Fishing off Sodwana Bay always brings surprises. However, our recent trip with Captain Lynie on Seevarkie really delivered the goods.
We started the week arguing flat out with gas-bottle-sized big yellowfin tuna off Jesser Canyon. Aching arms and backs. We deliberately chose to run the shallow reefs the next morning. Our goal was simple. We wanted to target less angry game fish like couta and wahoo, to give our bodies a break.
The ocean had entirely different plans for us.
The East Coast Yellowfin Invasion
Before diving into the fight, let’s check out the bigger picture. A wave of 30kg-class yellowfin tuna has recently invaded the eastern seaboard.
Anglers are encountering these gas bottles all the way from the Eastern Cape up through KwaZulu-Natal. And up north, our friends at FishBazaruto are reporting non-stop big yellowfin tuna in Mozambique waters too. Shifting warm currents and thick bait plumes may have pushed these pelagic predators right onto the continental shelf. You are never truly safe from a giant fish out off Sordies.
Smokin’ Drags and the 50% Sodwana Shark Tax
Captain Lynie rigs Seevarkie like an offshore battle station. Every rig runs 50-pound mainline minimum with heavy-duty terminal tackle. As a result, these outfits can stop almost anything in the ocean.
We soon put that heavy gear to the ultimate test.
- The Strike: Our port-side corner 30-reel suddenly began smoking. Line melted off the spool at terrifying speed.
- The Aerial Launch: Roughly 200 meters out, the mysterious creature jumped clear out of the water on a flat, parallel plane.
- The Blue Glow: Zoltan settled in and pumped hard. Soon, a glowing wall of electric blue and silver lit up the water under the boat.
- The Shark Tax: Suddenly, violent and strange jerks shuddered through the blank. In shallow water off Sodwana, the shark tax is fixed at 50%. The reef taxmen took their cut without hesitation.
Lynie hauled the remaining carcass over the gunwale. The head and upper torso alone pulled the scale down to 20 kilograms! Had this fish come back whole, it easily would have gone 30 to 35 kilos.
A Giant Potato Bass on the MYDO Rig
The action did not end there. On the very next drop, Zoltan sent down a heavy MYDO rig baited with a fresh shad bait.
A big old potato bass charged up and smashed the bait immediately. Following a proper tug-of-war off the reef structure, the majestic fish surfaced alongside Seevarkie. We quickly removed the hooks and gave the bass a short lecture on why it should avoid eating MYDO rigs. And she swam back down easily in the shallow water.
Gear Up and Book Your Sodwana Adventure
Are you ready for fish like this? The next video drops soon, featuring the largest yellowfin tuna I have ever seen in Natal waters. Off Sodwana!
- Get the Right Tackle: Visit thesardine.co.za and click the WhatsApp button to order your custom MYDO rigs directly from the factory.
- Book Your Dream Charter: Contact us today (WhatsApp Button on this screen) to arrange your ultimate marlin and big game fishing holiday with Captain Lynie and the Seevarkie crew in Sodwana Bay!
- Fish Bazaruto with Captain Duarte Rato, get in touch, that season is just firing up, check HERE for their most recent post.
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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.
YouTube 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 – fishing, charters, accommodation
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 – big dreams are out there
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts
andantelodge.co.za – Transit luxury in Pretoria
destinycottage.co.za – Mbotyi dreaming
eshowe.com – the heart of Zululand
stlucia-ecolodge.co.za – South Africas adventure town