summer · peak season
Yellowfin tuna fishing in Cape Town in December
Long days, warm offshore water, and the wind that comes with both. Peak demand.
What are conditions like in December?
South-easterly, frequently strong. The classic Cape summer pattern. Workable days: Around half the days, with a strong bias toward early mornings.
Book weeks ahead and expect the possibility of a weather move. Early departures are essential.
What is running in December?
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.
- Yellowfin tuna20–100 kgPeak
- Yellowtail5–15 kgPeak
- Dorado3–15 kgPeak
- Atlantic bonito1–5 kgPeak
- Skipjack tuna1–6 kgPeak
- Longfin tuna8–30 kgGood
Planning a trip in December
Book weeks ahead and expect the possibility of a weather move. Early departures are essential.
Departure is set by daylight rather than by the clock. In December that means sunrise around 05:30 and sunset around 19:50, giving about 14.2 hours of usable light.
December at a glance
- Season
- summer, peak season
- Daylight
- 14.2 hours
- Sunrise
- 05:30
- Sunset
- 19:50
- Sea temp inshore
- 14–18°C
- Sea temp offshore
- 18–21°C
- Trip length
- 9 to 12 hours
December rates
- Private charter, 9 to 12 hoursR 30 000
Adjacent months
Other months for the offshore tuna
December questions
Is December a good month for offshore tuna in Cape Town?
Yes. December is one of the stronger months for this trip. Long days, warm offshore water, and the wind that comes with both. Peak demand.
What is the weather like off Cape Town in December?
South-easterly, frequently strong. The classic Cape summer pattern. Workable days: Around half the days, with a strong bias toward early mornings. Daylight runs to about 14.2 hours, sunrise around 05:30 and sunset around 19:50.
What can you catch off Cape Town in December?
Yellowfin tuna (peak), Yellowtail (peak), Dorado (peak), Atlantic bonito (peak). Offshore water at the shelf edge runs 18 to 21°C.