Anchovies
Baitfish
Family Engraulidae
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Fishing · the limits
Size & bag limits.
South African size and bag limits for recreational fishing. Source: DFFE Linefishing regulations (smartphone edition), updated 12 Aug 2025.
Baardman (Tasselfish, Belman)
Recreational
Umbrina robinsoni
Min size
40 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Billfish (Marlin, Sailfish)
Recreational
Family Istiophoridae
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Blacktail (Dassie, Kolstert)
Recreational
Diplodus capensis
Min size
20 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Bream Bronze (Copper Bream, Bluefish)
Recreational
Pachymetopon grande
Min size
30 cm
Daily bag
2
Closed
None
Recreational species
Bream River (Perch, Slimjannie)
Recreational
Acanthopagrus vagus
Min size
25 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Bream Stone (Stinker, Stinkvis)
Recreational
Neoscorpis lithophilus
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Carpenter (Silverfish, Karpenaar)
Commercial
Argyrozona argyrozona
Min size
35 cm
Daily bag
4
Closed
None
Commercial species
Catshark Leopard
Recreational
Poroderma pantherinum
Min size
-
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Recreational species
Catshark Striped
Recreational
Poroderma africanum
Min size
-
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Recreational species
Cutlassfish (Walla Walla)
Baitfish
Trichiurus lepturus
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Dageraad
Commercial
Chrysoblephus cristiceps
Min size
40 cm
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Commercial species
Dane
Commercial
Porcostoma dentata
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Commercial species
Elf (Shad)
Commercial Closed season
Pomatomus saltatrix
Min size
30 cm
Daily bag
4
Closed
1 Oct to 30 Nov
No commercial sale in KZN
Englishman
Commercial
Chrysoblephus anglicus
Min size
40 cm
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Commercial species
Fransmadam (Karel Grootoog)
Commercial
Boopsoidea inornata
Min size
-
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Galjoen (Damba)
Recreational Closed season
Dichistius capensis
Min size
35 cm
Daily bag
2
Closed
15 Oct to end Feb
Recreational species
Galjoen Banded
Recreational
Dichistius multifasciatus
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Garfishes (Needlefishes)
Baitfish
Family Belonidae
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Geelbek (Cape Salmon)
Commercial
Atractoscion aequidens
Min size
60 cm
Daily bag
2
Closed
None
Commercial species
Glassies
Baitfish
Family Ambassidae
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Grunter Olive (Piggy, Pinky)
Commercial
Pomadasus olivaceum
Min size
7.5 cm
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Grunter Spotted
Recreational
Pomadasys commersonnii
Min size
40 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Hake (Stockfish)
Commercial
Merluccius spp.
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Commercial species
Halfbeaks
Baitfish
Family Hemiramphidae
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Hottentot
Commercial
Pachymetopon blochii
Min size
22 cm
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Hottentot Blue
Commercial
Pachymetopon aeneum
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Commercial species
John Brown
Recreational
Gymnocrotaphas curvidens
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Kingfishes (Trevallies)
Recreational
Caranx spp. & Carangoides spp.
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Kingklip (Cuskeel)
Commercial
Genypterus capensis
Min size
-
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Commercial species
Knifejaw Cape
Recreational
Oplegnathus conwayi
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Knifejaw Natal (Cuckoo Bass)
Recreational
Oplegnathus robinsoni
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Kob Dusky (Daga Salmon)
Commercial
Argyrosomus japonicus
Min size
60 cm
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Commercial species*
Kob Silver
Commercial
Argyrosomus inodorus
Min size
50 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Commercial species*
Kob Squaretail (Half Kob)
Commercial
Argyrosomus thorpei
Min size
40 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Commercial species*
Leervis (Garrick)
Recreational
Lichia amia
Min size
70 cm
Daily bag
2
Closed
None
Recreational species
Maasbanker (Cape Horse Mackerel)
Baitfish
Trachurus spp.
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Mackerel Chub
Baitfish
Scomber japonicus
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Mackerel King (Cuda)
Commercial
Scomberomorus commerson
Min size
-
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Mackerel Queen (Natal Snoek)
Commercial
Scomberomorus plurilineatus
Min size
-
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Mullets (Harders)
Commercial
Family Mugilidae
Min size
-
Daily bag
50
Closed
None
Commercial species
Musselcracker Black (Poenskop)
Commercial
Cymatoceps nasutus
Min size
50 cm
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Commercial species
Musselcracker White (Brusher)
Recreational
Sparodon durbanensis
Min size
60 cm
Daily bag
2
Closed
None
Recreational species
Pompano Largespotted (Wave Garrick)
Recreational
Trachinotus botla
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Pompano Southern
Recreational
Trachinotus africanus
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Rockcod Catface
Commercial
Epinephelus andersoni
Min size
50 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Commercial species
Rockcod White-Edged (Captain Fine)
Commercial
Epinephelus albomarginatus
Min size
40 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Commercial species
Rockcod Yellowbelly
Commercial
Epinephelus marginatus
Min size
60 cm
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Commercial species
Roman
Commercial
Chrysoblephus laticeps
Min size
30 cm
Daily bag
2
Closed
None
Commercial species
Santer (Soldier)
Commercial
Cheimerius nufar
Min size
30 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Commercial species
Sardines (Pilchard & Red-Eye)
Baitfish
Family Clupeidae
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Sauries
Baitfish
Family Scomberesocidae
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Scads
Baitfish
Decapterus spp.
