Sun and surf

Fishing in South Africa

Brad Morgan

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Blessed with a coastline almost 3 000 kilometres long, and numerous dams, lakes, rivers and streams, South Africa has plenty to offer the fishing enthusiast. From game fish in two oceans to trout in mountain streams, there is something to challenge and entertain everyone.

Many of South Africa's prime fishing spots offer not only good fishing, but also include some of the most beautiful places in a country blessed by Mother Nature.

Deep sea charters

Deep sea charters are available from ports along the coastline, which is shared by both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, as well as the cold Benguela and warm Agulhas currents, bringing with them a wide variety of species.

Big fish that one will encounter at sea include barracuda, sailfish and tuna. Take note that permits are required for ocean fishing.

Mountains and dams

The gentle art of fly fishing is popular in South Africa, with three areas especially recognised for their bountiful offerings: the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Mpumulanga province, and the Eastern Cape. All three regions boast sizeable mountain ranges; it is in their mountain streams that trout flourish.

Some of these areas can be accessed only with 4x4 vehicles. The up-side of this is that they retain their natural beauty, being somewhat isolated.

For those that find fishing in rivers or off river banks too difficult, there are plenty of well-stocked dams to offer an enjoyable challenge.

Both brown and rainbow trout are to be found, though seldom together.

The South African trout season starts in September and finishes at the end of May. The best times for fly-fishing are in September and October, and then in April and May. However, many of the country's dams and lakes have no closed season.

Bass and carp

For some, bass fishing is the way to go. The bass is an intelligent and thus challenging fish, while being hardy too. This makes it a very adaptable fish, to be found far and wide, and partial to a wide variety of bait.

Carp fishing also has its supporters. Like bass, carp were originally imported into South Africa, and offer an excellent challenge. They also grow to some pretty amazing sizes.

Catch and release is encouraged for both bass and carp fishing.

SOUTH AFRICAN FISHING QUICK LINKS

GENERAL

  • Algoa Bay Tuna Classic (Port Elizabeth)

  • ESA Angling

  • Fishing the Eastern Cape

  • Fishinginfo.co.za

  • Go Fishing

  • SA Deep Sea Angling Association

  • Sealine South African Angling and Boating Community

  • Ski Boat Magazine

  • The South African Fishing Guide

  • The Kingfisher

  • Umkomaas Guest House (Umkomaas)

    • DEEP SEA CHARTERS

    Eastern Cape

  • 3 Way Ocean Charters (Port Elizabeth)

  • IBY Charters (Port Elizabeth)

  • Pirates Lodge (Port Elizabeth)

    • KwaZulu-Natal

  • Deep Blue Hunter (Shelly Beach)

  • Hakuna Matata Charters (Durban)

  • Lynski Charters (Durban)

  • Mighty Charters (Shelly Beach/Margate)

  • Nikao Fishing Adventures (Durban)

  • Sea Hunter (Scottburgh)

  • Sodwana Charters (Sodwana)

  • Swissroll Charters (Durban)

  • Zululand Fishing Charters (Richards Bay)

    • Western Cape

  • Awesome Charters (Struisbaai)

  • Big Blue Fishing Charters (Cape Town)

  • Big Fisher Fishing Charters (Cape Town)

  • Cape Sea Safaris (Cape Town)

  • Falcon Safaris (Langebaan/Gansbaai)

  • Hooked on Africa (Cape Town)

  • Knysna Fishing and Recreational Charters (Knysna)

  • South Sea Safaris (Cape Town)

  • Two Oceans Sports Fishing Charters (Hout Bay)

    • FISHING TOUR OPERATORS

  • Fishing Trips Africa

  • Mubuyu Safaris (Johannesburg)

  • SportFishAfrica (Johannesburg)

  • Tourette Fishing (Pietermaritzburg)

  • Wild Break Tours (Cape Vidal)

