After being a ski-boat owner for a couple of years, I was forced to sell the vessel after my wife and I bought a new home three years ago. I rarely miss having the responsibilities of a boat. The annual seaworthy tests, costly upgrading of safety equipment and services etc. Fuel is also a huge expense and the days never seemed to end having to town it to storage, wash the boat, flush engines etc.

But when we have balmy, sunny winter days in Cape Town, with absolutely no wind, I inevitably start looking for traces of Cape Snoek making their appearance visible. Spotting snoek vessels near the Cape Town waterfront as they prepare to launch at Oceana Powerboat Club. Or snoek vendors making their appearance on the streets of neighborhoods like Woodstock and Salt river.

Fly fishing for Cape Snoek, Thyrsites atun, is not a delicate affair. We’re talking big heavy flies, fast sinking lines and hustling for position in amongst the commercial snoek fleets. it’s generally a great day on the water and apart from catching some hard fighting snoek, you might even learn a few new swear words from the commercial fishermen. Snoek also makes for great fare on the open coals, especially if cooked West Coast style with butter and moskonfyt (grape jam) on the fillet side. Wash it down with some crisp Cape Sauvignon Blanc and you’re a happy man, guaranteed.

Here are a few pics from my snoek fishing days in and around Cape Town.