Fishing opportunities for the keen angler are among the principle drawcards of The Sanctuary.
The deep sea waters adjacent to The Sanctuary are world-renowned fishing grounds for the competitive and recreational deep-sea fisherman, offering a wide variety of trophy species in veritable abundance. The Sanctuary’s proximity to these waters affords matchless access for the keen fisherman, who can have lines in the water within as little as half an hour of leaving the comfort of home.
In line with our conservation objectives, The Sanctuary has implemented Marine Protected Areas, also known as no-fishing zones along the immediate shoreline of the peninsula. The critical cooperation of the local fishing community, homeowners and management receives ongoing prioritisation in order to uphold these protected zones. The intention of The Sanctuary is to provide a network of protected marine areas / breeding grounds adequate to significantly enhance fish and invertebrate stocks and, in so doing, to produce ever increasing numbers of stocks to immigrate from our waters to the ocean.
A catch and release policy is widely adhered to with daily catch limits. A fishing license is required for any fishing activity (obtainable from The Sanctuary office).
The waters off The Sanctuary’s shores are reputed to be amongst the best deep sea fishing waters on the East coast of Africa and are regularly featured in various media for the remarkable bounty and exceptional fishing conditions on offer. Numerous trophy species such as marlin, sailfish and swordfish are commonly caught off our shores. Many properties have their own deep sea fishing boats or fishing facilities can be arranged through The Sanctuary.
Deep sea and spear fishing outfitters operating out of Vilanculos can be engaged by private arrangement to guide fishing excursions if private facilities are unavailable.
Salt water fly fishing and spinning is permitted in the main channels beyond the limits of the Marine Protected Areas. The exceptional range of tides and the speed with which water flows in and out of The Sanctuary’s waters create ideal conditions for exciting and challenging outings for the experienced seawater fly-fisherman.
To promote and ensure legal, appropriate and sustainable recreational fishing on The Sanctuary all anglers should take note of the following:
Month | Marlin | Sailfish | Tuna / Bonito |
King Mackerel |
Queen Mackerel |
Kingfish | Bone fish |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January | Some | Few | Excellent | Good chance | Great | Year Round | Scarce |
February | Few | Few | Excellent | Good chance | Great | Year Round | Scarce |
March | Few | Few | Excellent | Good chance | Great | Year Round | Few |
April | Good chance | Some | Great | Good chance | Excellent | Year Round | Good chance |
May | Good chance | Good chance | Great | Excellent | Excellent | Year Round | Good chance |
June | Good chance | Great | Great | Excellent | Excellent | Year Round | Good chance |
July | Good chance | Great | Good chance | Excellent | Excellent | Year Round | Good chance |
August | Good chance | Excellent | Good chance | Excellent | Great | Year Round | Good chance |
September | Great | Excellent | Good chance | Excellent | Great | Year Round | Few |
October | Supurb! | Great | Great | Great | Great | Year Round | Scarce |
November | Supurb! | Good chance | Excellent | Good chance | Good chance | Year Round | Scarce |
December | Supurb! | Good chance | Excellent | Good chance | Good chance | Year Round | Scarce |
Local name | Scientific name | Enlgish name |
---|---|---|
Espadarte | Xiphias gladius | Swordfish |
Espardim negro | Makaira indica | Black marlin |
Espardim azul | Makaira mazara | Blue marlin |
Espardim de focinho curto | Tetrapturus angustirostis | Shortbill spearfish |
Espardim raiado | Tetrapturus audax | Striped marlin |
Veleiro | Istiophorus platypterus | Sailfish |
Local name | Scientific name | Enlgish name | No of catch per day per fisherman |
---|---|---|---|
Marreco | Chrysoblephus puniceus | Slinger | 4 |
Robalo | Cheimeirus nufar | Soldier | 4 |
Cachuchu | Polysteganus coeruleopunctatus | Blueskin | 4 |
Garoupa | Serranidae All species | Rockcod | 4 |
Papagaio | Scarus spp | Parrotfish | 1 |
Tubarão | All species except white shark | Sharks | 2 |
Local name | Scientific name | Enlgish name | No of catch per day per fisherman |
---|---|---|---|
Lagosta do fundo | All species | Deep water lobster | 2 |
Lagosta da rocha | All species | Rock lobster | 2 |
Lagostim | All species | Crayfish | 2 |
Camarão | All species | Shrimp | 0 |
Gamba | All species | Deep water shrimp | 0 |
Local name | Scientific name | Enlgish name | No of catch per day per fisherman |
---|---|---|---|
Lagosta | All species | Lobster | 2 |
Camarão | All species | Shrimps | 0 |
Local name | Scientific name | Enlgish name |
---|---|---|
Garoupa lanceolatus | Elphinephelus lanceolatus | Brindle bass |
Dentuço manchado | Polysteganus undulosus | Seventy-four |
Garoupa batata | Elphinephelus tukula | Potato bass |
Pargo vermelho | Petrus rupestris | Red steenbras |
Tubarão branco | White shark |
Local name | Scientific name | Enlgish name |
---|---|---|
Tartarugas marinhas | All species | Marine turtles |
Local name | Scientific name | Enlgish name |
---|---|---|
Tridacna gigante | Tridacna gigante | Giant clam |
Tridacna squamosa | Tridacna squamosa | Giant clam |
Local name | Scientific name | Enlgish name |
---|---|---|
Capacete grande | Cassis cornuta | Horned helmet |
Corneta trompiteira | Charonia tritonis | Trumpet triton |