    • FLYFISHING

    General

  • Federation of South African Flyfishers

  • Fly fishing for Sharks in South Africa

  • Fly Fishing Magazine

  • Fly Fishing World

  • Fly Talk

  • Intrepid Fly

  • The Southern African Trout and Flyfishing Directory

  • The Wild Trout Association

    • Eastern Cape

  • African Trout (Eastern Cape)

  • Fred Steynberg Professional fly fishing guide (Rhodes)

  • Maclear Fly Fishing (Maclear)

  • Rhodes Village (Eastern Cape)

    • Free State

  • Dreamcast (Eastern Free State)

    • Gauteng Province

  • Big 5 Flyfishing (Johannesburg)

  • Fly Castaway (Johannesburg)

  • Flyguiding Adventures (Vaal River)

  • On the Rocks Flyfishing in Pretoria (Pretoria)

  • The Fish Whisperer (Vaal River/Sterkfontein Dam)

    • KwaZulu-Natal

  • Drakensberg Kloof Game and Trout (Drakensberg)

  • Dreamcast (KZN Midlands)

  • Flyfishing in the Drakensberg

  • Fourdon Spa Hotel (KZN Midlands)

  • Giants Cup Wilderness Reserve (Drakensberg)

  • Lake Naverone (Drakensberg)

  • Sani Valley Lodge (Drakensberg)

  • The Flyfishing and Birding Shop (Nottingham Road)

  • The Safari Company Flyfishing Safaris (Durban)

  • Trout and Bass Fishing in the Drakensberg (Mooi River)

  • Wildfly (Nottingham Road)

    • Mpumalanga province

  • Bergwaters Eco Lodge and Spa (Waterval Boven)

  • Boven Trout Lodge (Waterval Boven)

  • Davies Trout Cottage (Machadodorp)

  • Dullstroom (Dullstroom)

  • Calverton Lodge (Lydenberg)

  • Holingsberg Flyfishing and Country Chalets (Dullstroom)

  • Inyamazane and Forelwater (Machadodorp)

  • Katrinasrust Trout Farm (Dullstroom)

  • Linger Longer (Dullstroom)

  • Machado Stud Trout Farm (Machadodorp)

  • Millstream Farms (Dullstroom)

  • O'Grady's (Dullstroom)

  • Skurweberg Trout Hideaway (Machadadorp)

  • Uitkomst Trout Self Catering Cottages (Machadodorp)

  • Stonecutters Lodge (Dullstroom)

  • The Mavungana Flyfishing Centre (Dullstroom)

  • Treeferns Trout Lodge (Dullstroom)

  • Trout Hideaway (Drakensberg, Mpumalanga)

  • Troutways Private Retreat (Waterval Boven)

  • Tudor Estates (Machadodorp)

  • Wathaba Hiking and Fishing (Machadodorp)

  • ZiZi Estates (Dullstroom)

  • Zuikerboschhoek Lodge (Dullstroom)

    • North West province

  • Wind Knot Fly-fishing and Conservation Club (Potchefstroom)

    • Western Cape

  • Alluvia Estate Fly Fishing Stellenbosch (Stellenbosch)

  • Jonkershoek Fishing (Stellenbosch)

    • BASS FISHING

  • Bass Fishing

  • Bass Fishing South Africa

  • Bass Fishing South Africa Cape Town

  • Centurion Bass Masters Fishing Club (Centurion)

  • Spinner Baits

    • KAYAK FISHING

  • Fishing Kayak (Johannesburg)

  • Fishing Ski Adventures (Durban)

  • Kayak Fishing South Africa (Umkomaas)

  • Kayak Fishing SA (Umkomaas)

  • South African Kayak Fishing Association

    • SPEAR FISHING

  • SA Spearfishing

  • Spearfishingsa.co.za

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    South Africa boasts many beautiful fishing spots (Photo: When we get there)

    The fearsome looking tiger fish is known for providing fishermen with a great fight (Photo: Fishing Trips Africa)

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