Clean and clear diving conditions last week. For a change! Says spearfishing scribe Jason Heyne.
The diving conditions last week were slightly above average with good weather . Big queen mackerel and ambers are coming out. Saturday a moderate northeast was forecast and played out with a 1.6m swell running. Sunday the northeast wind was up early morning with a light offshore blowing switching to a light onshore later on with a 1.7m swell running. Viz was reported north and south. Club merit fish of last week went to Dylan with his 1st yellow fin tunny and fish of the week goes to Neil with his pending SA record amber! As always dive safe and straight spears.
Shooting fish in KZN waters with Jason Heyne weekly, a great source of intel for anyone wanting to know what is actually going on with the fish in our waters. Although the garrick and kob may not be really on the bite yet, they certainly are seen patrolling up and down the coast. It’s nice to hear the geelbek are coming in shallow – a good sign that there are still a few about…over to you Jason.
“The diving conditions have been above average this week. Garrick, wahoo, daga salmon, geelbek and brusher have been coming out. Saturday the north east has blown thro the night and drops off midmorning switching to a moderate south West with the swell running at 1.5m. Sunday morning a light offshore blows switching to a light to moderate south West later in the day with the swell running at 2.2m..so it looks like Saturday is go day for a dive. Viz was reported south and North today. Well done Quintin White on getting both club merit and biggest fish for the week a 18.5kg (gutted) wahoo! As always dive safe and straight spears. ”
And the gallery to go with the weekly story…
The Fish Eagles of the Umzimkulu wake lodge guests at the Umzimkulu Marina, each morning. Don’t worry though, they start at a reasonable hour – fishing time!
This weeks spearfishing report by Jason Heyne is sponsored by the Umzimkulu Marina. The perfect spot for spearos to come and enjoy the clean and warm conditions of spring, on the KZN south coast. The water stays crystal clean right through to the summer rains, which have been coming later and later each year – leaving us with clean water right into November sometimes.
The launch here at the river can be otherwise and is not officially a launch site any more. But a short tow north or south gets you to really reliable and easy launch sites. Pumula is fantastic, as is Hibberdene a bit further north. Then if you can handle a queue, head to Shelley Beach, or further south to Ramsgate. These launch sites open vaste stretch of fish rich coastline for your to explore.
Shore diving is a magical prospect here on the south coast. The many points and rivers make for easy access to the backline and beyond. There is a nice strong north to south current that can fly you over scattered reef for miles.
A few weekends back we had a huge influx of fishing mad kids down at the Umzimkulu Marina. Including a chap named Max who took the right ride out to rock salmon alley, on the Mad Mullet. He caught his first rock salmon – and so he brought it home and cooked it for his Mom.
With a magnificent turnaround in weather conditions, the fish in the Umzimkulu came alive this sunny 19th August 2017 morning.
Fishing brothers Liam and Jarrod Gallagher were up at crackers loading the Mad Mullet with her powerful new 4 horse Yamaha. Their mate Max Mogeson made up the three anglers and Brian Lange was at the helm.
After getting the boat back to seaworthy after the recent rains nearly flooded The Mad Mullet, the lucky anglers left the Umzimkulu Marina in high spirits. Liam had netted a live mullet so they headed straight for rock salmon alley.
It wasn’t long before Jarrod was jammed up against the gunwhale as a serious rock salmon came to fight. He was actually a bit too serious and ended up winning hands down.
Live bait gone.
And so they switched to lures and trolled along the northern channel towards the river mouth.
Bang the rod went again. So Max was given a go at his first gamefish. It worked him hard and he had tired arms and deep breath by the time it was flapping on the deck.
Being his first rockie, Max was allowed to take it back to base for a braai.
And a big thank you to The Sardine News correspondent and photographer Tracey Saayman for always being on the spot.
Max Mogeson’s first Rock Salmon. Max is on the left, Liam and Sienna Gallagher on the right. Max says he will throw them all back from now on – but this rock salmon was delicious on the braai in foil and garlic butter!
Then the next crew of kids got all excited and Calum and older brother Kyle Saayman headed across in their little boat – Unsinkable 2. They had been schooled in the art of fishing awith a sardine head and soon Kyle was fighting his first rock salmon too. Jack Russells Chelsea and Satch were unfortunately on the boat too, and they cannot control themselves with rock salmon, or any fish for that matter. So they jumped on the lively fish. The fish jumped back at them and a dorsal spine went straight through the pontoon. Calum jumped to stick something in the hole, the dogs came back into the ring, Kyle grabbed the injured fish and someone fell onto one of the rods and smashed two of the eyes. Chaos!
There was no ways that rock salmon was going to make it back into the water, and it also became Mom’s lunch!
[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ShusV9ax2wc/WaefklL7RPI/AAAAAAAAK0k/c9f6k7HcqB86cftaHZiU3shV27cMARJ6QCCoYBhgL/s144-o/FullSizeRender-1.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/105055692697822421688/6460307644026744497#6460307641292506354″ caption=”Kyle Saayman and his first rock salmon. Caught in the Umzimkulu Estuary on his boat Unsinkable 2. Using a sardine head as bait…” type=”image” alt=”FullSizeRender-1.jpg” image_size=”768×1024″ ]
Brusher reported by KZN Spearos. As well as the usual suspects, posts Jason Heyne from Durban waters.
The diving conditions this week have been below average with one or two good days. A huge low pressure system has moved in and the sea is literally on its head today (Friday). Brusher have started making an appearance and the usual suspects (garrick, snook, couta and daga salmon) are around. Saturday morning the south West continues to blow dropping off during the day with the swell running at 3m dropping off to 2m late in the day. Sunday morning a light offshore wind blows switching to a moderate north east later in the day with the swell running at 1.8m. Viz was reported south today. So it looks like Sunday morning may be diveable. Well done Peter Jacobs on getting fish of the week a very respectable garrick of 16.8kg! As always dive safe and straight spears
To all like minded conservationists…pls sign against shark nets below…Tx
Sardine activity intensifies: Sardine report 17 July 2017
After the wild weather and waves of the last week, the sardine activity being reported from down in the Transkei, is intensifying. More sardines. More dolphins. More birds. More fish. More everything!
This in from Debbie Smith way down in the Port St. Johns area…
“Its been a cracker of a season. still baitballs today. south west has blown for 2 days, surf is a bit gnarly, viz is abit low, surprising for after the swest but water temp is a steady 19.5.”
But Jay Steenkamp of the Natal Sharks Board received very little sardine news today so far.
With the adverse weather caused by a trio of cold fronts moving across the country and up the coastline, the air temperature has plummeted. So now we have a few more things lining us up for some sardines up in KZN. Steady 19 degrees water and cold air are two vital ingredients.
For the first time this year really too, birds were seen patrolling the backline, in tight formation – on the KZN Lower South Coast.
Now with the next cold front forcing it’s way through to here by about Wednesday or Thursday, this is no time to be giving up hope!
Eyes on the horizon!
Some action from the Offshore Africa team…who are taking bookings for next years Sardine Run front row seats.
The Sardine Report 2017 has been made possible by Fishing’s Finest in Pretoria. Distributors of Pelagic Fishing Gear.
