THIS IS THE WINDOW. THIS IS THE MOMENT.

The bad weather has packed up and left town… and the ocean has turned into a full-blown DUCKPOND

Rock & Surf:

Calm seas. Warm water. Clean lines. This is when the coast switches on. Shore anglers are back in business and the rewards are real for anyone who gets their timing right. Fish are feeding, drags are waking up, and every session feels loaded with possibility. If you’ve been waiting for a green light… this is it.

Up north, Tugela and Mtunzini are back in full contact mode. Inedibles are on the chew, smashing mackerel and chokka, while edibles are sneaking out of sheltered bays and gullies to keep things interesting. It’s proper, honest fishing with rods staying bent and baits not lasting long.

Along the central coast, Durban’s proven zones like Glen Ashley, Blue Lagoon and the Basin are doing exactly what they do best. Shad, grunter and stumpnose are coming through consistently, and when the conditions line up, grey sharks and skates are stepping in to stretch gear and test nerves.

The South Coast took a knock from recent rain and dirty water, but don’t write it off. Quality scratch fishing is still happening, with stumpnose, grunter, the odd kob and flatfish keeping anglers busy. Push onto deeper points and it’s a different game altogether, with stronger inedibles responding to octopus and redeye sardine combos. As the water cleans, this zone is primed to fire again.
This is one of those rare setups. Flat water. Settled conditions. A narrow window before things change again. Plan smart, fish safe, keep your gear tight… and GET OUT THERE.
When the sea looks like a duckpond, you don’t hesitate — you fish!

Offshore:

Offshore fishing along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline over the past weekend delivered a challenging but rewarding landscape, with success favouring crews who showed patience, adaptability, and a willingness to hunt for the right water. While conditions were far from uniform, anglers who read temperature lines, monitored water colour closely, and adjusted their depth and spread were rewarded with solid gamefish and dependable bottom action.

Central Coast – Durban Offshore
Off Durban, offshore conditions were variable throughout the weekend, with changing sea state and inconsistent water colour keeping skippers on their toes. Launch conditions were manageable during early windows, but swell and wind increased later in the day, making timing critical. Water temperatures fluctuated noticeably, and finding cleaner, warmer pockets proved to be the difference between average and standout sessions.
Gamefish activity along the Durban stretch remained steady. Dorado were present in the shallower zones, particularly where current lines intersected with slightly greener water. Snoek also featured, responding well to trolling spreads worked along temperature breaks. Couta made an appearance closer inshore, with most fish on the smaller side, but their presence is encouraging and suggests improving conditions as the season progresses.

North Coast – Consistency Rewards Effort
The North Coast offshore grounds delivered some of the most consistent action of the weekend. Crews launching north of Durban reported better water colour overall, particularly in the shallows, where Dorado remained active and aggressive. These fish were often found holding along subtle current edges rather than obvious colour changes, rewarding skippers who trusted their electronics and stayed disciplined with their trolling patterns.
Snoek and Couta were widespread across the North Coast, though size varied. Better Couta came from areas holding stable temperature lines, while Snoek responded best to early-morning passes before boat traffic increased. Anglers pushing slightly deeper in search of cleaner, warmer water were rewarded with more consistent Dorado, showing that fuel mileage and persistence paid off.
Bottom fishing remained reliable, with a mix of reef species coming out steadily. While not fast-paced, the action was dependable, making it a solid fallback option when gamefish slowed.

South Coast – Gradual Improvement
Further south, offshore fishing showed steady signs of improvement. While conditions were still patchy in places, water quality has begun to stabilise, and this was reflected in improving catches. Dorado featured more prominently in deeper water, with fish responding well to slower trolling speeds and wider lure spreads.
Snoek remained present across multiple depth ranges, and although Couta activity was not explosive, it is expected to increase as cleaner water becomes more established. Bottom fishing along the South Coast continued to deliver, providing consistent action and keeping rods bent when surface activity was quiet.
Overall, this past weekend highlighted the importance of adaptability in KZN offshore fishing. Crews who stayed flexible, adjusted depth and tactics, and focused on finding the right water were rewarded across multiple species. With weather systems set to shift in the coming days, anglers are advised to keep a close eye on forecasts, plan launches carefully, and ensure tackle is in top condition.
The signs are promising. As water quality improves and temperature lines stabilise, offshore fishing along the KZN coast is shaping up well, and those ready to move when the window opens will be first in line for the rewards.

Freshwater:

News from Jan: Rumour has it that by some planetary motions, KZN had moved significantly closer to the sun – and after nearly 2 weeks of what was tantamount to living in a furnace, we are happy to report that perhaps it is an Autumnal Chill that has its foot in the door … and in the same breath, woe betide anyone that starts complaining about Winter!  This is good news for water temperatures, as recent reports had Midmar sitting at a tepid bathwater-like of 34deg.C, and even the high-altitude trout stillwaters had the mercury climbing to mid-20deg.  River temperatures were also scoring in the upper 20‘s … until the rains of the weekend provided some relief.  The rainfall has been pretty much confined to a limited zone tight along The ‘Berg … with the result that the injection of water has put the rivers back up, the lower reaches showing the most effect with high-flow coloured water.  The current forecast for the upper Midlands has temperatures in the low to mid-20’s, a far cry from the recent upper-30’s and near 40deg.C., so with the respite from the heat, time to get out there…
There have been no returns from the Natal Fly Fishers Club river anglers over the past week.  News from further afield is that with the levels being up, it’s back to slinging ‘heavy metal’ while the wait is on for dry fly water.  A wading staff is recommended when fishing the faster water, and stream/river crossings approached with caution … water wings might prove useful if planning to go for a dip…
The KwaZulu Natal Fly Fishing Association will be holding Seniors Trials this weekend – the event was scheduled for Injisuthi, but the Reserve has had to close due to access issues of the bridge and road.  The event will now be held at Lotheni … we look forward to reporting next week.

For the scaly anglers, the lower reaches of the rivers remain coloured and blown out.
Just a single return from the NFFC stillwater anglers, that reported “warm ginger beer coloured water; looks like they had a lot of rain” … but also a couple of fish in the return.  With cooler nights in the forecast, dropping water temperatures should be on the cards, and on the other side of February, we can look to the fish starting to feed up properly.

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 once again advised to comply with any movement regulations, and assist where possible with hygiene and risk-reduction measures.
With water temperatures well up into the 30’s, even the bass are taking a break.  Midmar is producing some fish, while carp and tilapia are being reported from Albert Falls. 

Sterkfontein had a hiccup with the recent stormy weather, but there were still good fish being reported.  Top flies have been black and brown hopper/cricket, along with that all-time staple : The Good Dr’s Beetle.  Afternoon thunderstorms are providing “ant” hatches, so stock up on ant and termite patterns suggests guide, David Weaver.

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