West Coast Rock Lobster "crayfish" season 2020/2021 dates

The 2020/21 CRAYFISH SEASON (West Coast Rock Lobster or WCRL recreational fishing) is limited to 12 days between 28 November 2020 and 3 April 2021.

Catching Season:

TIME: West coast rock lobster may be caught between 08h00 until 16h00 the days permitted

DATES:  12 days between 28 November 2020 and 3 April 2021

Fishing will be as follows:

• From 28 November 2020 to 29 November 2020 (2 days);
  
  
• From 12 December 2020 to 13 December 2020 (2 days);
  
  
• From 26 December 2020 to 27 December 2020 (2 days);
  
  
• From 1 January 2021 to 2 January 2021 (2 days);
  
  
• From 9 January 2021 to 10 January 2021 (2 days);
  
  
• From 2 April 2021 to 3 April 2021 (2 days).

Important Notice: 

• Please note that only persons over the age of 12 may obtain a recreational fishing permit.
• Permit: A permit costs R94 and can be purchased at the Post Office. A recreational fishing permit is valid for the entire season
• This allows fishing, collecting, keeping, controlling, landing, transporting of, or possession of not more than four west coast rock lobster per day.
• No person catching west coast rock lobster with a recreational fishing permit may sell their catch. Any lobster caught, collected, or transported must be kept as a whole.
• Size limits:  The minimum size limit for the West Coast rock lobster is 80 mm measured from the tip op the centre horn to the end of the body (where the tail starts).
• Bag limits:  The present bag limit for private rock lobster is 4 per permit holder per day. The maximum number of crayfish that may be transported by whatever means, is 20, on the condition that all the permit holders must be present (i.e. if you are transporting 20 crayfish, there should be 5 permit holders present).

Legal catching methods:  Crayfish for private use may only be caught by a baited crayfish ring, a baited line and scoop net or, when entering the water from shore, by hand using freediving equipment.