ESTUARY FISHING ON THE WILD COAST

The Wild Coast is the border between the homeland and the temperamental Indian Ocean. In one of the many valleys which transect the green hills, lies the Nqabara and Nqabarana Estuaries. These two estuaries feel like time capsules which makes the mind wonder what the rest of the South African coastline was like before humans’ impact.

Due to these estuaries geographic location along the 2798 km of South African coastline, one can encounter a mix of cooler temperate and tropical species. It is honestly a saltwater fishery where every cast can result in a new species (16 species have already been ticked off on fly). Our season falls within the time when swimming prawns are at their peak abundance in the estuaries. All the fish species present are charged up and willing to chase down fly during this time, even the likes of the usually elusive and skittish spotted grunter. The variety of techniques employed will be an advanced crash course in saltwater fly fishing in South Africa, from fishing small topwater flies for endemic river perch to bouncing baitfish patterns for dusky kob.

The Nqabara Eco River Lodge, from which we operate, falls within a massive conservancy which protects natural indigenous riverine vegetation that merges with mangrove lined banks. Outside of adding to your fish species life list, the keen birder is also in paradise and can add the likes of ground hornbills and mangrove kingfishers. Not only is the area an example of the good old days, the lodge is community run which directly supports the lively hood of the Nqabara community in a generally very impoverished part of South Africa.

Like all other Mavungana Flyfishing operations, the Nqabara experience is world class with professional senior Mavungana Flyfishing guides looking after you the entire day, boats customised for effective saltwater fly fishing and an atmosphere which is hard to come by in the modern world.