Guide
Yellowtail fishing in Cape Town: when, where and how
When and where is the best yellowtail fishing in Cape Town?
November to March is the peak, on the inshore grounds off Cape Point and Robben Island, fished by sight casting, trolling or fly from a six-to-eight-hour inshore charter out of Hout Bay.
4 minute read · Updated
When is yellowtail season in Cape Town?
November to March is the peak. Yellowtail are caught either side of it too, but those are the months to plan around if a yellowtail is the point of the trip.
The inshore trip itself runs all year, because Hout Bay sits between two separate fisheries. When the south-easter shuts one down, the other is usually workable.
Where do you fish for them?
Cape Point or Robben Island, chosen on the morning to suit the wind and what is running rather than fixed in advance. Both are within reach of Hout Bay on a six-to-eight-hour day.
Yellowtail also turn up on the offshore tuna run, around floating structure on the way to the grounds, where they are a welcome bonus on light spinning gear.
How are yellowtail caught?
Three ways, and the day decides which:
- Sight casting top-water lures at fish you can see. The most exciting way to catch one, and the one experienced anglers come for.
- Trolling, which suits every skill level and is how most first-timers hook their first yellowtail.
- Fly fishing, on request. Dedicated inshore fly-fishing trips can be arranged; say so when you enquire.
Why do anglers rate them so highly?
Pound for pound, almost nothing on this coast pulls harder. A yellowtail hooked over a reef heads straight for the bottom, and on the light tackle used inshore the fight is direct and fast.
What if the yellowtail are not there?
Atlantic bonito, skipjack tuna, Cape snoek and slender tuna are regularly caught on the same trip. When the surface goes quiet, the boat switches to bottom fishing for red roman, Cape bream, Jacopever and gurnard, on bait or slow-pitch jigging.
Nobody can promise a fish, and no honest operator does. What is promised is a boat that goes where the fish have been, with the right gear, worked properly all day.
Still unsure?
Ask directly. Garreth answers these questions every week and will tell you if a trip is wrong for you.
Ask on WhatsAppQuestions
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.
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- guideWhat a Cape Town fishing charter actually costsRates are published in full on this site rather than held behind an enquiry form: every trip is priced as a private charter for the whole boat, with what each includes, and shared charters on the fishing trips can be arranged on request. Most operators in this market will not show a number until you ask.
- guideCorporate and incentive chartersYes. The boat is chartered privately for the day with the schedule, route and format set around the group rather than around a fishing plan.
- experienceInshore light tackle & bottom fishingYellowtail on light tackle at Cape Point or Robben Island, with bottom fishing when the gamefish are quiet. The trip that runs when the offshore grounds will not.