Guide
Fishing permits for a Cape Town charter: what you need and how to get one
Do you need a fishing permit to fish on a charter in Cape Town?
Yes, anyone taking part in saltwater fishing in South Africa requires a marine recreational angling permit, including visitors on a charter boat. A monthly permit is R56 and an annual permit R79 if you buy it yourself online, or R100 and R130 if we arrange it for you.
3 minute read · Updated
Who needs a fishing permit?
Every person who fishes. The permit belongs to the angler, not the boat, so each guest who picks up a rod needs their own — South Africans and international visitors alike.
Guests on a coastal cruise or a birding charter who do not fish do not need one.
Which permit, and what does it cost?
The recreational marine angling permit. It comes as a monthly or an annual permit:
- Monthly recreational marine angling permit — R56 per person online, or R100 arranged for you. Right for almost every visitor.
- Annual recreational marine angling permit — R79 per person online, or R130 arranged for you. Worth it if you fish in South Africa more than once in a year.
How do you get one?
The easy way: when you enquire or book, we send you the contact who arranges permits for our guests. Send her each person’s details — name and surname, ID or passport number, date of birth, mobile number and, if possible, an address — and she replies with the fee. Pay by EFT or a payment link, and the permit arrives as a PDF by WhatsApp or email.
If you would rather do it yourself, permits are sold online on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment portal at fishing.dffe.gov.za, and at Post Office branches. Use the Google Chrome browser for the portal, and a Windows computer or an Android phone: the permit cannot be downloaded on an iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Is a digital permit accepted?
Yes. Fisheries inspectors accept a permit shown on your phone. Keep it on the phone you bring on the boat, or print it if you prefer.
What does the permit allow?
Fishing for your own use with a rod, reel and line. Fish caught on a recreational permit may not be sold, and bag limits, minimum sizes and closed seasons apply to each species. The crew knows the limits for everything caught on the day.
Crayfish (West Coast rock lobster) is different: it needs its own permit and may only be taken in its open season. If you would like to add it to a coastal cruise, ask when you book.
Still unsure?
Ask directly. Garreth answers these questions every week and will tell you if a trip is wrong for you.
Ask on WhatsAppQuestions
Do tourists need a fishing permit in South Africa?
Yes. International visitors need the same recreational marine angling permit as South Africans to fish in the sea, including on a charter. The monthly permit is the usual choice.
How much is a fishing permit in South Africa?
Bought yourself on the DFFE portal, a monthly recreational marine angling permit is R56 per person and an annual permit R79. Arranged for you when you book a charter, they are R100 and R130.
Where can I buy a fishing permit in Cape Town?
Online on the DFFE portal at fishing.dffe.gov.za, at a Post Office branch, or — for charter guests — arranged for you when you book.
Does the charter boat’s permit cover me?
No. The permit is personal, so each person fishing needs their own.
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