Permits for recreational fishing, mollusca, worm and plant collecting and spear fishing and kreef netting/fishing

Crayfishing Dates As Follows:16-17 Dec, 23Dec-1 Jan (excluding 25 Dec) and 1 April.Crayfishing Dates As Follows:16-17 Dec, 23Dec-1 Jan (excluding 25 Dec) and 1 April.  Fishing (except for some specific species) and molluscs (mussels, periwinkels/alikreukel, etc) is year round.

You need to have a licence to fish or to collect molluscs (mussels, periwinkels/alikreukel etc) sea worms and sea plants. Kreef (West coast rock lobster commonly called crayfish) have very limited seasons that usually stretch from late November to April but are limited to specific days mostly around Christmas and Easter).

Traditionally the permits were available at a post office.  Currently the online system is working and it is recommended that you register on line and apply for your permit on the Dept Forestry, Fisheries and Environment website.  They have a specific page for permit applications and payment www.fisheries.dffe.gov.za  Go to the Marine Resources page and link to the Fish and other sea animals to access information on how to navigate the online system and learn more about the regulations and the list of species etc. The 2023-2024 season dates for Kreef are given below  - effectively 16-17 Dec, 23Dec-1 Jan (excluding 25 Dec) and 1 April.​

DFFE West Coast Rock Lobster season dates
2023-2024 West Coast Rock Lobster Season – 
” The recreational WCRL season will open on 16 December 2023 and closes on 1 April 2024, with a fishing effort of 12 days as follows:

• 16 Dec
• 17 Dec
• 23 Dec
• 24 Dec
• 26 Dec
• 27 Dec
• 28 Dec
• 29 Dec
• 30 Dec
• 31 Dec
• 1 Jan
• 1 April