Ski-Boat January 2024

Seacat 565

520

510 Blast

Seacat 565

Seacat 520

Seacat 510 Blast

2 x Yamaha 70hp 4-stroke motors, hydraulic steering, galvanised breakneck trailer.

2 x Yamaha 60hp 4-stroke motors, hydraulic steering, galvanised breakneck trailer.

2 x Yamaha 50hp 2-stroke motors, galvanised breakneck trailer.

Forward console: R869 000!

Centre console: R859 000!

Forward console: R719 000!

Centre console: R699 000!

Forward console: R544 000!

Centre console: R529 000!

Explorer Evo 19

510 (Gen 3)

465

CENTRE CONSOLE 2 x Yamaha 70hp 4-stroke motors, hydraulic steering, galvanised breakneck trailer.

CENTRE CONSOLE Yamaha 100hp 4-stroke motor, galvanised breakneck trailer.

CENTRE CONSOLE Yamaha 60hp 4-stroke motor, galvanised breakneck trailer.

R688 000!

R499 000!

R369 000!

Kosi Cat 17 2 x Yamaha 60hp (4-stroke, power trim) motors on a galvanised breakneck trailer, hydraulic steering, plus much more!

Forward console: Now only R610 000!

Centre console: Now only R599 000! finance available nationwide delivery

pre-owned never looked so good! d

wne

-o Pre

Kosi Cat 17 FC 2 x Yamaha F70hp (4-stroke) motors (only done 365 hours). Hydraulic steering, Lowrance 5 GPS/fishfinder, VHF radio and full set of safety gear. Live well with pump.

T-Top, sound system, skipper’s bumbox, extra swivel stools and bait boards.

Navigation lights with switch panel.

Roadworthy galvanised breakneck trailer with spare wheel.

ONLY: R439 900!

ned -ow 021 e r P 2

Explorer 465 CC

ned -ow 016 e r P 2

Sea Cat 16 FC

ned

-ow

Pre

Sodwana 156 CC

Immaculate/full house boat with 2 x Suzuki (Built Dec 2021. On water Feb 2022!)

Yamaha F70hp, 4-stroke motor (20 hours).

60hp 4-stroke motors. Includes: Hydraulic 2 x Mercury 50hp 4-stroke motors (46hrs Bal. of warranty till 2024. T-Top. Hydraulic & balance of new warranty till Dec 2024). steering. Lowrance Hook 7 GPS/fishfinder & steering, T-Top, Lowrance HDS5 fishfinder/ Includes: T-Top, Hydraulic steering, VHF radio. Live well (pump/plumbing). Deck GPS, VHF radio, full set safety gear (Cat C), wash, rod holders & bait boards. Full Cat-D Flotex carpet, luna tubes, live well with pump, Lowrance Hook 7 GPS/fishfinder, VHF radio, full set safety, sound system, pushplate, safety. Front casting deck with removable etc. Baitboards, rodholders, boat cover, push plate and sound system. On a galvanised side bump/step rails, boat/motor covers, cushions. Boat & motor covers. Roadworbreakneck trailer with galvanised rims/axle. baitboards/rodholders, live well with pump, thy galv. breakneck trailer, rims & spare. galvanised breakneck trailer & spare.

ONLY: R399 000!

ONLY: R349 000! (REDUCED)

ONLY: R299 995!

CONTENTS

January/February 2024 Volume 40 Number 1 COVER: FIGHTING FIT A beautiful black marlin caught off Sodwana. See page 23.

Photo by Gavin Lautenbach.

FEATURES

7

Let the Games Begin Early season gamefishing in KZN — by Craig Stubbs

12

Ripping Through the Competition 2023 OET Bill- & Gamefish Tournament — by Erwin Bursik

23

A Rite of Passage Following in Dad’s footsteps — by Gavin Lautenbach

26

28

Look, Ma, No Hands!

Furuno takes autopilots to a new level

28

A Jewel in Moçambique’s Crown Lodge review:The View, Santa Maria — by Erwin Bursik

38

Jurassic Park of the New Century Wrestling Napoleons in Papua New Guinea — by Hannes Vorster

50

SA’s Boatbuilding Sector is Thriving

7

Boatica Cape Town Boat Show 2023

55

Bold and Beautiful Mercury’s new electric motor arrives in SA — by Erwin Bursik

DEPARTMENTS

38

4

Editorial — by Erwin Bursik

59

Bell Reel Kids

36

SADSAA News

61

Mercury Junior Anglers

48

50 lb+ Q-Fish ’Cuda Club

62

Marketplace & Ad Index

57

Kingfisher Awards

63

Business Classifieds & Directory

58

Subscribe and win

64

Rapala Lip — Last Word from the Ladies

The official magazine of the South African Deep Sea Angling Association

DO YOU PREFER AN EZINE? FIND US FOR FREE ON WWW.ISSUU.COM

Publisher: Erwin Bursik Editor: Sheena Carnie Advertising Executive: Mark Wilson Editorial Assistant: Lynette Oakley Contributors: Erwin Bursik, Gavin Lautenbach, Fransien Myburg, Craig Stubbs and Hannes Vorster.

ADVERTISING – National Sales: Mark Wilson, Manager — 073 748 6107 Lyn Oakley, Sales — 082 907 7733 ADVERTISING – Gauteng & Mpumalanga: Lyn Adams — 083 588 0217 Publishers: Angler Publications cc PO Box 20545, Durban North 4016 Telephone: (031) 572-2289 e-mail: angler@mags.co.za Subscriptions to SKI-BOAT: R220 per annum (six issues).

New subscriptions and renewals: SKI-BOAT Subscriptions Department Telephone: (031) 572-2289 • e-mail: angler@mags.co.za • Through www.anglerpublications.co.za, or E-zine through <www.issuu.com> Printing: Novus Print, Cape Town Distribution: On The Dot <Portia.Nguyuza@onthedot.co.za> Full production is done in-house by Angler Publications & Promotions on Apple Macintosh software and hardware.

SKI-BOAT Magazine, ISSN 0258-7297, is published six times a year by Angler Publications & Promotions cc, Reg. No. CK 88/05863/23, and is distributed by On the Dot, as well as directly by the publishers to retail stores throughout South Africa.

• Copyright of all material is expressly reserved and nothing may be reproduced in part or whole without the permission of the publishers.

• While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this magazine, the publishers do not accept responsibility for omissions or errors or their consequences.

Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers, the managing editor, editor, editorial staff or the South African Deep Sea Angling Association.

4 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

EDITORIAL

BLOWING THE LID OFF MY EXPECTATIONS

H

ERE’S today’s big question: How do we as deep sea anglers gauge our status in the arena of sport facets here in South Africa?

Simply attend one, if not more, of the bonanza-styled offshore fishing competitions that are run from the various launch sites around South Africa and in Moçambique. After imbibing the atmosphere, take note of the incredible array of craft lined up on the beach prior to launching, and then attend the prizegiving at the end of the event. You’ll be staggered by what you see.

Erwin Bursik The entire experience leaves one with the Publisher overwhelming impression that the sport of offshore fishing is revving at 6 000rpm and shows no signs of tapping off!

Having just returned from attending the prizegiving at the OET and seeing the final preparations for the opening function of the Billfish 15 000, I was blown away by the scale of it all and the level of professionalism the organisers displayed.

I was completely overwhelmed by the magnificence of seeing upward of 80 large sportfishing craft lying on Sodwana Bay’s beach, and also at the incredible standards the organisers are achieving in hosting these events. I cannot quite believe how much effort is being put into these competitions nowadays compared to the same competitions held, as is the case with the OET, 45 years ago.

This buoyancy is sustained and augmented by a large and diverse base of sponsors. Not only do they offer support in the form of finances and products, but they also offer their time, with many of the sponsors personally attending the events and often participating in the fishing too. This mixing of boat owners and product purveyors bodes well for the future of the entire offshore angling fraternity, because this is where loyalty is forged and connections are made.

