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A spot-by-spot overview -
specific conditions prevail. One must bear in mind that the known spots are
that, simply because they tend to be the most productive, no matter what sort
of conditions prevail.
Tongaat River Mouth
Probably most famous for its excellent Kob fishing from May through to
September, particularly when the river mouth is open and especially so, after
a distinct flush i.e. as soon as things settle after a lot of rain. Also, at about
the same time of the year, a lot of Garrick comes to this area, again probably
due to the river mouth and the associated food. For the angler fishing with
sea-lice, or squid and prawn-type baits, there are a lot of Grunter and
Stumpies almost throughout the year. Springer, Kingfish and Pompano are
more prevalent in the summer.
Tongaat Long Beach
From just north of the river mouth to Amatshe Ordwe, one of the most famous
beaches on the Natal Coast for big fish, especially during the summer
months, where Sandies, Honeycombs, Brown Skate and Blackfin prevail.
Best fished during the early morning or late afternoon when due to the very
steep and deep nature of the beach, these fish come well within casting
distance. During April and May in particular, a lot of big Blackfin are hooked
closer to the river mouth. Obviously these fish are there for the Kob, Springer,
etc. The nice thing about this beach is that these big fish can run a long way
with no danger of being cut off by outside reef.
Sweet Waters
This area (almost in front of the Zimbali development), offers a wide variety of
fish depending on prevailing conditions, but for big fish, there is a lot of
outside reef to contend with. Very good for Stumpies, Pompano, etc., with
Kob eating mainly at night during the winter months.
Salmon Bay and Ballito Pool
Salmon Bay itself is generally very busy with other users, such as bathers and
boat launching, which makes it difficult to fish during the day, but in the
evening, some big Stumpies and Kob can be caught. The point at the pool is
certainly one of the deeper points in this area and will offer everything from
Couta to Stumpie. A very good spot to throw a spoon for things like Snoek,
Couta, Kingfish and Queenfish, especially very early in the morning. It is also
very well known for its high volume of juvenile dusky sharks (5-8 kilograms).
A lot of the Sandsharks, Honeycomb, etc., are also caught here, but the
presence of reef of approximately 300 metres out at about 2 o’clock
necessitates heavy tackle and hang-on tactics. On the low tide, it is often
difficult in a biggish sea to land fish, but by taking them onto the flatter rocks
to the South, makes it a lot easier. Big Stumpies and big Pompano are often
caught here too, quite often with a very close throw right next to the rocks, but
at other times on a full throw.
Emberton Road
This spot can be fairly difficult to fish, as there is a lot of rock in the water, but
is very productive for Stumpies. There are at times, a lot of Dusky Sharks
here and quite often if the other points are too crowded, this is a good
alternative. Some very good Bronze Bream fishing, fishing very close in
amongst the various gullies between here and Boulders, which is the next
point north at Boulder Bay.
Boulder Bay and Jacksons
Boulder Bay definitely fishes better on an outgoing tide and on the dead low
with a little bit of pushing and preferably with a light Westerly wind. Lots of
Duskies, the odd big Stumpnose, especially on the right hand side of the
actual point, which is also good for Brusher and the odd big Kingfish. Sandies
are quite often here, especially at night. Probably one of the best known
Shad spots in the Ballito area, which unfortunately comes with its own set of
litter problems. On the left hand side, or just north of Boulder Bay point
proper, is Jacksons. This reef runs out from South to North and is even better
than Boulder in a Westerly, but unfortunately, it can only really be fished on a
low tide or in a calm sea. Offers the same sort of range of fish as does
Boulders.
Willard Beach and Wilsons
Also used to be known as Martins Rock. This point is approximately 800m
north of the bathing area at Ballito and offers a wide variety of fishing.
Excellent for Kob at night and very good for Stumpies, Brusher, Shad,
Pompano, Duskies and the odd Sandy and some very big Grunter in the first
bay on the northern side of it. Again, this point is best fished in a light
Westerly with a calm sea. There is a lot of gully fishing for things light
Blacktail, Carenteen etc., between here and Chaka’s High Rock. On a calm
sea, the beach between the two rock ledges that runs straight out to sea
(sometimes covered in sand) just north of Wilsons produces some very big
Shad, lots of Duskies and the odd Kob at night.
