Regions
Where to fish.
The coast
Surf and rock fishing from the West Coast to Zululand.
- West Coast
Namaqualand to Saldanha Bay
West Coast
Cold, clean water, long beaches and rocky points.
Galjoen, Kob, Bronze whaler
- Cape Peninsula and False Bay
Table Bay to Cape Point and round to Gordon's Bay
Cape Peninsula and False Bay
Two oceans, rocky shores and sheltered bays.
Galjoen, White steenbras, Leervis
- Overberg and Garden Route
Hermanus to Plettenberg Bay
Overberg and Garden Route
Estuary mouths, rocky headlands and wide bays.
Kob, White steenbras, Leervis
- Eastern Cape
Algoa Bay to the Wild Coast
Eastern Cape
Rugged coast, big surf and plenty of kob.
Kob, Leervis, Elf
- KwaZulu-Natal South Coast and Durban
Port Edward to Durban
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast and Durban
Warm water, rock ledges and the famous sardine season.
Kob, Elf, Leervis
- Zululand and the North Coast
Umhlanga to Kosi Bay
Zululand and the North Coast
Warm sub-tropical beaches and lake systems.
Elf, Spotted grunter, Bronze whaler
| Region | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter |
| Cape Peninsula and False Bay | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good |
| Overberg and Garden Route | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good |
| Eastern Cape | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good |
| KwaZulu-Natal South Coast and Durban | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter |
| Zululand and the North Coast | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good |
Dark circles are the months anglers usually rate highest. This is general guidance, not a forecast: seasons shift with the water temperature and the weather.
Dams and rivers
Bass, carp, yellowfish, barbel and kurper in inland water.
- Gauteng and the Highveld
Gauteng, North West and Mpumalanga highveld
Gauteng and the Highveld
Big warm dams, fisheries and canals within reach of the cities.
Common carp, Largemouth bass, Sharptooth barbel
- Vaal and the Free State
The Vaal and Orange river systems
Vaal and the Free State
A river system known for yellowfish, plus big dams for carp and barbel.
Yellowfish, Common carp, Sharptooth barbel
- KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
Midlands and the Drakensberg foothills
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
Cooler, clearer dams with bass, carp and kurper.
Largemouth bass, Common carp, Kurper
- Western Cape dams and rivers
Boland, Overberg and Cederberg
Western Cape dams and rivers
Cool-water dams with bass and carp, plus rivers with their own protected fish.
Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Common carp
- Lowveld and Limpopo
Mpumalanga lowveld and the Limpopo bushveld
Lowveld and Limpopo
Hot, wild water with barbel, kurper and yellowfish.
Sharptooth barbel, Kurper, Yellowfish
| Region | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gauteng and the Highveld | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good |
| Vaal and the Free State | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good |
| KwaZulu-Natal Midlands | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good |
| Western Cape dams and rivers | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good |
| Lowveld and Limpopo | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Quieter | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good | Usually good |
Dark circles are the months anglers usually rate highest. This is general guidance, not a forecast: seasons shift with the water temperature and the weather.
Before you fish
Fishing in South Africa has rules: sea fishing needs a recreational permit, and dams, rivers and clubs set their own permits, bait rules and limits. Check current regulations with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment or the owner of the water before you fish. Rules change and this site is not an official source.