Yellowtail
Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) is the backbone of Cape Town's inshore boat fishery.
Schools move through False Bay, around Cape Point, and past Robben Island, chasing anchovies and squid close to the surface — often giving themselves away by pushing baitfish up under diving seabirds.
Most fish run 2–5 kg, with doubles not unusual and occasional specimens pushing 20 kg.
Scientific Name: Seriola lalandi
Also known as Yellowtail Kingfish, Cape Yellowtail, Geelstert
- Elongated, powerful body with a distinctive yellow stripe running from eye to tail; fins and tail strongly yellow-tinged.
- Metallic blue-green on the back fading to silver-white on the belly — clean, torpedo-shaped profile built for speed.
- Typical fish in False Bay weigh 2–5 kg; fish to 12 kg are caught regularly, and specimens up to 20 kg have been recorded in South African waters.
- Easily separated from other carangids by the continuous yellow lateral stripe and deeply forked, bright yellow tail.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to South African waters; part of a broader subtropical population distinct from Australian and New Zealand fish.
- Concentrated along the Western Cape coast — False Bay, Cape Point, Robben Island, Dassen Island, and the South Coast as far as Cape Infanta and Struisbaai.
- Benthopelagic schooling fish that moves through open water and over reefs from the surface down to several hundred metres, though most angling happens in the top 30 m.
- Strongly tied to clean, blue water; catches drop sharply as water turns green or dirty brown.
Key Locations
- False Bay — the primary fishery, with consistent schools from Cape Point across to the eastern shore.
- Cape Point — the headland concentrates current lines and bait, making it the most reliable single location on the Cape Peninsula.
- Robben Island — schools regularly work the reefs and current edges around the island, accessible by boat from Cape Town or Hout Bay.
- Dassen Island (West Coast) — productive for larger fish; crustaceans feature more in the diet here than at False Bay sites.
- Struisbaai and Cape Infanta (South Coast) — the eastern edge of the documented range, with fish present seasonally.
Specific Spots
- Current lines and temperature breaks where warm blue water meets cooler green water concentrate bait and draw feeding schools.
- Working seabirds are the single most reliable locator — yellowtail push anchovies to the surface and the birds mark the spot from a distance.
- Reef edges and rocky headlands around Cape Point and Robben Island hold fish that are using structure to corner bait.
- Shore anglers have taken fish from rocky ledges at Rooi Krantz, Sunnycove, Fish Hoek, and the Navy Wall at Simon's Town when schools push close inshore.
Yellowtail FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Yellowtail?
Metal jigs and chrome spoons in the 20–60 g range are the go-to when fish are surface-feeding; cast into the boil, let it sink briefly, and retrieve fast.
What flies work for Yellowtail?
Clouser Minnows (which imitate baitfish) in white/chartreuse or blue/white, size 1/0–3/0, cover most situations, they sink fast and push water like a fleeing anchovy. Deceiver-style streamers in silver and blue match the local anchovy profile; tie or buy them sparse so they breathe in the water rather than clumping.
When is the best time to fish for Yellowtail?
Summer (November–March) is the peak season around Cape Town and False Bay, when warmer water temperatures bring fish inshore in numbers. Autumn (April–May) can still produce good fishing as fish linger before moving off with cooling water.
How do you catch Yellowtail?
The vast majority of yellowtail fishing in South Africa is done from ski-boats and charter vessels working out of Cape Town, Hout Bay, and Simon's Town. Anglers locate feeding schools by watching for diving seabirds, then cast metal jigs or lures into the boil or troll baitfish imitations along current lines.
What do Yellowtail eat?
Small pelagic fish, anchovies, mackerel, and similar baitfish, make up the bulk of the diet; matching the bait with silver or sardine-coloured metal jigs, spoons, or hard-body minnow lures is the standard approach.
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