Sustainable Seas with Salt Life Charters

Our Guide to Responsible Angling

At Salt Life Fishing Charters, we believe that every angler has the power to be a steward of the ocean. Catch-and-release fishing can be a conservation tool — but only when done right. Ethical handling of fish, sharks, and rays reduces stress, injury, and post-release mortality, helping ensure that these animals live to swim another day.

We also recognise that keeping fish for food, when done sustainably, is an ethical and environmentally responsible practice. We retain only those species that are abundant and fall within legal size and bag limits — because catching your dinner is far more sustainable than buying fish from unknown sources with no traceability. Choosing to eat what you catch ensures you’re sourcing local, fresh, and responsibly harvested seafood.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned fisherman, this guide is a must-read for understanding how your behaviour on deck can make a real difference for marine conservation in South Africa.

Why Ethical Handling Matters

Hooking a fish is only part of the experience. What happens next can mean life or death for that animal. Poor handling — like dragging a shark over the gunwale or rocks, or lifting a ray by the spiracles or tail — can cause internal damage, scale loss, and even kill species that are legally allowed to be released.

Fish and other marine creatures have evolved to live in the water. They’re not built for human interaction. When we do engage with them, we need to respect that, especially in a country where many species are threatened by overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change.

Best Practices for Ethical Handling

Here’s how to give your catch the best chance of survival:

Use barbless hooks or circle hooks to reduce injury and make unhooking easier.
Keep handling time to a minimum — ideally under 30 seconds.
Wet your hands before touching the fish to preserve their protective slime coat.
Support the fish horizontally and never hold by the gills or eyes.
Avoid taking large rays or sharks out of the water — use in-water dehooking where possible.
Revive the fish before release by holding it upright in the water and allowing water to flow through the gills.
Choose release photos over posed photos — the best shots are those taken in or near the water to minimise time out of the ocean.

Remember: A good photo isn’t worth a dead fish. Respectful handling practices are just as much part of the experience as the catch itself.

Special Focus: Hammerhead Sharks

Hammerhead sharks are some of the ocean’s most iconic predators, yet they are also some of the most vulnerable. Despite their impressive appearance, hammerheads are extremely sensitive to stress, with very high post-release mortality rates. Even when they swim away, they often don’t survive the trauma of the catch.

In South Africa, several hammerhead species — including the great hammerhead and scalloped hammerhead — are listed as Critically Endangered. Others are Endangered or Vulnerable, and deserve the same caution and respect.

If you accidentally catch a hammerhead:

Do not lift it out of the water.
Cut the line as close to the hook as safely possible.
Do not handle or pose with it for photos.
Report sightings to local databases to aid research.

We owe these magnificent animals more than just admiration — we owe them protection.

Endangered, Critically Endangered, and Prohibited Species

While bag and size limits are in place to regulate recreational fishing, they don’t always reflect conservation priorities. Some species are so threatened that even one removal from the ecosystem is too many. As responsible anglers, we must go beyond the law and fish with ethics in mind.

Always Release These Species — No Matter the Limits:

Red Steenbras (Critically Endangered)
Dageraad (Endangered)
Giant Guitarfish (Critically Endangered)
Sharks and Rays (A quarter of sharks and rays threatened with extinction)
Dusky kob (Endangered)

Prohibited Species

Some species may not be retained at all, regardless of condition or intent. This includes:
- Great White Shark
- Sawfish
- Seventy-four
- Brindle Bass
- Potato Bass
Holding, harming, or displaying these animals is not only unethical — it’s illegal.

Rays Deserve Better Too

Rays are often misunderstood and mistreated. Their unique physiology makes them especially vulnerable to injury when lifted improperly or dragged across rough surfaces.
- Never hold a ray by its spiracles or gill slits.
- Use a large mat or towel if you must remove it from the water.
- Return rays gently to the water, ensuring the disc is not bent or damaged.
Learn more in our dedicated guide to ethical handling of stingrays.

Tag & Release: Supporting Science Through Action

We proudly participate in South Africa’s Cooperative Fish Tagging Project (ORI-CFTP) and practice responsible tag-and-release of select species to support scientific research and stock monitoring. When permitted, we tag and release:

Dusky Kob
White and Red Steenbras
Cat-Face and Yellow-Belly Rockcod
Black Musselcracker
Sharks
Any billfish we may encounter

These tagging efforts help researchers better understand migration patterns, growth rates, and population dynamics — vital for the long-term health of our marine ecosystems.

However, we do not tag rays. The Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) has advised against tagging any ray species due to poor recapture rates and the high risk of injury from incorrect tag placement.

We fully support this position and handle all rays with extra care before release.

How We’re Taking Action at Salt Life

At Salt Life Fishing Charters, conservation isn’t just a buzzword — it’s our operating principle.

We brief all guests on proper handling techniques before they even cast a line.
We log notable sightings, particularly of endangered species, and share them with researchers.
We photograph responsibly, prioritising the well-being of the animal over the shot.
We support catch limits — but we encourage ethical judgment above legal minimums.
We retain only sustainable, edible species for personal consumption — because local, line-caught fish from known waters is far more sustainable than buying imported or farmed seafood from unknown sources.

Our crew has years of experience handling sensitive species, and we’re proud to help guests walk away not only with a catch — but with knowledge and respect for the ocean.

Be the Difference

Fishing is a privilege. And with that privilege comes responsibility. The way we handle marine life today will determine whether future generations get to experience the same magic.

Every time you fish ethically, you’re not just doing the right thing — you’re joining a growing movement of ocean guardians who understand that our seas need protection now more than ever.

Want to learn more about ethical angling or book a sustainable fishing trip with a conservation-first mindset? Get in touch with Salt Life Charters — where we fish with purpose, not just passion.