Fishing in Namibia

 Which month should I choose to visit Namibia?

January:

A good month providing the warmer water which came closer to shore during the second part of December has receded further offshore.

The ideal water temperature will be between 14 and 16deg.

In and around mid December the water starts heating up by offshore warmer water currents being pushed closer to shore by prevailing winds.

The water temp can go as high as 20deg.

Still good catches can be made but more selective searches will have to be made.

What fish can be caught?

Cob, Steenbra, Galjoen, Blacktail, Spotted Gully sharks and Bonze Whalers.

February /March / April

Very good/great months for angling.

During these months all seems to come together to produce good results, water temp, winds, no cold fronts, raining in the interior areas.

Also these months are the months for the big Steenbra to be present, not only in size but also in numbers. Steenbra then are caught all along the coast.

What fish can be caught?

Cob, Steenbra, Galjoen, Blacktail, Spotted Gully sharks and Bonze Whalers.

May / June / July / August

These are also good fishing months but the following has to be taken in consideration.

There must be no cold fronts in the Cape area which will move down Namibia way and make it bitterly cold here.

The coast must not be having Easterly winds at this time.

These cold fronts have a major impact on the fishing here, very big swells, strong washes, cold days, drives the fish to deeper calmer waters.

What fish can be caught?

Cob, Steenbra, Galjoen, Blacktail andSpotted Gully sharks.

Bronze Whalers are getting very few and far between during these months.

 

 

 

September

Good/moderate fishing month but prepare yourself for bitter cold and windy days on the beach. Real miserable fishing weather. Prevailing southerly winds are in the order of the day. Here you have to be a diehard fisherman to withstand the conditions.

What fish can be caught?

Cob, Steenbra, Galjoen, Blacktail and Spotted Gully sharks.

Bronze Whalers nearly nonexistent during this month.

October / November / December.

Good / Great/ Excellent Months.

The reason for classifying this as good / great/ excellent months is for the simple fact that the schools of big Cob generally migrate from North to South for the annual breeding season. These schools frequent different areas of the coastline we are discussing on their way to Sandvishawe South of Walvisbay.

Big schools are often found close inshore and provide for that fishing dream to come true.

What fish can be caught?

Cob, Steenbra, Galjoen, Blacktail, Spotted Gully sharks and Bonze Whalers.

Planning your trip:

Moon Phases.

What is considered as a good fishing time?

I (one) week before full moon and 1 (one) week after full moon tends to be the best fishing time.

There will be a springtide during this time and it must be remembered that for approx 2 days fishing might not be all that good.

Tides.

How must I plan according to tides?

If possible try and have the low tide early in the morning. By having this allows you a full day of fishing as you will be fishing towards and through high tide and again the hours after high tide.

This way you will be optimizing your hours for fishing.

Angling Permit.

Angling permits is obtained from the Ministry of Fisheries in either Swakopmund or Hentiesbay. DO NOT GET CAUGHT WITHOUT ONE. HAVE IT WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES. It means nothing having one and it’s lying at home, you will be fined as not having one, (here “going to show it later “does not exist) Sizes and Quantities.

 

 

Minimum sizes.

Cob.

40 cm and not more than 10 per permit holder per day and of which only 2 may be bigger than 70cm.

Steenbra

40 cm and not more than 10 per permit holder per day and of which only 2 may be bigger than 65 cm.

Galjoen

30 cm and not more than 10 per permit holder per day.

Blacktail.

25 cm and not more than 10 per permit holder per day.

NOTE:

All fish sizes include the head and tail and under no circumstances may you have fish fillets in your possession.

Import / export permits.

When visiting Namibia and you want to take fish back to South Africa an import permit must be taken out well in advance. (at least 6 weeks)

You can apply for this at:

Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries dept

Private bag X 2

Roggebaai

South Africa

8012

Tel: 021 402 3911

Make sure of the current import rules that apply when you envisage visiting Namibia, there are ertain times during the year when meat for example is not allowed to be imported or exported.

Documents

A valid passport (should be further than 6 months from expiry date).

Vehicle papers (vehicle, trailer, caravan etc). If your vehicle is on HP at a bank get a certified copy of the papers and a letter from them authorising you use the vehicle outside the country borders.

A sticker on the right rear of all vehicles (ZA).

Valid driver’s license.

Bait purchase slips. (if you have bait with you)

Meat purchase slips.(if you have meat with you)

Import permit should you be taking fish back to SA.

You don’t always get asked for all this but its better having it than being without it.