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Scotsman
Commercial
Polysteganus praeorbitalis
Min size
40 cm
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Commercial species
Shark Hammerhead**
Commercial
Sphyrna spp.
Min size
-
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
No commercial sale
Shark Raggedtooth
Recreational
Carcharius taurus
Min size
-
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Recreational species
Shark Spotted Gully
Recreational
Triakis megalopterus
Min size
-
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Recreational species
Slinger
Commercial
Chrysoblephus puniceus
Min size
25 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Commercial species
Snapper River (Rock Salmon)
Recreational
Lutjanus argentimaculatus
Min size
40 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Snoek Cape
Commercial
Thyrsites atun
Min size
60 cm
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Springer (Tenpounder)
Recreational
Elops machnata
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Steenbras Bank
Recreational
Chirodactylus grandis
Min size
-
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Steenbras Red (Copper Steenbras)
Recreational Closed season
Petrus rupestris
Min size
60 cm
Daily bag
1
Closed
1 Oct to 30 Nov
Recreational species
Steenbras Westcoast
Recreational
Lithognathus aureti
Min size
60 cm
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Recreational species
Steenbras White (Pignose Grunter)
Recreational
Lithognathus lithognathus
Min size
60 cm
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Recreational species
Steentjie
Commercial
Spondyliosoma emarginatum
Min size
-
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Strepie (Karanteen)
Commercial
Sarpa salpa
Min size
15 cm
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Stumpnose Cape
Recreational
Rhabdosargus holubi
Min size
20 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Stumpnose Natal (Yellowfin Bream)
Recreational
Rhabdosargus sarba
Min size
25 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Stumpnose Red (Miss Lucy)
Commercial
Chrysoblephus gibbiceps
Min size
30 cm
Daily bag
1
Closed
None
Commercial species
Stumpnose White
Commercial
Rhabdosargus globiceps
Min size
25 cm
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Swordfish (Broadbill)
Recreational
Xiphias gladius
Min size
25 kg
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species***
Tuna Bigeye
Commercial
Thunnus obesus
Min size
3.2 kg
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Tuna Bluefin
Commercial
Thunnus maccoyii
Min size
6.4 kg
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Tuna Longfin (Albacore)
Commercial
Thunnus alalunga
Min size
-
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Tuna Yellowfin
Commercial
Thunnus albacares
Min size
3.2 kg
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Wolfherring (Silky)
Baitfish
Chirocentrus dorab
Min size
-
Daily bag
-
Closed
None
Unlimited baitfish species
Yellowtail Cape
Commercial
Seriola lalandi
Min size
-
Daily bag
10
Closed
None
Commercial species
Zebra (Wildeperd)
Recreational
Diplodus hottentotus
Min size
30 cm
Daily bag
5
Closed
None
Recreational species
Basking shark (Koesterhaai)
Prohibited
Cetorhinus maximus
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
Brindle bass (Briekwabaars)
Prohibited
Epinephelus lanceolatus
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
Coelacanth (Selakant)
Prohibited
Latimeria chalumnae
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
Great white shark (Witdoodshaai)
Prohibited
Carcharodon carcharius
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
Natal wrasse (Natalse lipvis)
Prohibited
Anchichoerops natalensis
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
Pipefish & seahorses (Pypvis & seeperdjies)
Prohibited
Family Syngnathidae
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
Potato bass (Aartappel-baars)
Prohibited
Epinephelus tukula
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
Sawfishes (Saagvisse)
Prohibited
Family Pristidae
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
Seventy-four (Vier-en-sewentig)
Prohibited
Polysteganus undulosus
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
Whale shark (Walvishaai)
Prohibited
Rhincodon typus
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
Wreckfish (Wrakvis)
Prohibited
Polyprion spp.
No-take species. You may not target, keep or land this species.
No species match.
Regional rules & special notes
- Kob caught from a boat at sea (Cape Agulhas to Umtamvuna River)
- Kob caught from a boat at sea (in the province of KZN)
- Kob caught from the shore and in estuaries (east of Cape Agulhas)
- Kob caught west of Cape Agulhas