Chaka’s High Rock
Fishes well in both a North East and South Westerly wind and is often the
only point that can actually be fished in a rough sea. Lots of Couta has been
caught here over the years, but is probably today best known for its Shad and
Garrick fishing. This unfortunately however, leads to congestion, particularly
when the Shad are on the bite, which incidentally is normally immediately
after a brisk North East from July through to October. There is no outside reef
to catch you off on a big fish, but any decent sized fish is best played for as
long as possible whilst it is beyond the ledge below the rock, but as soon as
the fish starts coming, it is best to pile the pressure on to keep the fish close
to the surface in order to get it over the ledge. Once this is done, there are a
couple of places where one can climb down quite safely to get within gaffing
range. There is also a gully on the left hand side that one can angle a fish
around to and into, if gaffing proves to be difficult.
Catfish
Catfish rock is on the southern end of the Salt Rock swimming beach and is
quite obvious as it sits just on the back line on a high-tide. Often one can get
onto this rock on the high tide and fish on it and it is particularly productive for
your edible species like Stumpnose, Kingfish, Pompano, etc. On the hightide,
there if often a bank that one can throw over while on the beach and
again, this area is very productive for edible fish.
Salt Rock Pool
Very well known for large volume of Dusky Sharks, Sand Sharks, the odd
Stumpie and quite often, lots of Shad. This point takes a big sea quite well
and fishes well in both the West and North East. Very little reef outside which
makes for easy angling of large fish. This is also a good spot to throw a
spoon early in the morning for Snoek and Kingfish.
Van der Riets
This beach lies north of Salt Rock Pool just before the very prominent four
pillars that stick up on the rocks to the north of the beach. A wide variety of
species may be caught from this beach, but it is especially well known for
Shad, Dusky Sharks, Stumpies and Kingfish, with the odd Kob at night and a
couple of big Sandies during the summer months. This beach is often quite
deep and it is during these deep periods when it fishes best for big fish.
Granthans
This is a fairly prominent point just to the north of four pillars and is best
approached from the parking lot at the first very big block of flats north of the
four pillars. This spot is probably most famous for big Blackfin sharks that are
often hooked here from November through to May, but it also offers some
very good fishing for Sandies, Duskies, Brown Skade, Stumpies, Pompano,
etc. Big flat fish can be a bit of a problem as there is quite a big of reef in the
water and about 400 metres and if it is particularly deep, in other words, a lot
of sand has been scoured out, there are quite often small patches of rock
exposed closer in. This is one of the spots that one can often take refuge at
when everything else is congested. The area between Granthans and Dave’s
Rock, which lies further to the North, can be very productive for Bronze Bream
and Stumpies, but is extremely rocky. One of the places that come to mind
here is a very prominent rock just in front of the block of flats which is often
very good for Shad, but is extremely productive for Stumpies.
Dave’s Rock
Dave’s Rock is accessed by a cement path that goes down to Sheffield beach
from a parking facility that is on the right hand side of the road when going
north. This point fishes best after and sometimes during a brisk North
Easterly blow, which often puts some colour into the water. Although it can be
fished in a very light West, big Westerlies make it almost unfishable. Very
good spot for big Blackfin, Sandies, big Kingfish, Pompano and Stumpies,
with the Stumpies often eating on a very close throw. Again, unfortunately,
this place can become very congested when the Shad are about and when
they are, it is often a good idea to fish for a big Kob that evening. From July
through to early December, there are a lot of Bronze Bream in this area and
some wonderful gullies for kids to fish in.
Christmas Bay
The point at Christmas Bay can be fished in both winds, but generally works
best in a North East. This is one of the few places on the north coast where
Cape Yellowtail, or Albacore are caught with any regularity. Big fish,
however, are very difficult to handle here, due to needle-like pinnacles that
come up on the right hand side of the point and off shore. Again, this is one
of those places that one can go to if everything else is congested.
There is a large stretch of beach between Christmas Bay and the Umhlali
River Mouth at Tinley Manor, which is very productive for edible fish like
Stumpies, Kingfish, Bronze Bream, Rock Kod. Fairly rocky area with a sandy
beach, but is only accessible after a long walk.
Umhlali River Mouth
This area fishes very well when the river mouth is open and particularly for
Kob from May to September. Lots of Stumpies are caught here, particularly
on the flat rocks just south of the river mouth. This is also a good spot to fish
for Garrick from June through to October/November.
Umhlali Beach
Access is through Tinley Manor. This area is just north of the river mouth and
there is almost always some nice banks and some deep holes which offer a
wide variety of species, depending on the time of the year. Those that come
to mind are Shad, Kob and Garrick in winter, with Stumpies, Pompano,
Sandies during the summer.
