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Couta in the 5 to 12 kg range can be plentiful and provide a fantastic angling experience.Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel or Narrow Banded King. Description This large, elongated fish has a moderately compressed body with a pointed snout. The silver sides and vertical bars make the couta a very beautiful fish. This along with its speed and strength make it a fine target species. Colour Couta are blue-grey above the lateral line with silver sides. The undersides of the belly are white. Many vertical and irregular bars cover the sides. The darkness of these stripes increase with the age of the fish. Size Can attain lengths of above 200 cm, and a weight of 45 kg. Habitat This beautiful pelagic fish is generally found in deeper water but has been known to venture close to shore in search of prey. This makes it possible to target them from the shore in certain areas. Large specimens often hunt alone or in pairs while most smaller couta move in shoals. They prefer areas with structure, such as reef pinnacles, since this provides the couta with shelter from currents as well as a large supply of prey. Abundance This is one of the most abundant game fish species along the east coast of Southern Africa. When they are 'on' the bite it often leaves the other fish very little time to get to the bait, as the action can be fast and furious. Angling With Tourette Fishing, couta are targeted in a number of ways. Often they are targeted from fishing ski's using light tackle. This form of fishing can prove extremely exciting, with the couta's long and fast runs being a highlight. They are also targeted from ski boats. The methods used vary with conditions, time of year as well as location. Live bait, as well as drift bait, are often the most successful means of angling but artificial lures and jigs also prove successful with this species. Couta are targeted with fly using fast sinking lines and fairly large bait fish imitations. Steel trace in the form of piano wire is a necessity. |