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Part 4: Exploring the Overberg Coast By Rob Naysmith
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N this issue we move along the coast from where we left off at Cape Hangklip, and cover the area all the way down to Cape Agulhas. Although I’ve fished this area very successfully over the years, I’ve coerced a few of the local fishing legends to assist me in this article. It was not an easy task to get them to part with such treasured knowledge, most of which has been passed down through the generations; that’s the way it works down here. With the assistance of the most renowned statesman in the Overberg, Mr Olaf Bergh, the legends told their stories and shared their secrets, most never revealed before. In its heyday, the area from Cape Hangklip to Cape Agulhas was a nationally renowned fishing mecca. Whether from the shore or boat, catches were incredible, unbelievable by today’s standards. Commercial fishing harbours thrived in Hermanus and Gansbaai, supporting entire towns and communities with the huge bounty of fish readily available in vast numbers. Although a lot has changed, there is
still some excitingly productive fishing to be enjoyed As the area covers a great expanse of extremely rugged coastline, one is restricted to launching a boat from one of the few available harbours, each of which has a local fishing club. I have had the pleasure of visiting all of these clubs, and I highly recommend the visiting angler do likewise. Not only for the local knowledge but also to enjoy some of the most hospitable and inviting people on this planet. The launch venues from west to east are primarily: Kleinmond Harbour Hermanus Harbour Gansbaai Harbour Kleinbaai Harbour (where the great white shark boats operate) Pearly Beach — sheltered beach launch WHAT TO CATCH The Agulhas current eddies keep this coast relatively warm, and the winds play their part in concentrating the shoaling fish. The Overberg fishing is less gamefish orientated and more concentrated on bottomfishing than False Bay is, making it more of a year-round fishery.
The dominant target species in summer (October to April) are yellowtail, silver kob, geelbek and Roman. In winter (May to September) you can target yellowtail, snoek, silver kob and red stump. A fish known locally as a silver — but it’s red (don’t ask) — is plentiful in massive shoals throughout the year. It’s great eating and is in big demand by the locals. Other common species include red steenbras, hake and gurnard amongst many others. Tuna are present in the summer, but the distance to the shoals makes this fishery prohibitive to most boats. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS As with fishing in False Bay, the main ingredients to a successful day’s fishing here are wind and bait. Again, the lifeblood of this area is the massive shoals of anchovies and pilchards in relatively shallow waters. However, with dwindling stocks the fishery has become more concentrated towards Gansbaai than spread along the coast like it was in the past. In turn, this has made the eastern part of this coastline more productive from an angling perspective. SKI-BOAT January/February 2022 • 11