The offshore anglers of South Africa have also come to realise that there is much more to entering these major bonanzas than just the possibility of winning the very valuable prizes on offer. These events also enable them to fish together with friends and family members in these broad-based competitions. Of course no one is ignoring the fact that this opportunity to interact with likeminded fellow anglers also offers the participants a chance to strike it rich thanks to the many incredible prizes on offer. In essence, it’s a winning opportunity for everyone who attends, one way or another.

As much as I’m incredibly enthusiastic about these so-called bonanza competitions in our sport, that in no way detracts from the importance and vibrance of the highly competitive interclub, interprovincial, national and international events run

by SADSAA’s provincial and national bodies. Both of these kinds of events have their place in our sport, and the crossover in attendance in both directions adds to the overall promotion of offshore angling in South Africa, which is a good thing for all of us.

Tight lines

Erwin Bursik

TACTICS

Early season gamefishing in KZN

By Craig Stubbs

Smaller KZN shoal-size yellowfin tuna are often around in decent numbers early in the season with a sprinkling of better fish in between.

TIME and tide wait for no man.”

Truer words have never been spoken, and as chilly winter mornings become windy spring days, the Indian Ocean’s moods, currents, temperature and bounty fluctuate with those vagaries.

On the east coast of South Africa, those windy spring days herald a change. Initially very frustrating, as those winds mostly keep us off the water, come early- to mid-November, they generally begin to moderate just a little, and we start whispering excitedly about “gamefish season”.Those frustrating north easterly winds bring with them a warm current from the north, and that current heralds the arrival of the ocean’s speedsters.

“

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 7

In general, I keep my ears open for the arrival of gamefish on the KwaZuluNatal upper north coast, particularly around Cape Vidal.When one starts seeing photos and stories of dorado, ’cuda and sailfish making an appearance there, it means that within two to three weeks, the lower north coast and upper south coast should start to see some action. Of course nothing is set in stone, but it’s uncanny how often this scenario plays out in almost identical fashion.

Those initial few weeks of the gamefish season can be a little erratic, but after months of most boats sitting idle in their boat sheds, just a little positive news is enough to get anglers setting early alarm clocks and dusting off their gamefish tackle.

For me, after months of having bottoms on the menu, gamefish is a welcome change both in terms of tackle and techniques, and also on a plate.

Nothing comes close to the feeling of filleting those first few gamefish of the season with warm sunshine on your back and a cold beer in your hand.

I am not going to go into massive detail on the actual techniques used to catch gamefish, as this has been covered before, but I will share some helpful tips on upping the odds in your favour.

BE PREPARED TO TRAVEL If you really want to get your reels screaming early in the season, then there is little doubt that places like Ponta Do Ouro, Sodwana Bay and Cape Vidal are the places to get to. They are consistently good producers of a variety of gamefish species early in the season.

However, fear not. Should you not be able to get “up north”, your local waters should also have a few fish by now.

If you have chosen to stick it out in your local areas, then a little on the water travel may be necessary too. Logic will tell you that these early season gamefish are not as abundant as they can be as the season progresses, so in this case I’ll go against my normal “stick, stay and make it pay” approach.

If I’m out on the water and I hear that a few fish have come out within a 15/20km radius of where I’m currently fishing, I’ll often bring lines in and make the trip to that area and try to cash in.

TACTICS Fortunately, livebait is normally

pretty easy to come by early in the season as most of the cool water bait species are still around, so it should not take very long to stock up on a few livebaits. I like to get a mix of mackerel and maasbanker early in the season, and will not really fish larger baits such as shad or big sea pike at this time of year.

There’s a very good reason for this.

Early season fishing is a bit of a lottery, and we have yet to establish what species are around, and what general areas are producing what fish, so, in a sense, we are fishing blind.

Now, I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but fishing a live shad, for example, quickly drops your odds of catching dorado and tuna which both have comparatively small mouths for their size, and much prefer a smaller bait. As a result, I prefer a mixed spread of smaller baitfish species which opens up my opportunities for most gamefish.

Talking of these “gamefish”, what exactly can we expect? In order of likelihood – and definitely not without exception – you’ll get dorado and yellowfin tuna, then ’cuda (king mackerel),

then wahoo, billfish and some of the kingfish species.

We know that each of these species has their own “best practice” when it comes to targeting them, but as we are in effect fishing blind, we need a bit of a general approach.

Early in the season I’ll often start my day by pulling a few lures. I give this only 30- to 45 minutes to try and cover some water and perhaps get a quick bite. If that’s not successful, then I will switch to bait fishing – ideally livebait fishing if I’ve been able to get some “liveys”.

This might sound counter-intuitive, because I’ve already stated that you have a fair chance of snagging a ’cuda, but very rarely will I fish a wire trace early in the season. The moment you add wire, you quickly diminish your chances of catching a tuna or dorado, so I fish straight monofilament/fluorocarbon traces, and only switch to wire if I have been bitten off by a sharptoothed gamefish.

Unfortunately, in the early gamefish season there are often quite a few small hammerhead sharks around, which bite and initially run pretty similarly to a gamefish, so if you have a small run and are cut off, it could also be a shark.

Examine the end of your trace line, as sharks often scuff the line with their sandpaperlike skin, and even the actual bite off on the line is often quite jagged and rough compared to a bite off from a ’cuda, for example, which is efficient and clean, almost like your line was cut by a pair of sharp scissors.

If I know for certain that I have been bitten off by a ’cuda, then I will fish wire traces on my downrigged baits, but I still fish straight mono on my surface baits, as these ones are most likely to get snacked on by any dorado or tuna that are be around.

Although less common early in the season, there are years when ’cuda arrive early and in good numbers, and these ocean speedsters add a welcome scream to the reel.

DRIFTING VS TROLLING I don’t mind doing some slow trolling for gamefish with one motor just in gear, but in the early season I do prefer to fish on the drift. Tuna can be very motor-shy when you’re fishing baits. For some reason, they will eat a lure in your prop wash but seem less likely to eat a livebait behind a running motor. This tip was given to me by an experienced commercial angler, and I’ve seen it play out enough times to realise that tuna prefer eating a drifted bait.

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 9

When fishing on the drift, I will generally go as far as a few hundred metres above my chosen reef (depending on wind drift/prevailing current), put out four lines (two or three on the surface and one or two weighted) and drift broadside towards my chosen spot.

Once I’ve passed that spot, I’ll continue the drift for another few hundred metres before repeating the process. It really does help to chum a little with sardine cutlets, and also to have one angler on board throwing a popper or stickbait. Make sure you are throwing that popper or stickbait on the same side of the boat where your spread is, as you want to attract fish towards your spread where they will hopefully take your baits. It is less effective if the angler is throwing a popper into open water where, if the fish passes up the popper, it is unlikely to take your next offering drifting on by.

READY, STEADY, GO Lastly, if you do get some action, particularly from dorado or tuna, you need to be on top of your game and ready to capitalise on

10 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

Undoubtedly most people’s “early season” favourite, dorado are spectacular fighters and great eating fish.

the bite. The aim is to keep those fish in the area for as long as possible before they move off, so if a rod goes away, while one angler is fighting their fish, I will often leave the other lines out and increase the chumming activity.

The reason I say you need to be on top of your game, is that when a large dorado decides to run along the surface, cartwheeling as he goes, you need to get those other lines managed so you don’t end up with one massive mess of line wraps and lost fish.

The best practice is to wind your remaining lines in a little closer so they are out of the way of the action, but still in the strike zone.

Assign your crew some specific tasks, whether it be chumming, managing a rod or two, or continuing to throw that lure, and you should be all right.

Hopefully the stars align and you get some early season bites and a few fish in the box.

Remember that giving fresh fillets out this early in the gamefish season can hold you in good stead with the neighbours and boss for the rest of the season!

