rocky structure — that’s where the chaos happens. Get your bait or lure in the zone and hang on tight!
Rock hoppers, don’t be shy — scratching around with pink prawn and chokka is producing top results. It’s a game of patience, precision, and persistence… but the payoff? Pure glory.

WEEKEND VERDICT: GAME. ON.
The winds have dropped, the seas are smoothing out, and the bite is heating up from North to South. Time to dust off the rods, load the cooler, and stock up at KingFisher — because this weekend, it’s you vs. the bite!
Fish hard. Fish smart. And make it absolutely epic.

Offshore:

Hold Onto Your Hats — The Ocean’s Calling!
The wind’s been giving us a proper workout this week — waves, whitecaps, and wild rides! But for those who braved the chop, the rewards were worth every spray to the face. Offshore action is still red-hot, even with the cooler weather trying to slow things down.

North Coast madness: this is where the action’s been! Couta, dorado, tuna, and sailfish have been keeping reels screaming. Live bait is still the undisputed king — nothing beats a lively baitfish dancing behind the boat or ski. When bait’s scarce, don’t stress — a well-tuned lure can still turn chaos into magic. Cape Vidal’s been on fire, with social media lighting up with monster catches and big grins.

Central KZN coast: the boat crews have been smashing it — bottom fish and gamefish galore! Tuna and couta are both on the chew, hitting everything from trolled lures to poppers to live baits. If you haven’t yet jumped on the quick-change clip train, it’s time. Swap traces, lures, and baits in seconds — from plug to spoon, from mono to wire — and stay in the strike zone when the bite’s hot.

And when it’s hot, you want to be ready. Geelbek, daga, and rockcod have been coming up thick and fast — but the sharks are definitely taking their share of “tax.” Bring your A-game, check your knots, and hang on tight when the grey suits move in!

Down south: the shallows are still dishing up some class fish. A few couta have shown up, along with snoek that can’t resist a fresh fillet bait. Bigger live baits have been deadly on the couta front, and some absolute bomber rockcod are being pulled from the depths. The geelbek and daga bite has the commercial guys grinning ear to ear, while the charters are staying busy on the close reefs.

The fishing’s been wild, the wind’s been rough — but man, it’s that kind of challenge that makes every catch mean something. When the next weather window opens, be ready. Get your tackle sorted, traces prepped, and bait boxes stocked. Because when the sea settles, it’s go time — and you’re going to want to be out there when it happens.
Tight lines and screaming drags, anglers — the next bite could be the one you’ll talk about all summer!

Freshwater:

The Midlands Are Waking Up – Time to Fish!
the news from Jan – With summer gaining traction, The Midlands received a bit more rain this week, along with a stoking of the furnace … both of which hopefully not to the degree that we experienced in December last year. The rainfall has already impacted the middle and lower reaches of rivers where there has been some runoff, colouring up the water.  Judging by the number of dirtied vehicles about, “The Mudlands” is getting into gear…
The rains have given some of the river a bit of a flush, and while conditions are looking great, the fishing has been slow.  Only a single return from one of the Natal Fly Fishers Club beats on the Bushman’s River, with a single fish in the 9-11 inch / 23-28cm bracket at that.  The Bushman’s and Umngeni rivers have got some of their sparkle back, with the upper Bushman’s looking decidedly peachy currently.  The Mooi River on the other hand, had some runoff from the recent rains and is looking decidedly non-fishy. Water temperatures are on the up, The Mooi measured at 19deg.C.

The NFFC is engaging with local environmental organisation, Upland River Conservation, in clearing invasive Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) from the banks of The Mooi River, to keep the area clear of this alien species which causes environmental damage by outcompeting native species and consuming large amounts of water.

The South African Fly Fishing Association (SAFFA) Ladies Nationals takes place on the Cape streams 15-18 October.  Two local Midlands ladies will be flying the KZN flag : wishing Bridgette Moores-Pitt and Monika Grobbelaar Tight Lines.

With some good fish in the 17-19 inch / 43-48cm class being reported in the NFFC returns, the stillwater fishing is picking up.  Water temperatures are also picking up, with one of the returns noting 20deg.C surface temperature.  When practicing Catch and Release, it is advisable to strengthen your tippet, so as to be able to decrease the fight time, and get the fish in quickly, in order to send it back to depths for cooler water. 
Further afield, there have been some excellent fish reported from the Underberg area.

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.
The bass are keeping very much to themselves … fishing is reportedly spotty, on one minute, and off the next.  Last weekend saw PMB Bassmasters holding a Triple Skins event on Albert Falls … Leon Fouche bringing in a 6kg bag to win the event.  Word from the water is that the carp and barbel are spawning at Albert Falls … with the Red Breast Tilapia about to start.  Midmar is apparently fishing well currently.

Scaly fishing has slowed somewhat, and with the recent rains, the lower reaches of the rivers will be starting to colour.  NOW is the time to get after these yellow slabs, while conditions are still amenable.  They may still be targeted under the higher, dirty water conditions later in summer, but it’s just that more fun in moderate cleaner water.

Xplorer Fly Fishing will be hosting an “Umngeni Day” 25-26 October, on the section flowing through the Hilton College Reserve, to celebrate the launch of the KZN Yellowfish Project in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal.  Contact Jan at Kingfisher-PMB for info on this event.
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.

The KZN Angler News audio fishing report is South Africa’s first fishing podcast series that focuses on the latest fishing reports of the East Coast. This report is free and available on all major Podcast platforms including Apple Pods, Google Pods, Spotify and Deezer as well as SA’s most popular Facebook Pages.
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Please send any info about fishing or fish caught in your area to Vinesh Soogreem – vineshs@kingfisher.co.za