summer · peak season
Yellowtail fishing in Cape Town in January
Yellowtail, atlantic bonito, skipjack tuna and red roman are running inshore. Inshore water runs 14 to 18°C.
What are conditions like in January?
South-easterly, often strong and persistent. It builds through the day. Workable days: Roughly half the days in the month are workable offshore.
Book early in your stay and hold a second date. Mornings are far more reliable than afternoons because the south-easter fills in as the day warms.
What is running in January?
Offshore water at the shelf edge sits between 18 and 21°C this month, against 14 to 18°C inshore. That gradient is what concentrates the fish.
- Yellowtail5–15 kgPeak
- Dorado3–15 kgPeak
- Marlin60–180 kgPeak
- Atlantic bonito1–5 kgPeak
- Skipjack tuna1–6 kgPeak
- Yellowfin tuna20–100 kgGood
Planning a trip in January
Book early in your stay and hold a second date. Mornings are far more reliable than afternoons because the south-easter fills in as the day warms.
Departure is set by daylight rather than by the clock. In January that means sunrise around 05:40 and sunset around 19:55, giving about 14 hours of usable light.
January at a glance
- Season
- summer, peak season
- Daylight
- 14 hours
- Sunrise
- 05:40
- Sunset
- 19:55
- Sea temp inshore
- 14–18°C
- Sea temp offshore
- 18–21°C
- Trip length
- 6 to 8 hours
January rates
- Private charter, 6 to 8 hoursR 20 000
Adjacent months
Other months for the inshore fishing
January questions
Is January a good month for inshore fishing in Cape Town?
Yes. January is one of the stronger months for this trip. Yellowtail, atlantic bonito, skipjack tuna and red roman are running inshore. Inshore water runs 14 to 18°C.
What is the weather like off Cape Town in January?
South-easterly, often strong and persistent. It builds through the day. Workable days: Roughly half the days in the month are workable offshore. Daylight runs to about 14 hours, sunrise around 05:40 and sunset around 19:55.
What can you catch off Cape Town in January?
Yellowtail (peak), Dorado (peak), Marlin (peak), Atlantic bonito (peak). Offshore water at the shelf edge runs 18 to 21°C.