Fishing in George
George and surrounds offers a great Rock and Surf variety for adventure filled fishing.
Guaranteed you will have a great time fishing, relaxing and enjoying the beautiful views and sunsets while doing your favorite hobby.
It is the ideal location to bring the family along, as there is plenty for them to do while you fish. The lagoon is ideal to teach a youngster about fishing, and build up a great relationship with them at the same time. We look forward to sharing the secrets of our wonderful coast with you and ensuring you have an unforgettable experience.
Book a fishing trip with an expert guide to fully experience the Garden Route at its best!
If you are staying in Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg – simply hop on a plane to George and the guides can collect you from the airport. They cater for overseas visitors, local anglers as well as angling clubs.
George has national fishermen, league and club fisherman, an angling club, Ski-Boat Club, fishing tackle shops, a bait shop, guiding and charter facilities in the area.
This is a guide to the fish you could normally expect to catch, the bait that is most preferred by local anglers, and the places you could expect to find them. The best time to fish is on the pushing tide in the early morning or late afternoon. Some species are good to fish at night like Kob and White Steenbras.
Of course, there is naturally luck to fishing and you could quite easily catch something very different. If so, do send your pics to us to share on the site – just to brag a little!
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be in an one on one battle with a monster shark, or experience the exploding power and strength of a Musselcracker. Come and enjoy a fun filled day of true South African rock and surf angling. Not only will you enjoy the fishing, but Darius will teach you how to read the sea, and how to outwit most South African fish species with bait type and application. The knowledge that you will gain throughout the day is priceless.
All day trips starts out of George and will include the following:
. Transport from George
. Tackle
. Bait
. Great memories
. Photos of your dream fish
. Priceless knowledge
To send an Inquiry for this great experience with Garden Route Fishing Safaris click here.
Fish and Bait Fish |
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Blacktail / DassieSeason: All Year Location: Groenvlei, Swartvlei, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Victoriabay, Herold’s Bay, Glentana, Kleinbrak, Tergniet, Rheebok, Hartenbos Bait: Bloodworm, Chokka, Sand Prawns, Mud Prawns, Red Bait, Prawn Bait, White Mussel, Pilchards, Drop Shot Regulations: Size > 20cm, Bag limit = 5 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Bonito / Sarda SardaSeason: Summer Location: Mossel Bay, Stilbaai Bait: Rapala, Spoon Regulations: Size > no regulations, Bag limit = 10 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good, if bled properly |
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Cape Salmon / GeelbekSeason: Summer Location: Boat Bait: Chokka, Pilchard, Fish Bait Fillets, Karanteen, Sand Prawn, Octopus Regulations: Size > 60cm, Bag limit = 2 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Excellent |
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Carpenter / SilverfishSeason: All Year Location: Boat Bait: Chokka, Pilchard Regulations: Size > 35 cm, Bag limit = 4 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Elf / ShadSeason: Summer, Spring Location: Groenvlei, Sedgfield, Swartvlei, Wilderness, Kaaimans, Victoria Bay, Herolds Bay, Glentana, Kleinbrak, Hartenbos Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Pilchard (very fresh), Mullet, Drop Shot, Plugs, Rapala, Spoon (early morning). Regulations: Size > 30cm, Bag limit = 4 Closed Season: 1 October to 30 November Eating Quality: Good when fresh |
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GaljoenSeason: Winter Location: Groenvlei-oesterbanke, Swartvlei, Gonnas, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Herolds Bay, Glentana, Hersham Bait: Sand Prawns, Red Bait (matured), Prawn Bait, White Mussel Regulations: Size > 35cm, Bag limit = 2 Closed Season: 15 October to last day in February Eating: Good |
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GurnardSeason: All Year Location: Boat Bait: Chokka, Pilchard Regulations: Size > No regulation, Bag limit = 10 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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HakeSeason: Autumn, Winter Location: Boat Bait: Chokka, Pilchard Regulations: Size > No Regulation, Bag limit = 5 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Excellent |