COMPETITION

By Erwin Bursik; Photos by Kappie, Erwin Bursik and OET anglers

I

N 1977 the Oos/Eastern Transvaal (OET) Ski-Boat Association, as it was called in those days, established a gathering of all the clubs that were members of this association which formed an integral part of the, then South African Ski-Boat Association.

At the time, ski-boating out of Sodwana Bay was in its infancy, and the area offered only very basic amenities, and accessing its launch site was difficult.

The intrepid members of the OET had started frequenting Sodwana Bay because they could no longer go fishing in Mozambique as a result of hostility in that region, and Sodwana was then their nearest launch site.

Another factor that encouraged the trek to Sodwana was the perceived presence of billfish. Anglers of the day were sure Sodwana would take over from Bazaruto Island as the marlin mecca of Southern Africa.

The OET manne chose early November for their summer competition, combining both light tackle gamefishing as well as billfishing to satisfy the broad cross-section of the province’s ski-boat anglers in this event.

Ben Opperman and Jimmy de Pradines were president and provincial chairman at the time. Jimmy was also representing Eastern Transvaal on the South African Ski-Boat Association where I represented Natal, and I soon became friends with Jimmy and his co-fellow “Lowvelders”, Hardy Rothman and Cliff Reid.

I often used to fish the Sodwana Gamefish Club’s annual marlin comp that coincided with the OET, so I was invited to attend the OET’s traditional joint club braai evening that was always an incredible event and a sign of things to come.

I made my OET “debut” during the early 1980s, as crew aboard Hardy Rothman’s boat, Joey, when he, as president,

Winners of the 2023 OET, Team Ripshore, take possession of their new prize boat from Mike Barnes of Mallards, Dylan Thompson of Garmin SA, and Francois Human of Mercury.

persuaded me “jump ship” and fish the OET instead of the Sodwana Gamefish Club comp.As a matter of interest, Hardy’s son, Chris, still fishes the OET on his boat Little Joey, and supports the event as a sponsor.

Attending the 2023 OET – the 45th anniversary event and – I was blown away by the incredible and very professionally presented competition. It brought back an avalanche of memories of the early days as well as the nigh on 20 years I fished the OET on Team Mercury and B’s Nest with Brad Kidd and Brad van Zyl, who were both very involved in running the OET at different stages.

It has been a privilege and honour, and added immensely to my life memories, to cover the OET every year since we started publishing SKI-BOAT Magazine 38 years ago.

From this fortunate position, I have witnessed the incredible growth from the initial inter-club event into the formidable and magnificent event held in November 2023. This truly world-class presentation’s amazing support and incredible array of prizes is the pinnacle of 45 years of steady and innovative expansion.

The course has been progressive, but the event still upholds the original ethos of providing the manne (and now ladies) of the OET with a platform to pursue their sport of offshore angling in the style of their choice, be it light tackle or heavy tackle.

A finely tuned points scoring system has enabled both facets to remain competitive, and allows the light tackle anglers to be “in with a chance” to win the substantial main prize up for grabs. In reality, there were often times when a team fishing 10kg line class managed to upstage the heavy tackle anglers and win the ultimate accolade – and the main prize of the OET. In November 2023, the 45th OET attracted its full complement of 80-odd craft, both big and small. The sight of the fleet launching would have had those old timers of the late 1970s and early ’80s agape in amazement. Even I can hardly believe the ever increasing size and magnificence of these craft compared to those entered in the early years of the OET. Thinking back to the days of mass camping in the Parks Board camp site and “make shift” prize-givings held out in the open, and comparing that to what we witnessed in November at the new facilities of the Sodwana Hengel Klub’s now permanent home, completely boggles the mind and makes one and wonder how much more can be achieved.

Geting back to the fishing, the 2023 OET produced the normal wide spectrum of bill- and gamefish over the four days fished out of a possible five – Tuesday was a blow out. In total 38 billfish were released – 20 blue marlin, two black marlin, six striped marlin, five sailfish and five shortbill spearfish.

At the daily weigh-in of gamefish, one got the impression that not only were the numbers good, but there were also some really good specimens in the mix. The best – a 22.8kg dorado – showed that both the skill required and the love of light tackle gamefishing is alive and strong, supporting the retention of this facet in the OET. Billfishing is definitely a “glory sport” and always takes a lot of prominence at this event, and the reports of billfish strikes, hook-ups and releases kept the ladies on radio control very busy.

WITH THANKS FOR SPONSORSHIP

• Africa Lures • Albatros • Anonymous • Beach and Beyond • Bite Me • BOLS Hengelklub • Centre Engineering • Certainty • Club Dois • Cross Country Insurance Consultants • Dagga Boat Angling Club • ELXV • Eventus Sitrus • Eversure • Firequip • Fishing Pro Shop • Grimbeek Taxidermy • Heyshope Diepsee Hengelklub • Hoedspruit Diepsee Hengelklub • Iland Lures • Jean Meintjies Metal Sculptures • Jormid Electrical • KMSHK • LABA • Laeveld Huide en Velle • Leatherbacks Restaurant • Mallards • McGee Ford • MCON • Megalube • Mpumalanga Lifting • Na-Na’s •

The hardworking organising committee of the 2023 OET.

I didn’t get to fish myself at the 2023 event, but I spent a lot of time talking to the master billfish anglers and accumulating info from the beach control, and it was apparent that skippers had to venture further and further out to sea to find fish this time around. One thing that surprised me was the number of shortbill spearfish that were caught this year.

As always, the call ups and reports add so much excitement to the competition as one witnesses the ongoing accu-

mulation of points scored. This time round the build up on the last day reminded me of the recent Rugby World Cup, running through from the quarter finals to final play-off, with just one point [or fish] between first and second place.

So, it was with Ripshore and Maverick fighting their way to the top positions on the leader board. On Friday, the last day of the 2023 OET, a single marlin released in the final hours by Team Maverick could have pushed them to top

WITH THANKS FOR SPONSORSHIP

• Nelspruit en Distrik Hengelklub • Nomad Design • Oom C Breeze • Pencox • ProFit Safety Footwear • Pulsator Lures • Queens of the Ocean • Ripshore • Rooibaard • Rooikat Wholesale Liquor • Ross Ramos Camp • Rumpala Charters • Salty Hook • Sea Pike Hengelklub • Ski-Boat magazine • SMG • Sodwana Bay Lodge • Sodwana Hengelklub • Specialised Security Services • Spur • Taratibo • The Spread • Tropical Dream Tackle • Ultragear • UV Green • Van Dyk Pharmaceuticals • Vodacom • Whitaker & Sons • Zizwe •

position on the leader board, but it was not to be, and Team Ripshore glided up the beach at Sodwana Bay as victors of the 2023 OET. At the tumultuous final prize-giving, Team Ripshore were presented with prizes to the value of approximately R1.5-million. As the triumphant anglers climbed aboard the Cobra Cat 685 powered by twin Mercury 115hp outboards that stood in the spotlights on the massive stage, it was nigh impossible to fully capture the moment on camera in amongst the well-wishers and roar of the crowd filling the hall.

So ended arguably the most memorable prize-giving in the history of offshore fishing in South African waters, and a new benchmark has been set going forward. Start preparing now for OET 2024; you won’t want to miss out!

Jacqueline Smit took the prize for top female angler.

TOP TEN BOATS OVERALL 1. Ripshore . . . . . . . . . . . . .885.00 2. Maverick . . . . . . . . . . . . .767.10 3. Mrs Seevarkie . . . . . . . . .447.00 4. Ganjaman . . . . . . . . . . . .409.50 5. Six or Nix . . . . . . . . . . . .317.90 6. Fin Rider . . . . . . . . . . . . .293.70 7. Fanagalo . . . . . . . . . . . . .289.90 8. Naughty Cat . . . . . . . . . .276.40 9. Devine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240.10 10. Oorivis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215.90

This 22.6kg dorado was the biggest gamefish.

