Lure fishing in Durban harbour

[Muzwaid Karim]

Hi guys
I would like some advice on what lures i should use for kingies, springer, oxeye tarpon etc in durban harbour
Thanks in advance

[simon]

Hi there.


Nothing beats a bucktail jig. Ad a plug or two and some spoons for some distance. A larger stickbait or poper for some for some presence in the water incase theres a bigger gt or something around and soft plastics( paddle tails and jerkshads) on that selection theres not much out there one couldnt catch but i spin in the eastern cape and am not familiar with durban waters.


Hope this helps

[Muzwaid Karim]

Thanks simon
Do they prefer a fast lure retrieve or a slower retrieve?

[simon]

Hi Muzwaid.


Mix it up untill you find which retrieve is getting the hits. There is no set retrieve speed or action for that matter which will always get the hits. Sometimes its full speed that does the job, sometimes the more finesse the better.Work the levels of the water column using different lures, techniques and speeds. when you get a knock, repeat the same one.
Though this being natal water, with plenty speedy preditors, i would personally be inclined to start off with a faster retrieve.
Ps flatten the barbs your lures trebles if your not running singles. Will make your and the fishs life much easier.


Hope this helps, Tight lines.

[Muzwaid Karim]

Thanks so much for the advice simon
Do enjoy your evening

[PRENO]

Good morning Muzwaid


I am not sure if you going to fish by boat or from the bat center, but I have seen guys using minnows at the bat center,
I tried using paddle tails from there but had no success, however when I switched to a small spoon, I managed to get a needle fish around 40 cm and a Shad of 32 cm, this was on the incoming tide..


Would regards to fishing from the boat, I am going on the 2nd Feb with work colleges and I am going to try and use some lures.


I am going to be carrying some 5" paddle tails, some small spoons, maybe a small gt ice cream plug.
As Simon says, try different retrieves and the one that gets a bite, use that retrieve, it wont be easy but perseverance is the key.


Oh and I caught a 40 cm Ox eye on a cracker shrimp on a 6 ft rod and a couple of Kob


Must have general bait license to use those, so if you have one try one rod for lure fishing and one for general bait fishing, it will be more fun.

[Muzwaid Karim]

Thanks Preno
Yes i do fish off my ski boat.I dont normally fish with lures but while i had my grunter rods out...i had a few flicks with lures but had no bites with them...
Thanks for the advice, i will give them a shot

[Capt. Hook]

Lure Fishing in the harbour can be great fun and you can get good fish, as mentioned above soft plastics and bucktail jigs work well. I also like trowing a weightless paddle tail or jerk minnow with just a hook through the nose especially late afternoon.
The sand banks work very well on a falling tide as all the fish on top of the bank have to come off and the predators are waiting for them on the drop off and so you cast at the sand bank and retrieve back to the boat, a falling tide with sunset is usually extremely productive for this.
I found in general that different species prefer different speeds so you should mix it up with different speeds. Kingies like it fast, Pick Handles like a slower jerky retrieve and spinger prefer it slow, this is not hard and fast rules just a guide line.

[Muzwaid Karim]

Thanks Capt
When it comes to size wise about the soft plastics...what size would you recommend

[Capt. Hook]

Thanks Capt
When it comes to size wise about the soft plastics...what size would you recommend

4 inch is a good size for this harbour