Newbie - Estuary / harbour fishing

[Ziggy]

The harbour is fun if the weather does not catch you like it got us on Saturday morning

were you out there at the time - I was......the wind changed so fast, It took me a few minutes to understand why my boat (on anchor) turned 180 degrees - and then the big wind hit.....about three hours before it was predicted by Windguru

[hardfisher]

It was a rough wet ride back to the launch site, then the wind didn't help much getting the boat trailered.

[Ziggy]

It was a rough wet ride back to the launch site, then the wind didn't help much getting the boat trailered.

Same issues! Fortunately I was close to the launch site

[chrisquinton]

get wind guru on your phone.
and look around........

[Sumanth]

Hi, i am offically a memeber at DBOA and have my Transnet paper as well.
Now the issue is where do i launch ? does DBOA have its own slip way ?
I dont have a fish finder as yet can anyone advise where i should be fishing in the harbour ?
 

[Da hook]

slipway is at the yacht mall.make sure to sign the register and chuck it in the water.The lady at the club should show you.It is right there at the cop office.I dont have a fish finder either but on our first day i tried a few places off the banks and coaught all over the place.One can see the channels and the drop offs with some poliroids.

[chrisquinton]

Welcome.
Where you should be fishing depends on what you want to fish for. Durban harbor holds a vast variety of fish to target.

if you dont have any depth finding device, please learn the harbour first.
ALWAYS be aware of what the tides are doing.
NEVER get caught on or near the banks on a dropping tide unless you know precisely how much water you have around you, and your vessel's draft.
ALWAYS be aware of other vessels in the harbour. It is an extremely busy port and you can get into trouble quickly.
Keep out of the channels. Large vessels can often not see you and they certainly cannot stop for you. If youre in the way, youre going down.
NEVER anchor in any of the channels - its illegal. If you are anchored anywhere, be very careful of passing vessel wakes and your vessel's aspect. A relatively small looking wake becomes a significant wave when it reaches the banks. This has caught a number of people out already.
Be aware of the no-go areas in the bay.
Always have your documents with you as the police do check you on the water.

I would suggest launching on a low tide so that you can see where the prominent sandbanks are. Doind this and fishing a pushing tide is the safest way to learn the bay.

[Ziggy]

Welcome.
Where you should be fishing depends on what you want to fish for. Durban harbor holds a vast variety of fish to target.

if you dont have any depth finding device, please learn the harbour first.
ALWAYS be aware of what the tides are doing.
NEVER get caught on or near the banks on a dropping tide unless you know precisely how much water you have around you, and your vessel's draft.
ALWAYS be aware of other vessels in the harbour. It is an extremely busy port and you can get into trouble quickly.
Keep out of the channels. Large vessels can often not see you and they certainly cannot stop for you. If youre in the way, youre going down.
NEVER anchor in any of the channels - its illegal. If you are anchored anywhere, be very careful of passing vessel wakes and your vessel's aspect. A relatively small looking wake becomes a significant wave when it reaches the banks. This has caught a number of people out already.
Be aware of the no-go areas in the bay.
Always have your documents with you as the police do check you on the water.

I would suggest launching on a low tide so that you can see where the prominent sandbanks are. Doind this and fishing a pushing tide is the safest way to learn the bay.

make sure you have a fishing licence - Ezemvelo also patrol the harbour to check. You need to ensure that your licence includes fishing from a boat (only one person needs that addition to the licence) - and get a cracker licence if you are going to use cracker as bait

[Sumanth]

Guys thanks for the info really appreciate.
Will check the tide to ensure i launch at low tide.

[chrisquinton]

one more thing.
Don't launch or return in the dark unless you're familiar with all the lights. it is very easy to get disorientated and land up on a bank somewhere.

come fish from december to march. excellent light tackle game fishing to be had.

[Sumanth]

Ok thanks for the heads up. My boat will be stored in Durban. So i will defnitley be making a few trips in Decmber.
 

[Sumanth]

Hi Guys,
Sorry for the late feedback from my trip. After all the advise i managed to become a member with DBOA. I arrived in Durban on the 22nd Nov and intended to launch at Durban harbour but once i arrived in Durban the post office was closed and i could not get my fishing license and craker license. Dissapointed i decided not to take a chance and decided to wait until the post office opened the next day (sunday -hypermarket by the sea post office).
Once obtained i mamanged to get my boat into the water which felt good after it took me 3 months of getting all my paper work and boat motor upgraded / finally towed to Durban.
I managed to find my way around centre bank /grunter gulley and coal terminal. We had some rain but not much wind. After all the effort i wass not willing to let the rain spoil the day of fishing.Spent the morning on centre bank trying for grunter. caught a few small sand sharks, grunter and mullets.
Mullets and sand shark caught with the attached pic. Did not think that mullets would chase it.
Anyway excellent day fishing most fish released besides one grunter that was for the pot and one mullet used for live bait which was bitten in half just a few meters away from where i was standing. My son had a blast fishing and could not wait to go out again. unfortunatley we where off the next day on the MSC cruise so i had to wait a week before using the boat again.
Got back on the 28th - fetched the boat and launched around noon. Weather changed in no ime and we had wind, rain and swells in the harbour. Still played around for one or two hours until we decided to call it a day. Conditions not good.
I had planned to rent a garage in durban to store my boat and was let down the last minute. So now strugling to find a place. The ones that are available are costly. Any suggestions places that are reasnoable ? My boat is standing outside in the sun.
Also considering a fish finder to start with and maybe a radio to go out the harbour to backline only when condistions are good.
 

[chrisquinton]

you will not be able to venture out to sea unless your vessel is compliant (there are specific requirements for launching out of Durban harbour).
For this, you (or the skipper) will also have to have a DOC.

Contact one of the harbour based clubs for full details.

[Sumanth]

Okay thanks, i am a member of Durban boat owners will contact them for more details.