autumn · peak season
Yellowfin tuna fishing in Cape Town in April
Longfin come into their own and the yellowfin are still around. Calm, clear autumn days.
What are conditions like in April?
Variable. Settled spells between the first proper north-westerly fronts. Workable days: Good. Fronts are spaced and forecastable several days out.
The most reliable month for a booking made two weeks in advance.
What is running in April?
Offshore water at the shelf edge sits between 17 and 20°C this month, against 15 to 18°C inshore. That gradient is what concentrates the fish.
- Yellowfin tuna20–100 kgPeak
- Longfin tuna8–30 kgPeak
- Yellowtail5–15 kgGood
- Bigeye tuna60–115 kgGood
- Bluefin tuna60–115 kgGood
- Atlantic bonito1–5 kgGood
Planning a trip in April
The most reliable month for a booking made two weeks in advance.
Departure is set by daylight rather than by the clock. In April that means sunrise around 06:50 and sunset around 18:20, giving about 11.4 hours of usable light.
April at a glance
- Season
- autumn, peak season
- Daylight
- 11.4 hours
- Sunrise
- 06:50
- Sunset
- 18:20
- Sea temp inshore
- 15–18°C
- Sea temp offshore
- 17–20°C
- Trip length
- 9 to 12 hours
April rates
- Private charter, 9 to 12 hoursR 30 000
Adjacent months
Other months for the offshore tuna
April questions
Is April a good month for offshore tuna in Cape Town?
Yes. April is one of the stronger months for this trip. Longfin come into their own and the yellowfin are still around. Calm, clear autumn days.
What is the weather like off Cape Town in April?
Variable. Settled spells between the first proper north-westerly fronts. Workable days: Good. Fronts are spaced and forecastable several days out. Daylight runs to about 11.4 hours, sunrise around 06:50 and sunset around 18:20.
What can you catch off Cape Town in April?
Yellowfin tuna (peak), Longfin tuna (peak), Yellowtail (good), Bigeye tuna (good). Offshore water at the shelf edge runs 17 to 20°C.