Durban's Firing Up: Shad Runs, Garrick Action, and Offshore Limits

G'day, mates! This is Artificial Lure, your Durban fishing guru, comin' at ya live from the salty shores on Saturday, 25 April 2026, 'round 9 PM. What a stunner of a day out there in kwazulu-Natal – clear skies mostly, temps sittin' pretty at 24-28°C daytime, droppin' to 20°C now with a light southerly breeze at 10-15 knots, keepin' things calm for an evenin' flick (SA Weather Service vibes). Sunrise was 6:15 AM, sunset 5:45 PM, so we've had a solid 11.5 hours of prime light.Tides today? Low at 4:20 AM and 4:50 PM, high at 10:30 AM and 11:00 PM – outgoing tide's been the mover, pullin' baitfish into the channels (Tide charts from Fishing.co.za). Fish are fired up post-autumn cool-down; recent reports from Umhlanga Rocks and Durban Harbour show shad runs peakin', with garrick smashin' surface lures and kingfish pushin' close in.Catches this week? Locals at the harbour weighed in 20+ shad up to 5kg, a stack of stumpnose and slinger, plus bonus kob and some biggeye on live bait. Offshore, ski-boat boys boated yellowtail and couta limits, with a few couta pushin' 15kg (Durban Angling Club logs). Action's hot on the reefs, but watch for those pesky sharks tailin' the chum lines.Best lures right now? Stick to **spoons** like the 40g chrome Dats for shad and garrick – rip 'em fast on the troll or cast. **Rapalas** in mullet or pilchard patterns for kings, and **pink or white soft plastics** on jigheads for bottom bouncers like geelbek. Live bait kings the game: sardines or maasbanker on a trace for everything – pin 'em live under a float for shad, or deadbait for kob.Hot spots? Hit **Durban Harbour entrance** at first light for shad frenzy, or **Umhlanga Rocks** pier on the incoming for garrick. If you're launchin', snake **Aliwal Shoal** for a yellowtail scrap – vis is 10m+ today.Stay safe, check regs, and tight lines, bru!Thanks for tunin' in, legends – subscribe for more! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AIThis episode includes AI-generated content.