The waters south-west of the Cape of Good Hope offer some of the finest Big Game Fishing in the world.
The warm Agulhas current of the Indian ocean meets the cold Benguela current of the South Atlantic ocean at Cape Point, providing prolific catches of Yellowfin and Longfin Tuna as well as Yellowtail, Dorado and Atlantic Big Eye Tuna. Our waters are also blessed with an abundance of Broadbill Swordfish "the gladiator of the deep". Broadbill Swordfish are more easily caught at night.
The Cape of Good Hope has earned a reputation for being a hotspot in the world for Big Game Deep Sea Fishing. Longfin ( Albacore ) and Yellowfin Tuna range generally from 9 to 99 kg. Often the big Yellowfin Tuna prove to be more agony than ecstasy for its pure fighting stamina taking sometimes 3 hours to boat. Dorado and Yellowtail are generally in the 5 to 15 kg class and it is an unwritten law that Broadbill Swordfish of under 100kg, are released.
Although the Cape of Good Hope is not known for Marlin, some numbers have been caught. They are occasionally sighted and lucky is the angler who may have the good fortune to hook one of these exotic tropical billfish. For REEF FISHING, False Bay is a fisherman's El Dorado.
The reefs of Rocky Bank, some six miles south of Cape Point, as well as Whittle Rock situated almost in the centre of False Bay, together with the shoreline off Strandfontein, offer good catches of Cape Salmon, Yellowtail, Elf (shad/bluefish), Snapper, Bream, Makerel, White and Red Stumpnose as well as Red Roman. Snoek, which in appearance is very similar to the Barracuda, are also in abundance, as are Squid.
Some three miles off Strandfontein, lies Seal Island, which has the largest concentration of Cape Fur Seals south of Namibia. Great White Shark are often sighted and can be a nuisance by snatching the fish hooked by anglers operating in that area.
During the months of September to November, Southern Right Whales are ever present in False Bay, as well as Dolphin throughout the year. Most times, charter boats operating out of Simon's Town, catch crayfish en route, affording anglers, in season, a complimentary scrumptious crayfish banquet at sea. Straight out of the water, into the pot. One also offers Clay Pigeon Shooting as an optional extra attraction.
Enquiries:
Cape Town Tourism: 021 425 4250 (International: +27 21 425 4250)
Peninsula Tourism: 021 788 6193 (International: +27 21 788 6193)