Warning - Size limitation of saltwater fish

CRAYFISH Two types of crayfish/rock lobster are exploited by recreational fishermen along the South African coast: 

• West Coast crayfish, caught from about Cape Agulhas westwards. 
• KwaZulu-Natal crayfish, caught from the Transkei coast northwards. The following restrictions apply to the removal of West Coast or Cape crayfish: 
• A minimum length restriction of 80mm for the carapace; 
• A seasonal permit (obtainable from various magistrate's, revenue and marine conservation offices and issued only to people older than 12 years) is required; 
• A maximum of four crayfish may be caught per day; 
• A limit of 16 crayfish may be transported in a vehicle in which four licence holders are travelling; 
• No crayfish in berry or that has a soft shell may be taken; 
• The closed season for Western and Eastern Cape crayfish is from 1 June to 15 November each year; 
• Divers involved in the collection of crayfish must not use anything more than a snorkel and must enter the water from the shore. A ring net or scoop net may be used from the shore or from a boat not licensed to catch rock lobster. The rules governing the collection of crayfish in KwaZulu-Natal differ in that: 
• Only crayfish with a minimum carapace length of 65mm may be removed; 
• A maximum of eight crayfish per person per day may be collected; 
• The closed season is from 1 November to 28/29 February

Other regulations 

Several other regulations have been drawn up to protect South Africa's marine life. These include: 

• A closed season for shad, red steenbras and seventy four for the whole of November and for galjoen from 15 October to 28 February; 
• A ban on the jigging of fish with unbaited hooks (except for octopus, cuttlefish and squid); 
• A minimum weight for tuna that may be caught: 3,2kg for yellowfin; 6,4kg for bluefin; 3,2kg for bigeye; 
• A ban on the sale of private catches; 
• The erection of notice boards in sea reserves, giving details of what you may and may not catch; 
• A limitation on the number of squid/ chokka that may be caught of 20 per person per day (in addition to a closed season for the whole of November); 
• Use of a cast net only between sunrise and sunset. 

Gathering bait in KwaZulu-Natal 

In KwaZulu-Natal you may remove only red bait, a maximum of 0,5kg cut out of the cone where it is stuck to the rocks without a licence. A general bait licence will, however, entitle you to a daily bait quota of three crayfish, six crabs (not swimming), 30 mud and sand prawns, 20 mussels, 25 limpets, 30 sea lice and one octopus. You can also apply for special licences for the following organisms: 

• A mussel licence will entitle you to remove 50 mussels per day; 
• A non-commercial crab licence allows you to remove six swimming and 10 other crabs per day; 
• An octopus licence entitles you to catch two octopuses per day; 
• You can remove 50 mud and sand prawns if you have a mud and sand prawn licence; 
• A sea lice licence allows you to catch 30 sea lice every day.

Warning - Fish that may not be caught all year round

Some species of fish are protected for certain periods of the year. You may not, for instance, catch:

• Elf/shad from 1 October to 30 November;

• Galjoen from 15 October to 28 February;

• Red steenbras from 1 September to 30 November;

• Seventy four from 1 September to 30 November.

If you catch one of these species during a closed period, you will not be charged with an offence provided that you return it to the sea with as little damage as possible.