IT’S HERE! The BIGGEST SHAD COMPETITION of the last few decades kicks off  — 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:
The main buzz right now is happening along the south coast, where the Shad madness is in full swing! Big, exciting gamefish have been smashing through the silver shoals—yes, it’s a bit hit-and-miss, but if you put in the time and stay sharp, the rewards are well worth it.
Up north, things have been a bit slower thanks to the current weather, with only a few reports of Kob and the occasional Shad trickling in. But don’t let that stop you—this time of year is prime time for targeting bronze bream and stumpies around the rocky ledges and gullies. These two species are happy on the same light setup, so pack light, stay mobile, and enjoy the adventure. Rods between 10-12ft are spot-on for this style of fishing, and baits like prawn or chokka are still the go-to options.
For those chasing something toothier—while the inedibles scene has slowed a bit, there’s still grey shark action to be had. And if you’re brave enough to swim a bait… who knows, you might just hook into something monstrous.
The Durban beachfront has been alive with Shad action this past week, and the sardine run brought in bonus catches of Snoek and Garrick, giving spinning anglers a real thrill. Throwing spoons is still one of the best ways to target these fast movers—match the profile of the sardines if you can, but even a bit of shiny tinfoil has been doing the trick!
We’re also seeing the first signs of flatfish along the north beaches—not monsters yet, but it’s a promising sign that warmer waters and bigger battles are on the way.
Oh—and yes, the Sardines are still in the net, and the south coast is the hotspot whether you’re targeting Garrick, Brusher, or just want in on the insane Shad bite. It may be chilly, but with R75,000 up for grabs in the KingFisher Shad Comp, now’s the time to train, cast, and get hooked!

Offshore:
If you’ve been thinking about getting on the water, this is your nudge — because the bite is still very much ON, and this weekend could be one of the best of the season.
Offshore? Still cooking. Snoek are sticking around in big numbers, slashing baitballs and smashing lures with serious aggression. Whether you’re spinning, trolling, or drifting baits, they’re on the feed and not fussy. Fast retrieves, sharp hooks, and wire traces — that’s the recipe right now.
Tuna? Yes, please. They’re moving along the north coast and responding well to live bait and deep divers. If you’re heading out, have those Pelagic Bait clips ready — quick rigs mean more time in the zone, and that’s where the magic’s happening.
Inshore’s heating up too. Garrick are making a solid push into the gutters and river mouths. They’re crushing live mullet and smacking surface plugs with real attitude. If you love topwater strikes, this is your playground.
No hype here — just the real deal: fish are feeding, conditions are lining up, and it’s shaping up to be a weekend to remember. It’s one of those windows where you don’t need to overthink — you just need to go.
So pack a cooler, double-check your tackle, and hit the water early. Whether you’re chasing your PB or just in it for the chaos, there’s no better place to be than out there right now.
Make the cast. The fish are waiting.

Freshwater:
news from Jan:  With the weather in classic winter mode, and apparently edging towards spring (and simmer), you would be forgiven to think that we would be experiencing some classic winter fishing … but it just isn’t happening.  Apart from some good scaly’s (Natal Yellowfish) being reported, the rest of the angling simply isn’t up to par.  A week ago, the forecast was for a massive frontal system and dump of snow for the week ahead, but that has all but disappeared with some wag commenting that “the snow money has been stolen…”.  Jokes aside, while the snow might not be making an appearance any more, one look at the barometer’s current rapid decent might suggest otherwise, and the temperature forecast is looking decidedly cooler, resulting in any drippy stuff that might come this way, turning into the white fluffy stuff.  Lesotho is still under a thick blanket, which is the source of the current frigid air.
It was a slow week for the anglers of the Natal Fly Fishers Club (NFFC), with a number of the returns having nothing to show for their efforts, while other returns reported a single fish for a day’s outing, with one return reporting two fish … not exactly fireworks, but if you don’t have a line in the water, your return will be null!  Of the fish reported, all were in the 19-21 inch / 48-53cm class, with one fish in the 21-23 inch / 53-58cm bracket … the 60cm / 24 inch line still having to be crossed this season.  Only a single return mentioned the fly that did the business : this time it was a black and orange woolly bugger.  Of interest is that every positive return this season that mentioned the successful fly, had a different fly … there really hasn’t been any particular colour or style of fly that one might identify as resulting in a successful day on the water …  it’s currently “Tour d’Flybox” aka “throw everything including the kitchen sink!”.
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.
 
This weekend sees the Finals of the TOPS Corporate Challenge taking place on the waters around Nottingham Road, where some 60 anglers will be flogging the waters … and sure to be some that will find the proverbial “honey hole”.  With there being no clear trend in fly pattern, the requests for flies has been an interesting one to say the least, so here’s hoping that the fish have ‘found their fins’ and will do justice to the new and varied offerings. 
With only a single report of a bass caught in Midmar Dam over the last week, discussion as to the where and why the lack of fish across The Midlands is rampant.  The conversation is heating up as the ever popular and prestigious Albert Falls Classic, now in its 45^th year, is a mere month away.  The biggest fish from last year’s event tipped the scales at 3.760kg, taking the win from 2^nd placed fish of 3.755kg … by a mere 5g!  With the lack of fish to date, Alberts will no doubt see plenty water time from the anglers due to compete, in the hopes of cracking the code and taking top honours on the day.
For the multi-species anglers, the saving grace this winter has been the scaly / Natal Yellowfish that have put in an appearance over the last few weeks, with some excellent fish having been reported from the Umkomaas and Tugela systems this past week.
 
 
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Please send any info about fishing or fish caught in your area to Vinesh Soogreem – vineshs@kingfisher.co.za