Where to Fish in False Bay: the Best Fishing Spots this Summer!

Book your fishing holiday spot at Seaside Cottages. We invite you to come and stay, cast a line, and experience our very own supernatural aquarium.

Shore Fishing, Rock Fishing and Surf Fishing in False Bay, Cape Town

Fish from the shore, fish from the rocks, fish from a boat - there’s ongoing real action in False Bay. This fishing destination is so unlike the warmer ocean up South Africa’s east coast. The Western Cape (False Bay in particular) is a seasonal fishing destination and anglers can catch fish all year round! Arrive in summer when the real action begins. Watch out for the notorious Cape Doctor, the loved and hated strong south-easterly wind. It is a good wind for fishing as it whips up the sea and stirs in a precious pulse of the warm Agulhas Current. As this warm eddy is swept into the bay, it coaxes fish species normally found hundreds of kilometres away into False Bay’s open arms.

Experienced and amateur anglers can make the most of this golden window between October and April. Fish like yellowtail, yellowfin tuna, kob, geelbek and squid (chokka) arrive in shoals to party and compete. In winter, the water cools, the currents shift, and False Bay transforms yet again. Anglers look out for hardy snoek, young yellowtail, and katonkel to take their bait.

Reading False Bay: It’s All About Wind, Bait, and Timing

Fish in False Bay follow the wind according to an innate clock. Summer's south-easter pushes warm currents and shoals of anchovy, sardine, and maasbanker into the bay. Predatory fish are drawn to these bait ball magnets. Anglers in the know watch the wind, track the bait, and time their trips with the lunar tides and solunar feeding windows. Keen fishermen know how to read the patterns and understand the wind, bait and timing. Fishing is a gamble - which is why people fish! What an endorphin and dopamine surge!

False Bay is the epicentre of this extraordinary dynamic between moon, tide, and temperature. It’s super powerful, and peak feeding occurs when the moon is directly overhead or beneath the fishermen - fish feel the pull. Add a falling barometer, signalling a weather change, and lucky chances skyrocket. Wind direction also dictates where fish will gather. South-easterly winds churn the seas off Kalk Bay and Strandfontein into the cloudy, bait-filled waters that kob adore, while a westerly might push fish to Gordon’s Bay.

Fabulous Fish Species in False Bay

Yellowtail

All year, peak in summer.
One of the bay’s most iconic fighters, yellowtail can show up anywhere from Cape Point to Seal Island. Their presence is often given away by terns dancing above baitballs. A hooked yellowtail doesn’t just bite, it bolts, slashing the surface and testing your gear to the limits.

Snoek

Winter specialist (Aug–Oct).
Snoek is no pushover despite its common presence in False Bay. On rod and reel, it’s a born fighter. Often caught in the hundreds by commercial boats, snoek are best hunted in places like Rocky Bank or Buffels Bay. Their sharp teeth and lightning-fast lunges demand sharp hooks and fast hands.

Silver Kob

Prime time: late summer gales.
False Bay’s kob are sly and powerful, drawn to the green, milky water churned up by the wind. They prowl nearshore zones like Swartklip, Kalk Bay, and Macassar. Live bait and patience will bring them to the boat or shore, especially after the south-easterly has calmed.

Geelbek

Summer (Nov–Mar), nocturnal thrill.
A night hunter with a taste for blue water, geelbek follow sardine and anchovy shoals into False Bay’s shallows. They hit hard and run deep. From Whittle Rock to the Steenbras River mouth, these golden-mouthed fish offer thrilling battles under moonlight.

Chokka (Squid)

Year-round fun, best in summer.
Squid fishing in False Bay has become a cult favourite and for good reason. All you need is a jig, a light, and a dash of patience. By night, their ghostly forms dart beneath your boat, tentacles flickering in your torch beam. Popular haunts include Simon’s Town, Buffels Bay and Fish Hoek.

False Bay Fishing Stories - Times are Changing

Fishing in False Bay is nothing new. For over 300 years, commercial and artisanal fishers have relied on this bay. Today, traditional line-fishing and trek-net fisherfolk (the trekkers) share the water with recreational anglers, scuba divers, surfers, and eco-tourists. During peak season, the beaches and slipways swell with boats, rods, and hopeful hearts.

But pressure is mounting. False Bay is South Africa’s largest true bay, and its resources are under strain. Urban sprawl, coastal resorts, pollution, and user conflict pose serious questions for the future. Is there space for everyone - fishers, developers, and dolphins alike?

Sustainable ventures such as shark cage diving, whale watching, and marine aquaculture offer a glimmer of hope. Experimental ventures like yellowtail ranching and whelk farming suggest that adaptation is possible if done responsibly.

