Fishing in Struisbaai

Struisbaai used to be a small fishing village and has now turned into one of South Africa’s best kept secrets as a fishing destination. Struisbaai is a great family destination and is targeted by recreational anglers, is famous for its hard fighting Yellowtail and has a harbour that hosts a locally run commercial fleet which is part of the culture of the area.

In the Western Cape Region Struisbaai is highly regarded as the capital of nearshore fishing. Stretching for more than 200km to the south is a long and shallow part of the continent shelf that’s known as the Agulhas Bank. These waters are home to a wide variety of pelagic and bottom feeding species, making them a perfect choice for any angler looking for that great catch. The deep sea fishing in this part of South Africa is absolutely outstanding, and well worth the invested time and effort.

Nearshore Fishing – up to 5 nautical miles

Most nearshore fishing here is done in the eastern reaches of the Agulhas Bank. For bottom fishing this usually means fishing near between the Harbour and the De Mond estuary in area called the “Vlakbank”. For gamefish which is dominated by large yellowtail the most famous spot is probably the 5-mile bank which is straight out from the Harbour. Probably the most popular few species targeted on nearshore trips is the Yellowtail (Amberjack), Red Roman, Red Stumpnose, Kob and Geelbek. Yellowtails reside in these waters year-round, but reach their peak numbers in summer and springtime. Another local favourite is the Kob. Visiting anglers from the US consider Kob to be the Redfish of South Africa and the Australians know the Kob as the Mulloway. These beautiful fish can be targeted in the surf along with the odd white Steenbras, along the famous Struisbaai beach and on the “Plaat”. There is a growing trend to target the Kob with artificial lures and specifically with spoons and paddle-tail worms on a lead-head. 

Another common species frequenting the waters is the Leerfish or Garrick which is a hard fighting gamefish that can be caught from the Harbour wall and in a spot called the “Las” in the summer months and on spinners and plugs, where it is present in huge numbers. There are many local anglers who will provide advice on where the fish are biting and good starting point is at the local tackle shop in town.

Deep Sea Fishing

Deep sea fishing in Struisbaai is probably comparable to the waters off Cape Point and Hout Bay with perhaps a greater variety of deep sea species available. When the weather is good and waters can be easily reached and are of a similar distance as the “Canyon” off Cape Point – just be sure that you have an understanding of local conditions and an accurate weather forecast before venturing into the deep. If the conditions are right then the deep is accessible with numerous species of Tuna (Yellowfin, Skipjack, Bigeye and Bluefin), Black Marlin, and Dorado / Mahi Mahi. And on the bottom in the deep you may be lucky enough to catch the odd Red Steenbras.

Regulations

All adult anglers will need to have a fishing license in order to fish in Struisbaai. Your boat must have an up to date Seaworthy and Buoyancy Certificate, and you should be in possession of a valid Skippers ticket. Cumulative and individual bag limits apply and information on these bag limits can be obtained at the local fishing tackle shop in town.

Please remember that the many of the fish in the Struisbaai area are endangered and catch and release should be promoted – especially with the Dusky Kob, White Steenbras, Musselcracker and Red Stumpnose to name a few. Take a photo and release where possible and save the fish stocks for your children and future generations.