Harbour night fishing.

[Hendrik]

Morning. Would like to know about night fishing in harbours. I have a cat E licence and want to fish in Richard bay harbour at night. Every one I ask say I must get a cat B licence for night fishing. On my E licence it states that it is for day and night use on inland waters. As far as I know harbours and lagoons are classified as inland waters. I know to get night rating at sea you need a cat B licences. Can I get advice on harbour fishing at night please.

[Bassa]

Hi Hendrick

If you have done  training and exams and have acquired a skippers license under category E
and registered your boat for seaworthy by a safety officer under category E

Then you can launch your vessel and operate it the harbor during the day or night
Provided that your boat meets the requirements of night operations
(nav lights, anchor lights, deck lights, extra battery) etc

With regards to fishing in the harbor at night, the skipper should be well versed in night navigation, know the difference marker bouy lights and stay out of the shipping lane,  restricted area etc

Only those  bigger vessel  that launch at night and going deepsea fishing , the boat and skipper operating the vessel should have both - category B with night rating

I did not see a problem with category E fishing in the harbor
At night

Please double check with the safety officer at the meerensee boat club or Rbs club

Thanks