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Karanteen / StrepieSeason: All Year Location: Gericke’s Point, Herolds Bay, Kleinbrak Bait: Chokka, Pilchards, Prawn Bait, Drop Shot Regulations: Size > 15cm, Bag limit = 10 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Poor |
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KingklipSeason: Winter Location: Boat Bait: Chokka, Pilchard Regulations: Size > No Regulation, Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Kob / KabeljouSeason: All Year Location: Swartvlei, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Kaaimans, Herolds Bay, Glentana, Tergniet, Rheebok, Kleinbrak, Hartenbos Bait: Bloodworm, Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Sand Prawns, Mud Prawns, Pilchards, Octopus, Prawn Bait, Blacktail, Karanteen, Mackerel, Elf, Drop Shot, Plugs, Rapala, Spoon Regulations: From shore or lagoon: Size > 60cm, Bag limit = 1, by boat: size >50 cm, bag limit 5 but only 1 > 110cm per day Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Leervis / GarrickSeason: Spring, Summer Location: Swartvlei Mond, Gericke’s Point, Wilderness, Glentana, Hartenbos, Diaz. Bait: Karanteen, Pilchards, Blacktail, Mackerel, Elf, Drop Shot, Salt Water Fly, Plugs, Rapala, Spoon Regulations: Size > 70cm, Bag limit = 2 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Medium – Good when Smoked |
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Mullet / Harder (Net = N)Season: All Year Location: Swartvlei mond, Wilderness, Heroldsbaai, Kleinbrak, Hartenbos. Bait: Pilchards, Fresh Bread, Prawn Bait Regulations: Size > No Regulation, Bag limit = 50 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Poor |
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Musselcracker White / Silver SteenbrasSeason: Spring, Summer Location: Groenvlei, Swartvlei, Gericke’s Point, Gonnas, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Herolds Bay, Hartenbos. Bait: Chokka, Sand Prawns, Red Bait, Pilchard, Octopus, Red Crab, Prawn Bait, Sand Crab, Spook Crab Regulations: Size > 60cm, Bag limit = 2 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Musselcracker Black / PoenskopSeason: Spring, Summer Location: Gerickes Point, Kleinbrak Bait: Chokka, Red Bait, Pilchards, Octopus, Red Crab, Prawn Bait Regulations: Size > 50 cm, Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Red RomanSeason: Summer Location: Boat, Gerickes Point, Voelklip, Herolds Bay Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Sand Prawns, Pilchard, Octopus, Prawn Bait Regulations: Size > 30cm, Bag limit = 2 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Red Stumpnose / Miss LucySeason: Spring, Summer, Autumn Location: Boat Bait: Chokka, Pilchard Regulations: Size > 30cm, Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Rock CodSeason: All Year Location: Boat, Robberg Point Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Sand Prawns, Pilchard, Prawn Bait Regulations: Size > 60cm, Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Excellent |
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Rock Cod YellowbelliedSeason: All Year Location: Boat Bait: Chokka, Pilchard Regulations: Size > 60cm, Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Excellent |
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Santer / SoldierSeason: All Year Location: Boat Bait: Chokka, Pilchard Regulations: Size > 30 cm, Bag limit = 5 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Medium |
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Spotted Grunter / TigerSeason: Summer Location: Swartvlei, Wilderness, Grootbrak, Kleinbrak Bait: Bloodworm, Chokka, Sand Prawns, Mud Prawns, Pilchard, Prawn Bait, White Mussel, Drop Shot Regulations: Size > 40cm, Bag limit = 5 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Excellent |
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Steenbras – RedSeason: Autumn, Winter Location: Boat Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets Regulations: Size > 60 cms, Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: 1 October to 30 November Eating Quality: Good |
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Steenbras – SandSeason: All Year Location: Swartvlei, Wilderness, Hartenbos Bait: Bloodworm, Chokka, Sand Prawns, Mud Prawns, Pilchard, Prawn Bait, White Mussel Regulations: Size > No regulation, Bag limit = 10 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Medium |