22 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

TACTICS

Following in Dad’s footsteps

By Gavin Lautenbach

O

NE of my first memories as a child was being given a fishing rod by my dad. It was my fourth birthday, and yet I still remember the vivid blue marlin logo on it which, at the time, led me to believe the rod was strong enough to catch one of those mystical fish.

It didn’t get me a marlin, but it did catch me my first fish – a spotted grunter from the estuary in St Lucia, which would also become the first fish I remember eating.That rod became my prize possession, and although now retired, it hangs in a cherished place in my dad’s garage.

I grew up in a Durban family who were among the early pioneers of ski-boating and sportfishing. I was obsessed with boats and would spend hours watching them launch and then waiting for them to beach again, invariably investigating the fishing hatches to assess their success.The scent of fibreglass, two stroke outboards and pelagic fish left indelible impressions on my youth.

Back in the 1980s, competitive fishing was in its infancy and the most anticipated event was the Umhlanga Festival which was usually held over a weekend in March. My uncle was Eric Watson, a respected social and competitive angler, and he invited my dad, Allan Lautenbach, to join the team to compete in the 1983 Umhlanga Festival.

Through Uncle Eric, our family made up part of the support team that ensured the annual event was a success.Whilst it was hard work for the others, it had the perk of allowing me inside the restricted weigh-in area.

Towards the late afternoons, the excitement steadily built as the crowds gathered to watch the fish come in. Although I was only five, I still remember the crowd cheering as a marlin was off-loaded at the back of the gantry.

Only when the electric winch started winding up the enormous fish and I recognised the team from my uncle’s boat, did I realised the fish was my dad’s. As I stared at it in awe, my mom suddenly ushered me to stand next to my dad with his 72.75kg black marlin.The photo that was taken captured one of the proudest moments in my life.

Allan Lautenbach and son, Gavin, proudly posing with Allan’s 72.75kg black marlin.

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 23

Not too long after that photo was taken, and just as I was reaching the age when I could start going on the boat, the family started winding down their maritime adventures.

Eventually they sold the boat, along with my dreams of fishing on it.

The Watson and Lautenbach families, back in the day.

Siblings Taryn Gowdy and Gavin Lautenbach with uncle, Eric Watson.

Undetered, though, my passion for fishing grew over the years. I gradually worked my way through many different species, and eventually realised it was time to try for that marlin. I spent countless hours researching tackle, techniques and various boat set ups, and finally that resulted in me pulling lures in the big blue off Sodwana Bay. Along that journey I was guided by various extremely knowledgeable and experienced fishermen like Henry Gouws, Sarel Allers, Greg Hogarth, Captain Jason Bryce in Guatemala, and my father in-law, Jack Fr ymire.

However, just because I was pulling lures didn’t mean I would catch anything. Although I had all the gear and the right ideas, it was a chance meeting I was missing.

The final ingredient came in the form of an invitation from Rod Wyndham to fish with him in a competition off Sodwana Bay in March 2019. On the practice day I finally got my first marlin in South Africa thanks to the experienced team on Rod’s boat, Silver Dawn!

24 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

Then, despite numerous attempts over the next four years, including twelve consecutive days of competition fishing, we never caught another marlin.We learnt a very valuable lesson: don’t fish a “practice” day.

Twelve days of not catching fish teaches you a lot about marlin fishing. It’s brutal, and as you stare at the lures being pulled behind the boat, you question everything: Is it the right lure/correct speed/correct depth? Those questions and nagging doubts escalate when the radio cackles to life and the boat you just passed announces a hook-up.

Invaluable experience is gained during times like these, and you realise that being positive, focused, prepared and patient are the attributes needed for marlin fishing. Twelve barren days really pressed that home.

Despite the difficulty involved in hooking a marlin, I’ve also learnt that is actually the easy part. Getting it to the boat is harder, and knowing what to do when it gets close to the boat is something that’s often not considered or prepared for.

In late October 2023 Rod was down at Sodwana Bay and offered to take me fishing. We had a very successful day out with just the two of us on board and I was very fortunate to release a magnificent black marlin! My dry spell with marlin had ended.

Later that week, and perhaps even more special, at Rod’s insistence my sister, Taryn Gowdy, who was visiting from the UK, had a crack at catching a marlin. The first day was pretty tough, and I could tell from having been there myself that my sister was thinking this fish is impossible to catch!

Around 1pm on the second day we went out, my nephew Tristan, who had spent most of the time sleeping, shouted, “Marlin! MARLIN!” The fish aggressively swam up into the spread of lures and smashed a Wildebeest Big T lure just behind the boat. The water exploded and organised chaos ensued; rods were quickly cleared to the sound of the Tiagra 80 unspooling as the fish energetically skimmed over the water.

Taryn moved nervously into the chair and quickly realised this wasn’t going to be easy. I was fortunate to get a few photos during one of the spectacular runs as the marlin came close.

Eventually the fish came to the boat fatigued but healthy, and Rod leadered it while his daughter, Michaela, helped us measure and take photos.This was a very special black marlin

Taryn Gowdy with her magnificent black marlin, caught and released.

Rod Wyndham and Gavin Lautenbach.

Gavin with his black marlin shortly before its release.

which measured an estimated 115kg and was released after some magnificent aerial displays and a truly magical experience.

It’s not every week that siblings each get to catch a marlin like their dad did 40 years before them, and we are both extremely grateful for the opportunity.

The reward of fishing is all too often measured by the joy of those catching the fish themselves, but, for a few, the joy comes in watching others catching fish. Rod is the latter, someone whose reward comes in watching others catch fish on his boat. He takes pride in his art, and his gratification is

smiles, jubilant hugs and mistimed high-fives, and a few cold beers afterwards while reliving the day’s fishing.

Ever since I was young, my dad instilled in me that we ought to let fish go so that they can fight another day, so that’s what Taryn and I did.

Marlin fishing, to me, is rite of passage, anchored in me first as a five-year-old.This rite is defined in many ways, but is usually one’s first. It’s a great celebration of an accomplishment, and I hope that, like Rod, I get to help others celebrate catching their first marlin and, more importantly, celebrate their release.

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 25

ADVERTORIAL

LOOK, MA, NO HANDS! Furuno’s NAVpilot 300 takes autopilot to a new level

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OT all autopilots are created equal, and that is never more obvious than when experiencing the simple, hands-free operation that you get when running a FURUNO NavPilot 300.

It’s the coolest way to steer your boat!

With the NAVpilot 300’s unique Gesture Controller, Fantum Feedback™ steering, and self-learning software, you will enjoy a whole new level of navigation with ease and peace of mind.

Designed specifically for the offshore ski-boat market, the NavPilot 300 is perfectly suited for doing the heavy lifting and lightening the duties of the skipper for those long trips and many hours behind the wheel. The NAVpilot 300 is ideally suited for vessels running standard hydraulic steering or compatible Electric Vessel Control (EVC) electric steering systems.

The system has a number of fabulous features to make your day out fishing the best it can be.

which reduces steering system complexity, costs and driver fatigue, all while increasing fuel economy. This unique helm-activated assisted steering feature can enhance and possibly even replace separate electric and power steering systems.

• SELF-LEARNING AND ADAPTIVE SOFTWARE Each time the boat goes to sea, the NAVpilot 300 adaptive software learns about sea conditions and how the boat reacts to rudder input, and automatically calculates the best adjustments for a smooth steering.

• GESTURE CONTROL – THE ULTIMATE REMOTE CONTROL This system offers a quick and easy way to control your NAVpilot 300 from anywhere on board with full remote functions or simply point and shoot. Point the Gesture Controller to the direction you want to go in and let the NAVpilot do the hard work.

• FANTUM FEEDBACK™ Furuno’s Fantum Feedback™ NAVpilot software clears the path to a simplified installation, while also delivering enhanced steering control. With Fantum Feedback™, NAVpilot outboard installations no longer require the use of a physical rudder feedback unit (RFU). This eliminates the need to have an RFU on the outboard RAM and running cables.

