UPDATE: SASSI has red-listed and declared the West Coast lobster endangered species – this means do not buy or eat.
The 2016/17 west coast rock lobster recreational fishing season will open on Saturday, 26 November 2016 and will close on Monday, 17 April 2017.
West Coast’s picturesque coastline is undoubtedly one of the world’s finest fishing grounds, offering a multitude of excellent fishing spots. Anglers have a choice of open beaches, rocky bays, gullies, river mouths, estuaries, piers and harbours as well as deep water points.
Explore the Lagoon with Elite Charters, Langebaan
Fishing trips, leisure cruises and adventure rides from Club Mykonos to the Langebaan Lagoon area.
They offer: Fishing Trips • Yacht Cruises • Wet Bike Rides • Adventure Duck • Speed boat Trip • Private Functions
BOOK & QUOTE “West Coast Way” +27 (0)72 702 9919 | [email protected] | www.elitecharters.co.za
Explore the West Coast fishing areas
Saldanha Bay is the largest natural bay in South Africa and the town of Saldanha has developed as one of the major centres of the fishing industry. The bay therefore offers anglers wonderful angling opportunities from rocky outcrops and protected beaches, from small boats within the bay or from the harbour walls near the iron-ore jetty. Likely catches here are various species of kob, white stumpnose, galjoen, hottentot, shad (elf) and garrick (leervis) and various species of shark, ray and skate in summer.
Coordinates: -33.008832, 17.947264
Contact: +27 (0)22 701 7000 | [email protected] | www.saldanhabay.co.za
Langebaan Lagoon is a natural paradise and fish species abound in its pristine waters. This West Coast estuary offers good saltwater fly-fishing and the unique opportunity to stalk and sight cast to guitarfish and sand sharks on the sand flats within the lagoon. The Lagoon stretches for 17km from Saldanha Bay, past Langebaan, to Geelbek in the South, and in places is up to 4km wide. Visit Geelbek Restaurant & Nature Wedding Destination where fish dishes are all from the WWF SASSI approved list. Eating seafood has always been a part of our South African heritage! Geelbek is 7 days a week. Contact: +27 (0)22 772 2134 / 072 698 6343 Website: www.geelbek.co.za
Coordinates: -33.091146, 18.029840
Web: www.sanparks.co.za
There is also great recreational fishing in Jacobsbaai. The platklip (flat rock) in Jacobsbaai is famous as a great spot for catching kabeljou and you can also try the sandy beaches of Swartriet for both steenbras and kabeljou. Smaller fish like haarders also abound and the kids can have lots of fun catching some smaller species in the multitude of rock pools.
Coordinates: -32.967102, 17.891960
Contact: +27 (0)22 701 7000 | [email protected] | www.saldanhabay.co.za
Yzerfontein is situated on a rocky headland that has vast expanses of beach on either side of it, thereby offering fisherman many great spots to cast their rods. There waters here are known for their abundance of snoek and crayfish and the deep gullies and rocky points which punctuate the headland to the south of the harbour produce good catches of galjoen in winter and hottentot throughout the year.
Coordinates: -33.725889, 18.455295
Contact: +27 (0)22 487 9400 | | [email protected] | www.swartland.org.za
A stretch of the West Coast known as the St Helena Bay area presents a unique angling destination because of the different style of angling required compared to elsewhere along the coastline. The water here is generally flat and calm, almost as if fishing in a large lake.
Although fairly new to the region, the consistent catch of yellowtail, dorado as well as longfin- yellowfin and big-eye tuna in large numbers in West Coast water, has secured the game fishing reputation of the area and there are now several deep sea charter companies. Most of the professional fishing charters supply bait and tackle and, depending on the fish species caught and the fishes’ size, the majority of catches can be taken home.
Coordinates: -32.760312, 18.027112
Contact: +27 (0)22 701 7000 | [email protected] | www.saldanhabay.co.za
For more information on West Coast Rock lobster TAC and recreational fishing season, visit:
http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/233151/crayfish-season-dates-announced