Shad (Elf)
Pomatomus saltatrix
Also known as: Shad, elf, bluefish, tailor
Illustration: gardenroutefishing.co.za
The ever-popular elf — an aggressive shoaling predator with razor teeth that runs the coast in autumn and winter, providing the fastest fishing of the year.
Where & how: points and deep beaches at dawn: Mossel Bay Point, J-Bay, Hartenbos. Spoons, small plugs and sardine on wire or heavy mono bite-traces. When a shoal moves through, it's a fish a cast.
Table & handling: superb eating fresh (poor frozen); bleed immediately. Mind the teeth when unhooking.
Conservation: a closed season (historically 1 October – 30 November) protects spawning fish, and the limit is 4 per day. Shad are the bread-and-butter fish of SA rock and surf angling — respect the limits that keep the runs coming.
Field guide
Silver-blue, forked tail, and a mouthful of sharp teeth; single soft dorsal.
Surf, points and off river mouths in shoals
Common 0.5-2 kg; over 5 kg 'choppers'
Voracious shoaling predator slashing baitfish
Dogged, side-on power using the wash and structure — hold on and don't give line into the reef.
No close local lookalike
How to catch Shad (Elf)
Light spinning or surf rod, wire/heavy bite trace
6000–8000 fixed-spool surf reel (or a coffee-grinder/scarborough) with 250 m+ of line.
0.35–0.45 mm mono or 20–30 lb braid.
1/0–4/0 depending on target and bait size.
0.50–0.70 mm mono trace, abrasion-resistant for the rocks.
Spoons, small plugs, sardine
When to catch Shad (Elf)
Dawn at points, autumn–winter runs
Two hours either side of high tide fills the gutters; spring tides move the most water.
Around new and full moon when shoals run
Galjoen and bream prefer cooler 14–18 °C; kob feed across the range, best in low light.
🥅 Landing
Time the swash to slide the fish up the beach or into a gulley; don't try to winch it over dry rock.
♻️ Release
Wet hands, support the fish horizontally, minimise air time and let it swim off under its own power.
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