The Pantry
This is a very prominent “island/rock” on the northern end of Umhlali Beach
and is best known for its Stumpies, the odd Spade Fish, Bronze Bream and
then some Kingfish and Brusher often being the cause of “bust-ups”.
Generally, the best way to fish this is with fairly robust tackle, throwing as
close to, and preferably into, the white water around this prominent rock.
Headlands
Headlands lies just below the main car park at Tinley Manor, a short distance
north of The Pantry. Again, the prevalence of Shad can be a problem, not just
from a pollution and smell point of view, but also from a congestion point of
view as this is an excellent point that fishes well in both a light North East and
a moderate or strong South Westerly, a light West probably being the best.
Lots of Garrick in season, odd Couta, lots of big Sandies, Duskies, Blackfin,
Kingfish, Pompano and Stumpies, with some nice Rock Kod being caught if
one throws at the two patches of rock which lie at about 20 and 40 metres off
the rock at about half past twelve. Big fish have to be angled quite carefully,
but provided they stay within 10 and 12 o’clock, you shouldn’t have a problem.
The best place to land these big fish is in the gully that lies towards the beach
on the northern side of the point.
Rapsons / Red Rocks
This point lies at the northern end of the beach from Headlands and produces
the same sort of fish as Headlands other than Garrick and Shad, which don’t
feature quite so strongly. It is very well known for its Pompano and Stumpies,
particularly in the gully on the left hand side of the main point. Big fish are not
a problem, provided they are a way out, but often the best place to land them
is to try to get them to the beach on the southern end. This point is very
productive for Stumpies and quite often on a full throw.
Stink Rock
This is the furthest point north immediately after Rapsons. From here the
coast cuts back onto a sandy beach in front of the Umhlali Ski Boat club.
Another Shad spot and also very good for Garrick. Fishes quite well in a
North East, but is definitely best in a Westerly condition. The odd Kingfish
and Sandy are caught here in summer, but it is generally a Shad, Carenteen
and Blacktail type spot.
Loves Beach
Very difficult to access as all the access is through private property, but this
steep, coarse-grained, deep-water beach, is famous for its Sandies and
Blackfin, along with most of your summer-time edibles like Pompano, Kingfish
and Prodigal Sons.
Mail Boat
Very good point that fishes best in a North Easterly condition in a moderate
sea. Again, most popular in summer, like Loves and is especially productive
for Sandies and Blackfin. Again, access is a problem as it is only through
private property. Fairly dangerous point to try and fish on a high tide,
particularly if the sea is a bit strong.
Deep Green
Generally, a deeper point than Mail Boat and at times, a lot more productive.
Access is a problem as it is through private property or by a substantial walk
from Umvoti River Mouth at Blythedale. A very good spot for Stumpies,
Garrick, big Sandies and Blackfin.
Umvoti River Mouth
Accessed via Blythedale where it lies on the southern end of Blythedale
beach proper. Unfortunately, due to the degredation of the Umvoti River, this
area is nowhere near as productive as it used to be, but there is certainly still
a lot of Kob and Garrick caught here during the winter months and in summer,
after rain, there are often some big Zambezi Sharks lurking at close proximity.
.
Blythedale Beach
This is a very productive beach, generally fairly deep, characterized by a
series of banks and holes. All the fish mentioned above that are associated
with beaches can be caught here.
Channel Rock
This point lies just north of the bathing beach of Blythedale and is very
productive, especially for Dusky Sharks, Sandies, Brown Skate and
Honeycombs. Past the beach just to the south of it before the bathing area is
also very good for all of the above including Shad, Garrick and Kob in winter.
The best conditions are generally a light to moderate North East, but it can
also fish very well in a light Westerly. It is definitely more of a low tide spot,
but once the tide comes in, the action seems to move to the beach on the
right hand side. Big fish can be angled relatively easy with not much of a
chance of being cut off, unless the area is very scoured out.
Princes Grant area
The whole area between Channel Rock and Nonoti is fairly rocky with a few
sandy patches that can be very productive if not too scoured out. Access is
fairly difficult. Predominantly an edible fish area, but quite often Sandies in
particular, as well as Blackfin can come quite thick here. Cut offs are a huge
problem and when fishing for these bigger fish, heavy tackle is very
necessary.
Nonoti
Probably the most famous Sand shark beach on the entire north coast, but it
can also be quite productive for big Kingfish, big Kob in winter and Garrick.
