Category: Report

Matt Wainwright’s epic weekend at the Umzimkulu

Matt Wainwright’s epic weekend at the Umzimkulu: was so epic that it had to be done as a three-part series on YouTube! After seven strikes, Matt hooked up and held on to four of these seasonal trophy game fish. But he also received a hiding to nowhere, from a very bad-mannered and highly territorial rock salmon.

Part 1 – spotted grunter opens the scorecard

Matt takes this game very seriously so before he even set lines for the evening grunter session, his boat was fashionably launched from the roof of his 4WD. And moored up at the jetty for the first light binge. A complete video on this magical process will follow sometime soon.

The evening was slow and a few fish got away. At 3am the Saturday morning, Matt set lines again, and it wasn’t long before his head torch was dancing a jig all over the place.

I ran on down to help with the net and in doing so kicked one of Matt’s expensive rigs nearly right off the back of the boat. You can read all about that story on the MYDO International website soon enough. But Matt caught, and released, a 3kg plus grunter.

First light was soon announced and Matt put out across the water. Over the estuary to the north side, where the rock salmon are known to haunt. You can watch that video right here…and weep along with us!

Part 2 – The bucktail takes the stage

Matt bought along some of those highly recommended bucktail jigs.

Bang!

This little koblet put on quite a show considering the quality and capability that Matts endless supply of tackle delivers. Pulling this way and that, all on the mind-blowing Insta360 camera that Matt ALSO sports!

Part 3 – revenge on the rock salmon

But not before an aged and aggressive perch of about 3 or even maybe 4 kgs, entered the arena. Again on the wondrous Umzimkulu Special bucktail jIg. This lure packs a punch I tell ya!

That camera again does a magical job. Its like having 360 cameras to work with.

Unfortunately, Matt had only just set his lines when the rock salmon took off. And he had not turned his camera on yet. Thats how enthusiastic the rockies can be around here at this time of the year.

By The Sardine News at https://thesardine.co.za where you can check out the MYDO Fishing web page at https://thesardine.co.za/mydo. You can also get in touch via the big old green WhatsApp button or directly to me on +27793269671 or email umzimkulu@gmail.com.

The Umzimkulu Estuary Game Fishing Season

Is fast coming to a close. The cut-off low that has already threatened an early close to the season is still ominously skirting the northern reaches of the country. We have escaped so far. But there is no telling with that son of a bitch weather system we fear as the cut-off low. This week we have taken as a bad weather window. And if we survive -then the next week, on the full moon springs, looks to be a cracking choice.

Whilst the koblets are still here, and the greenspots are about to arrive… it’s time to get in touch with me Sean on +27793269671 or use the big green WhatsApp button floating about on this page somewhere. An email to umzimkulu@gmail.com might also work! Umzimkulu Adrenalin carries a list of activities available here.

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On the Spotted Grunter Trail with GoFish Camera at Umzimkulu Mouth

On the Spotted Grunter Trail with GoFish Camera at Umzimkulu Mouth: The Natal winter estuary game fishing season is well underway right now. For about a month, the Umzimkulu has been on the boil. Mainly the fish have been coming out on the troll. As is typical in early estuary fishing season. But Dave Phillip’s Dirty Prawn bucktail has once again been the most reliable performer. Wait til you see Matt Wainwright’s recent session here over a weekend using the Dirty Prawn “Umzimkulu Special”. A deadly design that features a swathe of orange roe colour on its belly.

This video was shot about 3 weekends ago. With the Lawson family visit. A fun start to the season. And extremely inspiring as we saw what the camera revealed…

GoFish Cameras

Have changed the way I see. Both underwater, and on top. I no longer sport a fishing rod. And the ones I do are spooled with 100lb. For on the end of that line, is my GoFish Camera. Silently doing its undercover work. Spying for me. No longer do I not know what is down there.

We have gathered an unparalleled collection of underwater scenes. Featuring all the gamefish species. The bait. And how they interact. We release about 0.01% of what we film. For the last thing we need is for the hordes to come along and catch them all out. Luckily these grunter are very hard to catch. Especially at this size.

They also move around all the time. Dialling in, with the help of the cameras, gives you a look into where and why these fish will bite sometimes. And not other times.

Catch and release

But chiefly, it’s a spectacle to see these majestic fish, doing what they are doing, and surviving (it seems). As stated over and over, we let each and every fish we catch – go. Unless of course the fish sustains a bad injury and is bleeding. Those we keep. And eat!

The Umzimkulu Marina

In Port Shepstone, is perfectly situated – on the south bank of the mighty Umzimkulu – to immerse you and your family, in fishing and nature. Self-catering units look out over the water. You can fish at the spots right here. Or we can take you out to the deep holes upriver. Or downriver to the mouth for the pushing tide. There are many options and many spots to fish. Many species to catch.

With the fabled surf fishing spots – The SandSpit and The Block, just a short drive away. Shopping centres, banks, pharmacies, gas stations…all within 5 minutes drive. Even a stupid golf course!

