Fishing in Cape Town

With the icy Atlantic on one side and the warmer False Bay on the other, the Cape Peninsula offers some of the most diverse fishing in South Africa. Whether you're casting from the rocks at Strandfontein, trolling for yellowtail off Hout Bay, or hunting for carp in Theewaterskloof Dam, fishing in Cape Town's got the spots, the seasons, and the local knowledge you need to land a keeper.

There are few cities in the world where you can catch yellowtail beneath towering mountains in the morning, target kob from a surf beach that afternoon, and finish the weekend fly fishing for trout in the surrounding mountains. Cape Town’s location between the cold Atlantic Ocean and the warmer waters of False Bay creates one of South Africa’s richest and most diverse fishing destinations.

Whether you’re an experienced angler chasing tuna offshore, a family looking for a relaxed day at a farm dam, or a visitor hoping to catch your first Cape fish, there’s a spot to suit every style of fishing.

The region offers world-class rock and surf fishing, estuary fishing, freshwater dams, fly fishing streams, kayak fishing, harbour fishing and deep-sea charters operating throughout the year.

Fishing Around Cape Town

Atlantic Coast

The cold Benguela Current brings nutrient-rich water that supports yellowtail, snoek, hottentot, galjoen, roman, crayfish (seasonal) and some of South Africa’s best tuna fishing.

Popular areas include:

Hout Bay
Kommetjie
Scarborough
Cape Point
Misty Cliffs
Buffels Bay
Miller’s Point
Green Point

False Bay

False Bay offers warmer water with excellent opportunities for kob, geelbek, yellowtail, elf (shad), steenbras, stumpnose, red roman and many reef species.

Popular fishing areas include:

Strandfontein
Monwabisi
Muizenberg
Kalk Bay
Gordon’s Bay
Gordon’s Bay Harbour
Simon’s Town
Rooikrans
Hangklip
Macassar

Freshwater Fishing

Although Cape Town is famous for saltwater fishing, several nearby dams offer outstanding freshwater angling.

Popular destinations include:

Theewaterskloof Dam
Voëlvlei Dam
Misverstand Dam
Clanwilliam Dam
Eikenhof Dam
Rondegat River
Smalblaar River
Palmiet River

Species include:

Carp
Bass
Barbel
Tilapia
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout

Best Fishing Seasons

Summer (November – March)

Best for:

Yellowtail
Tuna
Elf (Shad)
Bonito
Garrick (Leervis)

Autumn (April – May)

Best for:

Kob
Roman
Hottentot
White Steenbras

Winter (June – August)

Prime season for:

Snoek
Galjoen
Musselcracker
Bronze Bream

Spring (September – October)

Excellent for:

Kob
Yellowtail
Elf
White Musselcracker

Fishing Licences

Anyone over the age of 16 fishing recreationally in South African waters requires a valid recreational fishing permit.

Permits are available from:

South African Post Offices
Selected fishing tackle shops
Online government services (where available)

Separate permits are required for:

Marine angling
Freshwater fishing (certain venues)
Spearfishing
Crayfish
Abalone (currently prohibited recreationally)

Always check current regulations before fishing.

Deep Sea Fishing Charters

Cape Town has numerous experienced charter operators offering:

Yellowfin Tuna trips
Longfin Tuna
Yellowtail
Snoek
Bottom fishing
Reef fishing
Private charters
Corporate trips

Most charters depart from:

Hout Bay Harbour
Simon’s Town
Gordon’s Bay
Kalk Bay Harbour

Kayak Fishing

Kayak fishing has become increasingly popular around Cape Town.

Favourite launch sites include:

Miller’s Point
Simon’s Town
Hout Bay
Gordon’s Bay
Strand

Species include:

Yellowtail
Snoek
Bonito
Kob
Roman

Essential Safety Tips

Cape weather changes rapidly.

Always:

Check wind forecasts.
Watch swell predictions.
Never fish alone from dangerous rocks.
Wear appropriate footwear.
Carry a life jacket offshore.
Respect local regulations.
Keep a safe distance from large waves.

Fishing Tackle Shops

Ganis Angling World

Location: Salt River
Category: Specialist Fishing Tackle Store
Highlights: One of South Africa’s largest fishing retailers with extensive tackle for rock & surf, offshore, bass, freshwater, fly fishing and kayak anglers. Expert staff and regular stock of leading international brands.
Best For: Complete tackle setups, reels, rods, bait, accessories.
Entry: Free.