• SAFE HELM – SAFETY FIRST The safe helm valve temporarily switches the NAVpilot to manual steering for a specified time interval. This means that grabbing the steering wheel to avoid a collision does not force the hydraulics; instead it temporarily disengages the pump and allows the vessel to react to manual steering control input. Once the manoeuvre is complete, the NAVpilot re-engages.

• POWER ASSIST The safe helm valve doubles as a power assist feature 26 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

• VARIOUS NAVIGATION MODES The NAVpilot 300 has a number of different navigation modes.

AUTO MODE: A simple one-touch function that maintains the desired heading.

ADVANCED AUTO MODE: Compensates for tide and wind effects while maintaining heading.

NAV MODE / ROUTE TRACKING: Navigates towards a waypoint while compensating for wind and current.

SABIKI MODE: Maintains the heading astern while compensating for wind and current effects.

FISH HUNTER:The gamefishing skipper’s best friend! With this function, four specific manoeuvres can be used around a defined target at a user-selectable distance.

With an intelligent autopilot like this on board, there’s no need for the skipper to just steer – grab a rod and fish along with your mates!

PLACES

Reviewed by Erwin Bursik N A particular day in September I stood on the balcony of “The View”, sited high up on the primary dune of Santa Maria, watching a spectacular sunset across the vast Maputo Bay.The large island of Inhaca spanned the eastern side of the vista beyond Hell’s Gate virtually directly below me, and the faint outline of the highrise developments in Maputo was visible on the north western skyline. I was completely entranced.

Lady Luck was certainly on my side as this was the second time in under a month that I found myself in the southern part of Moçambique, this time to visit this stunning new lodge and experience a few days fishing in the fish-rich waters off Inhaca.

Brad van Zyl, my fellow crewman aboard B’s Nest for so many years during the OET at Sodwana, had invited me to join him on a visit to Shaun Brodell’s recently completed lodge,The View, at Santa Maria. How could I refuse?

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After flying into Nelspruit, Brad and I drove to Malelane to meet Shaun at another of his accommodation offerings – Kruger View Chalets which is sited on the southern bank of the Crocodile River, overlooking the river and Kruger National Park. These very comfortable cottages offer easy access to the park at the Malelane Gate which is just ten minutes from Kruger View. This is also an ideal overnight stopover when entering or exiting Moçambique via the Komati Border Post. Kruger View is only 38km from the border and a further 98km drive will get you to Maputo.

With Shaun’s 28ft boat, Hoof Hearted?, hitched up and loaded, Shaun, his son Branden, Brad, Garry Harris and I departed early from Malelane.After a surprisingly quick transit through the border post, we arrived at the commercial slipway in Maputo in under four hours.

Being ahead of schedule, we were greeted with a very low spring tide and couldn’t launch, so we had an early lunch at a very impressive Mozambican eatery on the dockside while we waited

for the tide to come in. Before long we were joined by Jeremy Bayne and his son, Tyrin, who had towed their boat from Durban and were also heading to The View.

With the tide pushing, the 38km run from Maputo to Santa Maria took us just on an hour.

The View is an extremely comfortable, beautifully finished lodge with two bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen, amazing outside deck and a swimming pool at the main house, and two extra standalone cottages fitted out with all the mod cons including air conditioning.

The lodge can accommodate eight guests.

Two permanent staff members, Carlos and his wife, keep every aspect of the lodge spick and span, and Carlos can organise whatever guests need, including fishing tackle and anything else for one’s craft.

Words cannot fully convey the beauty of the lodge’s view and the sunsets.

Even the accompanying photos do not really do it justice, and the full experience can really only be properly appre-

ciated when one visits The View and drinks in the vista oneself.

Once we’d finished appreciating the view, it was time to start talking fishing.

Branden has spent a fair bit of time in Oman, guiding the rich and famous and catching giant GTs, and the array of tackle he and Shaun have amassed is by far the best collection I have ever seen, with everything immaculately looked after and well-rigged. I couldn’t wait to actually put it all to good use in the waters around Inhaca Island.

In the November 2023 issue of SkiBoat I raved about the fishability of this area, and on this second trip here the two days we spent fishing only served to confirm how interesting and prolific the fishing possibilities are around Inhaca.

Jeremy and Tyrin had never fished the area before, but were also blown away by their experience. The marks Branden gave them guided them through Hell’s Gate, providing them with the trail they needed to ensure they kept to the deep channel and got to the fish. See Tyrin’s story overleaf.

OFF-THE-CHARTS FISHING

By Tyrin Bayne E come from Durban where the fishing is really challenging and you have to think out of the box and, most importantly, use your fishfinder. We knew this trip was going to be special, but would never have imagined what it would have in store for us.

I think a lot of people don’t fish Santa Maria due to it being very close to Maputo – at least that was my impression. Hence a lot of anglers travel all the way north to the likes of Guinjata.

However, on this trip I learnt that you don’t need to travel 12 hours-plus to experience the true Moçambique. Quite simply, the fishing was off the charts.

When we reached the first reef we were greeted with showings from top to bottom! We would troll a reef looking for showings on the fishfinder, mainly looking for bonito to put out as livebait. Once we found a bonito we would immediately put it out on a steel trace as there are lots of toothy critters around there. Every single bonito we put out got smoked almost instantly! We had ’cuda smashing the live bonito as we were letting them out behind the boat, then there were wahoo and, of course, marlin.

I could not believe the number of marlin that we found around the shallower reefs in 20- to 30m of water. At one point all we could hook on the live bonito was marlin! We hooked four marlin in four days of fishing, successfully leadering one of them. We were tackled up in a very similar way to how we would fish our home waters off Durban, so our 10kg tackle was very light for marlin.

We had a truly incredible trip, landing multiple ’cuda, jobfish on the sow rigs, tuna, skipjack and smaller trevally species like club nose trevally. We also had a few chances with wahoo but couldn’t land any.

I can truly say that Santa Maria is a real gem of a fishing destination, and the best part is that it’s easy to access. You don’t have to drive all the way north to experience the true beauty of fishing in Moçambique, it’s available right off Maputo. We will definitely be back with some slightly heavier tackle looking for those marlin and wahoo.

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32 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

While skippering Hoof Hearted? for many hours during our visit, I was captivated by the reef structure and fish showings on the boat’s Garmin sounder, as well as the large amount of baitfish activity. It all made for some very exciting days at sea. The highlight of our trip was the 50 lb-plus ’cuda caught by Garry – his first fish on his first deep sea fishing trip!

Shaun has fished Inhaca for many years, and Branden, who will be offering charters from the lodge, has learned a lot from his dad and is a very astute skipper who’s very effective at putting his clients onto the fish. His tackle is superb, and he sure knows how to use it.

Having now stayed on Santa Maria for four days, I can really appreciate what this area has to offer. For now, no further development will be allowed on Santa Maria, and the low density of the current developments will keep this area pristine while still providing a degree of “vibe” for any holiday pursuits.

As I mentioned earlier,The View is situated high up on the Santa Maria hillside.

This gives it complete privacy with no chance of being invaded. However, this seclusion comes with a minor obstacle, especially for us old toppies and the infirm. Let’s just say that the walk from the beach to the lodge will keep one very fit.To get around this, there’s a boardwalk about 75 metres long running from the beach to a parking lot where you can hitch a lift in the lodge’s vehicle up the steep road to The View.

This slight inconvenience is more than made up for by the incredible 180 degree view from the lodge’s verandah where we spent a fair amount of time sipping a few cold ones and drinking in the peace and quiet afforded by the isolation.

Aside from the fishing, one of the biggest draw cards to the area is the beautiful beach which varies in line with the tides, going from vast sand banks and small channels during spring lows, to high water and a great channel along the beach for swimming at high tide.

Generally the development here is very sparse, but Bemugi’s Place on the western side of the peninsula is renowned as a fun recreation facility, offering a bar, restaurant and pool that provides the vibe some may be looking for.

