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The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has announced the new recreational fishing season for West Coast Rock Lobster. The season for recreational fishing of west coast rock lobster will open on the 15th November 2012 and close on the 1st of April 2013.

The following conditions for the west coast rock lobster recreational fishing season will apply:

• From the 15^th of November to the 18th of November 2012, fishing will be allowed every day
• From the 19^th of November to 14th of December, fishing will only be permitted on weekends
• From the 15^th of December to the 31st of December, fishing will be allowed every day
• From the 1^st of January 2013 to the 1st of April 2013, fishing will be allowed on weekends
  and on public holidays.

The bag limit has been set at four west coast rock lobsters per person per day and the size restriction is 80mm carapace length.

Permits will only be issued to persons above the age of 12 years. Recreational permit-holders collecting and landing of west coast rock lobster may do so only between 8h00 – 16h00. The rock lobsters must be landed by 16h00.

Any west coast rock lobster caught, collected or transported shall be kept in a whole state. West coast rock lobster caught with a recreational permit may not be sold by any person.

Recreational rock lobster permits are obtainable from the Post Office or from the department’s Customer Services Centre at a cost of R92, 00 per permit and is valid for the entire recreational fishing season.

Enquiries and comments from recreational fishers can be directed to: RECRFISH@nda.agric.za a dedicated email address created by the department specifically for the purposes of improved communications with the recreational fishing sector.