For an hour or more, we watched as a huge Zambezi Shark patrolled the fast outflowing water of the Umzimkulu River this afternoon.
Speculation and hope is that the huge fish, one of a few sighted in the area lately, is here to give birth in the river!
A few years back we started running into Zambezi Sharks in the Umzimkulu River, at a cute little 5kg or size. Then they were 10kg’s. And last week Chris Lepan, local angling guru here in Port Shepstone, caught a 40kg estimated Zambezi – may just be the same family!
So now hopefully these big mommas are gonna come into the river tonight and give birth.
Chris Leppan and his 40kg Zambezi in the Umzimkulu
Read all about it – 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).
“Since I am basically a complete novice at rock and surf fishing, but have recently found the passion, I have been trying to learn the new techniques. So, I have been pestering Kiran Ramjiawan of Durban fame, and this is what I got out of him, for the summer shark season…” – Xona
It’s basically two 12/0 hooks. I only use and trust Mustad. 200lb carbon coated steel cable. Whole trace is about a meter from slide to bottom hook. The bottom hook is tied using figure of 8 knot, then the tag is wrapped around the steel just for added security. Top hook is snelled. Powerful knot for thick nylon too. Only knot I use for circles. BTW, the tag end must come from the back to the front of the eye in circles for the correct hook action. A plastic squid skirt is added for extra bling and movement in the water. The slide is the heavy duty kingfisher. Much larger and strong than normal slides. Tied just at the bottom hook.
Heavy duty vs normal slide
The sinker is a grapnel with thick wires. This one is 8oz so it loads my rod nicely. I use a low breaking strain nylon and I’ve tied it to about 30 -35cm 90ln steel. This knot is untidy I admit. Reason for this is black fin sharks like to roll itself, thereby wrapping your trace around itself. Many times the trace will cut and you’ll be left in the dust. So the steel is to try preventing it from happening. Fishing is a blood sport I know, but it’s better if you get him out of the water and get your trace back, safely releasing him, than your trace getting cut off and staying wrapped around him.
So anyway, I haven’t decided what bait I will use to rig this trace up. I’m thinking a freshly monster mullet from umzimkulu river. I would cut its head in an angle, shape it a little, and probably wrap mullet cutlets around it. Another option would be to wrap Yellowtail cutlets. Sardines would work too. The idea is to make a big and bloody bait. Raggies, black fin, greys, Zambezi, diamond ray. You name it, it will chow this bait…
This is another secret Durban style – through the mouth, out the gills and fastened vas with a cable tie There’s always a chance of a nice GT taking the bait tooExample of the incorrect way to snell a circle. The line comes off the wrong way. It needs to go through the eye towards the barb, if that makes senseThe sinker is a grapnel with thick wires. This one is 8oz so it loads my rod nicely. I use a low breaking strain nylon and I’ve tied it to about 30 -35cm 90ln steel.
“And on rods and reels for summertime fun…”
I have the Shimano Technium medium surf rod. It will work but will take much longer to get the fish out of the water. Benefit is that it isn’t as taxing on your back as a heavy rod. I love the rod though I can fish anything from shad to shark. It’s got a lot of power.
My reel is a bit small. Shimano torium 30 with 0.50 dia kingfisher line. On that tied up 1mm maxima leader with Bimini twist and figure of 8.
But Toriums are nice hey. I have seen plenty big fish landed on them. The 50 size is a serious big fish reel. With 55lb braid backing you can get like 1km of line on it. If a fish runs more than that, you won’t stop him on any tackle.
“Thank you Kiran, looking forward to your next instalment!”
Cracking good fishing in the Umzimkulu. Cor Coetzee, a few minutes ago…
It must one of really good fishing days on the Almanac as reports of great catches come flying in from all over. In fact, it’s been a really fishy week, a 1000lb marlin in Mauritius (about the 5th or 6th by sport anglers this year), Captain Duarte Rato on Bazaruto released a 900 and has been catching liquorice all sorts out there, JP Bartholomew got that nice bone fish…
And this morning too, Brian Lange was chucking for rock salmon in the Umzimkulu nice and early… bagging a slick kob on a MYDO Luck Shot #1.
How to start your day…
To go fish in the Umzimkulu for a weekend or day, browse the options in our Tours and Excursion category. Or contact me on umzimkulu@gmail.com
Catch n release as we go! JP Bartholomew live from the Umzimkulu…
The Umzimkulu Marina was abuzz with the news that the JP Bartholomew was spending the weekend. JP, as our readers know by now, has an incredible track record, and seems to have a nose for the fish he targets.
So it was that JP and family’s weekend has arrived, and in less than 12 hours – take a look at how the pros do it!
We have today given JP a pack of MYDO LuckShots to use, so we can compare with regular drop snots.
One thing is for sure – the Umzimkulu is producing as it normally does this time of the year. And JP has conclusively proven, that even though he took three hours to get his first fish, the quality of the fish he catches, is worth it, so much more than fishing with bait.
Come and join us at The Umzimkulu Marina down in Port Shepstone, where all the fishing action seems to be these days (ha ha I am in Jhb!). umzimkulu@gmail.com for more information and package deal opportunities.
