Durban Night Bite: Garrick, Geelbek and Kings Under the New Moon

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, your go-to bloke for all things angling around Durban. It's 9 PM on this balmy April 16, 2026, and the night's still young for some shore action under the new moon glow. Weather's been kind today—mostly clear skies, light southeast breeze at 10-15 km/h, temps dipping from 26°C daytime highs to a comfy 22°C now, per SA Weather Service updates. Sunrise kicked off at 6:12 AM, sunset wrapped at 5:37 PM, so dawn and dusk bites were prime. Tides? Low at 4:32 AM and 5:01 PM, highs hitting 10:48 AM and 11:19 PM around 1.8m—classic incoming flow stirring the pot, according to Tides4Fishing charts for our coast. Fish are fired up with warming waters pushing 24-26°C offshore. Recent catches from Umkomaas to Richards Bay logs show shad runs thick, pulling in **garrick** up to 10kg, **geelbek** averaging 5-8kg, and **kingfish** smashing surface lures. Rock and surf anglers tallied 20+ **steenie** (shad) per session last few days, plus solid **grootbaard** (barbel) on bottom rigs. Offshore, **yellowtail** and **couta** dominated charters, with 50kg-plus kings reported off Aliwal Shoal. Best lures? Stick to **spoons** like Kobra or Viking 3 for couta and garrick—rip 'em fast on the troll or cast. **Rapalas** in mullet pattern or **minnow vibes** nail geelbek in the estuaries. Live **shad** or **mullet** on a float or trace is killer bait for kings and needles, fresh from the pumps. Mulch up with chokka for bottom-feeders. Hot spots: Hit **Country Club rocks** for garrick on incoming tide—easy access, parking galore. Or **Sarkie's** at Westbrook for shad frenzy; launch small boat if you've got one for geelbek off the point. Tight lines, stay safe out there. Thanks for tuning in—subscribe for weekly tips! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.