The Best Fishing Spots in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a diverse recreational fishing destination, offering productive surf, rock, estuary and offshore options: from the beaches and piers you can surfcast for mullet, bream and grunter, estuaries hold good numbers of kabeljou (dusky kob) and grunter, while offshore trips target big game like yellowfin tuna, marlin (blue and black), sailfish, mahi‑mahi (dorado), wahoo and various kingfish on reefs; inshore reef and rock fishing can produce rockcod and yellowtail/kingfish. Inland anglers can also enjoy freshwater action for largemouth bass, trout in the highlands and carp in dams, using a mix of bait, lures, spin and fly techniques to suit each fishery.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Ballitoville
(1 km to coast)
Berea
(3 km to coast)
Craigieburn
(6 km to coast)
Durban
(1 km to coast)
eMkhomazi
(1 km to coast)
Empangeni
(13 km to coast)
eMuziwezinto
(7 km to coast)
eSikhaleni
(5 km to coast)
Folweni
(12 km to coast)
Ga-Malakhe
(8 km to coast)
Kgwaripe
(6 km to coast)
KwaDukuza
(8 km to coast)
Mandeni
(12 km to coast)
Margate
(1 km to coast)
Ntuzuma
(14 km to coast)
Pinetown
(15 km to coast)
Port Shepstone
(0 km to coast)
Richards Bay
(0 km to coast)
Scottburgh
(0 km to coast)
Shakaskraal
(6 km to coast)
Sundumbili
(14 km to coast)
Tongaat
(6 km to coast)
Other
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Cape Vidal
A versatile shore-and-boat destination with surf drop-offs for pompano, kingfish, and shad, while boats run tight to reef lines for king mackerel, dorado, and tuna; early morning launches capitalize on bait movement along the point.
Umkomaas
Launch point for Aliwal Shoal with surf and river mouth options for kob, garrick, and grunter; offshore drifts produce king mackerel, dorado, and tuna, with winter up-canyon currents concentrating bait on the shoal’s edges.
Umhlanga Rocks
Rocky ledges and beaches around the lighthouse area produce shad, garrick, kingfish, and summer king mackerel for slide-baiters; work early-morning gutters and points, or roam north toward Umdloti for cleaner water after swell.
Sodwana Bay
A premier launch for bluewater species like sailfish, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, and king mackerel, with reef edges holding amberjack and jobfish; shore anglers target pompano and kingfish along the points, with peak pelagic runs in the warm summer currents.
Shelly Beach
A busy South Coast launch to reach Protea Banks and nearby reefs for wahoo, tuna, dorado, and king mackerel; the surf and points also turn on for shad and kob during winter baitfish pushes.
Scottburgh
The point and surrounding surf yield shad, garrick, and kob, while ski-boats from Park Rynie work color lines for king mackerel, dorado, and tuna; winter sardine activity often ignites predator action close to shore.
Richards Bay
Harbour walls, surf zones, and offshore reefs give access to king mackerel, tuna, queenfish, and inshore kob and grunter; target the north and south breakwaters or run to nearby reefs off Meerensee for pelagics on live baits.
Protea Banks
A deep offshore bank off the South Coast known for powerful currents that stack yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo, and trophy amberjack; winter and spring drifts from Shelly Beach often produce fast hits around bait shoals.
Aliwal Shoal
This famous offshore shoal off Umkomaas is renowned for fast drifts over reef and pinnacles producing king mackerel, dorado, tuna, kaakap, and strong kingfish, with winter upwellings often concentrating bait and predators along the ledges.
Ballito
Accessible rocky points and sandy bays are productive for shad, kob, pompano, and stumpnose, with summer runs of kingfish and queen mackerel; popular spots include Thompson's Bay and Salmon Bay at first light.
Kosi Bay
A lagoon-and-bay complex near the Mozambique border famed for crystal channels holding kingfish, queenfish, grunter, and rock salmon; beach channels at the mouth produce predators on live bait with summer warmth and neap tides improving clarity.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Midmar Dam
A broad, windswept dam near Howick offering bass, carp, and barbel; fish windward banks and riprap for bass, or target deeper shelves for schooling fish, with bank access making it friendly for family outings and specimen carp tactics.
Hazelmere Dam
Close to the North Coast, this smaller reservoir fishes well for bass, tilapia, and barbel; work submerged timber and grass edges with finesse plastics, and shift to reaction baits along the dam wall during low-light periods.
Albert Falls Dam
Consistently produces trophy largemouth bass around flooded grass, standing timber, and creek arms; seasonal patterns include summer topwater over shallow flats and winter jerkbaits on points, with incidental tilapia and barbel catches.
Lake Jozini
Also known as Pongolapoort Dam , this warm reservoir is South Africa’s tigerfish hotspot with prolific tigerfish action along river inlets, timbered bays, and wind-blown points; summer storms and rising barometer often trigger aggressive surface strikes.
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
St Lucia Estuary
An expansive estuarine system where channels and flats yield spotted grunter, stumpnose, kob, and summer kingfish; work drifting prawn and soft plastics around drop-offs, or head to nearby surf zones toward Maphelane for predators patrolling the mouth.
Umlalazi River
Meandering through Mtunzini , the estuary’s channels and flats produce spotted grunter, stumpnose, and kingfish, while the adjacent surf gives shad and kob; drift prawn or paddle tails along drop-offs on the making tide.