PELAV
Last updated 14 October 2026
This notice summarises the limits of the information PELAV shows. It forms part of the Terms and Conditions (sections 7 to 9).
PELAV is a planning aid, not a safety system. You alone decide whether conditions are safe. Check official sources such as the South African Weather Service, the National Sea Rescue Institute, your local harbour authority or lifeguards before you go. In an emergency, contact the emergency services, not an app.
Weather, wind, swell, sea temperature and forecast values come from Open-Meteo's models. They are estimates for an area, can differ from the conditions where you stand, and can be wrong, late or missing. A forecast becomes less reliable the further ahead it looks.
Tide times and heights are predictions from WorldTides. They are not observations and do not include the effect of weather. WorldTides makes no guarantee that its tidal data is correct. Do not use tide predictions for navigation or for any purpose where people, property or the environment could be harmed.
The PELAV Readiness Score, fishing outlook, best-fishing windows and species and bait recommendations are PELAV's automated calculations from a limited set of factors. They are general guidance, not a safety assessment, and not a prediction that you will catch fish.
Species information, including closed seasons and protected species, is general information that may be incomplete or out of date. PELAV not recommending a species does not mean every other species is lawful to target, and PELAV recommending a species does not mean it is lawful for you to take it. It is not legal advice. Always check the current official regulations, bag and size limits and marine protected areas.
PELAV treats galjoen as closed from 15 October to the last day of February, and elf (shad) as closed from 1 October to 30 November, both dates inclusive. For elf (shad), the regulations under the Marine Living Resources Act give two different start dates: 1 September in Annexure 2, and 1 October in Annexure 7, which applies to recreational fishing. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment stated on 12 September 2025 that the closed season is 1 October to 30 November and that it would align the two provisions. Until that is done, check with the Department before you fish for elf (shad) in September.
Fishing-spot markers are a curated directory. A marker does not mean a place is safe, accessible, open or legal to fish. Map data can be out of date.
The Licence Vault is not available in this version of the App. PELAV does not issue, verify, renew or authenticate any licence; your original licence and the licensing authority's requirements apply.
The Length-to-Weight calculator is not available in this version of the App. In App versions 1.3.0 and older, calculator results are statistical estimates from published length-weight relationships, based on Standard Length (not Total Length). They are not a measured weight and must not be used to decide whether a fish meets a legal size or bag limit.