Great White Shark
Illustration: gardenroutefishing.co.za
The apex predator of this coast, present year-round around seal colonies (Mossel Bay's Seal Island, Algoa Bay) and following the bait runs.
The law: great whites have been fully protected in South Africa since 1991 — the first country in the world to do so. It is illegal to catch, attempt to catch, buy, sell or possess any part of one. If one takes your bait, cut the line immediately.
For anglers: their presence is a sign of a living ecosystem. Fish sensibly around seal colonies and deep drop-offs, don't create bait slicks near swimmers, and report sightings to local authorities where relevant. Cage-diving operators in Mossel Bay offer the legal way to meet one.
Behaviour
Apex predator; ambushes prey near seal colonies.
Reproduction
Viviparous, slow-maturing, producing small litters — the reason the species is so vulnerable.
Field guide
Present year-round around Cape seal colonies (Mossel Bay, Algoa Bay) and along the coast.
Commonly hundreds of kg; large individuals over 1000 kg.
Seals, fish and other sharks; scavenges whale carcasses.
Inshore areas of the Western and Eastern Cape.
Wide-ranging coastal and oceanic movements.
Powerful, sustained runs and dogged head-shaking — big fish test heavy tackle and your stamina rather than jumping.
Fully protected in South Africa since 1991 — illegal to catch, target or possess. Cut the line if one takes your bait.
How to catch Great White Shark
Illegal to target
Large baitrunner spinning reel (8000–14000) or a 6/0–9/0 conventional with 300 m+ line capacity and a strong, smooth drag.
0.50–0.70 mm mono or 50–80 lb braid for the mainline.
8/0–12/0 non-stainless circle hooks (rust out if a deep-hooked fish is released).
1.5–2 m of 100–300 lb mono trace; multi-strand wire or cable for toothy sharks.
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When to catch Great White Shark
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Feeds hard on moving water, especially the push and after dark; spring tides and a warm current switch them on.
Most active in warmer water, roughly 18–23 °C, especially when bait shoals are inshore.
🥅 Landing
On the beach, use the swash to slide the fish onto wet sand; from rocks, lead it to a safe gulley. Never gaff a shark you plan to release.
♻️ Release
Keep it in the water, support the body, remove the hook with a de-hooker or cut the trace close, then revive it upright facing the current until it swims off strongly.
📏 Limits & restrictions
🚫 FULLY PROTECTED since 1991 — illegal to catch or possess. Cut line if hooked
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