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Questions

Everything people ask

Answers in full, visible without clicking. If yours is not here, ask the skipper directly.

General

Where does Atlantic Drift operate from?
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.
What is the best tuna fishing charter in Cape Town?
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.
Is deep sea fishing the same as offshore fishing?
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.
How long are the fishing trips?
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.
How many people can join a charter?
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.
What fish can I catch in Cape Town?
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.
Is Atlantic Drift suitable for beginners?
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.
How do you book, and how quickly will you hear back?
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.
How far in advance should you book?
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.
Do you need a fishing licence?
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.
Can you keep your catch?
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.
Are children allowed on board?
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.
Do you cater for people who do not want to fish?
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.

Offshore tuna fishing

How long is an offshore tuna charter in Cape Town?
Nine to twelve hours, departing Hout Bay Harbour at first light and working to 40 nautical miles offshore.
What size tuna are caught off Cape Town?
Yellowfin from around 20 to over 100 kilograms, bigeye and bluefin between 60 and 115 kilograms, and longfin between 8 and 30 kilograms.
How many people can join an offshore trip?
Up to seven guests. The vessel is surveyed for twelve people in total.
Is tackle included?
Yes. Shimano, Calstar and Daiwa tackle throughout, all rigged and maintained in-house to international standards.

Inshore light tackle & bottom fishing

Where do inshore fishing trips go from Cape Town?
Cape Point or Robben Island, depending on conditions and on what is running. Trips run six to eight hours from Hout Bay Harbour.
What can you catch inshore off Cape Town?
Yellowtail is the primary target, along with Atlantic bonito, skipjack tuna, Cape snoek and juvenile tuna. Bottom fishing targets red roman, Cape bream, Jacopever and gurnard.
Is inshore fishing suitable for beginners?
Yes. Trolling and bait fishing suit any experience level, and the trip is shorter and closer in than an offshore day.
Can you catch crayfish on a charter?
During the permitted annual dates, West Coast rock lobster harvesting can be included. Availability is limited — ask when you book.

Coastal cruises

Can you have a braai on the boat?
Yes. The cruise anchors in a quiet bay for a traditional South African braai on board. Stand-up paddleboards are included.
How long is a coastal cruise in Cape Town?
Three lengths for up to ten guests, along the Atlantic Seaboard with views of Table Mountain and Robben Island: a three-hour sunset cruise, or six and eight hours during the day. Private charter only.
Can you book a boat for a bachelor party in Cape Town?
Yes. All packages are open to stag groups, and the eight-hour coastal cruise is the usual recommendation — a full day on the water for up to ten guests, with a braai at anchor, before being dropped back at Hout Bay Harbour.
Can a coastal cruise include fishing?
On request. Light game fishing, bottom fishing and — in season — crayfish harvesting can all be added to the day.

Cape Town birding charters

When is the best time for pelagic birding in Cape Town?
May to September. The southern winter brings albatrosses and petrels north, and the trawl fleet working the shelf edge concentrates them.
How many albatross species can you see off Cape Town?
Up to seven species have been recorded: black-browed, shy, Indian yellow-nosed, Atlantic yellow-nosed, wandering, southern royal and northern royal.
How many people can join a birding charter?
Up to eleven guests including the guide, on trips of eight to twelve hours.

Seasickness on a Cape Town charter, and how to avoid it

What is the best seasickness tablet for a fishing charter?
Any non-drowsy antihistamine taken the night before and again ninety minutes before departure. The timing matters far more than the brand — medication taken after symptoms start is largely ineffective.
Does everyone get seasick offshore?
No. Most people are fine, and most of those who do feel ill recover within half an hour and fish normally for the rest of the day.
Is an inshore trip easier than an offshore charter?
Considerably. Six to eight hours close in rather than nine to twelve holding station in an offshore swell.

