Snoek
Illustration: gardenroutefishing.co.za
The Cape's famous winter fish — a razor-toothed pelagic that sweeps east when cold upwelling pushes bait along the coast, reaching Mossel Bay in good years.
Where & how: ski-boats troll spinners and dollies or drift with sardine baits when shoals show; the fleet finds them fast when a run is on. Rock anglers occasionally connect from deep points during a strong run.
Handling: mind the teeth — snoek bite boats, hands and anything else. 'Snoek gaff' handling is a Cape art.
Table: iconic — braaied, smoked or in smoorsnoek. 60 cm minimum, 10 per day.
Field guide
Blistering first runs and often spectacular aerial work — a light-tackle thrill.
How to catch Snoek
Handline or medium spinning from boats
Fast 6000–10000 spinning reel for casting and jigging, or a light conventional for trolling.
20–30 lb braid with a mono top shot.
5/0–8/0 for bait, or upgrade the trebles/singles on lures.
0.60 mm fluorocarbon; single-strand wire for toothy species (katonkel, snoek).
Trolled spinners/dollies, sardine baits
When to catch Snoek
Cold winter runs, early morning
Low-light around the tide change, especially when bait is being funnelled past a point.
Warm water of 19–24 °C pushes them inshore; find the temperature/colour break.
🥅 Landing
Net or lip-gaff at the boat; on the rocks lead it to a gulley on the swash. Keep the line tight — they throw hooks.
♻️ Release
Bleedable table fish are usually kept; if releasing, minimise the fight, keep it in the water and revive before letting go.
No tours targeting this species yet — browse all tours.
