This is a time to be outdoors, kick off your slip-slops and feel the sand under your feet while enjoying good food in the company of friends and family.
Now you can relax with all the rustic ambiance of the West Coast right here in Knysna at Ron and Marlene Pocock's Freshline Fisheries' Weskus Seafood Braai, where old-fashioned, good quality food is served outside under a shaded roof at affordable prices in a dockyard setting.
"The difference in taste is because our fish is hand-line caught, not from a trawler," explains fisherman, restaurateur and fishing boat owner, Pocock. "With hand-line fishing the fish is export quality and that is exactly the standard you can expect from the food we serve and sell here, " explains Pocock, "whether we grill, fry or braai it over the flames for you or you go and make it yourself at home." The Pococks also own the fish shop inside the Knysa SuperSpar and Freshline Fisheries deliver its fresh fish there on a daily basis.
If you don't want to order from Freshline Fisheries' take-away or sit-down menu, their retail factory outlet shop on the same premises, stocks the same fresh fish and other quality seafood products, including prawns, calamari and crayfish. Their modern factory processes fresh fish off the boats daily and are available wholesale to supply top hotels and restaurants along the Garden Route. Deliveries are made several times a week between Plettenberg Bay to George and beyond.
"The emphasis is on fresh!" exclaims Pocock.
If you want to join Weskus Seafood Braai for the daily dinner, booking is essential. For R195 diners can eat as much as they like. The feast starts at 18:00 for 18:30 until December 29 (closed on December 25 and 26). You are welcome to take your own alcoholic beverages.
Visit to enjoy the fresh linefish of the day, snoek, cob, calamari, prawns, paella, clam chowder, mussels in white wine, white wine Thermador, shellfish potjie, seafood pasta and salad with traditional home-baked mealie or beer bread with sundried tomatoes, fresh farm butter and homemade fig and apricot jam rounded off with old-style sherry and cream trifle in a tin cup (someone may need to carry you to your car!). Crayfish and prawns are extras.
"Food is served in tin plates with scallop and mussel shell utensils," smiles Pocock, "but if you really want a knife and fork we are willing to accommodate you - just come and relax!" He says they also make very special chips.
The Pococks had previous owned an East London seafood restaurant, which had been highly ranked in South Africa for its outstanding seafood cuisine. Four years ago Ron, who has always had a passion for the ocean, bought his first boat to begin commercial hand-line fishing. One of his trusted right-hand men, Buti Mohapi, has a 50% share in the main boat.
"Remember that night the whale bull come under the boat and snapped our anchor lines like they were string, huh, Buti?" Pocock laughingly greets the crew, who assists with the factory operations when not out at sea, as they come in with another successful catch.
Enjoy the hearty hospitality of the Pococks as the beautiful aromas from the African pots on the fire tantalise you for a truly unique and unforgettable eating experience in Knysna, or visit their factory outlet for the ultimate in fresh fish and seafood products!
Please note that the outdoor venue is weather dependent.
The factory outlet store is open on weekdays from 09:00 till 17:00; the sit-down menu from 11:00 till 14:00 with the Weskus Seafood Braai starting every evening at 18:00 for 18:30.
For more information visit Freshline Fisheries on the corner of Waterfront Drive and Long streets (behind Tait Marine) or call 044 382 3131 or 082 447 6937 and on www.freshlinefisheries.wozaonline.co.za or www.facebook.com/FreshlineFisheries.
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The friendly staff at Freshline Fisheries' factory are (from left) Lydia Tapolisi, Chris Kumkani, Clara Hlomela, Roselene Scheepers, Anneline Mitchel, Maxwell Nyoni, Karen de Bruyn, Ron Pocock (owner), Warren Lansatyi, Themba Mzizi, Margarete Ntombexolo, Punsa Madlina and Ethel Kleinbooi.
