Spearing Yellowtail in Cape Town, South Africa

[landshark sa]

Diving with a buddy is always better and besides the safety aspect it's even more important when targeting Yellowtail via shore dive.

They move around so quickly, the more eyes you have in the water to spot shoals the better. You are able to cover a much larger area by boat, you simply hop in and look around until you find the next shoal. However, when doing a shore dive you are limited to the immediate area in which you find yourself so it helps having more guys in the water.

Also sharks can be an issue at the point. Big Bronzies tend to follow the Yellowtail schools around the bay and there is always a chance of bumping into a Great White. I also saw a decent sized Hammerhead while fishing from a boat the week before last, so having a buddy to watch your back is really important.

 

[Johann]

Thanks Landshark sa,
the idea of sharks are always in my mind - being supressed and kept in the back. I would rather go check out the point with someone that knows the area instead of just swimming around blindly hey. Think I will stick to the kelp forests for now. I want to go check out Millers Point sunday / monday, and see how it goes.

 

[landshark sa]

the idea of sharks are always in my mind - being supressed and kept in the back.

That's a good place to keep them

I want to go check out Millers Point sunday / monday, and see how it goes.

Quite a bit of swell (Sun 4m+ and Mon 3.5m+) predicted so the dives could end up being a bit surgy.

The Millers area is a good place to spear and holds some decent reef fish such as Roman, Galjoen, Knifejaw, Butterfish and you may even run into a size Bankie.

Keep in mind that there is a no take zone called the Castle Rock Restricted Zone where you are not allowed to spearfish.

Starts at the very end of the Millers slipway parking lot (Millers point) and ends just before the start of Smitswinkel bay area (Partridge point).
The exact coordinates are:
34°15.480S 018°28.344E
34°14.100S 018°28.508E
34°14.100S 018°29.300E
34°15.480S 018°29.300E

A cool spot to check out in the no take zone, so obviously without a speargun, is the bay just to the left of Pyramid rocks. This area holds a resident population of Cow sharks which are very entertaining to dive with and if you are really lucky you may also bump into one of the Otters that frequent the area.

I would rather go check out the point with someone that knows the area instead of just swimming around blindly hey

If you do go I recommend that you try the Black rocks area first. It's one of the easiest spots to enter and you don't have to mission down the side of the mountain with all your kit as in the case with Rooikrans or Platbank. The South Western side is also an easy entry but is a lot more exposed to the swell so ends up being a rough dive a lot of the time.

Mind the Baboons though as they are quite destructive and will have no qualm removing your car side mirror or breaking off a wiper blade. I always used to take a couple of rubber snakes and left it on my car bonnet and dashboard.

Unfortunately due to the roadworks and associated traffic jams in the Fishhoek area I don't dive the Point that often any more. As I drive from the Boland area it takes me almost the same amount of time to drive to Struisbaai / Arniston as it would take me driving to the Point, plus I don't have to pay the gate entry fee. In saying that I do venture out there every once in a while so I'll let you know when I go. I'm far from an expert in the area but you are more than welcome to come along.

Alternatively I can put you into contact with some spearo's that dive the Point regularly. Let me know if you are keen then I'll PM you some details.

 

[Johann]

That sounds like a great plan Landshark !
Any details are always welcome. And yes please definitely let me know when you plan to venture out this side again.

I did make a turn there this monday and the water was insane ! The only trouble is I am only able to dive a full day on mondays, otherwise weekends after 14:00 as I mamge a dive centre. So when I DO get a chance to get in the water it's usualy on scuba -with students-

I'm always keen on afternoon hunts though, the fish seem to be really active then.
Some of my best catches were made with the last light after sunset.
But I reckon it's also the time to be most alert ( and have a buddy in the water with you)

 

[Wazeer Hakim]

So from the looks of things this year has been a banger of a yellowtail season in cape town so far unfortunately im just starting to spearfish, but i would like to c what miles and the other veterans did

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[landshark sa]

Hi Wazeer,

Indeed it's been an amazing season. We speared and caught A LOT of Yellowtail all over the show. Traditionally around Easter is when the Cape Point Yellowtail season comes to an end but with the phenomenal fishing we've had I will not be surprised if we are still able to pick up some Tail well into next month.

Guys have also been spearing YT at Dassen Island pretty much right through the year, so if you are really keen one can always go and look for the resident Huisbaai school.

Although visibility has been a hit or miss affair Struisbaai / Arniston area has also been delivering the goods with some nice Tail speared over the last couple of weeks. I haven't had many reports of YT further North except we got some of the bigger class fish, 15-20kg, at Stillbaai a month or so ago (also ran into some bigger class Great Whites there... ).

 

[Wazeer Hakim]

Nice!!!! Any pics for the guys?

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[landshark sa]

Unfortunately no monster fish where had so not many photos taken, but here's a few of some of this season's trips around Cape Point.

 

[Wazeer Hakim]

Verrry nice!!!

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[louismatthys]

Hey guys,
I'm heading to Dana bay Easter weekend. Never been there before. Does anyone know where to dive and what to target this time of year?
I will appreciate any info!!
Thanks