Jason Heyne cheks in with his weekly spearfishing report…
Well the diving conditions haven’t been the greatest this week  with dirty water and proper north east winds. Big daga salmon, garrick and snoek are around with the odd yellow tail making an appearance. Saturday a moderate south West blows all day with the swell running at 1.7m.  Sunday a light south East blows in the morning switching to a light south West in the afternoon with the swell running at 1.5m. Well done Drew on getting fish of the week a decent size daga salmon. Sunday morning looks like the best time for a dive.. As always dive safe and straight spears
The Umzimkulu Marina in Port Shepstone has been hosting travellers, fishers, surfers, families, business folk and the like, for over a decade now. The self-catering chalet-style units can sleep a total of only 18 people. Meaning quiet and relaxing times for all.
2023 Rates
R500 per person per night. R350 per person sharing. 2 to 5 sleeper units, all river facing.
The Umzimkulu Marina in Port Shepstone
On the south bank of The Mighty Umzimkulu River…lies a hidden escape into nature. Looking out over the river and onto the Umtentweni Conservancy. Filled with birdlife and nature. Otters. Dassies. Fish eagles. Cormorants. Fish. Hadedas…and at night time the Hyrax come to life.
Looking down over the fishing grounds to the mouth of the Umzimkulu River
Then there is the magnificent river itself. Fish jumping for joy all over. There are even sharks in these waters!
On call at all times is the good ship Umzimkulu. Which, following tradition, takes cruises up and down the estuary. Immersing you in it all. Way back in the days, in the earlier half of last century, a steam-powered boat took punters on the same waters, except back then it was navigable for 14kms upriver. To St. Helen’s Rock. These days we have the two bridges stopping us. But it’s great times on the water none-the-less!
The boat is available for charter to any and all. By arrangement, WhatsApp Sean on +27 79 326 9671. It is well suited to celebrations and for groups up to 17.
Fishing
For fishing trips, it’s really cool with four or five anglers and a few spectators even. We often load the boat with coolers and tackle and head down to the Sandspit for a shot at the kob and other gamefish that swim those river mouth waters. Trolling lures along the way. And then the estuary itself is so much fun with many trophy-sized fish of all different species are available to do battle with you. Rock salmon, perch, koblets, flagtail, grunter, kingfish (GTs, BIg-eye, Blacktip and more…) and oxe-eye tarpon are just some of our quarry.
Umzimkulu Rock Salmon can be caught right here
Accommodation is self-catering with all the appointments and amenities you and your family might need. Each unit has it’s own braai area and completely off-street and safe parking. Hot water. Gas stoves (in case of load shedding).
Umzimkulu Marina panorama from the water
There is a private slipway for our guests use only. Bring your own boat for sure. We will help you launch and load. And we have skippers and guides available if you need.
The Umzimkulu River looking up from the Marina jetty
The Accommodation…all you need for your family fishing, surfing or diving holiday…
The surfing is world-class all around Port Shepstone. There are just so many breaks. Popular ones are Saints and Margate. Easy surfing. Or more challenging breaks a bit north.
With the infamous Protea Banks only a few miles by sea, you could find yourself surrounded by sharks, if that is the kind of thing you like. Many dive operators, and many dive sites.
The spearfishing down on the KZN South Coast is legendary worldwide as a myriad of target species converge here each year. Especially during the sardine run, in wintertime – when anything can be encountered. Anything!
Things-to-do in Port Shepstone
The Umzimkulu Marina is a 5-minute drive to Port Shepstone…
Port Shepstone is a busy little town with all the banks and shops you might need. And more! There are interesting little surprises all over the place – just literally follow-your-nose to the curry dens and cafes, fish and chips shops, and local hangouts the south coast is known for. A meander north on the R102 (old road) is like a journey through time. Back in time!
However, down south things get a lot more livelier. Shopping centres in Shelley Beach have loads of shops that literally carry everything. There are actually a number of centres in the area and in a day you might not get through them all. Margate is 20 minutes south too, another shopper and tourist paradise. And further south, maybe an hour, takes you to Port Edward and a bunch of roadside attractions along the way through the lush coastal bush towards the Transkei Wild Coast. So much exploring to do. There is even a casino down that way!
Contact us
Use the big green Whatsapp button for a direct line…
Or get in touch by filling out the quick form…we will get back to you.
The lodge is also to venue hire. We have had some great weddings, 21sts, 50ths and the like here!
We specialise in custom designing your holiday. With three decades in the business, we have contacts and resources literally anywhere you would like to go fishing. Right now it’s all about Inhaca Island and Santa Maria!
All our suppliers have been tried and tested, and we will be there with you all the way.
Cape Verde Blue Marlin are eager to pleaseMkambati Estuary as photographed by Jay SteenkampCatching blue marlin on pitch bait with Duarte in Cape VerdeTranskei Sardine Report 2017Much better than DSTV
Another informative spearfishing report by our hard working Jason Heyne…story goes he writes these reports underwater!
The diving conditions this week have been pretty average. Garrick have started filing up the north coast and some bigger couta and snoek are around. Saturdaya light offshore blows in the morning switching to a light onshore wind in the afternoon with the swell running at 1.5m. Sunday morning a light south West blows in the morning dying off later in the day with the swell running at 1.7m. So Saturday is the day for a dive if you can find viz. National spearfishing camps will Finnish up on Saturday with the team event. Also on SaturdaySAUFF is holding a free entry comp weigh in at DUC 15h00 prizes for biggest snoek garrick and couta. Well done Carl Werner on getting fish of the week a 20 kg Sangora tail. As always dive safe and straight spears.Â
This report is sponsored by The Umzimkulu Marina. Very well positioned family and fishing lodge, with slipway into The Umzimkulu River. Or launch at Shelley Beach – just down the road! Too easy…straight into the tail of the Mozambique current. Â Protea Reef being the main attraction.
The diving conditions this week have not been great inshore but deeper spots like Aliwal have been working well. Plenty of big wahoo and some smaller wahoo with the odd geelbek. Saturday and Sunday light variable wind and minimal swell so both days are good for a dive if you can find clean water. Well done to Marcel Ten Hooren Boer and Markus Potgieter on getting tied fish of the week. Markus got a 23kg dogtooth tunny and Marcel got a 23kg wahoo. Well done to the SA team for dominating at the World spearfishing champs! As always dive safe and straight spears.
