(by 1 person)
King mackerel are commonly called Couta. They are large fish with an elongated body, grey-blue on top and silvery sides. They have a white belly and distinctive keels at the base of the tail. The animal's sides are marked with many irregular vertical bars. Couta have very sharp teeth.
This is one of the most important recreational game fish on the Kwazulu-Natal coast targeted by skiboat, spear, rock and surf anglers. In 1989 Couta comprised 68% of sport angler's catch, 53% of spear fishermen's catch and 12% of the commercial catch. The most common size caught is 85cm. At this size the fish have not yet matured.
A warm water species they are found very rarely past Mossel Bay but one or two accounts have been recorded of fish in False Bay, when unusual warm waters pushed further down the coast. Heading north however they are found all along our coastline, especially of the KZN coastline into Mozambique.
Couta Trace
what the end product should look like
Couta Trace: No 5 swivel, a 700mm leader ( number 6 wire) onto a single or bait swimmer.Then a treble (size or your choice) from the single as indicated. The trace below is an adjustable trace with the 2nd hook attached to the first. The intermediate wire configuration is between no 6-8 wire. For a non adjustable trace the 2nd hook will come direct from the single again. Photos of Couta
Marcel Jansen with his 38 kg Cuda caught off Mtunzini
Bluff crocodile 25 kg 2/2/06 on tom ski
Caught at blue lagoon/virginia 04/02/06 Quinten
Ways to catch Couta (King Mackerel)
- Fishing from a fishing ski
- The sport is one practised by gentlemen or gentle women. With a love for the outdoors and a zeal for adventure. They pit their skill against the fish and elements with little more than 20 cm separating you from the ocean. Propelled only by human power and energy.
They live for the rush of line stripping off the reel and the anticipation of boating a good fish.
With the knowledge that on certain days your only satisfaction is that you were witness to Gods creation and that is all that is needed. - Fishing Owl
- Fishing Owl World is a place of piscatorial pleasure, your eco-friendly angling site.
- A South African Spearfishing website for local and overseas divers.
- Spearfishing and Freediving in South Africa, dive sites, equipment, gear, latest conditions, regulations and more.
Couta Traces for live or dead bait
All the stuff you need to make your own couta trace
The completed couta trace, the trebles are both fixed to the single hook.
Management
There is no size limit
Commercial and semi-commercial fishermen have no bag limit
Recreational anglers and spear fishermen are allowed 10 per person per day
The illegal sale of this fish by sport anglers is damaging the stock.
Feeding
They feed in anchovies, mackerel, sardines and shad, mantis shrimps and prawns. Couta are free swimming, pelagic fish that normally congregate in shoals. However, larger individuals do hunt alone. Clubs
- Umdloti Ski Boat Club
- The Umdloti Beach Ski Boat Club, commonly referred to as "UBSC" is situated adjacent to the popular Newsel Beach on South Beach Road in the village of Umdloti. The village of Umdloti is approx 30 km North of Durban.
The club is affiliated to the Natal Deep Sea Angling Association (NDSAA), which is in turn governed by the South African Deep Angling Association (SADSAA). The club caters for the needs of recreational offshore anglers fishing the coastal waters between Umhlanga Rocks to the South and Tongaat to the North. Generally this refers to what is commonly termed as skiboat fishing.
More information
- Catch Spanish mackerel with Halco Lures
- Mackerel are a very fast and popular saltwater sports fish, read this Halco how to on how to catch them
- King Mackerel, Fish Identification
- Color of back iridescent bluish green; sides silvery, streamlined body with tapered head; no black pigment on front of dorsal fin; lateral line starts high and drops sharply below the second dorsal fin; young fish often have yellow spots like those of the Spanish mackerel.
