Tag: grunter

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Barbel Frenzy

A nice fish taken by Frenzy pictured here with guest at the Umzimkulu Marina, Jacques. Jacques also caught two Paling (eel) a bit later in the evening… Summer time in the river is characterised by these muddy fish…winter time is when we encounter the kingfish, rock salmon, grunter and even Garrick (leervis). The perch (up to 3 or4 kilos but averaging about 1kg) are year round and don’t mind the brown floody waters of summer.

And then another the next evening…this one took only a few minutes to jump on The Frenzy’s hook…

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The Real Deal

Subsistence fishermen have been working the Umzimkulu River for decades. As the condition of the river has deteriorated their lot has been reduced year after year. But there is something very noble about their ignoble existence. Targeting barbel chiefly…they also catch rock salmon (mangrove jack), grunter, perch, salmon and even gamefish like kingfish and garrick. Sometimes shad move into the river and the bounty makes for celebrating.
But mainly…it is hard going.
Pollution.
Brown water.
Cold.
Wind.
Hours with no bites…
Yet what else could they do? Their lifestyle is all they have. Their fishing is all they have. The Umzimkulu is all they have.
Respect to the subsistence fishermen of the mighty Umzimkulu…

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Roger Davidson’s Cracker!

Roger Davidson
Roger Davidson
Roger Davidson

Fishing off Karl Gous’ boat – Roger Davidson brings home a real “Skomolo”, while Marc Lange shows us a real nice bull dorado. Fishing seems to be really good down south.

Marc Lange
Marc Lange

Note the Umzimkulu River’s brown/orange colour in the background – characteristic of these summer months. By about April the river returns to a clear green and on the stronger high tides – the blue Indian ocean water comes right up the river. The Umzimkulu is a great estuary to fish, even when it’s brown like it is now. Perch, rock salmon (mangrove jack), grunter, kingfish, catfish / barbel, garrick (leervis)…feed on the mullet, prawns (mudprawns, tigers, pink) and crabs (all sorts) that live in the mangrove associates and along the muddy banks.

In winter, in the clear water…and especially at night time…anything can happen! For estuary fishing, the south coast of Natal still has a few surviving tidal/semi-tidal lagoons.

Check out http://www.umzimkulu.co.za for more information on fishing these waters…

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