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Steenbras – White / Pignose GrunterSeason: All Year Location: Groenvlei, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Glentana, Grootbrak Bait: Bloodworm, Chokka, Sand Prawns, Mud Prawns, Pilchard, Prawn Bait, White Mussel Regulations: Size > 60cm, Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Stumpnose CapeSeason: Winter, Spring (Sea) All Year (Lagoon) Location: Groenvlei, Gonnas, Wilderness, Kleinkrantz, Kleinbrak, Hartenbos. Bait: Bloodworm, Chokka, Sand Prawns, Mud Prawns, Pilchard, Prawn Bait, White Mussel Regulations: Size > 20cm, Bag limit = 5 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Tuna / Tunny – YellowfinSeason: Summer Location: Boat Bait: Fish Bait Fillet, Salt Water Fly, Plugs, Rapala, Spoon Regulations: Size > 3.2kg, Bag limit = 10 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Yellow TailSeason: Spring, Summer, Autumn Location: Boat, Meidebank, Die Eiland, Robberg Point Bait: Chokka, Pilchard, Salt Water Fly, Plugs, Rapala, Spoon Regulations: Size > No Regulation, Bag limit = 10 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Good |
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Zebra / WildeperdSeason: Winter Location: Groenvlei, Gonnas, Wilderness, Heroldsbaai, Kleinbrak, Tergniet, Rheebok Bait: Chokka, Sand Prawns, Mud Prawns, Red Bait, Prawn Bait Regulations: Size > 30cm, Bag limit = 5 Closed Season: No Eating Quality: Medium |
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Rays and Sharks |
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Black Stingray / Short Tail StingraySeason: All Year Location: Lookout Rocks, Kleinkrantz, Gerickes Point, Wilderness, Glentana, Hartenbos. Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Octopus, Mackerel, Elf, Yellowtail, Sarda Sarda Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Blue StingraySeason: Spring, Summer Location: Gerickes Point, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Glentana, Kleinbrak, Hartenbos. Bait: Chokka, Pilchard Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Bronze Whaler / Copper SharkSeason: Spring, Summer Location: Gerickes Point, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Glentana, Hartenbos Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Octopus, Mackerel, Mullet, Elf, Yellowtail, Sarda Sarda Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Cat Shark / Pyjama SharkSeason: All Year Location: Gerickes Point, Herolds Bay, Kleinbrak Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Pilchard Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No
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Cow SharkSeason: All Year Location: Boat, Sinker Bay to Salt River Mouth, Hobie Beach, Robberg Point Bait: Chokka, Pilchard Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Diamond Ray / Butterfly RaySeason: Spring, Summer Location: Swartvlei, Gerickes Point, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Glentana, Hartenbos. Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Karanteen, Blacktail, Mackerel, Elf Regulations: Size > Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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DuckbillSeason: All Year Location: Swartvlei, Gerickes Point, Glentana, Grootbrak, Hartenbos. Bait: Chokka, Octopus Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Hammerhead SharkSeason: Summer Location: Boat, Gerickes Point, Kleinkrantz, Glentana, Voelklip Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Octopus, Blacktail, Mackerel, Mullet, Elf, Yellowtail, Sarda Sarda Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Ragged Tooth SharkSeason: Summer Location: Swartvlei, Gerickes Point, Kleinkranz, Wilderness, Hartenbos, Glentana Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Octopus, Blacktail, Mackerel, Mullet, Yellowtail, Elf, Sarda Sarda Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Sand Shark / Lesser Spotted Guitar SharkSeason: All Year Location: Swartvlei, Wilderness, Glentana, Hartenbos Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Pilchard, Mackerel Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Smooth Hound SharkSeason: All Year Location: Boat, Gerickes Point, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Herolds Bay, Glentana Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Pilchard, Octopus, Mackerel, Mullet, Elf, Yellowtail, Sarda Sarda Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Spotted Gulley SharkSeason: All Year Location: Boat, Gerickes Point, Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Herolds Bay, Glentana, Kleinbrak Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Pilchard, Mackerel, Mullet, Elf, Yellowtail, Sarda Sarda Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Thresher SharkSeason: Winter, Spring Location: Boat, Gerickes Point, Voelklip, Herolds Bay. Bait: Chokka, Fish Bait Fillets, Blacktail, Mackerel, Mullet, Elf, Yellowtail, Sarda Sarda Regulations: Bag limit = 1 Closed Season: No |
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Yes, there are some other regulations for George and surrounds you should know about!
