#FishEagle: Garrick chasers still in the pound seats
Gamefish also beginning to come on the bite along the northern coastline.
Anglers are enjoying another exceptional garrick run this year and last week several weighing as much as 18kg were caught mainly by offshore anglers, although the shore bound casters had their fair share of success.
The Andy de Wet Memorial Umhlanga inter-club anglers recorded good catches over the weekend while others fishing the bottom pulled in daga salmon, garrick, rock cod and red fish species.
Most skippers are keeping a close watch on what is happening up north where gamefish are beginning to come on the bite, including barracouta, some dorado and off Mapelane this week a couple of outsized shad caught on live baits.
Blue Lagoon remains a popular venue for garrick and a number have been caught at Peace Cottage, a few at La Mercy mouth and, of course, the popular Tongaat River mouth.
Live bait still produces the majority of these fish but soft plastic lures are increasingly popular. At present catches stretch from Port St Johns in the south to Richards Bay in the north.
Non-edible species were more abundant last week with a number of rays and sharks caught by the surf anglers, with the Tugela area especially hot.
The local coastline remains quiet with a few grey sharks caught, but the rocky outcrops did produce a few fish with copper bream, the odd lantern bream and brusher coming out.
Those searching for edible species should target, in addition to the garrick, stumpies and salmon, as well as grunter at night. I believe some big stumpies are being caught regualrily, conditions allowing, but anglers remain mum on the details.
After some time friends of mine have returned to their favourite night angling spot south of Beachwood at Durban North. They tell me the fishing has not exactly been hectic but they have recorded several nice sized grunter plus the odd stumpie.
Shad season remains open until month end, but catches are few. But anglers near Durban and along the South Coast did catch a few in the early mornings.
The winds blowing mostly from the south recently have not helped as shad seem to prefer feeding when the wind blows from the north-easterly direction, and even better when there is a bit of a chop on the water.
Locals who fish the rocky outcrops will be interested to learn that copper bream are now widespread along the South Coast, with anglers recording some good catches last week.
No doubt most local anglers will begin to target the bronzies from now on onwards. Experienced anglers who know the local gullies well will be the guys to follow but fishing for the copper bream is not an easy pastime for learners as the experienced guys do take exception at times when hampered by newbies on the rocks.
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