Fishing KZN

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:19 pm

Just want to get in touch with some hilux fellows that are also into fishing. Find out what has been happening and what fish have been coming out

Tight lines

dustbuster · Post by **dustbuster** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:06 pm

Howzit Chris

I haven’t been fishing in ages to much working on hilux and every weekend it has been blowing gale force winds :evil: :evil: :evil: so haven’t been able to go out on the fishing ski, iching for a fish I am wanting to shoot through to mission rocks some time for a fish let me know if you keen got a Rhino card so can get into cape vidal for free. Have not heard that much about anything coming out should be some snoek and garrik and salmon around this time of year

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:39 pm

Do you want to fish from the side at mission rocks? We should camp at Vidal as it is a mission drive for me!

Been down to the transkei once a month for the League postal rounds and had some nice Kob and the odd shark tussle down there!

Fished Park Rynie on the weekend, saw one nice stumpnose come out but otherwise it was a cold wet evening on the beach!

dustbuster · Post by **dustbuster** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:43 pm

ya we can camp, ya dont mind fishing from the side another option is also mapalane when u up this side for work again?

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:56 pm

not for a while! Mapalane is my favorite! and its a nice drive through the forests!

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:02 am

Alright Transkei trip this weekend!!

I am gonna let you ou's in one of my new found fishing secrets i am rather excited but i will not for the life of me let anyone in the club know!!! They must all just sit and watch as I haul in the KOB this weekend (double points for edibles)

I went and bought these tiny glass rattles they look about the same size as a jelly bean, just glass with 3 tiny ball bearing balls inside! Sure they rattle around a bit by themselves but once you cleverly insert them into your foam floatation then for some reason they sound 10 times louder! Couple this with a lovelly long tailed fresh chokka bait i am hoping it will do the trick!!

Apparently the guys fishing with dropshot and plastics use them a lot and works wonders!!

I say bring it on!!! will let you know how it goes!

dalkill · Post by **dalkill** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:29 am

Guys, I would like to invite you to join our forum http://www.rockandsurf.co.za" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm a mod on this forum, and was recently discussing with other mods how we primarily members from the WC.
We would like to get info and news from further up the east and west coast as well.

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:35 am

Sure!!! hmmm but do i share the secret!!!

I will wait and see if it works first

KZNSFA4Y · Post by **KZNSFA4Y** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 2:16 pm

Hi Chris, I live in PMB and am newish to KZN so I have only done freshwater fishing. I am keen to try some surf fishing. I bought a basic setup but haven't had the chance yet. I am keen to try Tugela Mouth. Any advice?

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:55 am

Be careful at Tugela mouth!

The fishing is great there... slide a live bait and you are pretty much guaranteed a PB (personal best) Garrick!! There are some lobotes / tripletail (kind of rockcod) also hanging around in the river as well as some river snapper if the sea is too big!

But again be careful parking at tugela mouth is dodgy and don't fish alone!!

Tight lines and post pic of your catch!

dalkill · Post by **dalkill** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:21 am

Eish.... you guys in the warmer east coast waters have it so good.
Here, langebaan used to be one of them places where you were at least guaranteed some activity after few days strong SE. Now even langebaan not even producing that much anymore. Guys take undersized and over quote right in front of the MCM offices :evil:

coz it can · Post by **coz it can** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:48 am

yeah just be very carefull at tugella,go in a group,and carry some hardware

,got a customer in stanger who fishes there offen,and his been getting salmon lately,a monster daga of 48kg's that got partialy eaten by a zambie,so look out for that aswell.
But the safty is realy dodgy...people have been shot just for tackle.so be weary.
Tight lines...

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:59 am

Alright here is a plan

Cast net some mullet... slide mullet catch a 48 kg daga.... slide daga and tussel a zambie all night!!

Sounds like heaven!!

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:00 am

Even if you loose the zambie you still get to climb into a hilux and drive it home!!!

That is reward enough

coz it can · Post by **coz it can** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:26 am

love the way you think Chris...you in dbn,we should meet up and through a few lines...once the weather gets back to normall.

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:52 am

For sure!

Got a postal round in the transkei this weekend!

so later

also start thinking about a trip to Mapelane???

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:43 pm

And if you get the Zambie in you can swim him for an ORCA or something!

coz it can · Post by **coz it can** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:59 am

lol...now thats over doing it...lol...fished with mikey this morning at lugs,we wr pulling plugs for a garrick,but got ducks,apparently he droped a lekka1 yesterday morning,and in the afternoon another mate dropped1,and they call thmselves fisherman...lol...all the luck in the postal Chris,not too much dops hey,btw,I've also got a little trick for the kob,theoretically it should work,but havnt put it to the test,when we meet up i'll explain it...(glow in the dark squid...hint)
tighter lines...lol

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:16 am

hey I phoned Mikey this morning when he was down there!! I still have to get my half a rod back from him before tomorrow!

