Fishing Reports by Guide Mike Laubscher
About The Author:
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.\"
[Durban,KZN] We launched from Durban Harbour at around 05h30, it was overcast but not raining. The water surface temperature in the harbour was around 22.5 deg. C. The sea was flat, there was virtually no wind and even thought the swell was 2.1m (7ft) it was spaced at 22 seconds making for a really nice day. We were greeted by one of those sunsets that light up all the clouds on the horizon and give it a golden orange glow.
[Inanda Dam,KZN] We launched at Inanda dam at around 12h00, the water surface temperature was around 27.5 deg. C and there was a light SW wind blowing. At the launch site we saw the baby Zebra up close which is starting to grow nicely; and there was several Fish Eagles and Yellow Billed Kites gliding around the dam. We fished until 18h45.
[Durban,KZN] We launched from Durban Harbour at around 05h00, it was a lovely morning with virtually no wind and the seas were flat, perfect for a 5 hr trip. The water surface temperature had dropped even more and was between 18-19 deg. C; this gave me little hope for getting good game fish. As we trolled along we found small pockets of warmer water of around 24 deg. C.
[Durban,KZN] We launched from Durban Harbour at 05h00 and made our way out the harbour mouth, it seemed quite pleasant until we passed the Bluff point and there was a stiff SW wind blowing. The water surface temperature had also dropped significantly and was averaging around 21 deg. C.
[Durban,KZN] We launched from Durban harbour at around 04h00, it was a spectacular morning with virtually no wind and a small swell which greeted us with one of those perfect Durban sunrises. The water temperature varied between 24-25 deg. C. As the day progressed the NE wind started to pick up more and more, we arrived back at port at around 11h30.
[Durban,KZN] 2010 is upon us and it seems that the years are rolling by faster and faster and this was to be my first fishing adventure for 2010. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the readers of my reports a super 2010.
[Durban,KZN] The end of the year has come and this was to be my final fishing experience for 2009. We launched at 07h00 for a 5hr trip off Durban, we had not even got out the harbour mouth when one of the guys started getting sea sick.
[Durban,KZN] We launched from Durban Harbour for a short 5hr session in the 30-50m depth contour. The water surface temperature was around 24deg. C. The seas were flat and very little wind.
[Durban,KZN] I took a little boy out to backline for a short fishing session using Yozuri's where we caught a fair amount of Sand Soldiers, Shad, Mackerel and Lizard Fish, as always it was great fun.
[Durban,KZN] We launched at 12h00 for a 5hr drop shot session in Durban Harbour, it was overcast and rained on and off and the water surface temperature was around 22 deg. C and a stiff SW wind was blowing.
[Durban,KZN] We launched from Durban Harbour at 05h00, it was a super day with virtually no wind and swells of less than a meter with a long interval. The water surface temperature was warm at 25 deg. C.
[Durban,KZN] We launched from Durban harbour at 05h00 and went South of the harbour mouth to take the kiddies to do some light tackle fishing for Mackerel, Shad & Sardines using Yozuri's for a few hours.
[Durban,KZN] We launched the morning at 05h00 and headed out of Durban Harbour, where we stopped to collect some live bait. There was a lot of bait fish around and we quickly filled up the hatch. There was a lot of large Shad around as many of our live baits came up with only the heads left.
[Durban,KZN] We launched from Durban Harbour at around 06h00. I have just fitted my out riggers and was eager to test them. It was raining on the way out of Durban harbour mouth but once we gout out to sea the rain was only over the land and so the whole day we could see the rain, but did not get wet.
[Inanda Dam,KZN] We launched at around 13h00 at Inanda Dam and the wind was blowing quite hard. The water surface temperature was around 26.5 deg. C.
[Durban,KZN] We launched from Durban harbour at 05h00 for a short 5hr trip. It was a nice morning and very little wind. We headed straight out to the 35m depth contour. On our way out the harbour mouth we saw a huge Queen Mackerel (Natal Snoek) jump several meters out of the water chasing a smaller fish.
