Nikao Fishing Adventures - Estuary/Harbour Fishing

“Many men go FISHING their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.”

- - Henry David Thoreau

South African Estuarine systems are the breeding ground for many Game Fish and home to a wide variety of Estuarine species. Many Game Fish enter these Estuarine systems to come and feed on the Estuarine species as the tides come and go.

Estuaries are affected by the tides and the seasons and as each tide changes so different species come to feed, these Estuaries are also affected by rainy seasons when the flooded rivers feeding the Estuary system spill out into them.

Some Fish Species stay for a season and the summer months are extremely productive for targeting the Game Fish whilst the Estuarine species are there throughout the year.

Species of fish that can be encountered in these Estuaries are:

· Kingfish (Jacks)

· Giant Trevally (GT’s)

· Springer (Ladyfish, 10 Pounder)

· Grunter

· Perch

· Stumpy

· Sea Pike (Pick Handle Barracuda)

· Queen Fish

· Garrick (Leervis)

· Flatheads

· Rockod (Grouper)

· Queen Mackerel (Natal Snoek, Spanish mackerel)

· Wolf Herring (Silky)

· Garfish

· Walla Walla (Ribbon Fish)

· Black Tail

· Milk Fish

· Sharks & Rays

· Mullet

· Snapper Salmon

· Rock Salmon

· A variety of other species

Superb Springer

Giant Trevally

Nikao Estuary Fishing Adventures are Exclusive and Personal and you are guided by a Professional Guide. Specialising in 1-4 guests and licensed for a maximum of 6 guests. Women & Children are Welcome.

Estuary fishing is ideal for the whole family, perfect for young children and the ladies love it.

Mike has been fishing Durban harbour for more than 35yrs which was his playground growing up so you can be assured that he knows it well.

Kosi Lakes is one of Mike’s favourite places to fish and somewhere where he has spent a lot of time, Kosi Lakes is situated about 400Km North of Durban in a protected wetland reserve area.

Our Specialty in these Estuarine systems is to target the variety of Game Fish on Light Tackle using Artificial Lures and Fly Fishing. We also offer conventional bait fishing for the many species that live in these Estuaries.

Our boat is well equipped for Estuary Fishing, with a Lowrance High Definition Sonar (Fish Finder), a large bow rail and casting platform on the bow and a battery operated Sneaker Motor. The boat is also comfortable so you can enjoy your Estuary Fishing Experience. We have excellent light tackle.

We offer the following Trips:

· Durban Harbour Cruise - 3hrs

· Durban Harbour Fishing - 3hrs, 5hrs, 8hrs and 12hrs

These are available both day and night

· Kosi Lakes Fishing - 3 Days and longer

NOTE: You are required by law to have in your possession a valid fishing license on any saltwater fishing trip. You only require a standard fishing licence which must be in your name and is available at any South African Post Office.

You do not require the additional boat fishing permit as only one person on the boat is required to have this and this is held by the skipper.

NB: Should you fail to bring this along we will not be held responsible for any fines.

Sea Pike

The Port of Durban is the busiest on the African continent and also the biggest in terms of it's container capacity. An average of 83,000 containers are handled every month by the 6,000 people employed by the Port of Durban and roughly 30,000 people working for associated private companies.

A harbour cruise in the Port of Durban will offer you the opportunity to follow the route that a container ship takes from the harbour mouth to it's berth. You will see how containers are loaded and offloaded and how they are transported around the harbour. The Harbour tours usually start from Wilson's Wharf, which is within walking distance of the Durban CBD.

Durban harbour is fed by several streams. There are two piers at its mouth - the Point to the north, at the far end of the Golden Mile which is the Durban beachfront lined with hotels, and the Bluff to the south, the Bluff hill provides protection from ocean winds and separates the sea from Durban Bay.

The sea plays an important part in this region, with three marinas for yachting purposes - the main marina opposite the Esplanade, served by the Point Yacht Club and Royal Natal Yacht Club, the Wilson's Wharf marina used predominantly by motor craft and the Bluff Yacht Club facility in the Silt Canal near Bayhead.

A large number of other recreational activities take place in Durban Bay including canoeing and kayaking, parasailing, fishing from boats and bird watching in the mangrove swamps, which is a world heritage site.

Our Boat is moored at Wilson’s Wharf where all our trips depart and end. We are also members of the Durban Charter Boat Association.

Durban Harbour is a natural Estuarine system.

Sea Pike

The Kosi Bay Nature Reserve lies on the coast in the northern part of Kwa Zulu Natal about 400Km North of Durban, and surrounds the unique and beautiful Kosi Bay lake system which is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site. This system consists of four lakes and a series of inter connecting channels which eventually drain via a sandy estuary into the Indian ocean.

It is home to a large variety of birds and animals including hippos and crocs. Humpback whales can be seen off the beaches on their northerly migration to calve in Mozambique and in December and January loggerhead and leatherback turtles come onto the beaches to lay their eggs in carefully prepared nests. Proclaimed in 1950 and extended in 1984.

This is the most pristine lake system on the South African Coast. Kosi Bay Camp is situated on the western shore of Lake Nhlange, the largest in the Kosi system. To access the Kosi mouth and the Indian Ocean beaches is a 45 minute drive requiring a 4X4 vehicle. The drive is spectacular with views across the fish kraal dotted lake to the sea as you crest the huge coastal dunes.

The condition of the last 7kilometres of the Kosi Bay Camp entrance road is very sandy and requires a 4X4 vehicle or one with a difflock., as most of the 'roads' in the area are sand tracks, a 4X4 is required to fully access all the areas of the park.