The availability of a variety of fish species makes Henties Bay the best-established tourist commodity, attracting a vast number of South African and international tourists. The rich fish source is due to the high incidence of plankton, caused by the upwelling system of the cold Benguela current, which originates in Antarctica and flows northwards like a river up the west coast of Africa reaching as far as Angola. 

The well-known species include Silver Kob/Kabeljou, West Coast Steenbrass, Galjoen and Black Tail / Kolstert. Shark angling is a popular sport and a major attraction for many Namibian, South African and International anglers. Popular species are the Copper Shark "Bronzy", Cow Shark, Spotted Gully Shark and Hound Shark. Angling competitions are a highlight during the summer holidays. Two of the major competitions during December are organized by the Henties Bay Angling Club and the Penguin Angling Club of Swakopmund. These events are the perfect destinations for serious anglers. Angling spots along the coast are easily accessible with 4x4 vehicles and normal cars can come to a comfortable distance from the beach.

Shark angling is becoming an increasingly popular sport in Namibia. Because certain species are mainly found in shallow waters, at a depth up to 100 m, sharks are often taken by sport anglers. The bigger shark species, when caught, are normally tagged and returned to the sea. 

The much sought-after Copper Shark "Bronzy", weighs between 50 kg and 190 kg and offers a real challenge for the keen angler. It prefers cooler waters and inhabits the continental shelf from the surf line to a depth of 100 m. It feeds on bony fishes such as Cape gurnard and sole.

The Spotted Gully Shark "Spotty", can be identified by black spots on the body and reaches a length of 170 cm. It is commonly caught by shore anglers. It is an inshore, bottom-dwelling shark, occurring mainly on sandy and rock bottoms to a depth of about 50 m. It feeds on crabs, fishes and small sharks. 

The Cow Shark, is a big shark and reaches a length of at least 290 cm. It is common in cooler waters and sport anglers in Namibia often catch it. It is active in shallow waters along sandy beaches, aggressive and reported as dangerous to people. It feeds on a wide variety of sharks, rays and bony fishes.

The Hound Shark, reaches a length of 170 cm and has a grey-brown colour. It is a bottom-living species and feed mainly on crustaceans.

The season for shark angling is from November to May. 

Henties Bay is a good base from where to explore the Namibia Desert by means of day trips.  Some areas can easily be visited by means of self-drive trips with a sedan vehicle, although other areas are only reachable with a 4 x 4 vehicle.  Most of these excursions should preferably be undertaken with the the company of our experienced tour guide due to the lack of proper roads and directions. Desert excursions can be booked in advance and are planned according to the client’s needs.