Good things come to those who bait

Werner van Zyl, a Grade 11 learner at Hermanus High School, is an active Western Province inshore boat angler, who currently represents the WPDSAA (Western Province Deep Sea Angling Association) on an interprovincial and a national level, both as a junior and a senior member of their teams.

Hard work and dedication certainly pay off as he was recently selected to represent South Africa at the SADSAA (South Africa Deep Sea Angling Association) Bottom Fish Nationals which will take place in Struisbaai in 2020.

Werner will be part of the threeman SADSAA U19 team, and will be participating against senior anglers. The Bottom Fish Nationals is a five-day competition, with a starting time of 06:00, and "lines up" at 16:00.

Werner has been fishing on a Western Province level since the tender age of 6 years. He received his first Western Province colours at 13.

His achievements this year include third place in the 2019 Junior Bottom Fish Nationals in East London, and first place in the 2019 Kleinbaai Bottom Fish Interprovincials. Here he received the prize for the top angler in the senior’s category.

Werner's dream is to achieve the highest level he can in angling and he says he will work his hardest to achieve this goal. He also encourages young anglers to follow their dreams and to never give up.

Good luck to Werner for the year ahead – we look forward to hearing more great news.

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