Commercial Marine

Location: Paarden Eiland
Category: Marine & Fishing Equipment
Highlights: Large supplier of commercial and recreational fishing equipment, boating accessories, electronics, safety gear and tackle.
Best For: Boat owners, offshore anglers, marine electronics.
Entry: Free.

Fishing Specialist

Location: Bellville
Category: Specialist Fishing Store
Highlights: Extensive range of rods, reels, terminal tackle, braid, lures and local bait with knowledgeable staff.
Best For: Rock & surf, estuary and freshwater anglers.
Entry: Free.

Basil Manning Fishing

Location: Montague Gardens
Category: Premium Fishing Tackle Retailer
Highlights: Nationally recognised retailer stocking Shimano, Daiwa, Penn, Assassin, Poseidon and other leading brands.
Best For: Serious anglers, offshore fishing, premium tackle.
Entry: Free.

Fishing Pro Shop

Location: Brackenfell
Category: Fishing Tackle Store
Highlights: Good selection of local and imported tackle with bait, terminal gear and accessories for all disciplines.
Best For: Rock & surf and freshwater anglers.
Entry: Free.

Western Accessories

Location: Paarden Eiland
Category: Marine Chandlery & Fishing Equipment
Highlights: Boating equipment, marine electronics, safety gear and fishing accessories for recreational and commercial vessels.
Best For: Offshore anglers and boat owners.
Entry: Free.

Boat Clubs

Atlantic Boat Club

Location: Granger Bay
Category: Recreational Boating Club
Highlights: One of Cape Town’s premier boating clubs providing launching facilities, secure boat storage and offshore fishing access.
Best For: Boat owners, offshore anglers.

False Bay Yacht Club

Location: Simon’s Town
Category: Yacht & Fishing Club
Highlights: Well-established harbour facilities with excellent access to False Bay fishing grounds.
Best For: Offshore fishing, boating community.

Fishing Dealers and Service Centres

Cape Boat & Ski Boat Centre

Location: Paarden Eiland
Category: Boat Dealer & Service Centre
Highlights: Sales, servicing, trailers, accessories and repairs for fishing boats and ski boats.
Best For: Boat purchases and maintenance.

Yamaha Marine Cape Town

Location: Paarden Eiland
Category: Marine Engines & Service
Highlights: Sales and servicing of Yamaha outboards, parts and accessories widely used by Cape anglers.
Best For: Boat servicing and engine support.

Suzuki Marine Western Cape

Location: Montague Gardens
Category: Marine Dealer
Highlights: Outboard motors, servicing and boating accessories.
Best For: Recreational fishing boats.

Bait Suppliers

Ocean Bait

Location: Paarden Eiland
Category: Fresh & Frozen Bait Supplier
Highlights: Wide selection of locally sourced bait including sardine, chokka, mackerel, pilchard and squid.
Best For: Rock & surf and offshore anglers.

Harbour Bait & Tackle

Location: Hout Bay Harbour
Category: Bait & Fishing Supplies
Highlights: Convenient stop before heading offshore with frozen bait, ice and essential tackle.
Best For: Charter anglers and day trips.

Fishing Clubs

Western Province Freshwater Angling Association

Location: Cape Town
Category: Freshwater Angling Association
Highlights: Organises competitions, conservation initiatives and freshwater angling events across the Western Cape.
Best For: Competitive freshwater anglers.

Western Province Rock & Surf Association

Location: Cape Town
Category: Competitive Saltwater Fishing
Highlights: Represents competitive rock and surf anglers throughout the Western Cape.
Best For: Tournament anglers.

Cape Boat & Ski Boat Club

Location: Cape Town
Category: Offshore Angling Community
Highlights: Social fishing events, competitions and boating activities throughout the year.
Best For: Offshore anglers and recreational boat owners.

Quick Tips for Visitors

Book offshore charters well in advance during summer tuna season.
Bring layered clothing—even summer mornings offshore can be cold.
Always carry your fishing permit.
Ask local tackle shops about recent catches and productive bait.
Respect marine protected areas (MPAs), as many sections of the Cape coastline prohibit fishing.
Early mornings and late afternoons generally produce the best results from shore.

Cape Town’s fishing scene caters to every type of angler. Whether you’re hiking into remote rocky points for galjoen, launching a kayak into False Bay at sunrise, or spending a relaxed afternoon catching bass on a nearby farm dam, you’ll find exceptional fishing opportunities within an hour of the city centre.