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Zambezi vs Barbel showdown in the Umzimkulu

Zambezi vs Barbel in the Umzimkulu Estuary. This was in flood waters btw!

Zambezi vs Barbel showdown in the Umzimkulu

Unbelievably, the remains of what could have been a 6 foot long barbel, washed up next door to the Umzimkulu Marina, just last week. The mouth was closed, but the action in the river certainly wasn’t. The guys fishing at Spillers down the way, reported hearing, but not seeing, huge attacks out off the wharf. We have been seeing a free jumping Zambezi up and down the river for months now. And many bust ups have been reported.

Judging by the size and shape of the bite marks, and the incisions made by shark teeth, this was a hefty shark. Zambezi for sure. It’s not the acrobatic jumping Zambezi we have been seeing around. He is only about two metres. This one looks huge.

There have been so many shark sightings and encounters in the Umzimkulu, since the sand miners pumped out all the sand. Right from the deep corner under the Fish Eagles roost, all the way up past the bridge and further, is deeeeeep water! Some places 8 metres or so. The average depth has also increased and the Umzimkiulu offers more draft in the channels than the Umzimvubu (Port St Johns) nowadays.

It’s not only the sharks that have taken advantage of this recently restored river, a brace of outsized garrick were spotted terrorising mullet recently at the slipway at the Umzimkulu Marina. Many lovely kob have been coming out, in the deep channels, on live mullet. Weight your bait and bang! Some of the rock salmon we have hooked lately have been merciless. Straight into the rocks.

But the story of the season definitely goes to the unknown angler who pulled in this beast. He weighed in with the biggest kob recorded in the Kulu ever. A whopping 42 kgs’s. He promises to release the next one. But this one he got on 6kg line and a light stick, which tired the big fish out.

Ian Logie got the best fish of his life fishing in the Umzimkulu this season. A 42kg Daga Salmon, or Kob. Nice Ian, the next one gets let go!
IA 42kg Daga Salmon, or Kob. Taken in the Umzimkulu!

To come fishing in The Umzimkulu, get in touch on umzimkulu@gmail.com and we can put a package together for you.

More Trips on offer by clicking right here!

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Mike’s Mullet…

Mike’s Mullet…

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Mike Harrington’s mullet was caught on fresh sardine bait meant for a grunter or a salmon. Known as a bull mullet or a flathead mullet, they are very common in Africa and make a great bait for the big time.

Mike and Savannah van Reenen enjoying the moment together…on the Umzimkulu River in Port Shepstone…

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Banana Beach estuary cleanup video #2

Banana Beach estuary cleanup

Local surfers have started cleaning the completely congested Banana Beach estuary. Water Hyacinth took over the blind estuary in a matter of a week or so. The Injambili River just north has also been taken over these alien plants.

When they have completely covered the surface of the water body, fish cannot get to the surface and in the shallows get caught up by the root system of the floating plants.

The worldwide problem of hyacinth can only really be combatted by physical removal, in a manner that does not affect the environment too much. This means getting in and getting dirty…

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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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