Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, nicknamed J-bay, is located around 75 kilometres southwest of Port Elizabeth. It’s a popular tourist destination famed for its incredible surfing opportunities, abundant seashells and great seafood, but for travelling anglers, it’s renowned for its astonishing shore fishing. Located on what is known as the garden route, it looks out across the wild and nutrient-rich waters of the Indian Ocean and is home to vast numbers of formidable Sharks and Rays. Specimen-sized Bronze Whalers, Ragged Tooth and Bull Sharks, Duck-Billed Rays, Blue Rays, and SmoothHound, to mention just a few, all call these waters home.
Our exclusive hosted fishing trips to this famous area in South Africa allow single anglers, pairs of friends and small groups to battle with all these formidable specimens from the shore. As well as benefiting from an experienced Sportquest host, anglers also receive the services of first-class fishing guide and legendary South African angler Gerhard Guse.
If you love shore fishing and are looking to experience a trip fishing for some of the largest shore-caught specimens on the planet, amidst a beautiful scenic backdrop, then our trips to Jeffreys Bay will tick all the right boxes and most certainly live long in the memory.
To learn more about the fantastic shore fishing on offer at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, visit our YouTube channel.
Jeffreys Bay is a small town in South Africa, home to some of the most diverse natural surroundings; it’s popular amongst tourists who visit to experience its excellent surfing opportunities and striking Blue Flag beaches. The nearby Kabeljous, Seekoei, and Krom River lagoons are home to numerous water birds and are perfect for watersports such as canoeing and boardsailing. Every year, migrating whales travel here to give birth, and during the season, whales can be seen almost daily.
Just northeast of the town lies the Kabeljou Nature Reserve, a famous walking reserve known for its diverse range of wildlife, making it a favoured spot. The Kabeljous estuary is one of the best-preserved estuaries in the Eastern Cape and serves as a habitat for various waterfowl, herons, and wading birds.
Nearby, the Seekoei Nature Reserve is located between Aston Bay and Paradise Beach. This reserve is situated along the estuary formed by the Seekoei and Swart rivers and is home to over 120 species of birds, making it rich in birdlife. Additionally, the lagoon hosts numerous Red-knobbed Coots and small antelope. There is also a circular hiking trail within the reserve that takes about three hours to complete. The trail starts with a raft trip across the lagoon and winds through areas of fynbos and subtropical vegetation.
The Shark fishing at Jeffreys Bay is an exhilarating experience and attracts anglers from around the globe. The powerful Bronze Whalers, fierce Ragged-Tooth Sharks, and formidable Bull Sharks rule the deep and are the main attraction, promising a challenge for any angler. However, along with abundant numbers of sharks, it’s also home to an impressive variety of species, including the Duck-Billed and Blue Rays, Smoothhound and Sand Sharks, Spotted Gully Sharks, and the coveted Kabeljou, to name just a few. This diversity is another popular draw, and every cast brings unrivalled excitement and anticipation.
The Sharks can grow to staggering sizes, with some tipping the scales at 400 pounds or more, providing an epic battle to test angling abilities to the max. These fearsome predators strike hard and tear away with bursts of explosive power, and hooking a big Bronzie from the shore offers a fishing experience that’s as challenging as it is rewarding.
The fishing techniques used at Jeffreys Bay are classic shore fishing tactics and involve casting your freshly baited traces into the depths and allowing scent trails to drift through the water, enticing the ocean predators to come and investigate. Traditionally, when targeting Sharks, a number of rods will be baited and cast into the water at intervals along the shoreline. These are then fished on rotation, meaning the bites are shared equally amongst the group. If you wish to have some fun while waiting for one of the ‘big rods’ to scream off, it’s possible to fish in the surf with lighter tackle. Fishing in this manner with small rubber shads and spinners can provide some exciting sport with species such as Kob, White Steenbras and Garrick, to mention just a few.
All the fishing at Jeffreys Bay is undertaken on sandy beaches, rugged rocky ledges, and other prime spots along the shore. Your guides will take you to the best spots depending on the tides and weather conditions on each particular day.
Note: One of the popular things about Jeffreys Bay is all the tackle is provided and is of the highest specification. Rods, reels and all the end tackle is designed to withstand the rigours of what this type of fishing entails. All bait is also provided too.
In addition to having the benefits of a Sportquest host, who will help you with fishing and navigating the airports and transfers, you will also be guided by our senior guide, Gerhard Guse. Gerhard has successfully fished these South African waters (notably the Eastern Cape) since the mid-1980s, catching trophy-sized fish on a regular basis. He is a highly decorated competitive angler and well-regarded amongst the sportfishing communities in the country.
His accomplishments:
South African Junior Champion (1988)
21 Provincial senior caps (5 most recent as captain)
Provincial league champion (10 times)
South African Snr Champion (2013)
South African Presidents team (5 caps)
South African Snr Protea team (6 caps/ 2014-2019)
Ranked as the top angler in South Africa for the years 2015 & 2017
International Gala men’s champion angler in 2014 & 2016
Senior Pro Staff Ambassador for Penn and Berkley brands since 2014
Gerhard will assist you while you fish, helping with everything from baiting and casting to offering advice, landing your catch and taking all those important catch pictures for your album.
The coastline around Jeffreys Bay in South Africa is renowned worldwide for its excellent giant shark fishing. This coast is home to some genuinely exquisite species that will provide the visiting angler with the chance to battle from the shore with fish that could exceed 500lb’s in weight. One of the best things about Jeffreys bay is you never know what will pick up your bait next. It could be a beautiful and majestic Duckbilled ray, or it could be a super aggressive and brutal fighting bull shark.
