They’re not pro anglers or polished influencers – just two best mates sharing the wild, wonderful (and often hilarious) reality of kayak fishing on the North Coast.
Meet the Salt Rockers – Francois van der Merwe and Justin Flemmer – whose ocean adventures have built an online following hooked on big catches, epic fails and a whole lot of fun. Francois, a GP, and Justin, who works in imports and exports, started filming their kayak fishing trips more for laughs than likes. “We were always capturing footage of our ocean adventures anyway,” says Francois.
“So eventually we thought, why not share it?”
Learning (and laughing) along the way
Their YouTube channel and Instagram page are a mix of tips, tricks and entertaining misadventures. “We’re not professionals,” Justin laughs. “We just want people to learn from our experiences – even if it’s what not to do!”
Wipeouts and war stories
That includes camera chaos (like filming a blank screen during a massive catch), a close encounter with a hungry bull shark, and a kayak crash that recently landed Francois and his girlfriend in matching knee braces. “A freak wave caught us and slammed the kayak into both of us,” he says.
“We tore our ACLs and MCLs – and had surgery on the same day. She’s not too keen to go out again!”
Braving the surf
It’s all part of the Salt Rockers’ charm – honest, unfiltered stories from the water. They also don’t shy away from the challenges unique to the North Coast. “People overseas usually launch in much calmer conditions. We’re paddling through big surf before we even start fishing,” explains Justin.
Camera vs chaos
Capturing content mid-chaos isn’t easy. “Ninety-nine percent of fishing is boring,” says Justin. “Then during the one percent of action, everything needs to go right – the rod, the kayak, the camera. It’s madness!”
From childhood passion to grown-up adventure
Francois and Justin have both been fishing since childhood – Francois on family trips to Cape Vidal and Justin with his dad. Their gear is simple: GoPros, trusty kayaks and a lot of patience. With full-time jobs, they usually squeeze in a paddle once a week, more often in summer.
Helping others get hooked
They have also started creating beginner content. “A lot of guys don’t know how to start kayak fishing,” says Justin. “We’ve done intro videos, and there’s so much more we want to share.”
More than just fishing
Their relaxed style and local flavour have earned them fans not just in South Africa, but also in New Zealand, Australia and the US. But the best part? “Sharing the catch,” says Francois. “There’s nothing better than filleting it, firing up the braai and enjoying it with friends and family. We also make an excellent poke bowl and sushi!”
Details: IG and YouTube: @saltrockers
Scan here to see the Salt Rockers in action!
