KZN SUMMER FISHING IS GOING OFF!
Rock & Surf:
Summer has hit full throttle along the KZN coastline and shore anglers are getting absolutely punished… in the best possible way. Drags are screaming, rods are loading, and the variety on offer right now is next level. If you’re putting in the time, the coast is paying you back HARD.
UP NORTH and it’s been raw, physical fishing. Tugela and Mtunzini are dishing out proper bruisers, with inedibles dominating and bloody baits like mackerel and bonito doing the damage. Edibles are sneaking out of sheltered bays and gullies too, keeping sessions spicy. This is big-water fishing — fish smart, fish together, and respect the zone.
CENTRAL COAST consistency is the name of the game. Durban’s trusted spots like Glen Ashley, Blue Lagoon and the Basin are producing solid edible action with shad, kob and stumpnose leading the charge. Want heavier pulls? Grey sharks, skates and fired-up sand sharks are stepping up and making anglers earn every metre of line.
THE SOUTH COAST IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL!
This has been the standout zone of the week. Scratch anglers are smiling with quality stumpnose, bream, pompano and proper shad coming out regularly. Push deeper and it’s full chaos — honeycomb rays are folding rods and exposing weak gear. Octopus bait has been money for the rays, while redeye sardine combos are pulling honeycombs out of hiding. Those tuned into the daily local chatter are cashing in big time.
With fishing this hot, look after your gear. Quick freshwater rinses, checking rollers and guides, and basic maintenance will keep you ready for the next screaming run — because they’re coming.
Offshore:
Off Durban, offshore conditions have been challenging but worthwhile, with shifting water colour and fluctuating temperatures forcing anglers to stay adaptable. Despite this, reef fishing has produced solid results, including quality Englishman and some impressive John Dory. Gamefish activity has been steady in the shallower zones, where Dorado, Snoek and Couta have all featured. While most Couta have been on the smaller side, their presence close in is a positive sign as the season continues to build. Those prepared to push deeper in search of cleaner, warmer water have been rewarded with consistent Dorado, proving that patience is paying dividends.
The North Coast has delivered some of the most reliable offshore action, particularly in the shallows, where Dorado remain aggressive and active. Snoek and Couta have been widespread, with good numbers reported in areas holding cleaner water. Although conditions have been patchy at times, crews finding the right temperature breaks have enjoyed steady bites, and reef fishing has remained productive.
Further south, offshore fishing has followed a similar pattern, showing steady improvement despite unsettled water. Dorado continue to feature, especially in deeper water where cleaner conditions persist. Snoek remain in the mix, and Couta activity is expected to increase as conditions stabilize. Bottom fishing has been dependable, with reef species providing consistent action, and with water quality gradually improving, the South Coast is shaping up for a strong run as summer approaches.
Freshwater:
News from Jan – The pattern of stable weather (i.e. little to no rain) continues … great for those wanting to get outside, but just watch those sunbeams, roasted tomato season is all but a few hours away in the current blistering heatwave! In the same breath, it’s been muttered already that we could use some rain, and it appears that there might be just a little relief coming, as the forecast is showing a spit and a spot for the upper Midlands (Kamberg Valley and up) in the week ahead. Temperatures also appear to be ameliorating, albeit briefly, which should provide a little bit of relief for fish in the shallows.
With no input, the rivers and streams would have tapped off some more from last week, and are looking peachy. A single return from the Natal Fly Fishers Club river anglers reported that the central Mooi River was “looking fantastic”, with “good flow and clarity”. Just one fish to hand in the 5-7 inch / 13-18 cm class, and another lost … much bigger of course! Water temperature reported at 21deg at start and 25deg(!) by late afternoon … yikes! With the prospect of dry fly water on hand, your reporter is starting to get itchy feet … but the fly box needs some attention before that can happen! Looking forward to reporting first‑hand shortly…
With only a single return from the NFFC stillwater anglers over the last week, the heatwave has no doubt kept them indoors and out of the suns way. Just a single fish in the 7-9 inch / 18-23cm bracket was reported. Water temperature wasn’t recorded, but judging by the rivers, will no doubt be well over the 20deg mark. There have been some good fish reported from private stillwaters.
With the hottest month of the year in South Africa (February) about to start, it makes sense for anglers to carry a thermometer … and a temperature in the mid -20’s should call for a cessation of activity. For temperature sensitive species like trout, warm surface waters usually dictate that fish will be found in the depths, looking for the cooler water, so a “wet” line (i.e. intermediate or full sinking) is preferred over the peak of the austral summer. Water clarity will assist in choosing a fly pattern : coloured water calls for dark, big flies that make “noise” for fish to find them (e.g. woolly buggers, minnows, and dragonfly patterns), whereas cleaner water conditions may call for lighter in colour, smaller flies (e.g. damselfly and nymph patterns). A tandem rig is most useful when trying to gauge what the fish are feeding on. Restrict fishing to early morning and late afternoon so as not to drag and fight fish up through the warm, oxygen deficient surface water, and tippet up to get the fish in quickly for a quick release.
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) remains a HOT topic in KwaZulu-Natal – cleaning/disinfection stations have been setup across The Midlands – it is requested of all travellers to please follow any requirements from these biosecurity stations (spraying of vehicles, foot bath etc.) in order to reduce the risk of further spread of this active and escalating emergency that is already impacting the dairy and beef industry.
While summer is considered to be prime time for bass, news from the anglers has been slow in coming. Both Albert Falls and Midmar continue to produce some smaller fish in the 10-15 inch / 25-500g range, although some bigger fish in the 1.5kg bracket were reported from Midmar recently. The fish were reported to be fat and healthy, in spawning condition. There have been some catches of carp reported from Midmar.
Sterkfontein continues to produce good numbers of small- and largemouth yellowfish, as the season-of-all-seasons continues!
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.
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