The skipjack (or bonito in Europe) is, in my opinion, one of the most enjoyable types of fishing to engage in with family, or even for an experienced angler.
It's a tunny fish that typically weighs between 3 and 8 kg, all muscle, and it can put up a tough fight.
"In the Cape Town area, bonito ("skipjack") is a fish that is very common, especially during the Southern Hemisphere summer (October-April), and you can enjoy sport fishing by catching around a dozen of them in the morning."
A simple but highly effective technique!
For the fishing technique, it's very simple. You'll be trolling almost exclusively in two different ways:
On the first rod (with a large baitcasting reel like an Ambassadeur), the skipper will set up a line with a deep-diving trolling lure to target the lower water layers.
The second rod is equipped with a surface trolling line of small pink squids that, by skimming the surface, attract all kinds of pelagic fish.
An immediate adrenaline rush!
Trolling is a waiting game, but under the sun on the sea, amidst the albatrosses flying around the boat, time flies.
It's not uncommon to go without a bite for over an hour, and suddenly, almost all the lines start to scream, unraveling 30 meters of line on the first run!!
"It's not uncommon to go without a bite for over an hour, and suddenly, almost all the lines start to scream, unraveling 30 meters of line on the first run!"
Skipjacks are schooling fish, and in the competitive atmosphere of the group, they will attack various lures without much hesitation. That's why you'll probably only have 2 or 3 "groups of bites" in the morning, but each group can yield 3 or 4 fish.
Be quick!!
During this period of euphoria, the skippers may not necessarily let you enjoy your fight for long because around the fish already hooked, the rest of the group swims (it reminds me of the behavior of perch).
"The skipper will quickly provide you with a much lighter setup this time to fish vertically on the skipjacks with a simple jig, and the fight is completely different..."
On this lighter equipment, you can enjoy a real equal fight.
With a lighter rod, thinner line, and much less powerful drag, the fish will require you to battle using your back and arms rather than relying on the reel's drag and the carbon of the rod.
Once you're back at the harbor, you can have a cold beer by the beach with the seals at Hout Bay.
And then, at home, you can savor this incredibly fresh and perfect red meat for sushi or even for steaks!
"In summary, it's a waiting and reactive fishing, where you need to be alert because the strikes come in bursts. You will have the opportunity to test two types of equipment for two different fishing actions."
Be carefull: Skipjack and bonito are not the same !!
Even though the two species can easily be confused, these two fish actually do not belong to the same family!
The skipjack has stripes on its belly, a chrome color, and no teeth, while the bonito (or bullet tuna) has stripes on its back and notably prominent teeth.
As a bonus tip, South Africans refer to bonito as "Katonkel," and when a foreigner uses the correct term, you already earn a good point in their esteem.
Where are the fishing spots ?
There are basically 2 harbours to start your tuna fishing trip: Simon's Town or Hout Bay. As far as I am concerned, both areas are equivalent in terms of catches.
Like for tuna (see my articles): Go offshore!
Seriously, use a charter. It's impossible to go on your own. Too dangerous (strong wind, knowledge of the streams and fishing areas).
Read also: Yellowfin tuna, a must-do at Cape Town !
My two favorites charters:
Barry Stringer (Hout Bay, nearer from Cape Town) http://www.houtbaycharters.co.za/
Peter McFarlane (Simon's Town near Muizenberg) Abundance Fishing (!)
Other places to visit in the area
Hout Bay and the beautiful drive to Noordhoek via Chapman's Peak (toll road but a must-see).
Cape Point, of course.
Constantia and its wine farms. My dad loved the tastings (100 rands) at Groote Constantia. For 400 rands (20 euros), you can apparently buy the bottle of wine that Napoleon drank on St. Helena!
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