And just like that, Christmas is behind us. We sincerely hope you got everything you wished for—and in the case of this fishing season, we really hope it was fishing tackle!
Top tip: Focus on the good. It’s easy to get bogged down by dirty water, beach litter, or those blank fishing days. But there’s always so much to be grateful for, and plenty of positives to focus on. Remember why you go fishing, and spend your time appreciating the good.
Offshore:
The seas have calmed down over the past week, with plenty of fish caught along the KZN coastline.
North Coast:
The north coast has seen excellent gamefish action. Dorado have been the main draw, with some great-sized fish coming in, along with good numbers of Tuna. The Dorado up north have been much larger than those found along the central and southern coasts.
Central Coast:
The central coast has had its share of Dorado, but the sizes have been smaller, and fishing has been tougher. Focus on areas near ships and floating debris. The big highlight this week? Pink Chugger lures. Proven to be a game-changer at last weekend’s Dorado Bonanza, hosted by the Durban Ski Club, where anglers couldn’t stop talking about the strike rates with these lures. Bottom fishing continues to keep anglers happy, even late in the season.
South Coast:
The south coast has been on fire! Dorado have been the stars, with some great catches along with other gamefish, including solid Tuna taken on both lures and bait.
Rock and Surf:
Summer fish have kept most anglers happy along the coast.
North Coast:
The north coast is seeing some decent inedible action. Sandsharks are slow to bite, which is odd for this time of year, but we all know that can change in a moment. Summer flatfish will readily take fleshy fish baits. General trace setups include heavy monofilament, large circle hooks, and quality components. In addition to sandies, you might hook honeycombs, brown skates, sharks, or big edibles.
Central Coast:
Fishing along the Durban beachfront has been tricky due to the influx of swimmers. Patience is key, as everyone deserves to enjoy the beach. Night fishing has been better, with good catches of flatfish and smaller grey sharks nearly every day.
South Coast:
The south coast has also seen a rush of inland visitors. While busier areas are best avoided, there’s still plenty of space to fish. Rocky spots have been great for edible anglers, while deep-water points have yielded some big summer giants. Chokka and mackerel are the go-to baits.
Freshwater:
Bass, carp, tilapia, and more are abundant in rivers and dams.
Bass:
Bass fishing has been great between rainy spells. Despite being early in the season, the fishing feels like peak summer. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times, as bass tend to be sluggish midday. Topwater frogs are the go-to lures, especially in weedier areas. Use 50lb braid or heavier for fishing in thick cover.
Carp:
Summer carp fishing is in full swing. Fruity flavors, particularly banana, remain a firm favorite for both specimen and conventional anglers. Whether you’re using boilies or mielies, make sure to stick with the sweet, fruity options.
Trout:
Trout fishing has slowed due to warmer weather. Make sure the dams aren’t too warm, as this can be dangerous for the fish. Check with your local tackle shop for advice. On the other hand, river fishing is going strong, as long as there’s steady water flow. Heavy flies can only do so much, but they can help when needed.
Series 23 (can you believe it; this is Petri’s 23 series) of Hier Gaan Ons Alweer on kykNET, premieres are on from the 6th of January 2025 on Monday evenings at 17:30 on kykNet, channel 144 and there are a number of repeats during the week. The repeats are on Tuesday’s at 11:00, Wednesday’s at 10:00, Thursday’s at 11:30 & Friday’s at 14:30. Series 23 ends on the 31st of March 2025.
As most of you know, Petri and his guests cover various angling styles (fresh and salt water) in and around Southern Africa.
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
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 public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Kingfisher has opened their new store on the upper north coast. Situated in the Tiffany’s Shopping Centre in Salt Rock, pop in and see them or give them a shout on 032 307 0041.
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