After getting in a good session surfing at Flintstones Too, a few days later and we got back on the jungle trail around Port Shepstone. This time the path led straight to the real Flintstones and the guns were out.
Roosta, Calvin and Buzz took on the shallow reef ledge with lefts and rights coming in like a little miniature North Shore. The spot seems to hold semblance to a bunch of others close by – powerful, fast and challenging.
It has been a fantastic summer so far, the swells have been thick and fast – we even had a few bigger days at the end of January. In fact, speculation in the carpark calls the summer a better winter thus far.
The offshores have been holding way into the morning, and the water has been over 24 degrees most of the time. Crystal clear too! The fishing conditions are superb and many a spinning angler can be seen at our favourite beaches up and down the KZN South Coast. Today was another surfing treat as Hibberdene turned on the juice for an entire low tide – barrells in summer!
These videos are part of a series documenting the Wedge Blacktop series of surfboards – stay posted for more Surfing the South Coast in summer!
Chris Leppan and his 40kg Zambezi in the Umzimkulu
Read all about it –Â Chris Leppan and his 40kg Zambezi in the Umzimkulu. Last week, fishing right in front of the Umzimkulu Marina.
Chris has become an absolute expert light tackle spinning enthusiast racking up phenomenal catches in the Umzimkulu River in Port Shepstone, over the past few years.
And now this…
Pictured here with sport angling partner Rory Lawlor, aboard one of the smaller attack boats in their fleet, the pair of them are subduing an epic 40kg estimated catch – a Zambezi Shark! The shark was released healthily, and speculation is rife that this fish was part of the same litter being encountered a few years ago, and that the sharks growth rate seems to be about 5 to 8kgs per year! About 20 to 30cm per year.
So the smaller fish we were catching a few years ago, in 2014 and 2015, seem to be growing up fast and healthy, and at about 200cm, will take to the ocean and seek residence on a convenient and healthy string of reefs somewhere up or down the coast from Port Shepstone. Zambezi’s are born alive btw, in a litter of up to 12 pups. They develop fully in the womb and pop out ready to bite and eat immediately. In a lucky estuary near you!
A great catch on light tackle – more details regards Chris methodology coming soon.
Greg Millward is the other member of the team, and excellent spinning angler, and together they have dispelled any and all lazy man’s rumours that there are no fish to be caught in the Umzimkulu. In fact, the fishing is actually excellent in the river, especially this time of year, as shoals of bigeye kingfish and smaller kob maraud up and down the channels.
Fishing off the Umzimkulu Marina bank, guests have been having a ball right now with grunter, bigeye kingfish and perch being taken regularly.
For more information regards the fishing the Umzimkulu River, email umzimkulu@gmail.com, or call +27 79 326 9671 (WhatsApp is best).
Many thanks to Kzn’s Jason Heyne for this week’s, and every weeks spearfishing news…
“The diving conditions this week have been below average. But if you can find decent water there are good fish around. Saturday the southwest continues to blow with the swell running at 1.4m. Sunday a light onshore blows with the swell running at 1.3m. As to where its going to clean up is anyone’s guess. I’m leaning towards Sunday as the best dive day. The wahoo@duc Garrick and Cray comp went well with quite a few people weighing in. Well done Donovan on getting your name on the shield. Sunday our species shore dive comp is on and promises to be a good one with quite a few entrants and the weather forecast is great. There are some really great prizes thanks to out sponsors Freedivers, Ecopure filters Ballito, JMM Power Tools, Fairship KZN and Eco Tanks. The weigh in is at 14H00 Wings club Virginia Airport and I hope to see you all there. As always dive safe and straight spears.”
Mike Stubbs really enjoying the south coast fishing this time of year. 30. Kgs. Nice. Plus a Prodigal Son (Cobia), in the same class.
The South Coast fishing this time of the year is what we all been dreaming about! Although there have been good catches of the elusive ‘cuda right up and down the coast, the area around Port Shepstone has been producing consistent really big fish, the last week or so. Just as it did last year this same time.
Cuda fishing in particular has had everyone out there. Mike Stubbs got this magnificent 30kg fish on the Friday. The Niteshift got a 20kg. King Tutt we saw boat a lovely fish in the 25kg range. He ended up with two.
20kg Couta by The Niteshift. Shown off by Elvis Olimpio and Ansie Kotze, at The Umzimkulu Marina
Shake Shake came back late on Saturday with two 20kg looking yellowtail. Many very strong fighting fish were lost over the long weekend and the rumour is that these powerful yellowtail have been the culprits.
Johan Wessels getting in on the south coast fishing bite over the long weekend, aboard The Niteshift.
On our Saturday charter, as we moved north from Port Shepstone, the water cleared more and more. With our guests Pete and Greg, with Johan Wessels from The Fishing Pro Shop in Pretoria, we spotted three sailfish – one charged into the wake and started jumping around as if he was hooked, but he wasn’t. He was also very small, we also might have seen a marlin but positive identity on the huge thing swirling up the water in front of Johan and I wasn’t possible. Beeeg fish either way. Sickles all over the place!
The concentration of mackerel and maasbanker in the area is creating all the havoc.
We also had a visit from Flipper our local solitary bottlenose dolphin. This guy has been buzzing us for years and loves some human company. And a few livies from the well. He is always alone and is clearly identifiable by a grey band across his peduncle area, and a nip out of his tail, starboard side.
Flipper, our friendly local, also revelling in the south coast fishing action. Mackerel and maasbanker on the menu
And to cap it off, there was a manta ray. A huge guy, jumping clear of the water right in front of us. Then it just chilled out and let us approach, it hung around a while but then it was lines up for us.
For a great fishing experience, come and join us at The Umzimkulu Marina in Port Shepstone. Fish the estuary and the ocean. Fish off the side or hitch a ride on one of the boats moored at the jetty, out to sea or in the river, these boats go all the time.
Conditions have been average to above average on the north coast and below average on the south coast this week. Big garrick are patrolling the north coast with some really big shoals on the return run. Brusher season is in full swing with decent fish being shot. Snoek are around north but few and far between shoals. Sardines came out Pennington area Thursday and some big cuda have been spotted out deep. Forecast for Saturday is not looking good with the north easterly blowing from early switching to a south west later Saturday evening. Conditions where pearler today (Friday) on the north coast with 3 ft swell and an average of 10m viz but not much action gamefish wise. Saturday early north looks like the best idea for tomorrow. As always dive safe and straight spears.
