What a night!
What a night! So, I get another phone call for the fishing the Umzimkulu. This guy sounded really cool, had an accent, his name was Josh, and he hailed from New York!
So I took him fishing! He really wanted a kob. Josh has caught Malabar Rockcod, and Perch (in the Mpenjati the day before)…but never a Kob. I am sure if Kob swam New York waters, he might have gotten one by now, such was his determination.
Kob was set as the target species.
Estuary
TWENTY SIX POINT TWO DEGREES!
Yip, water temp. I tried shutting the trip down early, because Josh and Paul (fishing guide and skipper of our boat) had scheduled a session with Joesef, at Orcas Beach, in Anerley, and I reckoned that was the far better option.
Kob don’t really mind warm water (as you will see later), and I can’t even explain that high temperature of water (maybe the last few heatwave days helped) in the estuary.
Nothing was biting!
Orcas
A short drive from the Umzimkulu north, and we found ourselves rigging up all over again.
YOWSER! Right from the get-go, things were perfect. No wind, gentle surf. Mild surge. Clean water. A bit warm…but bang on my first cast, with my ultra-light, I knew it was on. Bang, bang. Not nibble nibble…
Josh was first. With a lovely Natal Stumpnose. I was next, stumpie too. On our ultra-lights, this is more fun than anything. It is such safe and easy fishing. And so much fun.
I was rebaiting when I heard a WHOOP! Josh got a koblet! The first of many. And the two that were size, he kept for the pam, along with three tasty little blacktail!
What a night!
Thank you Josh, Emilio, Joesef, Paul and the barman at Orcas!
Sardines and Sighting Maps
Check out our annual Sardine Run Map! Download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.
Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps…
2024 Sardine Map
2023 Sardine Map
2021 Sardine Map
Channels
Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining surf reporting
Master Watermen – news from way down deep
The Sardine News – neva miss a single sardine
FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus
MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical sport fishing
Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely
Water Woes – complain about your municipality
Websites
umzimkulu.co.za – everything about fishing the Umzimkulu Estuary, accommodation and charters
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za – will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts
