Grunter Alley ambush by Goby One Kanobi

Grunter Alley ambush by Goby One Kanobi

Grunter Alley ambush by Goby One Kanobi: choose the right days in the KZN Winter and this is what you are in for…sunny skies. Warm and clean water. And. Winter gamefish!

Winter Gamefish

Already the garrick have come inside and have been terrorising the many shoals of mullet and little silver bream. And there have been a few concerning sightings of GTs too. Big ones! These guys are nocturnal in the estuaries and those big explosions that keep you up at night when visiting here – can be blamed squarely on that gang.

The zambezi’s have been consistent too. Making their appearances also mainly during the readily available night time slots.

Many kob have been getting caught out on the sandspit. Yes, at night time. And man-oh-man it’s hard work. You got to set up and prepare for the all-night boogie if you want one of those huge fish. Get in touch if you have what it takes.

Shaun, David and Kiran

All the way down from Jhb, these guys know how to time it right They also had a few days so were able to plan around the weather.

We fished the mouth area of the Umzimkulu River estuary in Port Shepstone, KZN, on this fine day. Since this was the best area as we vied for the warmer, more fish-filled water. Melting snow on the Drakensberg has been keeping the upper reaches of the estuary extremely cold. Like 13 degrees!

And so we trolled a few lures from Umzimkulu Adrenalin down to the chosen spot. Setup fishing camp, and gave it a shot.

Enjoy this smash hit featuring Goby One Kanobi and the Spotted Grunters…

Goby One Kanobi

Sometimes we just get walk-in volunteers here at The Sardine News. And on this shoot, none other than Goby One Kanobi himself popped in front of the lens. For more than one appearance.

This guy is so cute and is an absolute natural on camera. He got all the moves and love the mirror reflection of himself in the camera lens.

Thanks Goby – I know exactly where to find you for next time!

African Damsel

An African Damsel glides across the screen in scene 2. Having taken the form of a graceful and regal African Spadefish. In the estuary! She moves so incredibly slowly, no wonder the spearos can’t miss them.

The Cape Stumpnose community was represented too. But there were notably less small fish that each of the last few trips we have made down this way,

And this is why…

The Spotted Grunter ambush position

Grunter Alley. Or more technically known as first bank. Is where the big grunter hang out – in ambush position. As the tide wafts water in through the mouth, it spills out all sorts of crunchy crustaceany morsels that these fish will eat. They will not eat a sardine bait when they are in this lively ambush state (As seen on camera).

I would only chuck a fly at these guys. Or a Dirty Prawn Umzimkulu Special bucktail, worked exactly right. To mimic a prawn bouncing along getting dragged with the tide. My cameras have picked up many large prawns coming IN the mouth on the pushing tide. Huge prawns like 6 inches long. Coming flying past and into the estuary. Coming to breed and populate.

And get eaten by these big grunter.

Wildeperd

There is a sheepshead in Oz, and another exact-looking species up the West Coast. Deemed to all be different. But these three fish all look exactly the same to me. They act the same too – very camera shy, but quite aggressive nonetheless. I have only filmed wildeperd underwater in the estuary a few times over the last few years. They normally hang out on the backline reefs and deeper.

Yes, you can call them Zebrafish!

And Kiran caught and released a healthy teenager, at the end of the day.

Great job Kiran!

By The Sardine News

Rightio, this is definitely the time to be fishing. After the floods and all the craziness before that, you deserve to take a day or two off and come and hunt estuary gamefish in the name of research – with us. We release almost all our fish. Oftentimes with an ORI tag in it.

Bring your own I am running out!

Fishing and cruising activities are found right HERE on the Umzmkulu Adrenalin website. We got accommodation options at the Umzimkulu Marina, and Spillers House. And restaurants all around us including Garlic n Naan and Fish on the River.