Ask mikey about his secret for kobs... glow foam!

coz it can · Post by **coz it can** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:23 am

glow foam...sound interesting...Ive got a glow squid looking drop shot lure that we are making at work,with tenticles and salted...lol...

andrevt · Post by **andrevt** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 1:07 pm

come join us next year for some rel fishing

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:46 am

wow!!

Where was that taken ... can only be henties!! driving on the beach like that with rods in front!

andrevt · Post by **andrevt** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:19 am

weskus van angola

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:14 am

Let me know if there ever there is a space on one of your trips! looks amazing

The Legend · Post by **The Legend** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:08 am

Don,t forget me.Will also join the trip

dalkill · Post by **dalkill** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 9:31 am

OK, since you guys going past me, I'll hop in too

andrevt · Post by **andrevt** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:26 am

we plan to explore the beach area from lobito down to flamingo next year in march we are sofar 4 vehicles

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:41 am

is there space in one of those vehicles?

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:39 am

Anyone fishing this weekend?

coz it can · Post by **coz it can** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:09 pm

Chris

:evil:

:alvarin:

we lost out this week,the snoek came thick at umdloti beach on wednesday,barry from basil manning hit 10,a guy by the name of aarif got a monster of 10kg,on thursday morning it happened at tongaat mouth,this weekend lets hope it happens wr ever i fish...lol...,wr you fishing this weekend,I might pop in to eastmoore or la mercy lagoon,

try for somthing nice on sunday morning...lool

dustbuster · Post by **dustbuster** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:16 pm

they are nailing the garrik up there in the bay at the moment might try on sunday for some

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:31 pm

The Weather is turning horrible here already! The west is blowing and the clouds are pulling in!!

Back to the transkei next weekend!!!! woohooo

Hurry and finish your bakkie this weekend dude!

dalkill · Post by **dalkill** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:57 pm

coz it can wrote:Chris :evil: :alvarin: we lost out this week,the snoek came thick at umdloti beach on wednesday,barry from basil manning hit 10,a guy by the name of aarif got a monster of 10kg,on thursday morning it happened at tongaat mouth,this weekend lets hope it happens wr ever i fish...lol...,wr you fishing this weekend,I might pop in to eastmoore or la mercy lagoon, try for somthing nice on sunday morning...lool

snoek ??
I didn't know you guys got snoek up there as well, or is it a different species than ours down here... and 10kg .. i don't think you get it that big

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:59 pm

Its natal snoek/ queen Mackerel!!!

A lekker fish to catch but tastes like nothing compared to cape town snoek....ahhhhh home sick!! Kalkies is calling my name

dalkill · Post by **dalkill** » Sat Aug 27, 2011 11:50 am

i'll be heading out a prob in next three weeks after the fast on my buddy boat.
hopefully snoek / tail still around. else it's roman / hotties

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 2:39 pm

hello chris, work in west africa will be back in sa for our next break first week sept(home is stlucia) Hear the fishing has been poor and the umfolozi mouth closed, this time of year wind is normaly the bugger so have decided to go to kosi for a week, grunter and salmon will be there must just find them, first lake!!! windy conditions there often bring the fish on. last trip found nice rock salmon along eastern shores of number three lake right in the reeds only got 2 out but broken up 3 or 4 times(kept one put one back) both taken with live yellow fin bream 50/75mm long. hope conditions improve for everyone tight lines cheers deane

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:45 am

You cant go wrong with Kosi!! Sounds like a great plan...

Are you sure the Mfolozi mouth is closed, I am sure I can find out if you like?

andrevt · Post by **andrevt** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 12:38 pm

chris
i will keep you posted

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 1:34 pm

hi chris the estuary of the lake has been closed for around 4 years now, but the umfolozi river mouth aften closes in winter as the water flow drops, the river feeds matubatuba, stlucia, hlabisa, kwambonambi and about 1200ha of sugar cane, we may have restrictions from now on untill the rains come. the estuary mouth has been a hot topic since the grounding of the jolly rubino below the stlucia light, and the estuary was artificaly closed because of an oil pollution threat a big storm reopened it in 2007 but it closed again during the drought years and has remained so good or bad who knows!!!!! you will know that charters and faanies have been closed for years the lake was empty a terrible site but danke die hemel it is looking much better now, amazing how nature works the okes are still catching fish in the estuary cheers deane

: from mapelane dune

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 4:19 pm

I was up at hells gate, charters, fanies and catalina in may!! Not looking too bad!!!

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:35 pm

thats good news did'nt know they had been reopened. thats hells gates ndabela peninsula false bay your talking about(hells gates at santa maria causes confusion) booth beautiful places, think most people know the one in moz as the gap

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 7:41 am

Sorry to get your hopes up... I was up there on work! We went with the Zululand coastal research unit, who have been doing long term monitoring of the system. Unfortunately it is not open to the public yet.

