Do you need a fishing license to catch sardines?

Do you need a fishing license to catch sardines?

Do you need a fishing license to catch sardines? Very interesting question this one. Came to me. So Lets read the rules together…

The Rules

You can download the rules in PDF form to your phone or computer and have them with you at all times. Its a very nicely put-together document and we should all be familiar with it.

DOWNLOAD

But here listed below, are the juicy bits, that might answer the big question…do you need a fishing license to catch yourself a few sardines in the shore break? With your bare hands. Or a bucket. A skirt. A t-shirt. Washing baskets work wonders…here goes…

General Regulations

Every recreational angler must pay for the right to fish
in marine waters by buying an annual (or temporary)
recreational fishing permit. Different types of fishing
permits are available including angling, spearfishing, boat
skipper, etc. These permits are available from the Post
Office.

• A recreational fishing permit entitles the holder to catch
  fish for own use only and not to sell or trade.
• The holder of a recreational angling permit is entitled to
  catch fish of the Class Pisces (i.e. bony fish, sharks, rays,
  skates and chimaeras) only with a rod, reel and line, to
  which no more than 10 hooks are attached.
• The holder of a recreational spearfishing permit is entitled
  to catch fish of the Class Pisces (i.e. bony fish, sharks, rays,
  skates and chimaeras) only with a speargun.
• The skipper of a vessel used for recreational fishing shall
  be in possession of a permit endorsed for recreational
  fishing from a vessel.
• The holder of a spearfishing permit shall not use any
  artificial respiratory equipment, except for a snorkel.
• The holder of a recreational fishing permit authorised to
  fish within a Marine Protected Area (MPA) must adhere
  to the conditions specific to that MPA.
• The holder of a recreational angling and/or spearfishing
  permit shall not catch or be in possession of:
  a) Any fish listed as a Prohibited Species.
  b) More than the daily bag limit listed for that species
  during any one day. Furthermore, there is an overall
  cumulative bag limit of ten (10) fish per person per day
  irrespective of the species caught, except that this
  does not apply to baitfish species where there is no
  bag limit or to species where the bag limit is greater
  than 10.
  MARINE RECREATIONAL
  FISHING REGULATIONS
  in South Africa
  c) Any fish smaller than, or of a mass less than, the size
  limit listed for that species.
  d) Any fish during the closed season listed for that species.
• The holder of a recreational spearfishing permit shall not
  catch or attempt to catch fish in an estuary.
• All fish that are landed, except sharks, skates, rays and
  chimaeras, must have head and tail intact so that it can be
  established whether the fish conforms to the minimum
  size and/or mass, provided that it may be gutted.
• Any fish caught in contravention of the provisions of
  the Act or the permit conditions must immediately be
  returned to the sea with as little injury as possible.

Comment

Well, to me this certainly looks like it reads that everyone who collects anything from the ocean, in any way, needs a form of fishing license! Luckily I managed to get my license at the Port Shepstone Post Office. Since the South African Post Office stopped paying rent to all its cute little satellite and highly useful branches that were dotted all over the country. Little towns and villages. They all had these quaint versions of a cultural icon that we have ALL relied on for our whole lives up until recently. Pen pals. Mail order. Postcards…so much fun!

But they were all mercilessly culled off. Another ANC achievement. Shut down. Jobs and livelihoods gone. So now you got to hike to the bigger centres to find a working post office.

And get a fishing license!

And then when the officials come raiding your beach like stormtroopers, in their decked-out new bakkies, you can show them, the difference between a shad and a santer. With the PDF download on your phone.

Sardine Run 2023 Sightings Map

For a great overall perspective you can easily check out the interactive sardine and sightings map…updated constantly…right here…

2023 Sardine Run Map 

YouTube Channels

And we have some cool YouTube Channels to keep you entertained and informed of all things sardines, ocean and conservation.

The Sardine News

Surf Launching Southern Africa

MYDO Tackle Talk

Water Woes (best said in Afrikaans)

Enjoy the sardine run right here with us at the Umzimkulu Marina, in Port Sheptone, where Umzimkulu Adrenalin can get you out there. Catch a gamefish with Mydo Fishing Lures.