Namibia Fishing - Skeleton Coast (Advice needed)

[HLOURENS]

I am planning a fishing to Namibia next year around July. The intended target area for fishing will be around Terrace Bay in the Skeleton Coast park and dropping south towards Hentiesbaai. The fish generally caught there is cob, west coast steenbras, galjoen, black tail, bonzies and spotties. I would just like to throw a few questions at those whom may frequent this area for fishing:
1) Is the month of July ok to go and fish there (Will I catch some nice fish during this month)? I know Torra Bay is only open during December and January and I am smack on the opposite time of that.
2) Any advise on accommodation for that area up north (take a tent and camp there or on the beach /use the chalets there)?
3) Any advise on fishing tackle/bait? We will be fishing with 14'' surf rods and 9'' rods for from the rocks. Line will be high abrasion resistant in the region of 30 pounds breaking strength. Reels: Daiwa Saltist 50H conventional and Daiwa Opus Bull 5000 koffie meulertjie.
Any tips or advise will be highly appreciated?

[Tony Weaver]

You may get more of a response if you post this in the Namibia section. Bait wise, when all else fails, try wrapping some pilchard around some chicken liver from the local supermarket. The entire area is a national park, and free camping on the beach is not allowed (and driving off the designated roads is also forbidden). You would have to camp at one of the designated camp sites, hire a chalet, or look at hiring a house in Henties - one of the members recently advertised a house to rent in Henties, have a look under the Namibia section.

[HLOURENS]

Thank you for the advise Tony. Will repost my questions under Namibia. Is driving on the beach forbidden in just the park or all through the beaches of Namibia?

[Tony Weaver]

Thank you for the advise Tony. Will repost my questions under Namibia. Is driving on the beach forbidden in just the park or all through the beaches of Namibia?

I'm not sure on that one - you'll have to ask some of the Namibian members. The National Park was proclaimed in part to stop random irresponsible off track driving.

[Sergey]

Hi,

We fish that area all the time, going up on 30th of this month for torra openingq for that matter.

You can not fish Torra Terrace on day touring permits. I am pretty sure fishing is forbidden for ten month other than dec jan.

Driving is allowed on the beach in skeleton and south of it. There tracks to use and ideally one should not make new ones but some people just need to i guess.

Yur rods will do great. Sardine is usually the bait. Galjoen head works great for fishes with toothes

Camping is not permitted on just any beach area. But there are camp site everywhere along the stretch.

If you need any other info, shout.

[hillsj]

Terrace Bay has only chalet accommodation managed by the Namibian Authority. You get breakfast with the deal, can include supper during specials otherwise supper is seperatly.
No camping in this area other than Torra Bay (Dec + Jan)
I have been going to Henties the past 10 years July + August and have never complained about the quality of fish, although 90% is just size.
Terrace Bay is a great area to fish located 350 km nothr of Henties Bay with a small shop.
www.nwr.com.na

[Kaptein Jack]

One thing to remember, July is winter month in Cape Town, which means heavy North Westerly Storms, that seriously influences the seas up the coast. I don' t think you will get much Kob, but ja Galjoen and Steenbra will work.

You can camp outside the Skeleton coast park at mile 108 and 72, but need to have all your "rations" with you including bait, you can drive where you want on the beach outside the Skeleton Coast Park, but pse be aware of the Saltpans, you do not want to get stuck there.

[Tony Weaver]

you can drive where you want on the beach outside the Skeleton Coast Park, but pse be aware of the Saltpans, you do not want to get stuck there.

The entire coast, from I think Luderitz, up to the Kunene, has now been declared a national park. Not sure how this affects beach driving, but as far as I know, the main aim of proclaiming the park was to stop unauthorised beach, offroad and pan driving.

[HLOURENS]

Awesome, thank you for all the advice and tips. I have phoned the guys from NWR, apparently I can book for accommodation (camping/chalets) at Terrace Bay through out the year, so I guess it is open? I have seen on their website that Torra Bay is only open for Jan and Dec, weird that Terrace Bay which is further up North is open.

Is it worth while still fishing at Henties or should I just shoot up straight to Terrace?

I got the following info on 4x4 from the Walvis Bay tourism website, they say you require special 4x4 permits to go driving about off road which you can buy like your fishing permit ... driving will obviously be done in the most environmentally conservative manner. Check out the link: http://www.walvisbaycc.org.na/n306.htm