South Africa’s oceans include some 1600 different species of fish, making this country a fishing paradise. But that’s not all, the network of South Africa’s zig-zagging rivers, lakes, dams and swamps is home to at least 250 species of freshwater fish which include the favourites, trout and catfish, among others.
South Africa, particularly in the Natal Midlands, Mpumalanga and Limpopo province areas is home to many holiday resorts situated along rivers and near dams where fishermen go about their business of fishing while enjoying the beauty and serenity of the surrounding landscape.
There are various fishing clubs all over the country which host festivals and competitions all year round and offer the best opportunity to learn the finer points of the craft (and to socialize). Even in the landlocked provinces such as Gauteng and Free State, there are dams aplenty to keep the fishermen going. Some of the major dams include the Vaal River and the Vaal Dam, Roodeplaat Dam, Bronkhorstspruit Dam and numerous others.
Favourite fishing haunts:
Dullstroom in the Mpumalanga highlands is one of the country’s most popular fishing spots. The town is perched some 2000 metres above sea level on the Transvaal Drakensberg. The town’s folk love their fishing so much they even publish a daily diary of catches and state of the rivers on the town’s website. One of the entries in November carried a paragraph of ‘a young lad from England who landed a 3,2kg Rainbow hen at Hackers Haven! Needless to say, the fish is destined to take a place of pride on some wall in England.’ One of the best features of Dullstroom is the Coromandel Farm Estate where visitors can stay in apartments that previously served as stables, and guests can ride to the various dams on the farm on horseback.
One of the best fishing events on the South African calendar is the annual Sardine Run on the eastern coastline of KwaZulu Natal. Every year, millions of sardines embark on a 1000-km voyage from the southern Cape Coast which takes them past the Wild Coast and up into the Indian Ocean beaches of KwaZulu-Natal. The sardines come within just within metres of the coastline, resulting in a massive feeding frenzy from fishermen, adventurers, tourists and ordinary folk.
On the business front, South Africa has a large commercial fishing industry with an estimated 4,500 commercial working the country’s nearly 3,000-kilometer coastline from Mozambique to Namibia.
The Atlantic coastline is a haven picturesque fishing villages where life seems to move at a snail’s pace, making for a perfect getaway for the adventurer types who also love the ocean. Don’t forget to make time to explore the Cape West Coast next time you’re in South Africa.
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