New: The Best of Deep Sea Fishing at East London Ski-Boat Club

All the local boating and fishing insights, East London Ski-Boat Club membership, the bar on the Buffalo River

Ideal for bottom species, especially big copper (red steenbras), except for this one time per year when the locals know you’ll get lekker game fish, too. There’s a lot of good times and good bottom and deep sea fishing to be had at East London Ski-Boat Club.

We bring you all the club info: Membership fees, address, contacts, club facilities and fishing competitions. Plus: All the East London common fish species and the best fishing spots to catch them. 

DISCOVER EAST LONDON SKI-BOAT CLUB

Often considered one of the Eastern Cape’s best-kept little boating secrets, East London Ski-Boat Club is situated inside the port of East London on the east bank of Buffalo River. And, since 1971, it boasts everything from boat sheds to an awesome slipway to give you access to the ocean and deep sea fishing in East London and Gonubie. In fact, there’s even launch facilities for visiting boats – so look the club up when you’re in the area.

Also discover all the ski-boat clubs in Eastern Province.

BAR OVERLOOKING THE BUFFALO RIVER

Open every day from 16:30, East London Ski-Boat Club boasts a bar with the awesome view of the river from inside the port. And, of course, everyone is welcome.

“We’re always open and invite anyone who wants to come to have a good time at the clubhouse,” says Tyrone Gower, chairman of East London Ski-Boat Club

BOATS AND FACILITIES AT EAST LONDON SKI-BOAT CLUB

Apart from the famous bar, the club offers members access to braai areas, public areas and toilets. And on the boating side, the club has around 44 boat sheds available for storing members’ boats – enquire by phoning 073 155 7999.

East London Ski-Boat Club is naturally SADSAA affiliated, under the Border Deep Sea Angling Association (BDSAA). And they also do annual boat inspections and assist members in ensuring SAMSA certification and seaworthiness.

EAST LONDON FISHING COMPETITIONS

The club itself ensures there’s competitive action throughout the year by hosting 11 monthly internal club angling competitions and feeding talented anglers into BDSAA’s efforts on the provincial level. But a highlight in 2018 is East London Ski-Boat Club’s hosting the SADSAA Junior Bottom Fish Nationals.

COMMON FISH SPECIES IN EAST LONDON AREA

Bottom fish is by far the most common type of boat fishing in the East London area says club chair, Tyrone Gower. And among those species, copper (red steenbras) is the most common. But there’s also a good chance of hooking kob, rockcod, daggerhead and other seabream, red stumpnose and black musselcracker (poenskop), as well as a host of ray and shark.

Shore angling and estuary angling is also very popular in the area. But did you know that there’s a three-month sweet spot, between November, December and January, when the locals whisper about being able to go after game fish int he deep? Skipjack, yellowfin tuna and marlin are quite common that time of year.

THE BEST FISHING SPOTS NEAR EAST LONDON SKI-BOAT CLUB

There are way too many to list here, from Kei Mouth to Gonubie. But Tyrone says that 12 miles directly out to sea from East London harbour, there’s a big marine shelf with a drop-off where the locals like to do a lot of their good fishing.

Other than that, the anglers in the area all have their own markers recorded on their boats. So it’s a good idea to check in at the club and chat to some of the locals to find out where the fish are on any given day.

EAST LONDON SKI-BOAT CLUB

Pontoon Road, Harbour, East London
Phone: 073 155 7999

EAST LONDON SKI-BOAT CLUB MEMBERSHIP FEES

Club membership is R1000 per year.

CLUB FACILITIES

Bar, braai, common areas, launch and boat sheds.

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Also discover Port Elizabeth club PEDSAC and nearby Algoa Bay Diaz Deep Sea Club at Kenton, as well as in KwaZulu-Natal, Meerensee Boat Club.

Check out all this year’s big fishing tournaments.

And see all our recent boat repowers.

Plus: Watch this provincial angler show how to tie the perfect bimini twist. And see the full story on recreational fishing in lockdown.

DISCOVER MORE SKI-BOAT CLUBS

Also explore with us the ski-boat clubs of Border.

THE PURSUIT OF AWESOME

Legend also has it that CarryCats and every other boat runs better under Suzuki power. Discover it for yourself among these Suzuki outboards. Also, see how to find our shop at our new address.

BUILT FOR FISHING

Legend has it that it’s more fun fishing in a CarryCat. So tell your friends who might not know yet to check out the little-big CarryCat 670, the next-level CarryCat 740 and the all-round great fisher CarryCat 760.

Discover more specs, options and configurations for bass boats, riverboats and ski boats under our section on new boats.

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