HISTORY
Remembering the brief giant bluefin tuna fishery of False Bay
Brian Cohen caught these two giant bluefin tuna on 12 January 1973. The 845 lb fish was an All Africa record. By Hymie Steyn and Brian Cohen
F
ROM the aerial viewpoint at Cape Point overlooking the rigged cliffs of Rooi Krantz, not more than a few hundred metres out to sea, a number of large silhouettes just below the surface slowly glided in the cold green waters of the entrance into the Cape’s False Bay. This is the spot where the southern might of the Atlantic Ocean is often calmed as it rounds Cape Point. It almost looked as if these fish had arrived from an unknown migration into the bountiful waters of this huge area of protected water during the summer months. These giant bluefin tuna made their first appearance during the late 1950s and became the target of Cape Town’s top big game fishermen who had the wherewithal in the way of
tackle and boats to set about attempting to hook and land these monster fish, the likes of which had never been seen in these Cape waters. From the jetty in front of the Marlin and Tuna Club of South Africa many anglers watched in total awe as some fortunate anglers proudly posed with these huge tuna after a day’s outing targeting these brutes a stone’s throw from the tiny hamlet of Fish Hoek in its calm baitfish rich waters. The young Brian Cohen was there, and so was South Africa’s stalwart offshore angling administrator, Hymie Steyn. These two men have now put together a three-part series of articles for SKI-BOAT to record an important part of South Africa’s angling history. These events could easily be lost if not documented by men who personally witnessed this period when huge bluefin tuna visited South Africa’s waters. SKI-BOAT November/December 2020 • 31
