South Coast to Tofo

Setting out from Pumula at 4:30am, we made Swaziland in great time. The roads are good and the Sunday traffic was minimal. Not too many journeys feature Giraffe families along the side of the road… Passing through Pongola into Swaziland we encountered this adult and a bunch of smaller guys a little further into the … Read more

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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 … Read more

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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. … Read more

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Noel Allchin’s 32kg Birthday ‘Couta

Noel Allchin, on his birthday, lucked into this magnificent fish.

As we were packing to go home from the story before this one (Protea Reef 16 Feb 2013), we were treated to seeing one of the biggest king mackerel / couta caught on Protea Reef in a while! With Noel were none other than 3 of the Posthumous clan – Louis, Dawdie and Sean. This … Read more

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Protea Reef 16 Feb 2013

After the usual hectic river mouth launch out of the mighty Umzimkulu (Port Shepstone), we headed out on a bumpy sea, to Protea Reef a few miles out, to take on the yellowfin tuna that frequent it’s pinnacles. The first two drifts at 3.5knots yielded nothing, but on our third attempt, things hotted up fast. … Read more

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