Bag and size limits, seasons, and license requirements for fishing in South Africa, across 10 spots tracked by FishRadar. Informational only — confirm the current rules with the official authority before you fish.
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dusky KobOfficial source | 1/day | min 60 cm | — |
| Dusky kob: shore/estuary minimum size 60 cm and daily bag 1 (east of Cape Agulhas). FROM A BOAT AT SEA the rules differ by area: Cape Agulhas to Umtamvuna River 50 cm, 5 per day of which only 1 may exceed 110 cm; KZN 40 cm, 5/day only 1 over 110 cm; west of Cape Agulhas 50 cm, 5/day. Special note: kob (Argyrosomus spp.) carry area-specific size/bag limits — confirm for your exact location. | |||
| GaljoenOfficial source | 2/day | min 35 cm | Mar 1 – Oct 14 |
| South Africa's national fish. Daily bag 2, minimum size 35 cm total length, closed season 15 October to end February. Recreational species (may not be sold). | |||
| GeelbekOfficial source | 2/day | min 60 cm | — |
| Geelbek (Cape Salmon): minimum size 60 cm total length, daily bag 2. Commercial species (may be sold only by permitted rights holders). | |||
| SnoekOfficial source | 10/day | min 60 cm | — |
| Cape snoek: minimum size 60 cm total length, daily bag 10. Commercial species (may be sold only by permitted rights holders). | |||
Licensing:
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. South African marine fishing requires a valid recreational fishing permit (from any Post Office or the DFFE online portal). Bag limits, size limits and closed seasons are set under the Marine Living Resources Act and can change; special rules apply in Marine Protected Areas, estuaries and National Parks. There is an overall cumulative limit of 10 fish per person per day. Always verify current rules with DFFE before fishing — FishRadar is not a legal source.
Get the FishRadar app
Live scores update through the day. Get the full forecast, bite windows, and your own saved spots in the FishRadar app.