Fish Hoek Fishing Is More Than a Catch

False Bay is a living ecosystem, a cultural hub, and a battleground for sustainable resource use. Whether you’re a seasoned angler chasing the flash of yellowtail near Bellows Rock or a curious first-timer casting for chokka off Fish Hoek, there’s something magnetic about fishing here.

Come armed with knowledge, respect the wind, honour the tides, and treasure the silence between the bites. Fishing in False Bay is about understanding the rhythm of the sea and becoming part of the story being written. You may haul in a trophy, you may haul in a bunch of kelp, but whatever happens, you will experience something new to add to your soul.

Absolutely! Here’s a well-rounded list of the best fishing spots in False Bay for amateur fishermen and casual anglers, whether you prefer casting from the shore, off the rocks, or dropping a line from a small boat or kayak. These spots are chosen for ease of access, good fish variety, and a high chance of success during the right season.

Top 10 Fishing Spots in False Bay for Amateur Anglers

1. Fish Hoek Beach

Best for: Chokka (squid), kob (silver kob), small reef species
Why go? Gentle beach, safe for families, easy wading access, and perfect for chokka jigging in the evenings.
Tips: Use a chokka jig at sunset or a light setup for kob in churned-up water after a southeasterly blow.

2. Kalk Bay Harbour Wall

Best for: Chokka, kob, small elf (shad), maasbanker (horse mackerel)
Why go? Classic, sheltered spot for harbour wall fishing. Easy for beginners and kids, and great fun at night.
Tips: Try a Sabiki rig for baitfish; chokka are often caught using jigs from the wall in summer.

3. Strandfontein Pavilion

Best for: Kob, Steenbras, elf
Why go? Long sandy beach with productive surf zones. Great after a southeasterly has stirred up the shallows.
Tips: Try fishing two hours before or after high tide; fresh pilchard bait works wonders for kob.

4. Macassar Beach

Best for: Kob, geelbek, rays, and sharks (catch and release!)
Why go? A hot summer spot after SE winds. The milky water draws in baitfish, and predators follow.
Tips: Fish near the estuary mouth for better results. Kob are often caught at dusk using live mullet or sardines.

5. Simon’s Town Harbour (Jetty and Nearby Rocks)

Best for: Chokka, maasbanker, reef fish
Why go? Sheltered, scenic, and productive for casual casting. Perfect for kayak anglers, too.
Tips: Great spot for night chokka fishing with a light and luminous jig. Bring a Sabiki rig for bait.

6. Millers Point Slipway Area

Best for: Yellowtail (from kayak/boat), chokka, snoek (in season)
Why go? One of the safest boat launch sites in the bay. Also accessible to land-based anglers on calmer days.
Tips: Paddle out just 200–300m and troll with spoons or deep-divers for yellowtail. Keep an eye on birds!

7. Strand Beach (Near the Pipe)

Best for: Kob, elf, stumpnose
Why go? Clean beach with easy parking and a wide surf zone. The area around the stormwater pipe is known for kob in summer.
Tips: Fish early morning or at dusk. Bloodworm or sardine baits do well here.

8. Gordon’s Bay Harbour Wall

Best for: Chokka, reef fish, maasbanker
Why go? Calm waters, ideal for light tackle and kids. Another solid chokka spot in summer evenings.
Tips: Drop a light into the water at night and work your jig slowly for squid.

9. Swartklip / Broken Road

Best for: Kob, steenbras, rays
Why go? Legendary stretch for surf anglers — when the water is right, it’s gold.
Tips: Fish after a strong SE wind. Try a running trace with fresh sardine or live bait.

10. Rooikraans (For the Adventurous)

Best for: Yellowtail (summer), katonkel
Why go? An iconic cliff-based fishing spot near Cape Point. Only for confident, experienced anglers with the right gear and safety in place.
Tips: Wear non-slip shoes, bring a cliff gaff, and never go alone.

Bonus Tips for Amateur Fishermen

• Check tides and moon phases — fish are most active around high tide and during solunar periods.
• Use fresh bait — pilchards, squid, and chokka work best.
• Start early or fish at dusk — especially in summer, these are golden hours.
• Watch the birds — terns and gulls hovering or diving usually signal baitfish (and bigger fish below).
• Stay safe — fish in pairs, wear a PFD if near deep water, and watch the swell at rocky spots.

Whether you’re casting your line for the first time or rediscovering the joy of a quiet morning by the sea, False Bay offers something for every fisherman - especially those anglers with patience, curiosity, and a respect for the ocean’s rhythms.

Contact Seaside Cottages today for your next fishing holiday in Fish Hoek, Cape Town!