All Signs Point to Tight Lines

Richards Bay anglers have something big to celebrate as South Africa’s fishing tackle giant, The Kingfisher, officially opens its doors in the city. Taking over the well‑known old Spinner Tackle location, the new Kingfisher store brings a refreshed energy to the local fishing community with its extensive range of quality tackle, rods, reels, bait, and accessories trusted by anglers across the country. The move marks an exciting milestone for Richards Bay, giving both recreational and competitive fishermen access to one of the nation’s most respected brands right on their doorstep.

Rock & Surf:

Snood length is one of those topics guaranteed to spark a heated debate in any tackle shop—and for good reason. Get it right and your bait comes alive; get it wrong and you’re just feeding the peckers. The general rule is simple: calmer water calls for a longer hook snood to give your bait more movement and a natural presentation. When the sea gets rough or the ground turns foul, shorten it up for better control. These basics apply whether you’re chasing edibles or tangling with the toothy stuff.

For the shore anglers, the action has been solid, with grey sharks and sand sharks leading the charge, backed up by shad and pompano making regular appearances.

The north coast has been a bit unpredictable lately, blowing hot and cold with the changing conditions. The northeast wind hasn’t cooled the water as much as we’d normally expect, so it’s taken an extra day of proper NE to really switch the bite on. When it does, mackerel and redeye have been the standout baits for most inedibles. Don’t be shy—build a bait with plenty of smell and scent. If the peckers are driving you mad, wrap your bait with chokka to toughen it up and keep it fishing longer.

The gullies on the north coast are absolutely firing, producing a great mix of species. Prawns and chokka blob baits have been the top performers, so keep those handy.

Over on the central coast, anglers have enjoyed some quality pompano and stumpies over the past few weeks, with early‑morning shad adding to the fun. These fish can be fussy, so bait presentation is key. A well‑presented chokka and prawn combo is hard to beat, but crabs and sea lice are also deadly. Try a 4/0 hook with a longer snood to keep the bait looking as natural as possible.

The south coast has mostly been an edible angler’s playground this past week. When the big seas roll in, this stretch really shines, offering loads of spots to tuck into protected back bays and gullies.

There’s been a steady stream of edibles on both fleshy baits and prawns, so make sure your bait box includes chokka, sardines, and prawns—those three are absolute must‑haves.

Down south, bream, kob, and some proper stumpies have been coming out, making it the perfect excuse to pack the medium tackle and go have a proper scratching jol.

On the flip side, there’s also been plenty of inedible action reported. Look for beaches and points with access to deeper water, launch a bait properly, and hang on. The river mouths have also been producing, with rock salmon showing up in good numbers.

Offshore:

The wind has been howling this week but here’s the twist in the tale… it’s been the right wind. That solid north easter has been pushing warm water down the coast and flipping the switch on the bite. If you’ve been sitting at home waiting for “perfect conditions”, you’ve probably missed some proper action. The ocean might look wild, but the fish have been fired up and anglers who pushed through have been rewarded with screaming reels and bent rods.

And speaking of fired up, the Durban Interclub held this past weekend delivered an absolute cracker of a result. The weigh stations saw an incredible spread of fish coming through, a sign that the coast is alive and well and shaping up for a seriously exciting competition season ahead. When the Interclub produces numbers like that, anglers know the ecosystem is healthy and the coming months could be something special.

One question that always pops up at the slipway or on the beach is: “What colour lure did you catch that on?” Truth is, colour is usually the last piece of the puzzle. The real magic lives in where your lure is, how fast it’s moving, and how deep it’s swimming. Retrieve speed, depth and lure size come first. If your lure isn’t in the strike zone and moving like real prey, the perfect colour won’t save you. Get the speed right, work the right depth, match the size of what predators are hunting and suddenly the bites start stacking up.

Offshore along the KZN coast the fishing has been going full throttle. Live bait has been a little tricky to secure, but the gamefish clearly didn’t get the memo because they’ve been chewing hard. Up on the North Coast the usual launch spots have been buzzing and for good reason. Snoek are still thick in the system and some of the better action has actually been coming from slightly deeper water than usual. Don’t be shy about pushing a bit further out with your fillet baits or trolling spreads. And every now and then, just to keep things interesting, a couta or tuna will crash the party on snoek tackle and turn a casual session into absolute chaos.

