Meet The Vlekkers

When the fish are running, St Helena Bay Harbour is buzzing, and the Vlekkers are in business! The Vlekkers (fish cleaners) are an integral part of the fishing community. It’s a real pleasure watching them at work, descaling/gutting/filleting the fish with such dexterity, gained from years of experience.

The day is done..

Heading home..

There are days though, when there is no work to be done, fish to be vlekked. Word goes out on the grapevine that the fish are running, so they catch the taxi to the harbour, grateful for the possibility of some income, only to find that all the fish from a fairly meagre catch is Cape Town-bound, to be processed there. So they return home, minus their R32.00 taxi fare.

No work today..