The Chaos Pauses, But the Game’s Far From Over
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!
Rock & Surf:
After a week of coastal carnage that felt more like a feeding frenzy than a fishing mission, things are starting to shift. From Margate to Richards Bay, rods have been buckling, reels screaming, and anglers leaving the sand with shaky hands and war stories. But this weekend? It’s gonna take more than luck.
The bite hasn’t died — not yet — but conditions are about to test your grit. Swells are up, winds are twitchy, and timing will be everything. The fish are still there… but they’re no longer handing out free chaos. You want in? You’ll need patience, precision, and a plan.
Shad have been in full riot mode, ambushing anything shiny — spoons, plugs, even stripped-down hooks. But with this weekend’s swell, they’ll likely pull back and hug deeper guts. Forget the mayhem — it’s time to hunt smart. Read the rips. Cast clean. Stay mobile.
Grunter? Still in the mix, still throwing punches — but they’re sulking deeper, lurking in muddy channels and back eddies. They’re not smashing through surf like last week. This time, you’ll need stealth, structure, and serious gear discipline. Go too light, and you’re done.
Garrick? They’ve gone ghost. After last week’s coordinated blitzes and aerial strikes, they’ve dialed down — but they’re not gone. Keep the livies on tap, watch the tides, and wait for those short, savage windows where everything lights up again. One chance. Don’t miss.
The sharks? Still here. Still angry. But they’re lurking in the rough, waiting for a mistake. If you hook into something decent, you’d better be fast, or be ready to hand it over. Predators don’t pause — they adapt. You should too.
This weekend isn’t about fishing hard — it’s about fishing smart. That means:
Pre-dawn starts and tight tide timing
Backup rods and bombproof leaders
Watching the wind, riding the lulls, and striking when the ocean lets you in
No, this isn’t the chaos of last week — this is the reset. The storm before the next frenzy. But for the anglers who show up ready, focused, and just a little obsessed? There’s still fire in the surf.
Offshore:
Offshore is still absolutely ON FIRE — and if your rods aren’t already packed, what are you even doing?
We’re deep in a bite window that refuses to quit — over a month of nonstop carnage, and this weekend looks like the peak of the madness.
Snoek? Still in full rampage mode. They’re ripping through baitballs, smoking lines, and hammering lures like every strike might be their last. These aren’t taps — they’re explosions. Whether you’re throwing spoons, plugs, or drift baits, speed is key. Wire up, send it, and hold tight — when they hit, it’s instant mayhem.
Tuna are lighting up the north coast — and if you’re chasing them, make sure your Pelagic Bait clips are locked and loaded. They’re the ultimate time-saver: just open, clip your live or dead bait, and send it. No fuss, no wasted time — just straight to the action.
Garrick are turning the inshore into a battleground. They’re bold, brutal, and wrecking live mullet and topwater plugs in the gutters. The surface strikes are savage — and the violence is immediate. If you’ve got the gear, this is where you want to be.
No time for hesitation. Set the alarm. Load the cooler. Sharpen every hook. This is the kind of weekend you talk about all winter — bent rods, screaming reels, and full hatches.
This bite won’t last forever — but it’s ON right now. You’re either in the thick of it or watching it happen from your phone. So get to the water, get there early, and get ready to write your fishing story.
Your fish is waiting. Go get it.
Freshwater:
News from Jan – It seems that The Weather God’s appear to be playing a game of roll-the-dice, as the weather is chopping and changing with each throw. It’s not all 1’s and 2’s however, and when the 6’s come out, so do the fish. Winter is generally considered to be trout season, but it’s been a quiet one to say the least. For the bass and cyprinid’s (carp and yellowfish), it’s usually off time, but they have been making a showing of late, which, I dare say, hints subtly at a seasonal change. To use a popular quote : “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings” however, and the long-range forecast looks to be holding a Joker or two … while another popular quote says : “Make hay while the sun shines”, so get out there before the circus comes (back) to town.
The Natal Fly Fishers Club (NFFC) anglers have clearly been following the 2nd adage, and there has been an increase in the numbers of fish coming to the net. The average size of the fish caught has been in the 15-19 inch / 38-48 cm bracket. It is said that “There’s always one”, and this one was a cracker of a rainbow cock fish that stretched the tape to 56cm / 22 inches. Along with the ever-popular smaller patterns (e.g. Pheasant Tail Nymph), olive appears to be the flavour of the week, in the form of woolly buggers (with or without the orange beadhead typical for winter), and zonker patterns. Reported water temperatures range from “whisky cold”, to 12/13 deg.C, so temps are on the up which should get life (read trout food) back on the move again.
With new cases continuing to emerge, KZN dairy farmers have been severely impacted by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). 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 a few fish coming to hand, bass in The Midlands remain elusive. Those that came to hand were taken on Crackin’ Craw and Senko worm soft plastics in watermelon colour, fished on the bottom.
Inanda Dam hosted the first event of the 2025/2026 SABAA KZN Juniors League this past weekend 19-20 July. 21 anglers participated over the 2-day event, with the biggest fish overall pulling the scale to 2.922kg. Inanda Dam will also play host to the SABAA National Championships 2025, from 6-10 August.
With the days warming and river temps on the up, the carp and yellowfish action has been hotting up of late. Excellent carp are coming from the fly anglers targeting them on the surface at Albert Falls Dam with small brown floating beetle patterns, while the bank anglers are fishing regular “pap gooi”. Some good scaly’s (Natal Yellowfish) have been coming to hand in the Umkomaas and Umngeni systems. For the fly anglers, small weighted nymphs are considered the “Go To patterns”, but bigger tadpole patterns have also been accounting for fish of late. For the conventional / artlure anglers, small (1-inch / 3cm) Salmo lures have been doing the business.
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Please send any info about fishing or fish caught in your area to Vinesh Soogreem – vineshs@kingfisher.co.za