Fishing Permit:
A fishing permit must be obtained from the local Post Office which is open Mon – Fri 8am to 5pm and on Saturday 8am to 1pm. The Post Office address 95 York Street, George Contact nr: 044 874 1212
The permit will give you the fishing regulations in detail. Please take note of all the prohibited species. Have it on you at all times for inspection.
Note: The overall bag limit = 10
The new regulations stipulate that all powered vessels, jetskis and other toys require proof that they have been surveyed and issued with the necessary certificate and stickers, no matter where they are being used – penalties are stiff for not complying and insurance will be invalid.
TIDES
What importance do the tides have for the angler?
Tides should certainly be taken into consideration when the angler plans a fishing trip. Some spots are mainly fished during high tide and others during low tide. Because of the extra low water during spring tide the angler can easily obtain bait like red-bait, octopus, crabs etc. He can also fish at spots which are not accessible during neap tide. Furthermore, the inter tidal zone can be thoroughly investigated.
Plenty of sea vegetation and sea animals will tell the angler that fish are likely to feed there during the incoming tide. For these reasons many anglers prefer to go down to sea during spring tide. For the angler, spring tide lasts 7 days full moon / new moon, as well as the 3 days before and after. On the first of the seven days low tide is not as low as is the case from second day onwards.
It is important that a saltwater fisherman should have a tide table in his fishing bag.
This can be obtainable at tackle shops and certain petrol stations. In the tide table the angler will find the time of high tide and low tide for every day, as well as the phases of the moon which indicate when it is spring tide or neap tide. Every angler should have a basic understanding of the functioning of tides. Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and the the moon. High water and low water each occur twice a day (24 hours). High and low water occur 30 – 45 minutes later each day.
It takes the moon 28 days to complete its elliptical orbit around the earth. Sometimes during this orbit the moon is nearer to the earth than other times and the gravitational pull on the sea differs accordingly. During such an orbit of the moon, four important phases of the moon occur namely : full moon, first quarter, new moon and last quarter. During this period spring tides occur twice, with full moon and a fortnight later with new moon. On these occasions low tide is very low and high tide very high. During first quarter (neap tide) and last quarter (neap tide) the difference between high and low tide is small. First and last quarter occur between full moon and new moon. Special spring tides occur during March and September, due to the equinoxes on 21 March and 22 September every year, when the combined gravitational pull of the sun and moon on the sea is very strong. You will now find exceptionally low and high tides. Consequently, bait and seafood can easily be collected.
WIND
Also influences tides and when a south-easter blows it causes a very low tide. One disadvantage of spring tide is that the sea tends to develop undercurrents and a “back wash”, more so than during neap tide. Tides also influence the feeding habits of fish. Most fish are more active with the incoming tide. In the case of galjoen, for example, you will certainly get more pickups as the water becomes more lively and foamy during the incoming tide. During high tide you are likely to catch the galjoen close to the shore. Shad also prefer high tide. Anglers fishing for kob know that the hour before and after high tide is a prime time. These are not hard and fast rules and fish may be caught at low tide, incoming tide, high tide or outgoing tide.
For full weather updates and forecasts click on the Links below:
– Specialist site for swell readings
– General weather info for temperatures, rain, wind etc.
Thank you
– Garden Route Fishing – For all the information and Tips on Fishing as well as photos. You can contact them for all fishing charters and Extreme Fishing Experiences as well as products . Click Here to send your inquiry to them!
– Ryno Welsh and Arms & Tackle George for giving readers this information as well as photo’s about Fishing in George. You can buy all your fishing products from them at great prices. Email them
Good luck for a great catch
Don’t forget your skipper’s licence!