What to bring on a Cape Town fishing charter

Do you need to bring your own fishing gear?
No. Rods, reels, terminal tackle, lures, bait and fighting harnesses are all supplied. You may bring your own if you prefer.
What should you wear on a fishing charter in Cape Town?
Layers, including a warm windproof outer. It is significantly colder 30 nautical miles offshore than it is in the harbour. Soft-soled closed shoes, a brimmed hat and polarised sunglasses.
Is food included on a charter?
Yes. Lunch, drinks and snacks are included on fishing and birding trips, and drinks and snacks on cruises. Bring extra water if you drink a lot, and any dietary-specific food. There is a cooler with ice on board.

Booking your first offshore charter

What time do fishing charters leave Hout Bay?
Before first light, which in the summer season is around 05:30. Guests arrive at the marina fifteen minutes before departure. Times are set by the weather window rather than by convenience.
Do you need fishing experience to book a charter?
No. The crew rigs the gear, sets the drag and talks you through the fight. Most first-timers land fish.
What happens if you catch nothing?
It happens, and no operator can guarantee otherwise. What is promised is that the boat goes where the fish have been, with the right gear, and the crew works the day properly.

What happens if the weather cancels your charter

Do you get a refund if a fishing charter is cancelled for weather?
Yes — there is nothing to refund, because no deposit is taken. You are offered the next available date or you owe nothing. There is no cancellation fee when the operator cancels.
When is the weather decision made?
Usually the evening before, occasionally on the morning at the harbour. Forecasts on this coast move inside twelve hours, so calling it earlier would cancel trips that would have run.
What weather stops a charter in Cape Town?
South-easterly wind above roughly 25 knots, large south-westerly swell, or fog. The south-easter is the most common cause in summer.

What a Cape Town fishing charter actually costs

How much does a tuna fishing charter cost in Cape Town?
Every trip is priced as a private charter for the whole boat, and every rate is published on the rates page rather than quoted on request. Shared charters on the fishing trips can be arranged on request.
Is tackle included in the price?
Yes. Rods, reels, terminal tackle, bait, lures and fighting harnesses are all included, along with ice and cleaning of your catch. Food and drinks are included on every trip.
How much deposit is required to book a charter?
None. No deposit is required and the trip is settled on the day. A cancellation fee applies only inside 72 hours — 10 per cent between 24 and 72 hours out, 20 per cent within 24 hours or for a no-show — and nothing at all when the trip is cancelled for weather or fishing conditions.

Corporate and incentive charters

Can you book a boat for a bachelor party in Cape Town?
Yes, and every package is open to a stag group. An eight-hour coastal cruise is the usual recommendation: a full day on the water, then dropped back at the harbour and pointed at the nearest bar. A small, adventurous group can equally book the offshore tuna trip.
Can you charter the whole boat privately in Cape Town?
Yes. A private charter takes the whole boat for the day, with the route, timing and format set around the group.
What is the best corporate boat trip in Cape Town?
For client entertainment and incentive groups, a private coastal charter along the Atlantic Seaboard usually works better than a full offshore fishing day, which is a nine-to-twelve-hour commitment.

Yellowtail fishing in Cape Town: when, where and how

What is the best month for yellowtail in Cape Town?
November to March is the peak, on the inshore grounds off Cape Point and Robben Island.
Do I need experience to catch a yellowtail?
No. Trolling suits every skill level; sight casting is there for experienced anglers who want it. All tackle is supplied.
How long is a yellowtail charter from Hout Bay?
Six to eight hours, for up to eight guests, departing Hout Bay Harbour.

Fishing permits for a Cape Town charter: what you need and how to get one

Do tourists need a fishing permit in South Africa?
Yes. International visitors need the same recreational marine angling permit as South Africans to fish in the sea, including on a charter. The monthly permit is the usual choice.
How much is a fishing permit in South Africa?
Bought yourself on the DFFE portal, a monthly recreational marine angling permit is R56 per person and an annual permit R79. Arranged for you when you book a charter, they are R100 and R130.
Where can I buy a fishing permit in Cape Town?
Online on the DFFE portal at fishing.dffe.gov.za, at a Post Office branch, or — for charter guests — arranged for you when you book.
Does the charter boat’s permit cover me?
No. The permit is personal, so each person fishing needs their own.