IT’S HERE! The BIGGEST SHAD COMPETITION of the last few decades kicks off TODAY — and it’s going to be absolute madness! The KingFisher Shad Competition is back and it’s BIGGER THAN EVER, with a jaw-dropping R75 000 in cold hard cash up for grabs, plus an epic array of gear, tackle, and prizes that’ll blow your mind! This isn’t just a fishing comp — it’s a coastal takeover, a shot at glory, and the kind of adrenaline-pumping action you’ll talk about for years. Whether you’re flinging spoons at sunrise or chasing that perfect pull into the night, this is YOUR moment! Don’t be the one left on the beach — get to your nearest KingFisher branch or jump online at www.kingfisher.co.za and lock in your entry now — THE SHAD ARE RUNNING, THE PRIZES ARE REAL, AND YOUR CASH IS A CAST AWAY!

The good times keep rolling in KZN — and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
From Margate to Richards Bay it’s nothing short of coastal carnage. Shad are everywhere — not just nibbling, not teasing — they’re in full berserker mode. They’re blitzing bait balls, hammering spoons, and turning the surf zone into a warzone. This isn’t fishing — it’s survival. If your reel’s not screaming, you’re already behind. If your rod isn’t arched over, your lure probably got mugged by a pack of finned hooligans.

Grunter? Forget finesse — these guys are gym-rat bruisers. They’re stacked in the foam, dirty as ever, and snapping gear like toothpicks. These aren’t your average estuary floppers — they’re heavyweight psychopaths in camo. Slack on the hookset? Eat sand. Connect? You better hold on like your pride depends on it — because these fish fight like they’ve got something to prove.

And the garrick? Pure savagery. They’re hunting in coordinated blitzes, crashing live bait with precision and fury. They’re not feeding — they’re executing. Your spinning gear better be war-ready, because these apex torpedoes play dirty, run hard, and hit smart. If your drag isn’t locked down, you’re about to get schooled.
Sharks in the trenches. With all this chaos up top, the big boys have checked in. Hook a fish, and you’ll feel them lurking — long runs, shredded tackle, and drags howling so loud they stop conversations up and down the beach. It’s predator vs predator out there, and you’re just the guy holding the popcorn.

It’s pre-dawn or bust. Be on the sand before the light creeps in. Backup rods? Mandatory. Heavy leaders? Non-negotiable. Leave the finesse stuff at home unless you’re looking to donate it to the ocean.
This isn’t a bite window — it’s a full-blown aquatic uprising. KZN is on fire, and it’s not slowing down. The good times? They’re not just rolling — they’re charging in like a stampede. So rig up, dig deep, and go make fishing history. Break records. Break sweat. Break something. Just don’t miss it.
 
Offshore is still ON FIRE — and if you’re not already packing your rods, what are you even doing?
We’re in the middle of a bite window that just won’t quit — three straight weeks of nonstop action, and this weekend is shaping up to be the most explosive yet.

Snoek? They’re still in beast mode — shredding baitballs, crashing lines, and smashing lures like it’s their last meal. Forget subtle takes — these fish are hitting HARD and they’re not sticking around. Spoons, plugs, drift baits — whatever you throw, make it fast and make it count. Wire up and hold on — it’s chaos when they strike.

Garrick are turning the inshore into a war zone — bold, aggressive, and hitting like freight trains in the gutters. Live mullet? Game on. Surface plugs? Even better. The topwater violence is next level — and it’s all happening RIGHT NOW.

Don’t wait for Monday regrets. Set your alarm. Load your cooler. Sharpen your hooks.
This is the weekend to make memories, fill hatches, and post that grip-n-grin you’ve been dreaming about.
This bite won’t last forever. But it’s on right now — and you’re either in on it… or watching from the scroll. Get to the water. Be early. Stay ready.Your fish is waiting.
 
Freshwater:
News from Jan: The warnings of yet another frontal system and more snow didn’t materialise last week, but in the same (frosted) breath, the current, apparently stable weather conditions, belies the fact that the fish are simply not playing the game.  We are halfway through the winter stillwater trout season – a mere 6 weeks and some change till the river season reopens on 1 September (but who’s counting?) – and we are yet to see the numbers of fish that we would expect over winter.  But out there, and a line in the water, we must … in hope … otherwise your catch rate will remain at zero.
 
Just a handful of returns from the Natal Fly Fishers Club (NFFC), this time reporting a wider size range of fish : from 9-11 inches / 23-28cm at the lower end of the tape, with most fish being in the 15-17 inch / 38-43 cm bracket.  One return noted “A long, slow day…” but was rewarded with a fish of 17-19 inches / 43-48 cm, while another report wrote of nary a sign of moving fish, in the shallows or elsewhere, and then getting takes on a bloodworm pattern drifted below an indicator.  Another return mentioned “fish were keyed in on black streamers and back jig buggers”. 
 
Quite frankly, don’t think the fly has anything to do with it at all (heresy!) … it’s pretty much all about just finding the fish which appear to be sitting in only a few spots, particular to them it seems … so while catches may be sporadic, it’s that one NFFC return that noted a fish of 23-25 inches / 58-63cm that keeps us returning to the water…
 
31 July – 3 August sees the final event in The Midlands winter fly fishing calendar – the Finals of the TOPS Corporate Challenge – taking place on the waters around Nottingham Road.
 
Round 6 of the Foot and Mouth warning across The Midlands with its large bovine population. To assist landowners and protect their stocks, the NFFC has closed some MORE of its waters at their request, as they monitor the outbreak.  The NFFC further requests all anglers to please follow any landowner or staff requests to respect their vehicle / footwear sterilization protocols as required.
 
Apart from some good bass being reported from the coastal waters, bass in The Midlands remain pretty much under the radar.  Congrats must go to Wynand van Rooyen however for persevering and getting some fish to hand locally.  With the Albert Falls Bass Classic around the corner (dates T.B.C.), fingers crossed that conditions improve for this very popular event.
 
With some excellent fish being reported from the Umkomaas, Bushman’s, and Tugela River systems, the scaly hunters are out and about.  Top flies currently have been small #16 natural beadhead nymph patterns.
 
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Please send any info about fishing or fish caught in your area to Vinesh Soogreem – vineshs@kingfisher.co.za