Live Bait

[robdog]

If the authorities don't do anything about the blatant shad slaughter along the coast, what chance is there of them doing anything about a bit of live bait fishing in fresh water?

[Lukas]

I have searched every where and the only reference I could get was the Animal protection Act 1962. I am not talking about the organized side of fishing, this is what the goverment say.

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Here are some extracts. Some of the extracts are applicable where animals are trained to kill or fight and the bait(oponents) are tied or kept as bait to profoke a fight.

2. OFFENCES IN RESPECT OF ANIMALS - (1) Any person who:

(a )overloads, overdrives, overrides, ill-treats, neglects, infuriates,tortures or maims or cruelly beats, kicks, goads or terrifies any animal; or

(b) confines, chains, tethers or secures any animal unnecessarily or under such conditions or in such a manner or position as to cause that animal unnecessary suffering or in any place which affords inadequate space, ventilation, light protection or shelter from heat, cold or weather;

And under another heading of trained animals to fight.

b) baits or provokes or incites any animal to attack another animal or to proceed with the fighting of another animal;

So by hooking bait fish in South Africa it would be considered illegal due to the suffering and torture to the animal used as bait. But is it not a a treat to the other party who gets the bigger meal????????

I wonder why the sea bait fish are not protected under these laws?

Nowhere in the Enviromental and tourism arm of goverment in any internet publications could I find any mention to the legality of fresh water live bait. I think the main reason why most people classify it as illegal is because of the orginized and professional side of fishing rules and reglations of clubs. As for that I totally agree with the rules and regulations. Besides what would be easier to get a strike on...plastic or the real thing?

Enjoy.

[Fab]

Lukas, thx for that!!! Did you perhaps look under the fisheries acts???

:?: :?: :?:

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[Lukas]

Fab, I had a look and the only info I could get was that Freshwter fisheries and Estuaries are managed by the provincial goverments.

From the Marine Fisheries Act.

"It must be stressed here that the term fisheries hereafter refers only to the marine fisheries. Inland (freshwater, and currently also estuarine) fisheries are an even smaller component of the economy, but are still important. They fall under the jurisdiction of the provincial administration or, in the case of aquaculture, the Department of Agriculture. No doubt some of the objectives and discussion that follow could apply equally well to freshwater fisheries, so consideration may have to be given to applying such objectives within other State competencies."

Had a look on all the agricultural sites and no one even mentions recreational fishing regulations surrounding baits.

This information was provided by me not to be followed as a free for all and do what you want..well you actually can but it is up to the individual him/herself to obide to the law or at least get the correct answers before you plea ignorance and get locked up.

God luck and keep you ears and eyes open for any laws that might be against the use of live bait in freshwater dams.

The next question from me is who regulates the poor innocent little pink mice being fed to pet snakes????????????? Is that not putting one animal in danger for selfenrichment or for pleasure? Surely the mouse should get a fair chance to escape from the den? Surely the snake owners should be thinking about the poor lttle mouse???

I am convinced that what pomerob was saying about the platanna is true, this is whre live bait in the social ring of fishing got "banned" due to rumours of fines and lockups due to the drowning of the endangered Cape Platanna (easy to recognise..no front teeth).


Enjoy and remember to stay on the right side of the law.

[Lukas]

Gentlemen, Please have a look in the new StyweLyne/Tight Lines magazine, an article was publish around the live bait issues and laws of each province.

What is more interresting is the rule for Mpumalanga dams. " only a single lure per line when fishing artificial baits" In the SABASS magazine there is a article about a certain venue in Mpumalanga with a certain wekll known angler with a fluke and a grub rigged on one line. That is one of the preferred rigs for the venue......go back and read...I am not sticking my head in this bee nest. Ask me again..I know nutting.

Enjoy the read.

[Fab]

Well, as far as I know, I have fished provicial fish-offs and the rule is:- one line in the water per angler at any one time with no more than 2 lures.....

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[Lukas]

Yes Fab, but Mpumalanga is the only provice with the variance in that rule. That is for all facets of lure fishing. Someone must have made a mistake when the rule was implemented. You never know. The thing is better stay on the right side of the law or be prepared to run and hide.

[Fab]

Shot Lukas.... Valid point!!!!

Not an area I'll be fishing in a hurry!!!! With our lekka dams down here....


But nice to know and valid points for ppl to be aware of!!!

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[pomerob]

Gentlemen, Please have a look in the new StyweLyne/Tight Lines magazine, an article was publish around the live bait issues and laws of each province.

What is more interresting is the rule for Mpumalanga dams. " only a single lure per line when fishing artificial baits" In the SABASS magazine there is a article about a certain venue in Mpumalanga with a certain wekll known angler with a fluke and a grub rigged on one line. That is one of the preferred rigs for the venue......go back and read...I am not sticking my head in this bee nest. Ask me again..I know nutting.

Enjoy the read.

I think it is open to interpretation, the old law used to be 1 lure with trebble hooks. Single hooks did not fall into the sam catagory. As I said open to interpretation.

[Vlam]

There is an article in the "stywe lyne" regarding live bait, and it is legal in some provinces and illegal in other. In gauteng and north west it is illegal and Natal it is legal if the live bait is caught in the same dam, but apparently that is going to change soon. Cant remeber the regulations for the other provinces.

[robdog]

Live bait is too easy, hence the growth of the artlure fraternity

[pomerob]

If it were to easy I think we would all have 5kg piggies caught on live bait :? At the risk of opening up a can of worms. With the obvious population boom of small fish, they become the natural prey for larger fish and I dont feel to bad for occasionally letting a small fish swim around on the hook a bit longer than I should. 99% of the time they come of the hook by themself and swim away without the added stress of being handled.

[robdog]

True Pomerob, but is that not live bait fishing?

[robfisher]

[pomerob]

True Pomerob, but is that not live bait fishing?

Yes it is in a way, but as I said I dont feel to bad about it because of the population boom. :roll: