Witsands

Big Kahuna 2

New member
Hi All

Its been recentley brought to my attention that when walking from breede river lodge to modderbank to pump prawn there is no longer access to this area  residents who live along this area have have built a fence running into the water .Also oyster banks have been built on the river bank on either side of the fence.As far as i know the area up till the high water mark is public area.

Can anyone comment?
 

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RINEX

Sealiner
According to my knowledge one's "property" starts from the high-water level.What do our Legal friends have to say about this ?.I love that stretch of the river and often find my "peace and tranquility" there !!! :fbash:fbash
 

San Remo

Senior Member
I agree, I think the area between low water and high water mark is open space and may not be closed off. I would seriously challenge anyone who confronts me for'trespassing' this area.
 

catchme2

New member
that just p*sses me off. i'm gonna cut it off when i go. its not their private property. they probably want you to pay by hiring a boat to go pump prawn or fish. its always about the money.::cavmn::cavmn::cavmn::cavmn::cavmn::cavmn
who's in lets challeng them
 

catchme2

New member
and if thats the case, then we no longer go fish at Witsands, as all the good spots are past the fence. so they lose money in accomodation and the shops at the town lose out on our support. and i know plenty of anglers that will agree.
rather go to Stilbaai, just as good fishing.
 

Big Kahuna 2

New member
Thats correct there property starts from the high water mark.A friend of mines father who owns three houses in witsands but lives in Cape Town frequently fishes there and pumps prawn at modderbank for at least 25 years he was there last week and he cut a whole in the fence that is a public access area and not private property.He was approached by a lady who he very nicely told her to p...off and the dog.Then proceeded to pump his prawn.We contacted the municipality who gave us a number to of a gentleman who is going to investigate the matter.As the type of issues should be dealt with professionally and respect should be maintain with the objective incite which is very hard in most instances when you come from a long history of fishing the area.


cheers
 

catchme2

New member
well i for one will stand my ground, and will jump any wall. if i'm not mistaken, they plan to charge you for excess to these spots going through a farm. so it makes sense for the farmer and people to put up a fence, so they can charge you to use their farms to get excess to the spot.
 

RINEX

Sealiner
I will take it up with the Hesseqwa Municipality and i would like others that this concern, do the same.If we leave it ,nothing is going to happen.If theres a collective concern they will do something especially if its illegal.
 

Johnny Swart

New member
Het nou net met natuurbewaring hier in Witsand gepraat.Hulle gaan ondersoek instel , want niemand mag die gebied onder hoogwater merk toe span nie.
 

Tackle Slut

Senior Member
I'm going up to Witsands mid September and would love to know the result although we gona be going out the mouth and fish the reefs for those monster Roman,Cracker and Kob might even drop a Kob head down and hold on for life!!!
 

RINEX

Sealiner
Have spoken to Hendrik Visser at the Hessequa Municipality and Jonny has contacted MCM.So as soon as they respond we will let you guys know.
 

Dafishking

Senior Member
Toe ek in maart daar was het hulle al die fence begin opsit maar daar was ñ plek om deur te gaan sou nie dink hulle het dit ook toe gemaak nie.
 

Johnny Swart

New member
Natuurbewaring het my terugvoering gegee ivm draad wat gespan is.Oysterbeds het net na hul hawe se parkeerplek op hul grens wel n draad gespan,maar n deur gaan plek vir hengelaars gelos,soos dit nog altyd was.Geen draad verder op langs rivier nie,so jy kan by groenpunt se plaat kom om aas te maak.

Terloops rivier is op oomblik lekker vars na verlede week se baie reen,vars water le ver see in.Sal seker so 2 of 3 weke vat om weer reg te kom.

 
 

RINEX

Sealiner
Thanks Johnny Swart,great news.Die munisipaliteit het nog nie feedback gegee nie maar ek dink die probleem is nou opgelos.Firsthand lol.Nogmaals dankie vir jou moeite.Ja dit neuk maar as die rivier afkom.Ek stap in daai geval maar Moodies toe.Ek hoop om October met die "birthday bash" Witsand te besoek.
 

speartackle

Senior Member
Maybe this will help:

The Sea Shore Act, 1935 (Act 21 of 1935) declares the land between the low-water
and high-water marks to be state owned and regulates the use and control of this
area including the discharge of waste upon the seashore or into the sea. This act
provides for public access to and over this land in all areas other than a national
park.
 
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