Over and above that, boat trips to the marine reserve on the southern end of Inhaca can be arranged for sunbathing, snorkelling and scuba diving. Visitors can also take a 15 minute ride up the inside channel on the south west of Inhaca island to visit the main town of Inhaca on it’s north western shoreline. There are a number of local restaurants there, and it’s “old Mozam” at its best, with the food, drink and ambience that revives memories of the country before the war.

A visit to Santa Maria is a wonderful experience, and one I sincerely hope to repeat in the not too distant future.

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 33

WHAT DOES SADSAA DO FOR ME?

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we can to protect the rights of our anglers in this regard.

Government scientists are currently suggesting that dageraad (Chrysoblephus cristicep) are endangered, but again citizen science, by way of data on catch reports by our anglers, suggests dageraad is one of the most prolific fish caught in the Border area.

IME and again, I am asked, “What does the South African Deep Sea Angling Association (SADSAA) do for me for R170 per year?”

To many, it seems that unless you wish to compete at the highest levels of competitive angling, there appears to be no benefit. Yes, we are the only path to Protea Colours for deep sea anglers, but SADSAA is so much more than just this.

FOR THE AVERAGE ANGLER So, what does SADSAA do for the average angler who merely wants to belong to a club where they can meet friends and access the water? No matter what the motivation for joining, we will always do our best to look after each and every one of our members and their interests.

Let’s look at some of the betterknown success stories that SADSAA and our provincial bodies have had in recent years.

Border Deep Sea Angling Association successfully challenged the ban by government on catching Petrus Rupestris or red steenbras (coppers).This was a landmark victory as this is a highly prized species that all bottomfish anglers have on their bucket list of fish to catch.The copper is an incredibly good eating fish and, sadly, due to commercial exploitation, had definitely declined in numbers at the time of the ban.

The recreational angling fraternity was convinced that this was not due to the pressure exerted by the “weekend warriors”, but rather by the commercial operators. Subsequent to the lifting of the moratorium for recreational anglers, we have seen a steady increase in the proliferation of the species. SADSAA is still fully dedicated to the preservation of the species, and has insisted that our anglers observe an even longer no target/no take period than the government-imposed closed season.

In 1998 the government also

36 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

Chris Schorn, SADSAA President imposed a moratorium on targeting, catching and keeping the seventy-four seabream (Polysteganus Undulosus).

This moratorium has been in place ever since, and we don’t seem to be able to find much science behind the continual ban on recreational anglers targeting the species, when the citizen science shows that it has recovered incredibly well.

Our agenda to approach government to try and have this ban lifted for recreational purposes is well advanced, and we hope to have some further news on this soon.

These, along with several other environmental issues, are high on SADSAA’s priorities list and are under constant review.We believe that recreational anglers do not do the kind of damage that the bigger commercial operations do, and we are constantly looking out for the rights of our members in this regard.

Other environmental issues, such as fracking and oil exploration, have also been of immense concern to SADSAA and our members.

Bag limits will soon to be under review again by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), and again we will do all that

SAFETY AT SEA Another major area that SADSAA has a large influence on is safety at sea.The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is the controlling body for all safety related matters coving both inland and coastal waters of South Africa, and SAMSA Small Boat Regulations are amongst the best in the world, largely thanks to SADSAA and its members.

Over the years, we have been the top contributor to the regulations that govern the use of all recreational craft at sea that do not exceed nine metres in length. SADSAA is the largest authorised agency acting on behalf of SAMSA, and annually surveys the vast majority of recreational vessels and issues Certificates of Fitness (COF) which is the equivalent of a roadworthy on a motor vehicle.

Unlike motor vehicles, boats must be surveyed for seaworthiness every 12 months, and SADSAA’s safety officers do this for all members.

Our member clubs are unique in South Africa, as each SADSAA-affiliated club has its own prefix which identifies the home base for the vessel, its owner and its crew. No other agency in South Africa has this right, and this all comes back to the fact that SADSAA and its member clubs were the pioneers of small craft safety in this countr y and still lead the way on these matters.

Although it is not necessary to carry a club number on your vessel, we strongly encourage it, as our club surveyors can also offer a better service to our members for these through club survey days etc.

As a SAMSA-recognised Authorised Agency, we survey all recreational vessels, but it is always special to be able to identify the home club of the owner. With all other prefixes issued, such as the SR, DT, U and LTB numbers, the owner has no rights to the registration number and so relinquishes this when the vessel changes hands, but a club number belongs to the affiliated club and so stays with the owner for as long as he is a member of that club. This can become quite a point of pride in the bigger clubs where a lower number indicates a longer standing member of that organisation.

We also have special dispensation from SAMSA to charge less for a COF for a club-registered boat, and that’s usually enough to cover that small yearly fee to be a SADSAA member.

SADSAA is also very involved with the training and certification of skippers, all the way from those who may only use their vessels on the local dams, right up to those captains who spend hours and even days at sea way out of sight of land. Again, this is a very important role as it’s vital that these individuals be properly trained because waterways can be very unforgiving if you do not have good knowledge of and respect for them.

SADSAA is very committed to safety at sea, and will always fight for all to have access to the ocean in the safest way possible. We are strongly represented on SAMSA’s advisory board to ensure this happens.

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS So where else has SADSAA had influence over the years and what else are we constantly fighting for?

We have had a lot of input on regulations around Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Most of the current MPAs would either be much larger or more closed to recreational angling were it not for SADSAA and its environmental officers who spent an inordinate amount of time in negotiations with government prior to the final promulgation of new MPAs that were declared in the past few years under operation Phakisa.

By liaising with and working alongside DFFE, we managed to get many of the proposed closed areas opened so that the recreational anglers could still enjoy what our coastline has to offer, without being excluded alongside the big commercial operations that, as necessary as they are, do some serious damage if not properly regulated.

South Africa went from a protected marine environment of only 0.4% to 5% with the implementation of the

above operation, and this would have destroyed recreational angling were it not for SADSAA’s intervention alongside that of various other interested and affected parties.

RECORDS As a full member of IGFA, SADSAA operates completely in line with IGFA’s standards for the issuing of records for South Africa and Africa. I won’t go into too much detail here, but suffice it to say that we are the keepers of all the records for deep sea fish caught in our waters, and no other organisation has the right to do this. Alongside IGFA, we are working on a proper set of All Africa records, and we also assist with World records, with IGFA as the official custodians.

COMPETITIVE ANGLING A large part of SADSAA’s role is promoting our national and international competitive sides, so let me explain briefly how SADSAA fits into the international world of angling.

At an international level, there is one recognised controlling body for all types of angling that are practiced around the world. This is the Confédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive (CIPS). They are the ultimate controlling body of all true world championships for angling.

There are many events around the world that are advertised as internationals or world championships, but which are actually more like club tournaments where teams from clubs around the world can compete without any nationally recognised selection process.

CIPS has four legs and SADSAA is affiliated to the Fédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive en Mer (International Sea Sport Fishing Federation) (FIPS-MER) and our anglers compete under their banner in true world championships.

In South Africa, we have three national associations that are specifically saltwater orientated – SADSAA, the South African Shore Angling Association, and the South African Underwater Fishing Federation – and then one that has feet in both the saltwater and freshwater worlds – South African Light Tackle Boat Angling Association.

All angling within South Africa is controlled by one body that has the right to speak to and represent angling at the South African Sports Council and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). This organisation is called the South African Sports Angling and Casting Confederation (SASACC).

SADSAA talks to SASACC, who talks nationally (for Protea Colours) to

SASCOC; SASACC also talks to CIPS at an international level and represents all of angling at this top level.Through a SADSAA selection process, we apply, on behalf of our anglers, to SASCOC for the right to award Protea Colours and the right to represent South Africa internationally.

