THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM

[Originally published in the September 2025 issue of Ski-Boat magazine]

By Henk du Plessis, Oom C-Breeze

SODWANA Bay practically hums in the summer months from November onwards each year when the major billfish tournaments happen one after another, but what’s the fishing like in the “off” season from July to October?
It’s good!
Aside from the marlin anglers and their big sportfishers that visit Sodwana in summer, there is a very strong following of light tackle offshore ski-boats that target the wide variety of gamefish species and sailfish this area has to offer. Gamefish anglers have plenty of reasons to visit Sodwana all year round, so let’s have a look at what’s likely to bite when and where in the winter months …
As I mentioned in the “Where to Fish” article in the November 2022 issue of SKI-BOAT, bottomfishing and jigging are not allowed on this stretch of coast because of the inshore marine reserve, but there are plenty of other tactics you can use.

KING MACKEREL (’CUDA)
From July to September we target big croc ’cuda. Live bonnies are the best bait, but unfortunately the sharks will tax you 80% of the time at Sodwana. A dead bonnie works just as well with a banana chin weight. I usually let the bonnies die and keep them on ice, then down rig them with 8- or even 10 ounce sinkers.
We target these bigger ’cuda in deeper water around 45m depths.
It is well known that ’cuda are basically reef specific, and two of my favourite spots for this fishing are:
• North at Piet (Island Rock)
27 17.763S 32 47.316E.
• South at King Marlin South Reef
27 42.585S 32 39.577E
Mabibi also produces big ’cuda during the winter months.
Bearing in mind the virtually continuous current that’s experienced off Sodwana Bay, slow trolling is the preferred method of targeting this species. Having said that, if the current is not strong on a specific outing, then you can drift over the suggested areas, especially if your sounder reflects more fish showing near the bottom than higher up in the water column.
King Marlin is a long reef on the 45- to 50m depth mark about 5km south of Diepgat. If my rigged bait doesn’t bring success then I exclusively fish up and down this reef with Speed Pro, Rapala or Halco lures, favouring the dark colours like black or purple.

QUEEN MACKEREL (SNOEK)
Queen mackerel are around from mid-July to the end of September, and we fish for them right behind the backline in 5- to 8m of water.
The normal strip bait method works well, but you have to fish far from the boat (up to 70m). I also use drone spoons and planers, but only when the water is absolutely green. Queen mackerel tend to be spooked by the spoons in clear water.
Last year I had great success targeting them in clear water while slow trolling small live maasbankers with a small single hook through the nose and one single on the side of the maasbanker.
While fishing for queen mackerel you will also get the odd garrick, ladyfish and queenfish in the shallows.
The areas to work for these species will be just south of the launch site all the way down to Rooiwalle.

SAILFISH
June to November is sailfish season at Sodwana. The normal top-water softies as well as sailfish lures rigged with a halfbeak will give results. We make use of top-water teasers (squid strings) to get the sailfish excited.
The best areas to try for them are in 35- to 45m of water. Sailfish are not bound to areas, and we tend to find them close to bait balls or shoals of bonnies, but during the winter months my first stop and working area for sailfish is Sailfish Knoppie, marked on the map alongside.

BIG YELLOWFIN
June to September is when we find most of the 60- to 90kg yellowfin at Sodwana, usually straight out from the launch site in depths between 700m and 1 000m.
Unfortunately wind is a big factor at this time of year, and you will only find a few days during the season on which you will be able to target them.
When I’m targeting big yellowfin I use the marlin rods, but remove all the heavy marlin leaders and make use of 150 lb wind-on leaders with small clip-on swivels (270 lb rating). The trace line will also be 150 lb fluoro coated.
I use Big T Vuta lures rigged with 9/0 chain gang hook sets, and drop the spread at least 50m further back than I would if I were fishing for marlin.
Sometimes you’ll get the odd marlin that takes off with your yellowfin lure, but unfortunately most of them get away as the 150 lb trace line is just not thick enough to withstand the hammering of a big marlin bill.
In short, there are plenty of reasons to visit Sodwana in winter and spring. See you soon!.