Target species: Garrick

South African record: 32.2kg

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lichia amia (Smith No. 210.33)
COMMON NAMES: Garrick, leervis

DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES: From the Mediterranean Sea (including Portugal), along the west African coast (especially Mauritania), to the south and east coasts of southern Africa (Smith and eemstra 1986)H
DISTRIBUTION OF STOCK: From Cape Point to Cape Vidal (van der Elst et al. 1993)
HABITAT ADULTS: Found in nearshore surface waters, varying from the surf zone to a depth of 50m (van der Elst 1988, Smith and Heemstra 1986) UVENILES: Common in SEC and SWC estuaries and coastal J shallows (van der Elst et al. 1993)

MIGRATION: Annually, during winter, adults migrate to KZN waters they return to Cape waters (van der Elst 1988)

FISHERY: Highly sought after as a recreational trophy fish by shore anglers, skiboat anglers and spearfishers, especially during the short season in KZN, but makes up a relatively small percentage of the total catch of these sectors (van der Elst et al. 1993)
CURRENT REGULATIONS
AG LIMIT: 5 person day
RESEARCH PRIORITIES
CATEGORY: Recreational List -1-1
B
MINIMUM SIZE: 70cmTL
CLOSED SEASON: None EFFECTIVE MARINE RESERVES: Probably none due to migratory behaviour OTHER REGULATIONS: No sale FREQUENCY OF ATTAINING DBL: Unknown

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
Garrick is a prime recreational angling species and trophy fish that should be managed to attain a large size and not a large tonnage of landings. Although it appears as if the stock status of garrick is currently sound, a review of these findings and calculation of biological reference points is needed.
Estuarine protected areas in the SEC and SWC, which provide important nursery areas for garrick,should be established.

Garrick is one of the finest game fish in South African waters. They feed mostly on karanteen, shad, makarel, mullet and they are not known to take dead bait. During the sardine run, garrick may be caught on sardine fillet or whole sardine. Garrick also may be caught on plugs.


With the invention of the none return sliding clip, which allows them to reach with a cast fairly deep, many anglers are targeting garrick with a live bait, which they slide on the line until it reaches the ring attached above the sinker. The use of wire traces, when fishing for garrick is not recommended. Many anglers believe, that the garrick can sense the wire trace and leave the bait.

The garrick has an extremely distinctive way of picking up bait. When he picks the live bait one can fill 2 or 3 sharp tags, before it start moving away with the bait. If you strike during the time when the garrick start moving away with you bait, the chances are that you will loose the fish. The reason for this is that the garrick once it picks the live bait, descales the bait fish and then will only swallow the bait. If you strike too early, you will bring back only your descaled live bait. Many anglers believe that a count to 21 is necessary before you strike. I had a success on a count to 12 and I believe that that is sufficient for me. Some times after the first run the garrick will drop the bait and stop, only once its start running with the bait again, then one can strike. Heavy tackle is required for the successful capture of garrick, as they are strong fighters.

One of the most beautiful spots for garrick in South Africa, when the garrick are around: