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Species

What you can actually catch here

Realistic sizes and honest seasonality for every species worth naming off this coast. Full pages for yellowfin, longfin and yellowtail; the other species are summarised below.

Primary targets

  • Yellowfin tunaThunnus albacares

    20–100 kg typical

    The most abundant large tuna off Cape Town, and the reason most people book an offshore day here.

    JanGood
    FebGood
    MarPeak
    AprPeak
    MayPeak
    JunPeak
    JulNot present
    AugPossible
    SepPossible
    OctPeak
    NovPeak
    DecPeak
    Yellowfin tuna by month: January good, February good, March peak, April peak, May peak, June peak, July not present, August possible, September possible, October peak, November peak, December peak.

  • Longfin tunaThunnus alalunga

    8–30 kg typical

    The most abundant tuna species in the Cape and the backbone of the local commercial fishery.

    JanGood
    FebGood
    MarPeak
    AprPeak
    MayPeak
    JunGood
    JulGood
    AugGood
    SepGood
    OctGood
    NovGood
    DecGood
    Longfin tuna by month: January good, February good, March peak, April peak, May peak, June good, July good, August good, September good, October good, November good, December good.

  • YellowtailSeriola lalandi

    5–15 kg typical

    The primary inshore target, and one of the hardest-pulling fish on this coast for its size.

    JanPeak
    FebPeak
    MarPeak
    AprGood
    MayGood
    JunPossible
    JulPossible
    AugPossible
    SepPossible
    OctGood
    NovPeak
    DecPeak
    Yellowtail by month: January peak, February peak, March peak, April good, May good, June possible, July possible, August possible, September possible, October good, November peak, December peak.

  • Bigeye tunaThunnus obesus

    60–115 kg typical

    Around five percent of the large catches, mixed into yellowfin schools and almost always trophy-sized.

    JanGood
    FebGood
    MarGood
    AprGood
    MayPossible
    JunPossible
    JulPossible
    AugNot present
    SepNot present
    OctPossible
    NovPossible
    DecGood
    Bigeye tuna by month: January good, February good, March good, April good, May possible, June possible, July possible, August not present, September not present, October possible, November possible, December good.

  • Bluefin tunaThunnus thynnus

    60–115 kg typical

    Uncommon and always trophy-sized, usually found mixed into yellowfin schools.

    JanGood
    FebGood
    MarGood
    AprGood
    MayPossible
    JunPossible
    JulNot present
    AugNot present
    SepNot present
    OctPossible
    NovPossible
    DecGood
    Bluefin tuna by month: January good, February good, March good, April good, May possible, June possible, July not present, August not present, September not present, October possible, November possible, December good.

Also caught

Encountered regularly, not specifically targeted.

  • Dorado

    Coryphaena hippurus

    A welcome December-to-March bonus in the warmer water, usually around floating structure.

  • Marlin

    Istiophoridae

    Black, blue and striped marlin all show between January and March. A bycatch of the tuna grounds rather than a target.

  • Atlantic bonito

    Sarda sarda

    Fast, abundant and excellent sport on light tackle inshore.

  • Skipjack tuna

    Katsuwonus pelamis

    A common inshore catch through the warmer months, and superb on light gear.

  • Cape snoek

    Thyrsites atun

    The winter workhorse of this coast, and the fish most Capetonians actually eat.

  • Red roman

    Chrysoblephus laticeps

    A reliable bottom-fishing target year round, when the gamefish are quiet.

  • Cape bream

    Pachymetopon blochii

    Abundant on the inshore reefs and dependable through every season.

  • Jacopever

    Helicolenus dactylopterus

    A deeper-water bottom species, taken on the same drifts as red roman.

  • Cape gurnard

    Chelidonichthys capensis

    Common on the sandy inshore ground and caught year round.