Mike Laubscher

On Saturday we launched at 07h00 and made our way out to the 45m depth area, there was a SE wind blowing and a light rain, water surface temperature was around 21 deg. C. By 08h00 the rain came pouring down hard and 1 of the guys got so sick he asked me to take him back to the docks which I duly did. On the way in the visibility was so low I could hardly make out the lights in the harbour channel. Once back on dry land he started feeling better and had something to eat and drink and was soon refreshed.

Whilst at the Marina I met Greg from Shag n Release.

I suggested to the guys not to give in to sea sickness and that we go back out and fish in the sheltered bay area with light tackle just outside the harbour area which was totally protected from this wind and was as flat as a small farm dam, and they agreed.

It was awesome her and I prepared the light tackle when we heard what sounded like a waterfall and then we saw shoals of sardines all around us going crazy up and down. I can't believe that we still have sardines around in September never mind Durban.

It is quite amazing to watch them as they jump and flutter going in one direction and then in another and then turning again whilst churning up the water to make it look like it is boiling.

I did not see any sharks or game fish around these shoals.

The fishing was great fun with the light 10lb tackle and the first fish we caught was a size Slinger of all things in the shallows. We also caught several Soldier Bream and a lot of Rockod; Shad was in abundance and everyone soon had their quota but we also hooked up many undersize Shad. The Mackerel were very active amongst the Sardines and we caught many, and many were larger than the size Shad.

Catch of the day was a lovely Blue Stingray which gave an excellent fight on the light tackle.

As the day progressed the weather improved and by afternoon it was warm, the wind had calmed down considerably and the rain had cleared.

Fish Species: Various
Bait Used: Squid
Tackle Used: Penn
Method Used: Bottom
Water Depth: 10m
Water Temperature: 21deg.c
Wind Direction: SE
Wind Speed: Heavy
Blue Stingray
Blue Stingray

Light Tackle working hard
Light Tackle working hard


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Mike Laubscher

About The Author: Mike Laubscher

Company: Blue Water Charters - Durban

Area Reporting: Durban. KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Bio: I have been fishing since I was 5 years old in Durban and have fished many places around the world and in South Africa, but Durban is my home waters. I fished competitive for many years and I have been running my own charters since 2008 with 2 companies and 2 boats, fish a variety of styles and target a variety of fish species in both Salt and Fresh water, have many published articles in several magazines on fishing. Love nature and outdoors, Am very conservation minded and have a passion for birds. I am crazy about big Tuna, Marlin Fishing and Game Fishing, and also love light tackle spinning, am a total lure junkie. Represented my province in fly fishing for many years and am also pro staff for Rapala/Shimano. I want to write a book on fishing one day. 3 items left on my fishing bucket list, guess then a new bucket list will be in order. As a writer I have my own quote: \"I love taking people fishing because it releases their inner child, and in doing so keeps my inner child alive.\"

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