Beyond the snoek, the North Coast has been alive with pelagics. Dorado are flashing through the colour lines, tuna are smashing baits, billfish are making surprise appearances and plenty of couta are still lurking where warm water pushes through. In short, summer fish are still very much in the game, and if you’re not on the water you’re watching someone else’s photos roll through your feed.

Durban launches have seen a mix of results but there has definitely been action for those dialled in on the right tactics. Tuna and couta remain the primary targets, with most of the couta coming through on the smaller side but the occasional proper crocodile still finding its way onto the decks. For the shoal fish, a shiny sardine is still one of the deadliest baits you can put in the water. When those darts are feeding, a well-presented sardine gets inhaled. The bigger fish, though, are a different story altogether. They’re picky, powerful and demand fresh bait and flawless presentation if you want to stand a chance.

Further down the coast, especially along the lower South Coast, the focus has shifted to the bottom brutes. This is not finesse fishing. This is war. Anglers are rolling out the heavy artillery: 10–11 inch KP reels, serious rods and 100lb plus braid. Even then, those deep water giants don’t always play fair. Poenskop, copper steenbras, yellowtail and amberjack have been testing gear and anglers alike. If there’s a weak link anywhere in your setup, those fish will find it in seconds.

So check your knots, sharpen those hooks and pack a bit of courage with your tackle box. The coast is alive, the fish are feeding and the next screaming run could be waiting just beyond the breakers. Get out there and make it happen.

Freshwater:

Freshwater fishing across KwaZulu-Natal is beginning to come alive with the arrival of autumn, as easing rainfall and stabilising conditions set the stage for what could be one of the most productive periods of the season. With only light rain forecast over the next week to ten days, river levels are steadily dropping and water temperatures are cooling into that sweet spot anglers wait for all year. These changing conditions are already triggering increased fish activity, and those getting onto the water now are starting to see the rewards.

River anglers have wasted no time capitalising, with encouraging reports filtering through as trout begin to shift their focus toward surface feeding. As grasshopper activity peaks from late summer into early autumn, these terrestrials become a key food source, and with fewer aquatic insects available in cooling water, trout are looking up more aggressively. This creates exciting opportunities for dry fly fishing, with anglers enjoying visual takes and more active fish. In short, the rivers are entering a prime window where preparation meets opportunity.

Stillwater fishing has been quieter over the past week, but this is typical of the seasonal transition and is unlikely to last long. As dam temperatures continue to drop, trout are expected to switch on and begin feeding more aggressively ahead of winter. The upcoming stillwater calendar is already building momentum, with popular events such as the TOPS Corporate Challenge, the Kamberg Trout Festival from 4 to 6 June, and the Boston Fly Fishing Festival on 19 and 20 June drawing strong interest. With crisp, frosty mornings just around the corner, anglers are encouraged to secure their entries early and prepare for some memorable sessions.

In the Midlands, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) remains an important consideration. Authorities continue to emphasise strict biosecurity measures, and anglers are urged to respect RED ALERT signage on district roads, comply with movement regulations, and follow hygiene protocols to help protect local livestock and maintain access to key fishing areas.

From a bass fishing perspective, Albert Falls Dam continues to fish quietly, with carp and tilapia providing the most consistent action for anglers. Midmar Dam, however, is showing more encouraging signs, producing steady numbers of bass, mostly smaller fish with the occasional quality specimen mixed in, along with active bluegill. Further north, Sterkfontein Dam—better known as Sterkies—is in exceptional form, delivering outstanding fishing and reinforcing its reputation as one of the province’s premier destinations.

All indicators suggest that autumn is lining up to deliver some of its best fishing in the weeks ahead. With improving water clarity, stabilising conditions and fish beginning to feed with intent, the message is clear: now is the time to dust off the gear, get onto the water, and make the most of this exciting seasonal shift.

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.
https://www.ecr.co.za/podcasts/ansa/

Go to www.facebook.com/thekingfisherdaiwa and “Like” us on Facebook to catch reviews, videos, fishing reports, great promotions and lots more.

As always, remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date with all our new video releases and to brush up on your species   knowledge, tactics and tips/tricks.
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheKingfisherFishing

Please send any info about fishing or fish caught in your area to vineshs@kingfisher.co.za