Conservation
We're not conservationists by label. We're conservationists by necessity. The places we fish and explore are under pressure, and there won't be anything left to protect if we don't act now.
"Committed to quality, loyal to nature" isn't just our tagline. It's our responsibility.
Being outdoors is part of who we are as South Africans. So is respecting and protecting the natural world, and those values sit at the heart of how we live and how we run Walt Gear. South Africans have proven we can be world class at a plethora of things. There's no reason we can't be world class at building outdoor gear, and at looking after the fisheries and wild places that gear gets used in.
Both are in trouble. Both deserve a fighting chance. Both earn you real rewards for doing right by them.
14%
of historical population remaining
The Garrick, our Leervis, used to be a given along this coastline. Now there's just 14% of the historical population left. They only start breeding at 75 to 85cm, three to four years old, and most never make it that far.
Here's the part that puts it in our hands: juveniles grow up in estuaries, exactly where most of us fish. That makes the size of what you keep or release the single biggest lever we've got. Catch and release a Garrick over 70cm, post the moment, earn rewards.
Less than 5%
OF ORIGINAL STOCK REMAINING
The Dusky Kob is part of our coastal childhood, and decades of pressure on the big breeders have left less than 5% of the original stock. They only start breeding at around a metre long, six years old, exactly the size most anglers target. Most never get to breed even once.
One mature female can lay over a million eggs in a season, but only after surviving a decade to get there. Lose the big ones and there's no next season to speak of. Catch a Dusky over 100cm, film the release, post it, earn rewards.
The Rules
Same rules. Same rewards. Different fish, different hashtag.
Garrick / Leervis Must be over 70cm (breeding stock)
Catch and release a Garrick over 70cm. The fish must be measured and released alive.
Post a video of the release and a photo showing the measurement to Instagram or TikTok.
Tag @waltgear and use the hashtag below. Walt Gear in the shot, full rate every time.
We verify it and send your discount. Every valid post goes on the national leaderboard. Top anglers win limited-edition Walt Gear.
Rewards
Must be over 100cm (breeding stock)
Catch and release a Dusky Kob over 100cm. The fish must be measured and released alive.
Post a video of the release and a photo showing the measurement to Instagram or TikTok.
Tag @waltgear and use the hashtag below. Walt Gear in the shot, full rate every time.
We verify it and send your discount. Every valid post goes on the national leaderboard. Top anglers win limited-edition Walt Gear.
Rewards
Guardian Leaderboard
Every verified release goes on record. Top anglers at the end of each season win limited-edition Walt Gear. This is what responsible fishing looks like.
Leaderboard updated manually — linked to verified Instagram and TikTok post tags.