Spotted Gully Shark
Illustration: gardenroutefishing.co.za
The sweet-william of Cape gulleys — a thickset, spotted shark that hunts crabs and small fish in the washes and deep gulleys, often in packs.
Where & how: deep rocky gulleys at dusk and after dark: Tsitsikamma, Robberg, Gericke's Point. Chokka, redbait or fish baits on 6/0-8/0 hooks with heavy mono leader. Strong, stubborn fights close to structure make them superb rock-angling sport.
Ethics: slow-breeding and resident. Catch-and-release is the norm — gully sharks handle it well when released quickly. No sale.
Field guide
Powerful, sustained runs and dogged head-shaking — big fish test heavy tackle and your stamina rather than jumping.
How to catch Spotted Gully Shark
Medium-heavy rock outfit, 6/0-8/0 hooks, heavy mono
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.
Chokka, redbait, fish baits
When to catch Spotted Gully Shark
Dusk and after dark in deep gulleys
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.
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