Dusky Kob (Argyrosomus japonicas) Commonly known as the Daga Salmon, found in the Transkei all year round but most prominent in the winter months from June to October, this beautiful silver slab of a fish boasts a slight pink/pearl shine when first caught, with a prominent lateral line that runs from just above the gill plate, along the body and down to the center of the tail, together with a acute sense of smell this predator has the ability to hunt in the dark, dirty water and loves churning white water.
The Kob is more comfortable when stalking its prey than actually using its speed to out run its food. Using its most cunning ability to blend into its surroundings and find the most crucial ambush positions, together with using low visibility, the Kob pounces on unsuspecting bait fish as they swim past confused in the white water or turbulent conditions. Please keep this in mind when you are looking at placing your bait or throwing your lure.
Habit in my opinion is the key when it comes to deciding on a destination to target the Kob. Being a migratory fish, a fish that migrates up the KZN Coast line with the South – North movement of the cold-water currants in the winter seasons, the Kob uses its evolved instinct of habit to ensure they know where to find a healthy food supply to survive this annual migration. Habit is an instinct that is in bedded into the systematic day-to-day movements of this fish, where it feeds, where it rests and how it breeds. It’s an unexplained knowledge that these fish have developed over many years to ensure their survival. For example, they know that on a spring tide they are able to travel up the Port St Johns River OR on the first pull of the outgoing tide they can wait in the mouth area for distressed Mullet as they get sucked out of the Port Shepstone estuary. These feeding habits help us decide where and when to fish for the Kob.
When targeting Kob I like to make sure that what I am using for bait or the lure I am casting, appeals to two or three out of the four senses that the Kob use to feed. These senses include vibration (feel) and smell, and sound which will be the key focus of my attack but if possible to also cater for sight which is basically a reaction action. A “reaction action” is, see it and eat it, an action that in some cases a well presented bait can initiate.
Please remember, you need to hold a VALID recreational fishing license, the minimum size limit is 50cm and you are allowed ONE fish per day over this size.
The following techniques are all great for targeting Kob: - Dead Bait – when fishing dead bait you will be appealing to two main senses, smell & sight, and if you design your bait correctly that it moves with the currants you will also create a vibration in the water. You can do this by adding legs to your chokka bait that move in the water or by leaving a flapper on your fish bait or if you are fishing with a whole fish just make sure that is presented straight and not banana shaped and swims like a live injured fish in the water.
- Live Bait – attracts the predator fish by sending off distress signals by means of erratic movement in the water that cause vibrations. These stress vibrations are picked up by the predator’s lateral line, which will direct the fish to the live bait. Senses used Vibration and sight, and to a certain extent smell.
- Artificial Lures – appealing to the sight, vibration and in some cases the sound senses, we use a variety of lures that cause vibration and have a natural bait look or an attractive bright look in the water. Please remember to make your lure movement very slow.
The more popular of these lures are the following:
Swimming Crank bait - like the Halco Laser Pro and Halco Hamma OR the Sebile Minnows that have a great swimming action and produce good results with a super slow retrieve. The lures with a rattle work extremely well.
Drop shot – using the Berkley Jerk Shad or the Power Bait Paddle tail will often generate good bites with a very slow erratic retrieve, that sometimes bounces off the bottom.
Buck Tail Jig – this lead head jig worked slowly by lifting and dropping the tip of your rod, working the jig off sand banks down the drop-offs and working the white water and strike zones, with a 1.5oz or 2oz natural olive and white colour being my personal best.
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