#FishEagle: Drone ban a hot topic

Two hot topics were doing the rounds among the angling fraternity last week, the main one being the ban on the use of drones to enable anglers to take their baits out into the deep water.

Drone users will argue they have paid a considerable sum of money for these machines to drop their baits.

A long time ago during winter months anglers would use kites to drop their baits out deep. This type of angling was dependant on the early morning winter offshore winds.

The second topic was the call from subsistence anglers that the catch limit of shad should be raised from four to 10.

Before the closed season was implemented many years ago, there was a catch limit of ten shad but this was mainly ignored, hence the introduction of the three-month closed season.

These limitations for certain species was introduced after much scientific research into the health of the species and to prevent them from becoming just a memory.

Last week’s weather was kind to anglers with mainly light winds and comfortably sunny days – and the subsequent sea and surf conditions were favourable too.

A current hampered the offshore anglers out deep but the rock and surf anglers enjoyed small surf and calm seas.

It is not often that anglers are blessed with such conditions for a whole week this time of the year.

Although a large shoal of sardines moved north along the Transkei coast, all was quiet along the KZN coastline with nothing close enough to interest the netters. They did report shoals of mackerel in local waters though.

The arrival of mackerel is good news for those wanting to stock up with bait.

Red eye sardines still appear from time to time, another much sought after bait source.

Shad were on the bite during the early mornings last week and although shad were caught on the lower North Coast, the South Coast angling spots recorded the best catches.

Unfortunately catch and size limits were ignored once again.

Locally, Tinley Manor produced the goods. Shad have brought life back to this historically excellent fishing area after being in the doldrums for some time.

Shad bring garrick with them and anglers have experienced some rewarding fishing. recently.

Other areas producing good catches are Chaka’s High Rock, the Tongaat River mouth stretch of beach and Umdloti at times.

Most of these areas have been productive during the early mornings, while anglers fishing in the late afternoons and into the evenings have managed to catch salmon or kob, a few stumpies and even the odd decent grunter.

As always at this time of the year anglers have to work hard for their fish, especially when seeking species other than shad.

Those fishing the rocky gullies will be happy to hear that divers along the South Coast have observed a build-up of copper bream on the reefs. They are moving up the coast at present.

Stone bream seem to be scarce at the moment and species such as karranteen and blacktail can be found at times, but the larger fish are far and few between.

The odd big stumpie are the only species being caught.

Currents out in the deep water has seen offshore anglers fishing the shallower reefs where a few decent fish such as rubber lips, lantern bream and the usual rockcod and red fish species.

Daga salmon are ensuring anglers are kept interested, while surfski guys had success ctaching snoek and garrick along the backline.

Sealice

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