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Atlantic Drift departs from Hout Bay Harbour in Cape Town, South Africa — the city’s premier tuna fishing harbour. Guests arrive at Atlantic Boat Club Marina fifteen minutes before departure.

That depends on the day you want, and any operator claiming the title outright is selling. What Atlantic Drift runs is a purpose-built Carrycat 1000 surveyed for 12 people to 40 nautical miles, Furuno searchlight sonar for locating free-swimming schools, and a skipper with 25 years on this coast and 7 South African records. Weigh that against the catch reports, the boat and the crew of anyone else you are considering.

Yes. Deep sea fishing is what most people call it; offshore is the term the industry uses. Both describe the same trip here — 9 to 12 hours out of Hout Bay Harbour, running up to 40 nautical miles to the grounds south-west of Cape Point for yellowfin, bigeye, bluefin and longfin tuna. If that sounds like more day than you want, the inshore trip is the shorter alternative: 6 to 8 hours around Cape Point or Robben Island for yellowtail, snoek, bonito and bottomfish, on lighter tackle and in calmer water.

Offshore tuna trips run 9 to 12 hours, inshore light tackle and bottom fishing trips run 6 to 8 hours, and coastal cruises are private only in three lengths — a 3 hour sunset cruise, or 6 and 8 hours during the day. Birding charters run 8 to 10 hours.

Offshore trips carry up to 7 guests, inshore trips up to 8, coastal cruises up to 10, and birding charters up to 11 including a guide. The vessel is surveyed for 12 people.

Depending on the trip: yellowfin, bigeye, bluefin and longfin tuna, marlin, dorado, yellowtail, bonito, skipjack, snoek, and bottomfish including red roman, Cape bream, Jacopever and gurnard.

Yes. Inshore and coastal trips offer techniques suited to all experience levels, while offshore tuna trips suit anglers seeking a more physical, serious sportfishing experience.

Send an enquiry or message on WhatsApp. An acknowledgement is sent immediately and the owner responds personally within 12 hours, after which the conversation moves to WhatsApp. There is no third-party booking platform in the middle.

For peak season, meaning December through March, several weeks. Outside that, a few days is usually enough. Allow a second possible date if the trip is the reason for your visit, because weather moves trips on this coast.

Yes. Everyone fishing needs a recreational marine angling permit: R100 for a month or R130 for a year, per person. When you book, you are sent the contact who arranges it and the details she needs: name, ID or passport number, date of birth and mobile number for each person. The permit arrives as a PDF, and inspectors accept digital permits.

Yes, within the legal bag limits for the species. Trophy catches are weighed and documented where applicable, and fish are processed and professionally packaged before you leave.

On the coastal and inshore trips, yes. A ten-to-twelve-hour offshore day in an open ocean swell is not suitable for young children.

Coastal cruises and birding charters have nothing to do with fishing. On a private charter the day is built around whatever the group actually wants — fishing, wildlife, swimming, paddleboarding, cruising or simply lunch at anchor.