This is, first and foremost, what SADSAA does, and the reason for all the interprovincial and national tournaments that we host though our various provincial bodies each year. The path to Protea Colours is neither short nor easy and requires years of dedication to the sport, and only the cream will make it into the green and gold.

SADSAA is also part of the International Light Tackle Tournaments Association (ILTTA), European Federation of Sea Anglers (EFSA) and of course the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) which is the record keeper of all world records of all sportfish worldwide.

IGFA is also renowned for its conservation efforts and its set of standards and ethics in the world of sportfishing. SADSAA is very proud to have an IGFA trustee and numerous IGFA representatives in our ranks.

Our rules are also all IGFA compliant, so that, if you’re angling according to our guidelines, you are eligible to apply for a world record, and we have many South African anglers who hold world records for fish caught in our waters.

WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK As can be seen from all this, SADSAA is much more than just a path to Protea colours for the elite in our ranks. I have just touched briefly on some of the bigger issues that we deal with daily, but there are many more that fly under the radar of the average club member.

It may be our fault that so many anglers don’t know the benefits they reap from SADSAA, because we probably don’t publicise enough of what we do, but we are working on this and hope, in time, to offer much more.

We tr y hard to be relevant to young and old alike, boat owners and anglers, weekend warriors and the hard-core competitive anglers, in these trying times.

SADSAA’s current annual fee of R170 is less than a round of drinks at the club on a Saturday afternoon after a day on the water, so if you aren’t already a member, please consider joining. All our members are important to us and we try hard to be relevant to everyone who loves the ocean and its bounty.

Tight lines to all, and safe travels wherever they may take you.

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 37

PLACES

Wrestling Napoleons in Papua New Guinea

By Hannes Vorster

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E’VE all read articles about extreme fishing adventures and heard about catches of “monsters”, “beasts” or “giants” and wondered how true they are. Before I continue, let me say I have been fortunate to fish most of the remote and unfound territories across the globe in search of those real big dinosaurs, but NEVER have I seen, heard, or experienced anything like what I have in Papua New Guinea!

It all started when Captain Michael de Min who runs a charter boat at Doini Island (one of the ±600 islands around Papua New Guinea) told me of an encounter with a “giant” Napoleon wrasse of over 80kg. I have had a few encounters with Napoleon wrasse at various destinations but have never been able to land one. It is like I have been cursed – every time I hook up to one, something seems to go wrong.

Since Papua New Guinea (PNG) is known as a location where they are found in abundance, it has been on my radar for a few years now.

The Napoleon is one of the largest reef fish in the world and can grow up to two metres and weigh up to 180kg.Apart from a Napoleon’s remarkable ability to change its sex, they also have a few other very unique features.Their colours vary from dull blue-green to vibrant shades of electric green and sometimes even purplish-blue, and their very prominent hump on their foreheads apparently resembles the hat of the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, hence their name.

Like chameleons, they can also rotate their eyes and see in more than one direction without moving their head.

Michael’s stories about PNG’s Napoleons were enough to convince me to go there and see if I could turn my luck.

Fro Cobus N ieuwoud m left to right: and Mich t, Hannes Vorste ael de M in at Do r, Manu Girard ini Islan d.

As it turned out, part of the adventure was getting there, with the journey taking nearly three days. First we flew to Manila (Philippines), then Port Moresby (capital of PNG), then took an internal flight to Alotau (in the south-east of PNG) where we spent the first night. Waking up is never easy for me unless it’s for fishing, so sweet was the sound of Michael’s voice at 5am the next day. This was the start of a seven-day adventure I would never forget!

We left the Bay of Milne and zigzagged through dozens of small islands heading towards Doini Island. Before long we passed an area called the GT Channel where the currents create large ripple effects as they pass over the shallower reefs.

“Cast! Cast! Cast!” came the instruction. In no time I was hooked up to my first GT of the trip!

As primitive as it can be, Doini Island has a beautiful private resort with a few air-conditioned beach bungalows, a dining area and a lovely beach bar nestled between the palm trees on the soft white sand.

One of the first things we noticed were two broken jigging rods lying on the table. “Yes, this happens all the time,” Michael explained. I look at my fishing mates – Cobus Nieuwoudt and Manu Girard – and saw the disbelief in their eyes. We could not help but wonder if our gear would withstand the test of this uncharted territory.

Early the next day we set off for an area called “Harry’s Breakfast”. I knew of the reef because two of my South African friends (Herman Schoeman and Paul van Niekerk) fished there a few weeks before us, and Herman caught the first dogtooth tuna on this particular reef. On this trip they broke two rods at this very same spot, and it would be an injustice not to quickly capture their experience here...

At Harry’s Breakfast the vertical ledge drops off from around 30m down to approximately 400m. They arrived at the reef in the early morning and, having snapped his jigging rod the day before on another monster, Paul was determined to jig with his popping rod. On the first drift Herman hooked up but his line was cut off on the reef. On the second drift Paul dropped down to around 50m and BANG! Huge head shakes and then off he went – a typical dog bite.

Manu with

a Napoleo

n wrasse.

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per Hannes with an 80kg+ goliath grou ing setup). jigg h pitc slow ro mic a with ght (cau

Manu with

Manu with

a 50kg+ G

Paul van Niekerk with

a large ba

rracuda.

a.

an 80kg+ dogtooth tun

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 39

The skipper immediately moved the boat into deeper water away from the wall, but the fish didn’t stop running, nearly spooling all the line on Paul’s reel. The drag was tightened, but since the popping rod was not built for jigging, it just couldn’t cope. Snap! Paul’s heart sank, but then Herman ran to the front and grabbed the rod.The guys then took turns to pump the fish and after another 25 minutes and a few more runs, an 80kg dogtooth surfaced. Too big to be lifted over the gunnels, the fish was loaded through the gate.

On our way to the reef some really scary thunderclouds began building up. One does not take chances at such remote locations, so we decided to fish closer to Doini instead. We approached a reef near Dumoulin Island where we saw a few pods of dolphin and then a very rare sight – a large a squadron of manta rays! Not long afterwards Cobus caught his first giant trevally.

Suddenly we noticed we were surrounded by sharks.

Manu’s Orion popping lure was being chased by an enormous king mackerel, but before long the fish got snapped in half by a shark! The next moment, another shark turned for the lure itself and bang, shark on! After an exhilarating fight the shark came close and was now circling the boat with Manu’s expensive, handmade French lure in its jaws.We eventually managed to get the hook out, but the lure was bitten to pieces.

The day was characterised with the three of us having multiple double- and triple hook-ups on a range of different species.

We arrived back at Doini at around 5pm and went straight to the deck to enjoy a few after action beverages. We now knew what we were up against, so we re-evaluated our knots, tying them over and over until we were sure they would stand the test of the unbelievable size fish we had seen for ourselves.

The next day we headed to the other side of the island where there are many shallower reefs and every fish species imaginable. En route, we saw a school of large milkfish breaking on the surface and regretted not taking any flyfishing gear along.

We were jigging most of the day and it felt like fishing in a lucky packet – literally every strike produced a different fish species. I have never seen so many species of reef fish being landed in one day: hexagon groupers, moontail groupers (coronation trout), Rankin cods, African pompano, squirrel fish, leopard- and passion fruit coral trout to name a few.

Cobus even caught a trumpet fish on jig.

Keeping a record of all the fish caught becomes an insurmountable task when one catches more than five fish before 7am! On this particular day, we caught over 20 different species of fish; in total we caught 31 different species over the seven days.

We were all blown away, but it wasn’t until Manu landed a Chinaman snapper that Michael got excited. It was the first one he’d seen since he began chartering in PNG. The following day we headed for a newly discovered pinnacle we’d seen on the sonar the previous day. The unwritten rule was that you got to name a reef if you caught the first fish on it, and I wanted that honour. When we arrived, the sonar showed the pinnacle was literally filled up with fish; we were going to have a busy day.