[Drakensberg,KZN] We left Durban at around 04h00 and headed up towards the Drakensburg to the Bushmans River for a day of wild brown river trout fishing. It was overcast and misty all day but not cold. The river water was turbid with about 1.2m (4ft) visibility. We were a little dubious, but decided to go ahead anyway.
[Durban,KZN] We launched out of Durban harbour at around 04h30. I wanted to find warm water and see if we could get our first Dorado for the season. I also wanted to use my new light tackle trolling rods for the 1st time.
[Umgeni River,KZN] Took the Landy to go play in the mud this afternoon down by the river
[Durban,KZN] We launched from Durban Harbour at about 16h00 and went out to collect live bait, there was a moderate SW wind blowing and the water surface temp was around 22 deg. C.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] I met my US clients at Pongola, and then we headed to Lake Jozini for some Tiger fishing. It was a hot day of around 38 deg. C, the skies were clear and the NE wind was pumping. Water surface temperature averaged around 24 deg. C.
[Inanda Dam,KZN] We went down to Inanda Dam and launched at around 06h30 for a quick morning session of Bass fishing and fished until 09h30. There was virtually no wind and the water was like glass, the water was crystal clear and the surface temperature varied between 24-25 deg. C. It was a beautiful warm summer's morning. I have not been down to Inanda in a while and really enjoyed it.
[Durban,KZN] There has always been the fear that one day I will have no fish catches to report, but when I started doing my fishing reports I promised myself that when that day comes I will report it just like I do with all my others, so here goes.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] We left Shayamoya at around 04h50 with our breakfast packs and went down to launch the boat, The wind was already starting to blow and it was still from the NE, the water surface temperature was still averaging around 22 deg. C.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] I met my guests at Shayamoya Game Lodge at around 09h30, and whilst having some coffee on the deck I was looking over Lake Jozini (Pongolapoort Dam) and saw that all the recent rains had brought muddy water from the Pongola River into the dam and the water was badly stained.
[Durban,KZN] I went out with a father and his young son off Durban. We launched at 05h00 from Durban harbour and trolled light tackle along the back line. The water surface temperature was averaging around 22 deg. C (still cold) and the day started with a moderate NE breeze, the swells were around 1.2m (4ft)
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] On my way to the Lake Jozini (Pongolapoort Dam) slipway whilst driving through the reserve area I cam across a bunch of Giraffes and a herd of Wildebeest, I then met my guests at the slipway at around 14h00, and it was a blistering hot afternoon.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] We got down to the Lake Jozini (Pongolapoort Dam) entrance at around 04h55, as this was our last day we wanted to start early as we all had to drive home later. The gate guard was not there and arrived late at around 05h15, which is frustrating. Whilst driving down to the slipway we were treated to some game viewing with Giraffes, Wildebeest, Springbok and Nyala all making an appearance, and near the slipway there was a herd of Black Rhino.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] We waited for the rain to clear and only launched at around 08h30, it was overcast and there was a light SW wind blowing, the water temperature was still averaging around 23 deg. C. The conditions were mild and it was a really pleasant day. We had thought that the Lake Jozini (Pongolapoort Dam) water might be dirty as the Pongola River was a mud colour, but the water was still crystal clear.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] We launched at Lake Jozini (Pongolapoort Dam) at 05h00 and took the 20Km (1.5Mi) trip to the Gorge, it was sunny already by the slipway, but at the gorge there was a very thick mist that made us wet and we could not even see the Lebombo mountain tops, the water was crystal clear and we could see the bottom at around 5m (16ft). There was a wind blowing down the gorge and the water surface temperature was averaging at around 22 deg. C.
