The time Hemanus became Shark Central
Saturday, 12 September 2026
Almost a century ago, Hermanus gained international attention for shark fishing rather than whales or wine. In the 1920s, local angler William ‘Bill’ Selkirk became renowned for battling enormous sharks from the rocks near the Old Harbour.
His reported 987kg catch, fought over five hours, captured global headlines and transformed the town into a spectacular fishing destination.
The surviving 1928 Illustrated London News feature offers a fascinating glimpse into Hermanus’s early tourism history, when shark-fishing contests drew crowds and curiosity.
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