The apartments at Seashells are all unique and custom-designed to ensure the most pleasing views imaginable; even from the bedroom, kitchen and lounge, you will be looking out over the beautiful Jeffreys bay. Each apartment has a great kitchen with everything you will need to cook up some food if you wish, even though this is a full board holiday.
You will be sharing twin rooms with 2 to a room within the apartment, which will house the group for the entirety of your stay. These rooms all have twin single beds. The apartment itself has a telephone, cable tv, shower/bath and even an outside seating area for you to relax and enjoy a drink in the evenings.
The complex has an elevator for your comfort and convenience and is only 45 minutes away from Port Elizabeth International Airport, so transfer times are not very long either.
Even though this is a full board holiday, your breakfasts will be taken in the apartment and created by you before heading out onto the beach. These will be stocked with muesli, fruits, yoghurt, cheese, bread, coffee etc., to prepare a quick breakfast before fishing. This is because the bite is much better early morning, so early starts are generally on the cards.
On the days that we have a late start, you will have a full English breakfast at the resort or a local restaurant. A selection of local beers and spirits and cool drinks, and bottled water will be supplied to the apartments; these will replenish as needed.
Lunch packs will be provided for fishing; these usually consist of rolls, crisps and other snacks to keep your energy up when playing the monsters of the deep. You will also be provided with soft drinks and beer whilst fishing to keep you hydrated in the African sun.
Evening meals (and the occasional lunch when fishing two half sessions) would be at one of the top local restaurants, which offers a range of delicious meals from juicy beef burgers to succulent steaks to divine pasta and pizzas plus beverages. You will also be treated to a traditional South African braai (BBQ) at their accommodation.
Although the fishing days are fixed, the below itinerary is still flexible should you require additional free days to explore at the beginning or end of your holiday; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.
Depart Any international Airport (See Details)
Arrive Johannesburg Depart Johannesburg
Arrive Port Elizabeth
Once you have arrived, make your way through passport control and follow the signs for baggage collections. Once you have collected your bags, make your way to the arrivals hall, where a representative will be waiting to transfer you the short drive to your accommodation. (Transfer approx. 1 hour)
Overnight accommodation: Seashells Luxury apartments (Twin room) F/B
Over the next 6 days and after breakfast, you will be taken to your first fishing marks by 4×4. Your guide will then give you a quick rundown on how to fish for some of these huge Sharks. Given what species you are targeting, the fishing methods throughout the week may differ. At around 17:00, you will then be transferred back to the guesthouse. Times of the fishing are completely flexible, and if the bite is good, then the days will be longer, and some days you may even fish into the dark, which will mean a later start in the day.
Overnight accommodation: Seashells Luxury apartments (Twin room) F/B
Once you have checked out of your guesthouse, you will then be transferred back to Port Elizabeth airport for your return flights. (Transfer approx. 1hour)
Depart Port Elizabeth
Arrive Johannesburg Depart Johannesburg
Arrive Home
The season runs from October to April.
Season: October to April
Peak: October to April
Weight: 50lb to 500lb
Average Weight: 200lb
Season: October to April
Peak: October to April
Weight: 75lb to 400lb
Average Weight: 120lb
Season: October to April
Peak: October to April
Weight: 40lb to 200lb
Average Weight: 50lb
Season: October to April
Peak: October to April
Weight: 200lb to 400lb
Average Weight: 200lb
Season: October to April
Peak: October to April
Weight: 20lb to 160lb
Average Weight: 50lb
Season: October to April
Peak: October to April
Weight: 40lb to 450lb
Average Weight: 80lb
As this is a hosted trip there are no single angler supplements
Remember that Sportquest Holidays' services are completely FREE! When you book a trip with Sportquest Holidays, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge and flights independently.
| From | To | Duration | Price | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/11/2025 | 23/11/2025 | 10 | £4,172 | Enquire Now | ||
| Exclusive Sportquest Hosted Weeks Based on Six Anglers | Exclusive Sportquest Hosted Weeks Based on Six Anglers | |||||
Prices are based on six adults sharing transfers, fishing and twin room for accommodation (unless otherwise stated) and are correct at the time of going to press. Subject to time of year or date and currency fluctuations, these prices may fluctuate slightly due to flight price increases or fuel surcharge.
I had the most fantastic time and landed some amazing Sharks. The sight of my rod slamming over and my reel screaming from the first Bronze Whaler I landed is a sight that will live with me for the rest of my life. The flights and transfers were all very easy and the accommodation was lovely.
Jeffreys Bay was a blast! The fishing was incredible and we lost count of the number of big sharks we landed. Bronze Whalers, Ragged Tooth and Bull Sharks, plus some big Butterfly Rays and even a Duck Bill Ray which was so cool to see. We have absolutely no complaints and would love to travel again next year.
The fishing is extreme and if you choose this trip you need to visit the gym before you travel - the sharks genuinely fight that hard and the Rays really test your strength! The guides were extremely helpful and ensured we were all having the very best time and the apartments were perfect for what we needed.
The Namibian coast boasts one of the largest populations of Bronze Whaler Sharks in the world. These huge sharks can reach well over 400lbs. You will be targeting them from the shore on heavy surfcasting tackle and bait. The Bronze Whaler is immensely strong and puts up one of the best shore fights you will ever have.