Again, access is a problem as it is through private property. This beach is
pretty much like Tongaat long beach in that it is characterized by coarse sand,
steep gradients, deep holes and close banks. Definitely fishes best in a North
Easterly condition.
Iti Bay
Named after large numbers of Italian p.o.w.’s were washed up dead after the
ship in which they were traveling in was torpedoed off the Tugela River Mouth
during the last war. This beach is probably most famous for its Garrick, Kob
and Shad and is accessed through Zinkwazi, lying right at its Southern
extreme. Quite often there is a very deep channel close to shore with a hole
somewhere along the beach. Dusky sharks can be quite prevalent and quite
a few Sandies are caught here during summer along with some very big
Stumpies.
Lion Rocks
These rocks are at the northern end of Iti Bay, sometimes called Sandy Point
and make for some very good fishing for Stumpies off the front on a low tide.
Quite often, the bay at the left produces some nice edible fish such as
Brusher and Bronze Bream particularly in a strong sea in a best Westerly.
Black Rock
This is the next spot south of the main car park at Zinkwazi and is very
productive during the Shad season for both Shad and Kob with a few Duskies
and the odd Blue Skate at the end of winter. A nice place to take kids or
novice anglers to, to fish during a calm sea when the Shad are about.
Zinkwazi Car Park
The rocks at the southern end of the car park fish well at the high tide for
Bronze Bream, Stumpies and off the front of the rocks at low tide, Sandies,
Duskies and the odd big Kingfish can be caught. The beach between here
and Black Rock is also quite productive, particularly at night, for things like
Stumpies and Kob, the odd Rock Salmon and Rock Kod and when they are
about, lots of Duskies in the late afternoon or early morning. Definitely fishes
best in a light North East.
Zinkwazi Bay
Although this is a bathing area, it is a very productive early morning or late
afternoon spot for things like Shad, Garrick, Kob, Stumpies, Duskies,
especially if the river mouth is open. Although it fishes well in a North
Easterly, it offers a certain amount of protection and fishes quite well in a light
to moderate South Westerly.
Boiling Pots
Boiling Pots lies approximately 1.5 kilometres north of Zinkwazi bathing area
and is an extremely productive area for edibles like Stumpies, Rock Kod, Kob,
Kingfish and Garrick. This stretch of beach is characterized by intermittent
broken rock with progressively more rock, the further north you go. The rocks
just before what we know as Mervin’s Hole, are very flat and offer excellent
Stumpie fishing with the odd Kob and quite a few Blue Skate, particularly in
late winter or early summer.
Mervin’s Hole and Second Rocks
Mervin’s Hole is particularly productive for Kob in the evenings and it can be
identified by a very big prominent rock with some fairly deep water on the right
hand side. This is approximately 1.5 kilometres north of Boiling Pots. Second
Rocks can be identified by the second clump of rocks on the beach going
south from Seola Pont. Off the rocks themselves and on the beach to the left
and right of it, where there is normally fairly shallow bank that can be waded
on a lowish tide, one will encounter a wide variety of species, but is probably
best known for its Sandies, Honeycombs and Brown Skates, with a couple of
Diamonds and Blue Skate thrown in. This whole area fishes extremely well
for Kob and Garrick during the winter months. During summer there are often
a lot of Snoek, Kingfish, Pompano and Stumpies to be had in this area.
Seola Point
Arguably one of the most productive points on the entire north coast, with
excellent fishing in both summer and winter. It definitely fishes best in a light
to moderate North East, but can also fish well in a Westerly, provided that the
sea is relatively calm. This point can only be fish on a lowish tide as it
becomes very dangerous on the high tide due to the fact that it sits relatively
low in the water. One can fish off either the north or the south side depending
on prevailing conditions and both are very productive. The southern side is
characterized by a rock known as the Pulpit, which is generally fished on a
highish tide and is certainly most productive when dirty water from the Tugela
is blown around the point. Almost any fish can be targeted here, from Bronze
Bream through to Zambezi Sharks. It has some wonderful rock pools and
back waters which keep kids well entertained. On a full tide with a Westerly
condition, at the base of the left hand point, with a long throw, one will
encounter lots of Stumpies, Springer, Kingfish and Kob, particularly in the
early evening. Big fish off the front are handled best in a North Easterly
condition when they can be taken south and landed on the beach. However,
one needs to be cautious as there is quite a bit of reef about 300 metres out
at approximately half past one to two o’clock. On the left hand side of the
point, there is a reef at approximately a full throw that runs from nine o’clock
through to about ten thirty. This is also best avoided when fighting a big fish.
