Snoek
Thyrsites atun
Also known as: Barracouta
PelagicShore
GamefishMigratory
Score
—
Prime time
—
Depth
0–200m
Platform
Shore
Season
JanMarJunSepDec
Peak Jun–AugGood May–Sep
Depth range
0–200mDeep
Findr bio
Long, toothy, and built like a torpedo — I hit jigs hard in cold water and I'm just as happy shredding a trace as a bait.
How to catch
Favourite hangouts
Open seaCurrent edgeDeep water
Recommended baits
Fish baitsSpinners
Effective techniques
JiggingTrolling
Gear
Best times
DawnDay
Winter cold fronts push me close to the Cape coast in huge numbers — "snoek runs" have supplied cheap, plentiful fish-and-braai food to Cape Town for generations.