GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Many Knysna residents were celebrating the start of lockdown Level 3 for very specific reasons, but few would have been as happy and relieved as local fishermen who could once again cast their lines into the Knysna Estuary last week, whether for food or recreation or both.

As lockdown regulations are gradually relaxed with each lower level, one of the latest restrictions lifted with the start of Level 3 was that of recreational fishing.

On Monday 1 June, SA's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Barbara Creecy announced that all fishing, including recreational fishing, "is permitted with the exception of charter fishing", meaning fishers around the country could return to doing what they love - as long as they did so from the water's edge.

Since Friday last week, when the new lockdown Level 3 regulations were officially gazetted, local fishermen have been overjoyed with their newfound freedom to head out and fish for the first time since lockdown started in March, with SA National Parks (Sanparks) once again granting permission to fish in the Knysna Estuary.

One such angler, known simply as Gerald, who lives on Knysna's train bridge, relies heavily on the ability to fish for food for himself. "It's my main source of food, so when they took that away from me it became really difficult during lockdown," he said. "Sometimes I would catch more than one fish and sell the others, so I lost some income too."

Fishermen at the East Head make the most of their new freedom.
Photo: Blake Linder

Gerald wasn't alone in his battle though, as Kanonkop youngster Eugene Fredericks and his friends also rely on fishing for food. "We love to catch fish, we enjoy it, but we don't only do it for fun, we often need it to survive," Fredericks said. 

"We take fish home to our families, and that is sometimes our only food, so it is a huge relief for us to be able to fish again."

For Knysna resident Blackie Swart, it is just a relief to finally be able to get out and get some fresh air while taking part in his favourite pastime. Swart normally fishes at Leisure Isle and on Sunday returned to one of his usual spots.

"Don't get me wrong, there's nothing as lekker as cooking a fish on coals, but man, it's just good to be out again," he said. "Being stuck at home was horrible, and now I've been able to open my business again and be out and about while fishing, so I am so chuffed."

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