On a positive note there was a lot more water up north over may June than there has been in a long time! I managed to tag some massive spotted grunter in all of the lakes and a nice kob in catalina! There are still tons of crocs and hippos all over the show, well except for the north lake where the salinity levels are super huge (however the talapia still manage to survive there)

The camp at fanies and is looking very very run down and it is gonna be a long time before they will be ready for guests!

Anyway sorry to get your hopes up...... Another good sign is that of the Mfolozi mouth moving slowly but surely back to join the st lucia mouth! Its a slow process but happening!

If I were you I would try catch some of those big Zambesi's at the mouth... or a brindle bass under the bridge!

Watch out for the crocs

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 1:46 pm

phoned my boys after we last spoke a lot of work going on at charters might be open for christmas holidays, sounds like lake is still very shallow jeez we need something to kick start our town very quiet sugar loaf was'nt even half full over easter very sad news of peter motzouris (Z craft) passing last week

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:39 am

I should be back there in November for more research ... i will keep you posted!

Otherwise there have been good cob and baby zambesi sharks coming out at the mouth

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:17 am

morning chris, must be very interesting working with the research unit, if you are ever stuck for accomadition stlucia area give us a shout our place stands empty most of the time we only get back to sa 2or3 times a year, good mate of mine pieter cilliers who is our club beech control says thats all that is being caught small sharks

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:36 am

Thanks Oom

i may take you up on that offer one day when the fish are wild up there!!

yeah the work is great, I work as a field officer for the ORI (Oceanograhic Research Institute) so its may job to go and help collect samples for the 20 scientists here! We do everything from diving in Sodwana coral reefs to tag and release work in the transkei!!

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:59 am

right, I'am bit dof this morning thats ori's with bruce man when were you last at vidal was hoping the winter storms would wash some of the sand out of the bay, we could'nt launch there during may, always had good fishing at oscar's

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:02 pm

good news heavy rain has been recorded in the lake stlucia area lets hope the estuary reopens to the sea. fishing along the beech from mflozi mouth to first rocks has been good, hope our town has a busy holiday season.

dustbuster · Post by **dustbuster** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:15 pm

I am going to vidal this wkend with the fishing ski heard the Dorado lots of dorado have been going out so hopefully one will land up in my ski

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:04 pm

how's it dean sitting here in guinee reading all the mails about how crap the weather is in zululand !!!!! is the vidal camp open yet? sure you will have a jol must be snoek around behind the back line.

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:11 pm

have you heard from musselcracker he will know whats the beat at vidal

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 2:01 pm

Thats right ous!!

Word on the street is that dorado are coming in around Sodwana and Vidal! Also heard of the smaller shoal Couta popping up! The north coast should be cooking beginning december with Durban coming right a little later with the game fish!

i just cam back from Sodwana where a guy caught a 300kg Black marlin in one of the competitions!

i am off on a trawler for a week tomorrow... hoping to collide some tuna or dorries a bit off shore!

andrevt · Post by **andrevt** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 1:35 pm

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 5:12 pm

couldn't agree more andre, have been trying to find any news on the water levels of lake st lucia and the estuary,if anyone has heard anything please let us know

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:25 am

The guys came back from sampling there two weeks ago oom dan!

They say that the umfolozi is flowing into the lake via an opened back channel and has lift the levels nicely! With all the constant rain over the past two weeks i am sure it is flowing in steadily!

There are now talking about the lake system becoming too fresh!! anyways we will leave that to the boffins to decide!

When they were sampling they got a fewer fish as normal probably due to there being more water and very few prawns!

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:27 am

thanks for the news chris, I had a reply from a mate he says there is now a second channel from the river working, with all the rain and river water hope it opens the estuary to the see soon. the river is pumping brown water up as far as main beach the farmers had to open the mflozi mouth with a machine. sorry thats wrong ezemvelo opened it to prevent farmlands flooding, fair enough , would have been nice if that water had gone to the lake instead.

dustbuster · Post by **dustbuster** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 12:15 pm

This weekend at Vidal was a cracker

, lots of dorado came out. I managed to get on of 9.8Kg on Saturday and lost one as well friend got 3 of about 5-7 kgs. The other guys also got and saw some snoek a ski boat got as well.

On Sunday we paddled from vidal to St Lucia, off the light house I had a double strike on dorado lost the one but laded the other one. Also got my first salie of about 25-30 kgs

managed to get it to the ski and release him was awesome to see it tail walking passed the ski gave a good show. Near St Lucia also got a snoek, two guys with me also got a dorado each.

lekker to start catching again been quite a while

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:08 pm

decent dorri's dean, way to go we still have 6 weeks before getting home but have been catching nile perch and Goliath tigers in the local river

oom dan · Post by **oom dan** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 5:42 pm

chris if you see this we are battling to get tags from ORI's would you know if there is a problem, appreciate any help cheers deane

Musselcracker · Post by **Musselcracker** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:46 am

No probs the tagging officer is a mate of mine! Will see what I can do!!!

PM me your tag number and what size tags you want and I will make a plan! Only condition that you post the pics of your catch