Sitting at the southern tip of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, Shelly Beach has been a holiday hotspot for years. Tourists flock to the area to enjoy the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. And they don’t stop at swimming.
Jump aboard one of the many fishing charters Shelly Beach is home to, and you can head out in search of a huge range of fish. From tasty reef species to big game monsters like Tuna and Billfish, Shelly Beach has it all within easy reach.
Types of Fishing
You’re in for a lot of fun wherever you fish in these legendary waters, and how you fish is often decided by when you’re in town. Here are the main trips you can expect to choose from.
Deep Sea Fishing
Humans aren’t the only ones who spend their holidays in Shelly Beach. During the summer, warm currents bring a who’s who of big game pelagics within an easy cruise of the shore. Yellowfin Tuna are the local favourite, alongside tasty Mahi Mahi (known locally as “Dollies”).
If you’re here more for the sport than the spoils, you can also enjoy Shelly Beach’s great Billfish bite. Blue, Black, and Striped Marlin all show up in good numbers during the summer, as do Sailfish and the occasional Spearfish.
Bottom Fishing
If the summer focuses on the bluewater bite, winter is all about bottom fishing. The reefs around Shelly Beach are popular with both anglers and divers, particularly the Protea Banks. Scuba enthusiasts and Shark lovers flock here for the huge packs of Bull and Tiger Sharks. There’s a lot more than Sharks here, though. Bottom fishing trips reel in Musselcracker, Kob, Yellowtail, Rock Cod, and Protea Bream, which is found nowhere else on Earth.
Backline Fishing
One place you can always rely on reeling in fish is just the other side of the waveline. Backline fishing will hook you some tasty Shad and hard-fighting Snoek throughout most of the year. The bite hits its best in June and July. Huge Sardine migrations sweep past the town this time of year, chased by big Garrick and Bluefish (or “Elf”, as they’re known here).
Fishing Techniques
Shelly Beach deep sea fishing mainly sticks to the topwaters, following birds and searching out flotsam on the hunt for Yellowfin Tuna. There’s nothing more exciting than coming across a feeding frenzy right on the surface. Get into the middle of it, and you can expect a real fight!
Fly fishing is also popular, with Bluefish, Garrick, Skipjack, and Bonito putting fly fishers through their paces. Bluefish and Garrick are a seasonal speciality, but Bonito and small Tunas can be great fun any time of year – there’s never a bad time to break out your fly rod!
One of the most iconic parts of a Shelly Beach fishing trip happens before you even leave the shore. The town has no harbour, so charters are “dry-launched” right into the surf. Timing this with the waves and the tide takes some real skill, and local skippers spend their lives perfecting the art. It’s as sure to get your heart pumping as the fish themselves.
Need to Know
So you’re set on a trip to Shelly Beach? lucky you! You won’t regret it. Here are a few final tips to help plan your visit.
Fishing Permits
You need to buy a recreational fishing permit whether you’re on a charter or fishing from shore. Most rod-and-reel fishing is covered by a basic angling permit, but certain species do need a supplementary license. If you fancy going head-to-head with your next meal, you’ll also need a specific spearfishing permit.
Charter Prices
Most fishing charters in Shelly Beach last between 6 and 8 hours and cost around 1,000 Rand ($70) per hour. If you don’t have enough people to book out the whole boat, many skippers run shared trips for as little as 800 Rand ($55) per person. These can be a fun way to learn from the locals, but you’ll have less flexibility as to what you target than you would on a private charter.
Getting There
Shelly Beach is under an hour-and-a-half from Durban by car or just over 2 hours by bus. You can also get express coaches from Johannesburg. You'd better pack for the journey on one of these, though, as they take at least 10 hours.
Shelly Beach is a perfect seaside getaway, which has been growing in size and popularity for years. Whether you come for the beautiful beaches, the warm waters, or the exciting nightlife, you can’t miss out on the area’s angling. There’s a trip for every budget and action every month of the year. So jump aboard, crash through the waves, and head out for hard fights and a tonne of fun!