You can visit their website right HERE.

Or, get in touch with me Sean on +27793269671, or use the big old WhatsApp button floating about on the site somewhere. You can also email on umzimkulu@gmail.com.

See underwater right here…

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Umgeni River Red Tide explained by Professor Anthony Turton

Umgeni River Red Tide explained by Professor Anthony Turton: In the accompanying video, Professor Anthony Turton explains the recent Umgeni River Red Tide.

Umgeni River Red Tide

Thank you Tony! Firstly, I never even knew that red tides could occur in a river. But when the flow stops and the sewage just keeps pouring in, we have ideal conditions for Karenia Brevis. Our local algae family.

Certain algae species, like the dinoflagellate Karenia Brevis, colour the ocean a deep red, inspiring the name “red tide.” In ideal conditions – like a well-polluted river system as the Umgeni is – these guys flourish. They are able to reproduce on their own. So when the time is right, man do they party.

Once they have consumed every bit of available oxygen from the water, the water becomes eutrophic. The algae die and sink to the bottom. The water turns from red, to black.

This is the cesspit. The sump of humanity. Everything evil ends up here. Anti-retrovirals. Oestrogen. Any drugs people have been taking. In this potent mix, is where toxins thrive. These toxins are what lead to cholera. And staph infections. And death to livestock. Or anyone who consumes it. Or even comes into close contact with the lethal water. Including the fish. Crabs. And any other cool animals like otters and seabirds.

With all these foreign substances now included in the eutrophic toxic mix, the pathogens and other evils therein start to become immune to the exact treatments meant to deal with them.

Super-pathogens!

Bio-luminescence

Secondly, as aesthetically beautiful as nighttime bio-luminescence can be, it is also a sure sign of an algal bloom. And the more luminous, the worse it can be. Very bad for skinny dippers. Who might itch and even be short of breath when splashing around in an algal bloom.

Thank you Professor Turton for taking the time to explain this politically induced phenomenon to us.

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Storm Surge Warning

Storm Surge Warning: around this time last year we had similar conditions to what is going to happen today. A massive south swell, generated from way down in the southern ocean, has hit Southern Africa. This angry sea and the storm surge it has brought with it, has elevated mean sea levels by 0.6 of a metre. This again, has coincided with another high-coefficient spring tide.

This already has spelt disaster in the Cape. From Gordons Bay to Port Alfred, the coast has been battered viciously. Cars floating in the street. People being swept away by vicious storm surges.

Earthquake

Yip, 5.1 magnitude, just behind poor old Madagascar. They really get hammered by all kinds of weather and ocean over there. This did not happen last year. And the earthquake shook it all up yesterday arvo at 4 pm. This means 14 hours have already transpired (as of this post). At 20 to 30 miles per hour (extremely slow tsunami), this comes to 350 Miles. Tsunamis travel a lot faster out at sea, they only slow to 20 or so mph, when they start dragging on shallow land. The quake quaked about 1500 miles away. So it is real to believe that the effects of the quake, if any, could be felt today sometime. NO TSUNAMIS have been reported or forecast. I have been checking. Some earthquakes don’t produce any waves at all.

But, this is a huge red flag and everyone should avoid going anywhere near the ocean today. I have never seen the effects of a magnitude 5.1 earthquake, on a 9m ocean swell, with a maxed-out spring high tide, before today.

All happening now!

3 Koblets at the same time in the Umzimkulu

3 Koblets at the same time in the Umzimkulu: This does not happen often. In fact, it never happens. This is a once-in-a-lifetime catch, even for my Dad!

We were considering not releasing the movie. In case it starts a surge of guys coming in from all directions. Then we thought about how close the rainy season is. Coming right around the corner are the October drizzles. Then if that fails, it will pour in November. With December to back those months up.

The rains have a marked influence on the Umzimkulu Estuary’s behaviour. Firstly, the beloved halocline (where the salt and fresh water meet), is expelled out to the ocean. Then the fresh water coming down from the huge catchment area we have will dominate even the tides. When the rains let up, the tides push back in again. And the cycle repeats until all the water is fresh and brown. Barbel and perch is all we get in these conditions. The odd tarpon. Big pregnant Zambezi Sharks coming to give birth at the top past St Helens Rocks.

So it’s now. This weekend. Last weekend. The weekend before. Next weekend. And a few more weekends after that, will all present a completely cooperative estuary full of fish.

We have everything you need to tackle your trophy green spot kingfish, GT, rock salmon, kob, perch, grunter and the many other species of fish that will be flat-out using the estuary right now.

It is all about lures and winning that way around. But if you are the guy who likes to just sit and stare at your rod tip, you will also have some fun.

We have accommodation (self-catering) at the Umzimkulu Marina. Where Umzimkulu Adrenalin will get you out there and in amongst the action. Were you can chuck a MYDO Lure at the fish!