[Durban,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures went deep sea fishing off Durban with a father and his 3 sons. This was a second try as last week we had to cancel due to extremely bad weather, and there was a possibility of rain. We launched at 05h00 and returned at 13h00.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures took some guests out on Lake Jozini (Pongolapoort Dam) for a morning of Tiger Fishing. We launched at Nkonkoni at around 05h30. When we got going with the boat there was a mother Hippo and here baby nearby, and she cam and tried to chase us away even though we were some distance away she was not happy.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures took some guests out on Lake Jozini (Pongolapoort Dam) to chase tiger fish on artificial lures and on fly. We launched at Golela at 05h00 and fished until 18h30.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures took some guests out on Lake Jozini (Pongolapoort Dam) for a morning of Tiger Fishing on Drop Shot lures. We stayed at Umziki Chalets, which is a lovely self catering facility.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures spent an afternoon on the southern side Lake Jozini (Pongolapoort Dam) scouting the dam to see where the Tiger Fish where active.
[Inanda Dam,KZN] The sea has been rough lately with the large frontal system and today was no exception and so I had to postpone my deep sea fishing booking off Durban for safety reasons and decided to go down to Inanda Dam South Africa with some buddies for a morning of bass kissing (fishing).
[Inanda Dam,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures guided the Father and Son on their Triton Boat at Inanda Dam South Africa for a second day. We launched at 06h00 and fished until 13h00.
[Inanda Dam,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures guided a father and son from Gauteng on Inanda Dam South Africa on their Triton Bass Boat. The weather was sunny and it got very hot in the afternoon, the water was clear in mid and lower sections of the dam, and turbid in the river section. Water surface temperature started out at 20.4 deg. C and ended at22.7 deg C.
[Durban,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures took a boy and his Dad out fishing in Durban Harbour. I took this boy fishing for the first time in his life last year, and today he was more confident and not shy at all. I always love taking the little ones fishing, it gives me great pleasure.
[Durban,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures took 4 clients Deep Sea Fishing off Durban, we launched at 05h30 and there was a breeze blowing.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures went up to Lake Jozini also known as Pongolapoort Dam to scout the dam and then for some Tiger Fish fishing with 2 clients from the USA.
[Inanda Dam,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures took a client from the UK out to Inanda Dam on Sunday for a day of Large Mouth Bass Fishing. We launched at 06h30 and fished to 14h30. There were a lot of boats out on the water
[Durban,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures took 2 clients out to Durban Harbour to target some King Fish (Jacks) and Springer (10 Pounder, Lady Fish) on Drop Shot on Saturday afternoon and early evening on light tackle.
[Durban,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures went deep sea fishing with 3 clients off Durban today. It was raining, cold and the visibility was poor. The sea was flat and the water crystal clear. We launched at 05h00 and returned at 10h00. Water surface temperature varied between 21-22 deg C.
[Pongolapoort Dam,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures took 2 clients from USA out for a day of Tiger Fish fishing at Lake Jozini also known as Pongolapoort Dam. The weather was superb, and the water temperature was warm, the water was slightly stained.
[Midmar Dam,KZN] We went Bass Fishing at Midmar Dam in the Kwa Zulu Natal Midlands of South Africa.
[Drakensberg,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures went with a client to hunt for Wild Brown Trout in the Central Drakensburg Rivers of Kwa Zulu Natal South Africa.
[Durban,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures went out with a client to Durban Harbour in the late afternoon. The weather forecast got it completely wrong and told us it would be hot, clear skies and no wind, yet we found ourselves fishing in a heavy wind, in completely overcast conditions with occasional rain and some lightning in the distance.
[Albert Falls Dam,KZN] We were fishing for Bass at the 2009 Albert Falls Classic as Team Fishing Adventures. This is a big fish tournament and there was 136 boats fishing this year, which is sad, compared to the usual over 300 boats, but shows the strain on the economy at present.
[Inanda Dam,KZN] Nikao Fishing Adventures went down to Inanda Dam South Africa to do some Bass fishing in the afternoon.