Fishing in Southern and South Africa
Fishing is probably one of the most favoured recreational activities inside of South Africa. This must be due to the wide expanses in landscape, great bodies of water inland as well as a coastline of that stretches for more than 2500 kilometres. The landscape and shoreline are some of the factors that contribute to this sport's popularity, another aspect being the wide array of
freshwater fishing species and the almost infinite number of
saltwater fishing species that can be targeted.
In South Africa, recreational fishing is practiced in so many different ways from boat fishing, shore fishing, kayak fishing as well as some more extreme styles such as jet ski fishing, where one does all of your fishing while on a jet ski. There is probably a fishing rod and reel in most of the households inside of South Africa, even if it is dusty and packed away, but always at hand if the opportunity for fishing should arise. Many people also fish to provide for their daily food. The species that most anglers target is usually in line with their geographic location and to which species can be found in their vicinity, although these anglers may take a tour or set out for a destination far from home in order to target a specific species of fish.
One of the new trends in fishing is for the fish to be released and this is a real positive step towards our fisheries conservation and will ensure the continued survival of species as new fishermen become more and more aware of the conservation of species in order to leave the legacy of fishing for their children.
In conclusion, fishing is certainly one of the most enjoyable recreational times that can be had, and it seems that in South Africa, it is definitely going from strength to strength.
