Mtakatyi River Lodge

11/09/2026

09/09/2026

BOAT vs SHORE FISHING — WHERE WILL YOU CAST?

At Mtakatyi River Lodge, you have more than one way to explore the fishing potential of the beautiful Mtakatyi River.

🚣 SMALL BOAT OR KAYAK — EXPLORE THE RIVER

Launching a small boat or kayak allows you to move away from the more obvious fishing spots and explore:

• Quiet channels and deeper pools
• Structure and submerged features
• Reeds, banks and shaded areas where fish may hold
• Less-pressured stretches of the river
• Different water depths and current patterns

The advantage is mobility. Instead of waiting for the fish to come to you, you can explore the river and look for signs of activity.

A kayak also gives you a remarkably quiet approach — ideal when you're trying to reach fish in shallow or sheltered water without creating too much disturbance.

🪨 SHORE FISHING — CAST FROM THE ROCKS OR SAND

Fishing from the rocks or sandy banks around the river mouth offers a completely different experience.

Here you can target areas where river and ocean meet, watching the current, tide, wave action and bait activity to identify productive water.

From the rocks and sand banks you can:

🎯 Cover water with repeated casts
🌊 Fish around the river mouth and channels
🐟 Look for feeding activity around moving water
🪱 Experiment with different baits and lures
🌅 Enjoy the spectacular Wild Coast surroundings while you fish

🎣 WHICH IS BETTER?
There isn't necessarily a winner.

Boat/kayak fishing = exploration + mobility + quiet water

Shore fishing = accessibility + current + river-mouth action

The real advantage of fishing at Mtakatyi is having both options available.

Spend the morning exploring the river by kayak or small boat, then return to the rocks at the mouth as the tide changes.

Different water. Different conditions. Different opportunities.

And sometimes the best fishing strategy is simply to keep moving until you find the fish.

If you have been fortunate to fish at the Mtakatyi River, which do you prefer? Post your comments. We'd like to hear your opinion and your successful catches.

📍 Mtakatyi River Lodge — Wild Coast, Eastern Cape

WhatsApp 064 512 6041

mtakatyiriverlodge.com

🎣 Fish the river. Explore the Coast. Experience the Wild Coast.

09/08/2026

🎣 **KINGFISH SEASON — WHEN IS THE BEST TIME?** 🐟

Here’s a question for the anglers who know the **Mtakatyi River**…

🤔 **What time of the year do you think is BEST for catching Kingfish in the Mtakatyi River?**

🌿 Spring?
☀️ Summer?
🍂 Autumn?
❄️ Winter?

And for the experienced anglers:

👉 **Which month gives you the best chance?**
👉 **What tide works best?**
👉 **Live bait, lure or fly?**

🎣 **Let’s settle the debate!**

Drop your answer — and tell us about your best Kingfish catch on the Mtakatyi.

We’ll share our thoughts on the **best Kingfish season** in a follow-up post.

31/07/2026

🎣🔥 GUESS THE FISH CHALLENGE! 🔥🎣
Only true anglers will get this one right! 👀🐟
Take a close look at this mystery fish… but don’t rush your answer!

❓ What fish do you think this is?
A) 🐟 Kingfish / Giant Trevally (GT)
B) 🐟 Short Fin Kingfish
C) 🐟 Big Eye Kingfish
D) 🐟 Something else (tell us your guess!)
👇 Comment your answer below:
✅ A, B, C or D

🌊 Where do you think this fish was caught? River Mouth or Estuary
🎣 Have you ever caught one?
🏆 The correct answer will be revealed on Monday 3 August 2026!

Accommodation recommendation
If you choose to make Mtakatyi River Lodge your fishing base then you too could possibly land this fish.
After a day on the water, relax beside the pool, enjoy a drink at the pool bar, fire up the pizza oven and take in the breathtaking beauty of South Africa's Wild Coast.
📍 Fish the river mouth.
📍 Explore the estuary.
📍 Experience the Wild Coast.
☎️ Book your fishing getaway today:
📞 064 512 6041
🌐 www.mtakatyiriverlodge.com
🎣🌊
Tag a fishing buddy who thinks they know every fish in the sea! 😎

30/07/2026

# # 🎣 KNOW YOUR KNOTS – THE FG KNOT

A strong knot can be the difference between landing the fish of a lifetime... or telling the story of the one that got away!

This week's featured knot is the **FG Knot** – the gold standard for joining a braided mainline to a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader.

# # # ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Strength Rating: 5/5

**The strongest leader knot for braid.**

✔ Extremely slim profile – glides effortlessly through rod guides.
✔ Retains up to **95–100%** of the line's breaking strength when tied correctly.
✔ Ideal for casting lures long distances.
✔ Trusted by serious estuary, surf, offshore and GT anglers worldwide.

