Best Coastal Spots for February: Where the Fish Are Biting
February in South Africa means one thing: prime fishing season. The water's warm, the baitfish are running, and gamefish are feeding aggressively along our spectacular coastline.
Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting into saltwater fishing, knowing where to cast your line in February can mean the difference between stories and fish. Here's your guide to the hottest coastal spots this month.
Why February Is Special
February sits right in the heart of summer fishing season with near-perfect conditions. Water temperatures peak at 18-24°C along most of the coast, baitfish schools are thick, and big predators are in close chasing them.
Unlike December and January when beaches are packed with holidaymakers, February offers a sweet spot: tourists have gone home, but the fish haven't. You get productive fishing without fighting for space on the rocks or competing for boat launch slots at 4am.
The Garden Route: All-Rounders' Paradise
Plettenberg Bay & Keurboomstrand
February is arguably Plett's best fishing month. Kob (kabeljou) move into the bay in numbers, especially around rocky points at Keurbooms River mouth and Robberg Peninsula.
What's biting:
- Kob (best early morning and late afternoon)
- Garrick (leervis) cruising the surf zone
- Shad (elf) in good numbers
- Occasional yellowtail on deeper reefs
Top spots: Robberg beach for surf fishing, Keurbooms River mouth for leervis at sunrise, and Beacon Island rocks for variety.
Local tip: Fish the last two hours of rising tide and first hour of the drop. That's when baitfish get pushed into corners and predators follow.
Knysna & Sedgefield
The Knysna estuary produces consistently in February. Grunter, spotted grunter, and white steenbras are active. The lagoon fishing at Sedgefield is underrated - white steenbras and grunter are plentiful, and it's safe for families.
The Wild Coast: Adventure Fishing
Coffee Bay & Port St Johns
If you're after adventure as much as fish, the Wild Coast delivers both. February sees excellent fishing from rocks and beaches, with the bonus of being one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the country.
What's biting:
- Garrick (from rocks and surf)
- Shad (excellent this time of year)
- Big kob from beaches at night
- Bronze bream from the rocks
Reality check: This is remote fishing. Cell signal is patchy at best. Waterproof, durable equipment isn't optional here - saltwater, rocks, and rough conditions eat fragile gear for breakfast. A waterproof phone with exceptional battery life becomes critical when you're far from civilization and charging points.
Port St Johns is legendary for big garrick and fish over 15kg are regularly landed from the beaches. Fishing the early morning high tide at First Beach is your best shot at a trophy leervis.
KZN South Coast: Warm Water Gamefish
Umkomaas & Scottburgh
The KZN South Coast comes alive in February. Warm Mozambique current brings baitfish close to shore, and gamefish follow.
What's biting:
- Garrick (excellent from beaches and rocks)
- Shad (running well)
- Kob from the beaches
- King mackerel (couta) from boats
- Occasional sailfish offshore
Top spots: Umkomaas River mouth (fish both sides of the pier), Scottburgh main beach (early morning for leervis), and Rocky Bay for rock and surf fishing.
Eastern Cape: Consistent Producers
Port Alfred & Port Elizabeth
Often overlooked, the Eastern Cape coast delivers consistent February fishing. Beaches produce kob, garrick, and spotted grunter, while the Kowie and Kariega river mouths offer estuarine species.
The Kariega River mouth is particularly productive—fish the channel edges on the outgoing tide. In PE, Kings Beach and Hobie Beach are easily accessible, while Sardinia Bay offers less pressure and potentially bigger fish.
West Coast: The Snoek Run
Paternoster & St Helena Bay
If you're after volume and eating fish, the West Coast snoek run peaks around February. These silver torpedoes provide fast action and fill cooler boxes quickly.
What's biting:
- Snoek (the main event)
- Hottentot (from the rocks)
- White steenbras (in calmer bays)
- Yellowtail (offshore reefs)
Fish early morning from rocks or boats. Snoek fishing is active and exciting—you'll need good gear and the ability to handle wet, cold, and occasionally rough conditions.
Battery life matters: When you're out before sunrise and fishing until late morning, then back out in the afternoon, your phone needs to last. Checking tides, weather updates, navigation apps, and photographing catches all drain batteries. Long days on the water make exceptional battery life necessary, not optional.
Essential February Fishing Knowledge
Tides and Timing
General rule: Fish two hours either side of high tide for most spots. But there are exceptions, ask at local tackle shops for the best timing tips.
Bait Choices
- Sardines: Universal option, works everywhere
- Mackerel: Excellent for kob and garrick
- Chokka (squid): Produces bigger fish
- Soft plastics and lures: Increasingly effective for garrick, shad, and kob
Weather Watching
Coastal weather changes quickly in summer. Having reliable weather information matters for safety and success. A waterproof phone with solid signal and long battery life means you can check forecasts, radar, and wind apps throughout the day which is critical when conditions shift.
Regulations and Conservation
Know your bag limits and size restrictions! They vary by province and species. Take photos, practice catch and release when appropriate, and only keep what you'll use. Trophy photos don't require killing the fish.
Gear That Matches Your Fishing Life
Coastal fishing is hard on equipment. Everything gets exposed to saltwater, sun, sand, and rough handling. Your fishing gear is built for it - your phone probably isn't.
Here's what actually matters:
Waterproof ratings: IP68 minimum. You're going to get wet, and your phone will definitely get splashed.
Drop resistance: Rocks, boat decks, sandy beaches, your phone will take impacts. Rugged construction saves you hundreds in repairs - and with the screen protector, you're even more secure.
Battery life: Dawn to dusk fishing means 12-16 hours away from chargers. Devices that genuinely last a full day stop being stressful and start being useful.
Readable screens in sunlight: African sun on water creates brutal glare. A screen you can't read when checking tides or weather is useless.
Durable construction: Dust, sand, and saltwater corrode electronics. Sealed ports extend device life from 18 months to 4-5 years.
The best fishing trip is one where you're thinking about fish, not worrying whether your phone will survive.
Making the Most of February
February fishing is genuinely excellent along most of our coast, but success comes from more than just showing up.
Prepare properly:
- Check tides and weather before you leave
- Tell someone where you're fishing and when you'll be back
- Bring enough water, sunscreen, and food
- Have proper safety equipment
Fish smart:
- Early mornings almost always outproduce midday
- Ask locals and tackle shops for current intel
- Don't ignore smaller spots—secret beaches often fish better
- Be willing to move if a spot isn't producing
Respect the environment:
- Take your rubbish with you (especially fishing line—it kills seabirds)
- Follow bag limits and size restrictions
- Handle fish carefully if releasing them
Your February Fishing Season
February gives South African anglers some of the best coastal fishing of the year. Whether you're chasing trophy garrick on the Wild Coast, filling the cooler box with snoek on the West Coast, or enjoying family fishing on the Garden Route, the opportunities are exceptional.
Choose your spots based on what you want to catch, prepare properly for conditions, and make sure your gear - including your tech- can handle the coastal environment.
Because the best fishing stories are the ones where everything went right, you landed the fish, captured the moment, and came home safely with memories to last a lifetime (or at least one good meal).
Heading to the coast this February? Make sure you're equipped with waterproof, durable devices built for real fishing conditions - long battery life, drop-resistant, and designed to survive saltwater, sun, and the hard knocks of life on the water.
