St Helena Bay, the Berg River and the waterways of Port Owen offer good fishing for various types of fish at different times of the year.The municipal information office can give you up-to-date information on what is biting and the best place to go at the time of your visit.

CRAYFISH

The Western portion of St Helena Bay is a crayfish reserve and no crayfish may be caught by any method in this area as shown in the accompanying map. However, good catches of crayfish can be had on Britannia Reef, in Britannia Bay and on North Blinder as well as Elands Bay.

Crayfish may be caught with ringnet from a boat using any fish bait. The direction of the wind does not affect crayfishing but the barometer should be below 1020 for best results. Crayfish may be dived only from the shore and without scuba gear.

PERLEMOEN
These shellfish can be found on reefs around Stompneus Point and down the coast.

GALJOEN
Caught on the reef off Dwarskersbos in February and March, "when the Hannepoot ripen" they are at their best but can be caught throughout the year. The time of day seems to make no difference in catching galjoen and they bite well at night. Close inshore, with a rough sea and high tide seem best and for this reason they are mostly caught from the shore. Popular baits are redbait white or black mussel which are most commonly used and most effective.

SNOEK

During the winter and late summer large shoals of snoek are sighted off Stompneus Point and great quantities can be caught with handlines. The most popular spot is North Blinder, but it is worthwhile asking where the most recent catches were had as the shoals move from place to place and local knowledge is invaluable. Snoek are caught on handlines using pilchards for bait or with lead "dolly" lines.

HOTTENTOT

Between October and May large shoals of hottentot are to be found off Dwarskersbos, North Blinder and Doctor Reef. The west along the West Coast off St Helena Bay. The Japanese long-line boats catch great quantities of Longfin, Yellowfin, Bigeye and Bluefin Tuna as well as Swordfish, Sailfish and Marlin. These gamefish could be the basis of a magnificent tourist industry in the area.