Estuaries in South Africa - South Coast

[thrisss]

Hey Guys - I would like to open this new thread as a “continuation” from the topics discussed under the Estuaries in South Africa - under conservation. Can we please carry on the discussion here! I still need a hell of allot of info and seems like there is a VERY limited view who will be able to supply it!

[deewy]

No problem triss

Maybe pierre can ad my thread to this one,just thought it could work better there than here cause we are actualy trying to preserve our estuaries. Just thought that maybe the tread could cover all off the estuaries and not just a specific area.

What I have seen last time i was in the south coast was that alot off the esturies are closed to the sea,I dont know why they dont open it or if it has been done as i said that i havnt been down there in years.

[henried]

I fished Swartvlei, Hartenbos, Klein and Grootbrak in April 2006, they were all closed.

Hartenbos had a bad smell to it, and at Swartvlei they were trying to open it…

When I spoke to the Nature conservation inspector at Goukamma(Buffelsbay), which was open, he said that the smell was plant rotting and that it was needed, as it created food for some organisms which in turn is food for …., which in turn is food for FISH.

He was of the opinion that the mouths should only be opened naturally…

[rory]

Sorry posted this on the other thread

Unfortunatly I've flogged the surf plenty and hardly done much in the estuaries guys When I fished off Rennies at Port Edward there was plenty movement on the estuary side of the river mouth but the water skiers etc started before I had a chance to cast. Personally I blanked, but a few days later some guys were catching pompano on almost every cast, small orange and white salty buggers. Interesting spot though the mouth changes almost monthly. One year we walked down to the rocks on the other side of Thompsons (past the casino)there was a lovely drop off down the north side but we only had R/S tackle with us.

I still want to try the lagoon at Aunties Bay (Portobello?) at munster, a mate of mine from there says theres lots of nice perch. Can I give you a catch report around December?

[Herman Jooste]

Christo, have a look at this thread, I think you will find a lot of info here, especially in the post from Gogga (Mike): http://www.flytalk.co.za/forum/showt...chaels+Lagoons

[Nepptune]

Thriss

Here are a few Estuaries worth checking out:

North to South:

Umzimkulu River - Depending on rains, this place is hit and miss.... If you get it good, you can have a good shot a Oxeye Tarpon, Springer and Kob right down at the Mouth ( Access from the Soutern/Western Bank, through the Limeworks Train depo.... Fish from the wall. Alternatively, access from the North/East side via the Country Club road and fish off the Sand Banks )

Izotsha River - Great fishing for all manner of species, from Large Mouth Bass to Kingies. Lots of Perch and a pretty healthy population of Rock Salmon (River Snapper) as well.
Best Flies are cockroaches and deerhair sliders. You need a Kick boat or kayak for best access.
Access used to be through Old Macdonalds Farm on the Southern/western side, but that may have changed.

Impenjati River - Short shallow estuary which is open to the ocean more often than most. Good surf fishing at the mouth for Wave Garrick and small kingies.
In the Estuary itself, very easy wading from the mouth to the bridge, best access from the Southern/western side. Fairly shallow near the mouth with nice drop offs. Chance of small kings and springer. Grunter a possible too.
From the Bridge up it gets deeper, and one needs a kickboat. Nice rocky holes with a good population of Perch and Rock Salmon.
Cockroahes, Clousers and Crazy Charlies, as well as small deerhair sliders in the early/late hours could do you well. Its best fished during the week, as its small and on weekedn can get a few swimmers and braaiers making fishing tough. But one can always head down to the mouth.
*** Just a note on safety at Mpnejati - I know in the past there have been a few issues here, so just be aware, and park your car well in site.

Mzamba - 5 years ago I would have sent you here and not even mentioned the others as it is the Jewel of this stretch of coast. Unfortunately, much like alot of Natal's out of the way waters, safety has become an issue here and is in truth not worth the risk, unless you have someone drop you off, get in your kickboat and only come back when someone is there to meet you.... its not worth having all your stuff stolen out the car or being held up at gun point for your cell phone..... Maybe its been cleaned up by now, I last fished it 8 years ago....

Its an amzing estuary, with great fishing for Perch, Kingies, Rockies, Garrick and Pickhandle Cuda, as well as Gurnards and other smaller species. Again Cockroaches and clousers, Charlies and sliders will do you well, and I can imagine a gurgler/flipper would do you well in early/late light.
A Kickboat/kayak is a major plus here as there is alot of water to fish, and some sweeeet spots upriver, with deep water, good banks, and nice rocky holes whith plenty of mullet and bait life that hold BIG Rock Slamon! I've seen some amazing fish come out of here... 10 kilo Garrick, 4 kilo Rockies, plenty nice perch and some kings in the 4 to 5 kilo range.


Hope this helps mate. Your best bet is to get hold of South Coast Fly Anglers and give Dean Winn a call. He is my old next door neighbour, and is now Chairman of the club after my old man resigned ( Dad and I started the club about 12 years back )
Dean is a fishing machine , and knows pretty much every spot there is.
I'll get his number from my old man and PM it to you.

Tight lines and say hello to my hometown for me when you there, its a beautiful part of the world!

Nepps

[dpammenter]

Nepps, can you fish the estuaries you've mentioned with a 6wt without worrying that something is going to come along and reduce it to toothpicks?

[Nepptune]

Dev

Yeah mate you can..... Look if you hook into a 4 kilo rock salmon right in the bricks, you gonna battle with a 10 weight!!! Those fish are hardcore!
But most of the guys I know fish with 5 to 8 wt sticks as you are genrally fishing small flies and the fish aren't huge. But every now and again something will come along and give you a run for your money!!

Just fish an appropriate leader, and you'll be fine.

[dpammenter]

so when are we going?

[Nepptune]

Ha!! Its home for me, I grew up in Port Shepstone, and my folsk are still there.... But I am always cursed by weather whenever I'm home and haven't had the chance to fish much there in ages....
But hopefully sometime soon!