Pretoria - The 2011 recreational fishing season for West Coast rock lobster (WCRL) will open next Wednesday.
This was announced by the fisheries management branch of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Thursday.
According to the department, the season for 2011 will open on 15 November and close on 15 January next year. The season will open again on 6 April and will close on 9 April.
However, some of the conditions for recreational permit-holders collecting and landing WCRL include fishing only between 8am until 4pm. The rock lobsters must be landed by 4pm.
The bag limit has been set at four per person per day and the size restriction is 80mm carapace length. Any WCRL caught, collected or transported shall be kept in a whole state.
A maximum of 20 rock lobsters may be transported per day, on condition that all the persons who caught such rock lobster are present in the vehicle, vessel, aircraft or whatever means of transport is being used during transportation.
Such persons should also be in possession of their recreational rock lobster permits. No person catching WCRL with a recreational permit may sell such rock lobster.
Permits are obtainable from the Post Office. Permits will only be issued to persons above the age of 12 years.
