summer · variable season
Yellowfin tuna fishing in Cape Town in January
Peak tuna and peak wind at the same time. The days that go are excellent and a meaningful share of days do not go at all.
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, variable season
- Daylight
- 14 hours
- Sunrise
- 05:40
- Sunset
- 19:55
- Sea temp inshore
- 14–18°C
- Sea temp offshore
- 18–21°C
- Trip length
- 9 to 12 hours
January rates
- Private charter, 9 to 12 hoursR 30 000
Adjacent months
Other months for the offshore tuna
January questions
Is January a good month for offshore tuna in Cape Town?
It is a variable month for this trip. Peak tuna and peak wind at the same time. The days that go are excellent and a meaningful share of days do not go at all.
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.