Yellowfin Tuna Countdown begins…, Saltwater Fishing Report

2011 has started off with some really nasty weather, lots of heavy rain and big seas. Even so we have been getting out there and catching some fish with Dorado being the main course on the menu and we already have put a lot of Dorado on the boat for 2011.

During the week whilst out in extremely heavy rains we even managed to get a small Sailfish of around 30Kg, and it was a good catch as the visibility was less than 200m and I saw a splash ahead of me to the right, changed course and it was not long before the reel sang. It was very difficult fighting this fish in the heavy rain as everything was wet and slippery, but we got him and released him.

The Kawakawa are back in full force and we have hooked up some large ones and have seen a lot of small ones around in large shoals. On Friday we did a trip in Durban harbour and we caught some grunter and of all things we also caught a Geelbek.

Today when we went out the water was filthy and brown and so we went out deep to find clean water which we eventually found at 160m and then set our spread and started trolling, at 190m we saw birds and followed them and managed to get 6 reels screaming all with Yellowfin Tuna on the other end, and so our 1st 4 Yellowfin Tuna for the year where landed after loosing 2. We also managed 2 Oceanic Bonitos at around 300m.

On our way back we past some debris and as the one outrigger lure passed the debris we managed to hook up a fine Bull Dorado which really got the reel singing and gave a good account for itself. The water surface temp was as high as 26.9deg.C along the current line.

On one of our trips we had to pull in all our lines and rescue a Loggerhead turtle that was caught up in plastic sheeting which was wrapped around a large yellow container, and I must say that it is so sad to see the amount of rubbish that flows from our rivers into the sea. Our river and estuary systems are in a terrible state and really need urgent attention.

Even so with dirty rivers and seas, foul weather, heavy rains and huge swells the fishing this summer season remains awesome with many fish in our waters.

About the Author:

Captain's Bio: Started fishing in Durban Harbour at age 7 and got hooked for life with over 35yrs experience, 3yrs ago I started doing full time Charters. My boat which is a 32ft Silverton Sport Fisher is moored at Wilson's Wharf in Durban Harbour specialising in singles or groups up to 4 persons.

My specialty in Durban is Game fishing, and in the summer months we target Billfish and Game fish in our sub tropical waters, Autumn and Spring are also mainly spent targeting Game Fish and also Reef fishing which is the main fishing done in our winter. The weather is good all year round in Durban our summers hot and winters mild.

I am very passionate and conservation minded with regards to my fishing, my boat has a good reputation and catch record here in Durban and is well respected with many satisfied clients.