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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 handy 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 lives until recently. Pen pals. Mail order. Postcards…so much fun!

But they were 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.

Sardines and Sighting Maps

We have started the 2025 Sardine Run Map! Download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.

2024 was a thrilling year for sardines. All the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. The 2024 map has been viewed 200 000 times and just keeps going.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. Last year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! This year we have had two sailboat incidents already. PLUS, we have already logged some sardines!

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps…

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map