Kingfish, Garrick, Perch and Tarpon! Umzimkulu Estuary is Cooking right now!
Kingfish, Garrick, Perch and Tarpon! Umzimkulu Estuary is Cooking right now! This outsized perch by Paul of Umzimkulu River Cruises weight in at sensational 4.2kgs! And in the next few days, Paul would also get two garrick! For his extremely happy clients, who each got one.
The two garrick were caught right down at the mouth area, near all the construction work going on at the bridge. There had been a shoal of garrick hanging about in this area for a few days, we were lucky enough to throw an underwater camera into their midst and check this out…
How Many Garrick Can You Count in this Video? #estuary #gamefishing #gamefish #lures #garrick
The Bridges
But it’s been really hot up top at the two bridges. Greenspot Kingfish are stealing the show as they maraud up and down the estuary at full tilt, terrorising anything in their path. It is a spectacular show of nature when these guys come on song like this. One fly-fisherman down at the mouth one afternoon reckoned, “It was just like the sardine run, but inside the mouth!”.
Young Aidan and his Dad Jimmy have been doing what they do best off the bridges recently. Taming rock salmon, perch and kingfish. Giving them a lecture about taking funny things, and setting them back on their path to adulthood. Most of the fish caught in the estuary are juveniles just getting a start in life. So we practise catch and release. Unless, of course, it is a perfectly sized kob or grunter. Or a big rock salmon!
Rock Salmon
Leaving the best for last? Well, the Rockies have been playing ball lately. It takes effort. All-night boogie is one way of guaranteeing yourself some action. There is plenty live bait available. But nothing beats a sardine head, in my experience.
Umzimkulu River Cruises
Have started fishing trips! By appointment only. Out-of-season rates apply until 16 December 2025, and look like this;
R250 x 4 anglers
R350 x 3 anglers
R500 x 2 anglers
It is possible to bring more people/anglers, let’s chat it through. We have been very comfortable fishing four up. There is plenty space and the boat is laid out practically and comfortably.
Fishing tackle is available for hire at R150 pp, but we encourage you to bring your own powerful braid-spooled spinning stick(s) and tackle. You can also buy a MYDO Estuary Pack from us, which equips you with everything you need to catch these fish.
Weekend sessions are limited to 7am to 11am slot. But during the week, we can go anytime and we encourage night fishing!
“Night time is the right time”, – said many a successful angler.
Use the WhatsApp button floating about on this page somewhere, or +27793269671 or umzimkulu@gmail.com (Sean).
Sardines and Sighting Maps
Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. With instructions on how to install The Sardine News right on your phone, tablet, or even desktop.
2024 Sardine Map
2023 Sardine Map
2021 Sardine Map
Channels
Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining surf reporting
Master Watermen – news from way down deep
The Sardine News – neva miss a single sardine
FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus
MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical sport fishing
Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely
Water Woes – complain about your municipality here
Websites
umzimkulu.co.za – everything Umzimkulu umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za – will get you right out and onto the edge thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water fishbazaruto.com – dreams brucifire.co.za – surf retorts