# # # 🎣 Best Used For

✅ Braid to fluorocarbon leader
✅ Braid to monofilament leader
✅ Light tackle estuary fishing
✅ Heavy surf fishing
✅ Targeting powerful species like Giant Trevally, Kob, Garrick, Yellowtail and Tuna

# # # 📍 When Should You Use It?

• Whenever you're fishing with braided line.
• When using a long fluorocarbon leader for clear water.
• When casting lures repeatedly.
• When maximum knot strength is essential around rocks and structure.

# # 🪢 Tie the FG Knot in 5 Easy Steps

**1️⃣ Tension the Leader**
Hold the fluorocarbon leader tight and keep it under tension.

**2️⃣ Weave the Braid**
Wrap the braided line alternately over and under the leader 18–24 times, creating a series of tight cross-locks.

**3️⃣ Lock the Wraps**
Pull firmly on both braid and leader so the braid bites securely into the leader.

**4️⃣ Finish the Knot**
Tie two or three half-hitch knots with the braid around both lines, trim the leader tag close, then add another 4–6 alternating half-hitches.

**5️⃣ Test Before Fishing**
Pull hard on both ends to ensure the knot grips firmly and slides smoothly through the guides.

💡 **Buzz's Tip:** Wet the knot before tightening and always give it a strong pull test before making your first cast.

Have you mastered the FG Knot?

👇 Tell us in the comments:
🎣 Is the FG Knot your go-to leader knot, or do you prefer the PR, Double Uni or Albright?
📸 Share a photo of your biggest catch landed using the FG Knot!

Your experience could help another angler land their next trophy fish.

29/07/2026

**🎣 FISH OF THE WEEK: GIANT TREVALLY (GT) 🐟💥**

If there's one fish that gets every angler's heart racing on the Wild Coast, it's the **Giant Trevally (GT)**. Known for blistering runs, crushing power, and explosive surface strikes, a GT will test both your tackle and your nerves!

📍 **Where to Find GTs at Mtakatyi River**
✅ **At the River Mouth:** Look for the deeper channels where the estuary meets the Indian Ocean. GTs often patrol the current lines waiting to ambush baitfish.
✅ **In the Estuary:** Focus on drop-offs, sandbank edges, rocky points, and deeper holes, especially where baitfish are active.

🎣 **Best Natural Baits**
🐟 Live Mullet (the number one choice!)
🐟 Live Shad (where legal)
🦑 Fresh Chokka
🐟 Sardine fillets
🦐 Large Prawns

**Best Time to Fish with Bait**
🌅 Early morning
🌇 Late afternoon
🌙 Into the evening during warmer months

🎯 **Best Lures**
✨ Surface Poppers – for spectacular topwater explosions.
✨ Stickbaits – deadly when worked slowly over deeper channels.
✨ Soft Plastic Paddle Tails – ideal around sandbanks and current seams.
✨ Metal Spoons – excellent when fish are chasing bait in open water.

**How to Fish Them**
• Work poppers aggressively across the surface at first light.
• Retrieve stickbaits with long sweeps and pauses.
• Cast soft plastics along channel edges and let the current do some of the work.
• Watch for diving birds and baitfish scattering—GTs are never far away!

🌊 **Best Tides**

**At the River Mouth**
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Incoming tide
The pushing tide brings clean ocean water and baitfish into the mouth, making this one of the most productive times for GTs.

**Inside the Estuary**
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Last half of the incoming tide and the first hour of the outgoing tide
GTs often move into the estuary with the tide to hunt before following baitfish back toward the mouth.

💪 **Fighting Ability**
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **5/5 – An Absolute Powerhouse!**

GTs are famous for:
🔥 Explosive first runs
🔥 Incredible stamina
🔥 Bone-jarring strikes
🔥 Relentless determination to reach rocks or structure

Many experienced anglers consider landing a big GT one of South Africa's greatest light-tackle achievements.

📍 **Mtakatyi River Lodge** offers anglers the rare opportunity to fish both the sheltered estuary and the surf zone at the river mouth within minutes of each other, giving you two excellent chances to connect with one of the Wild Coast's most exciting game fish.

👇 **We'd love to hear from you!**

🎣 Have you ever caught a Giant Trevally?
📸 Share your favourite GT photo in the comments.
📍 Where did you catch it?
🎣 What bait or lure worked best for you?
🏆 And what was the weight of your biggest GT?

Your story might inspire another angler's next Wild Coast adventure!