​By Capt. Phil Spinner
​Listen up, you salty dogs and weekend sinker-snaggers. If you’ve spent more than five minutes casting into the froth around Port Elizabeth—or “Gqeberha” for those who don’t mind a bit of linguistic gymnastics—you know this place is less of a fishing destination and more of a psychological experiment.
​Between the gale-force winds that’ll turn your graphite rod into a lightning rod and the tides that move faster than a local taxi, the “Friendly City” hides some deep, dark secrets beneath the surf. Let’s separate the bait from the bullshit and look at where the magic (and the misery) actually happens.
​1. The “Wind from the East” Curse
​The Myth: “When the wind is from the East, the fish bite the least.”
​The Verdict: Fiction (mostly). In PE, a light Easterly actually pushes that lovely warm current toward the shore, bringing the Blue Rays and the toothy critters with it. The real reason people don’t catch anything in an Easterly is that they’re too busy chasing their beach umbrellas down toward Jeffrey’s Bay.
• ​The Spot: Blue Water Bay. If you can handle the “sand-blasting facial,” this is where the Blue Rays and Sand Sharks congregate. If the water is “ginger beer” colored, get your lines in.
• ​The Wind Fact: While the East wind brings the fish, the North-Wester is the local favorite because it flattens the sea and allows for massive casts, though it can blow the warm water out to sea if it stays too long.
​2. The Swartkops “River Monster”
​The Conspiracy: There’s a Spotted Grunter in the Swartkops mudbanks the size of a VW Beetle that only eats 24-karat gold hooks.
​The Fact: While there isn’t a Kraken, the Swartkops River is a tactical chess match. You don’t need 50 different lures; you just need a “cracker shrimp” (mud prawn) and the patience of a saint.
• ​The Spot: Tippers Creek or the Modderspruit. Park yourself near the mudbanks at low tide to pump your bait, then fish the Incoming Tide (The Push).
• ​The Wind Fact: Avoid this spot during a heavy South-Wester; it turns the river into a washing machine and makes light-tackle fishing nearly impossible. Stick to the North-Wester here for a smooth surface and precise casting.
​3. The Wildside “Rod Snatcher”
​The Fiction: There are supernatural forces at Flat Rocks and Sardinia Bay that actively pull rods into the deep.
​The Fact: It’s not ghosts; it’s the Gully Sharks. PE’s “Wildside” is the gym for sharks that have been doing nothing but heavy lifting.
• ​The Spot: Flat Rocks & “The Pipe” (near Pine Lodge). Prime territory for Bronze Whalers and Grey Sharks. These “snatchers” are most active during the New Moon (Dark Moon).
• ​The Wind Fact: The South-West wind is the “Ice Maker.” It brings cold water and big swells. While it’s miserable to stand in, it’s actually the best time to hunt for big sharks and crackers on the Wildside, provided you have the heavy gear to hold bottom.
​4. The “Magic Scent” Conspiracy (Fishbites)
​The Myth: You can’t catch a decent fish in PE without spending four hours digging in the mud for fresh bait.
​The Verdict: I’ve seen guys out-fish a bucket of fresh chokka using nothing but a strip of “Long Lasting” Fishbites. It’s perfect for the Windy City because, unlike a delicate prawn that flies off the hook the moment a PE gust hits it, this stuff sticks like a mother-in-law’s grudge.
• ​The Spot: Pollock Beach. When the Barometer is dropping before a storm, the “artificial edge” of a Fishbites strip stays on the hook while you’re targeting Galjoen or Silver Steenbras in the heavy white water.
• ​The Wind Fact: This is the best spot when a light South-Easterly is blowing. It creates the perfect “white water” (foam) that Galjoen love to hide in while they feed.
​Local Intel: Fact vs. Folklore
• ​Claim: “Bloodworms are the only bait for Steenbras.” Reality: Fact. Head to Maitlands or the Gamtoos River Mouth. Target the first two hours of the outgoing tide after dark. If a North-West wind is blowing, it’s the ultimate “Steenie” weather.
• ​Claim: “The PE Harbour is paved with Cob.” Reality: Myth. They’re there, but you’ll need a permit and the ability to cast between massive shipping containers near the North Jetty.
• ​Claim: “High tide is the only time to fish.” Reality: Fiction. Many of our best rock gullies, like those at Cape Recife, only “switch on” at the Turn of the Low Tide.
• ​Claim: “Spring Tides are too rough to fish.” Reality: Fiction. While the currents are stronger during the New and Full Moon, these “Springs” bring the big fish closer to shore. Just make sure you use “spider” grip sinkers so your gear doesn’t end up in East London.
​Capt. Phil’s Golden Rule
​The biggest myth in PE fishing? “I’ll just go for an hour.” Between the “one last cast” syndrome and the time spent untangling your line from a piece of kelp that looked suspiciously like a 20kg Leerfish at Kings Beach, you’re going to be late for dinner.
​Accept it. Embrace the salt. And for heaven’s sake, watch out for the seagulls—they’ve got a conspiracy of their own regarding your bait bucket.
​Tight lines and itchy scales,
​Capt. Phil Spinner