Planning a fishing trip? South Africa’s long coastline and amazing variety of marine life offers several options. Your choice of destination will depend upon what kind of fish you’re after. Here’s a ready reckoner of some of SA’s best fishing spots:

Kosi Bay and Banga Neck
Located in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), on the North Coast, these two places are great for sharks and giant kingfish. If you enjoy game fishing, this is the place to be. The Kosi Bay area has three lakes that are joined together; and you can access the sea through an estuary. The climate here varies from sub-tropical to tropical.

Black Rock
This is another popular spot for game fishing. You’ll also find large sharks here. Situated south of Kosi, Black Rock has an unending strip of beach, where you won’t be able to spot another person for miles.

St Lucia
Summer is an ideal time to visit St Lucia, when the variety of catch is mind boggling. Dip your fishing rod in the water and you can come up with bonito, yellow-fin tuna, garrick, sailfish, marlin, red roman, geelbek, yellow-belly rock cod, musselcracker and queen mackerel. The fishing season begins in December and closes by end of September. St. Lucia offers some of the best fishing and angling activities, from deep sea fishing, estuary fishing and fly fishing to kite fishing, surf fishing and rock fishing.

Margate
With huge rock formations and estuaries, the seaside town of Margate is a fine South Coast holiday destination. Salubrious temperatures, and beautiful beaches coupled with lots of fishing activities make for an enjoyable trip. Mackerel, garrick and kob are what you’ll be looking out for while fishing.

Mbolompo Point
This spot on the West Coast is famous for sardines and garrick.

Mazeppa Bay
This village is close to the Kei River and is known for game fishing. Interestingly, the biggest fish ever caught here was a Great White that weighed 791 kg.

Bluewater Bay
Located on the Eastern Cape, Bluewater Bay has mild weather conditions, perfect for year round sea fishing. Also, check out some great options for water sports.

Jeffreys Bay
On the Eastern Cape, the waters of Jeffreys Bay teem with rays and sharks, elf, dageraad, baardman, musselcracker, blacktail, red steenbras, grunters, garricks and kobs – a veritable fishing paradise!

Wilderness, Garden Route
Situated at the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains, this breathtakingly lovely region boasts pristine beaches and several holiday resorts. There’s great catch too! Fish for garrick, galjoen and kob among others. Another delightful pastime – whale and dolphin watching!

Struisbaai, Western Cape
This coastal village at Africa’s southernmost tip has a long stretch of white sand beach. Head towards Twelve Mile Bank, Blougansie, and Vlakbank to catch white steenbras, galjoen, kob, baardman, and blacktail.