The top of the pinnacle is around 20m2 and rises from around 80m up to 19m where you can literally see the coral below the boat. I decided to use my light jigging gear, and before long I hooked up to something absolutely out of this world – a giant grouper.The fish clearly had one idea in mind, and that was to get back to the safety of the reef. I had to ensure that didn’t happen.

With the reel set on maximum drag, the fish was still peeling line off the spool and I had to use my hand to cover the spool to slow the run. Eventually the line burnt right through my glove and was burning blisters on my hand, but with so much adrenaline flowing through my veins I only realised this after the action subsided.

Manu with (galloper o a Chinaman snapper r thread-fin ned sea per ch).

Cobus with a large green jobfish.

otted) tr

blue sp lue fin (

evally.

ith a b

Cobus w

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 41

42 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

After an epic battle, a giant grouper of prehistoric proportions surfaced next to the boat.The fish’s mouth was so big I could have stuck my entire head into it without touching sides.They can grow up to over 400kg, and even though mine was nowhere near this size, the photos show how huge it was.This fish was clearly the “owner” of this reef, and we carefully revived it so that it could did take back this respected position.

I named the reef L-Vee (my son’s initials). This reef produced several more groupers and both Manu and Cobus caught a few remarkable fish, including a Malabar grouper for Manu.

After a bit of a rest I decided to make another drop with the jig. I felt it hit the bottom and slowly started my retrieval, and then

something grabbed it – this time at a much faster pace than the grouper, and it was putting up an even bigger fight. Even after I gained quite a bit of line, the fish simply would not give up.

Suddenly Michael was alongside me trying to give me advice; it was clear he did not want me to lose whatever I had at the end of the line.The fish was about 10m below the boat, but because of the chop on the water we still could not see what it was.Then, a fisherman’s worst nightmare – the leader snapped.

As we inspected the line we noticed it was frayed and had small bite marks at the end. Michael broke the news to me: “Hannes, I think you have just lost the biggest Napoleon of your life.” Why do I have such bad luck with Napoleons?

Day five was dedicated to hunting GTs, and Michael took us to an island that looked like the head of a giant gorilla from a distance. We named it Kong Island and it certainly lived up to its name.The currents were just insane and it was a struggle to keep the boat in position.

al best GT.

g his person

Cobus fightin

Manu appe a rod’s abilit rs confident in his y to handle the fight

A group photo taken before one of the daily thunder showers.

Manu was casting yet another big black Orion T-Rex popper when we saw an enormous black GT chasing it, and the next moment all hell broke loose! It seemed like we were surrounded by GTs around the 40-50kg mark. There was mayhem on the boat.

The first fish struck Manu’s lure and came straight out of the water! None of us had ever seen a GT of this size – it was well over 60kg and meant business. The dark colouring made it look even more vicious. In the meantime Cobus was hooked up to a slightly smaller GT around 50kg, but his hook came out completely bent open.The black GT gave Manu the fight of a lifetime and took a while to land, reminding me of the ones we catch in Musandam in Oman where they live in the strongest currents you can imagine which makes them much stronger than regular GTs. We could not wait to get back to the reef for another drift. I cast my popper and, after the second or third pop, I saw a big swirl of water behind my lure. I kept popping, and the next moment there was an explosion in the water. It looked like somebody had dropped a massive rock onto my lure. Strike, strike and yet another hard strike to set the hook and bang – fish on!

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 43

44 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

Then I heard another sound – something snapped in my shoulder and an excruciating pain shot through my arm! I was in agony and I lost the use of my arm – and, with it, the ability to fight the GT of a lifetime. The fish managed to get away and I was unable to even retrieve the lure.

I stood there absolutely devastated, watching my bicep grow to nearly twice its normal size. I had torn one of the bicep tendons from my shoulder. Needless to say, it was the last cast of the day for me, and I just sat there holding my arm and feeling sorry for myself. But it certainly was not the end of the day for the others. I just had to toughen up and play deckhand for the rest of the day, helping Manu and Cobus land one fish after another.

It was a slightly disappointing day because everything that could go wrong with our gear did. Cobus hooked into a GT that pulled open a 9/0 treble hook – something usually only possible with a large pair of pliers and a vice grip. Manu managed to get his split ring caught between the swivel and the lure and pulled the split ring so that it looked like a paper clip. I am convinced that no place on earth – except perhaps Southern Oman – has bigger GTs than that area, and the number of fish lost was devastating!

That evening I was nursing my arm with handfuls of pain meds and strapped it up with our limited first aid supplies.

Nothing was going to stop me from fishing this amazing place, and we were still to get out to the outer reefs where the Napoleons were waiting for us.

The following day we started out early as we wanted to get out to the reef before the wind picked up and the daily afternoon thunderstorm arrived.

The outer reefs are a two- to three-hour drive from where we were staying, and when we arrived we were greeted by the most beautiful turquoise blue water and submerged coral reefs of every colour in the rainbow.You could literally see the fish swimming through the reef structures, coral trees and gullies and it looked like you were in the middle of a giant marine fish tank. It almost felt like it should be illegal to fish there.

Fishing for Napoleons is quite different to fishing for GTs and other topwater pelagic fish species. They are not as aggressive and require a lot more “attention” to detail. Casting is generally done on sight, and apart from being elusive, they also get spooked easily and will return to the safety of their hiding places in the reefs. This means only one person gets to cast at a time.

When the fish swim up to your lure, you need to focus on the take, as they will literally swim up to it, open their mouths wide and suck the lure in. If you do not strike at this exact moment, they have the tendency to spit it out again as soon as they realise it is not a real baitfish.

I was nominated to have the first go. Michael was skippering the boat from the small elevated flybridge, and shouted:“There’s one at 9 o’clock – cast, cast, cast!” I was looking at 9 o’clock, but all I could see was this massive black shadow in the water. It looked like a rock, except it was moving!

“Bok koors” is a term used when a hunter comes across a large antelope and nervously starts shaking with adrenaline.That’s exactly what happened to me. I was as ready as one can be, and I cast my luminous pink Amberjack Reefbomber in its direction. My whole body was literally shaking with excitement. It was a perfect cast and the lure landed within a few metres of the fish.Without hesitation the fish swam right up to my lure and took it.“STRIKE!” Michael shouted.

What happened next will haunt me until my dying day: as I struck, the bail arm of my reel opened and I had line peeling off my reel. In my 40+ years of fishing, this has never happened to me. How is this even possible?

The Napoleon swam for cover and was gone… Now we had to start the search all over again.

caught Hannes with the first GT l”. ne an Ch on the trip at “GT

Hann

es wi

th a r

Hannes with a

ed se

a bas

s.

large longnose

emperor.

A few hours and many casts later, we spotted yet another one. I was the only one whose lure was not in the water, so I got to have another shot. I made my cast and this time it was a terrible one and the lure landed 10m from the fish. Despite the distance the Napoleon spotted my lure and started homing in on it. There was silence on the boat as everybody watched the scene play out.

When the Napoleon was about one metre from my lure it was getting ready for the take. I was now as ready and collected as I could be. As the Napoleon moved a bit closer, I kept the speed of my retrieval consistent to ensure he didn’t lose interest. Suddenly, out from under one of the ledges came a red sea bass; it grabbed the lure right in front of the Napoleon and swam away with it.

How is it even possible for one person to have so much bad luck on one particular species?

Normally the Napoleons swim away after such a commotion, but this one was completely lit up and ready for action.

Manu took a cast and again there was immediate interest from the fish. Strike one – miss! Strike two – miss! Strike three – fish on! It was an extremely powerful fish, and in shallow water like this there is always a real chance of getting reefed.

Bar area on Doini Island.

A last tea

m photo

before s aying fa “Till nex rewell to Papua t time.”

New Guin ea.

Fortunately, after a solid battle, Manu managed to get it next to the boat.

The Napoleon wrasse was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.This one did not have the deep purple/blue colours of the ones I have seen up close in the Red Sea, but it was still very beautiful with its unique green velvety scales.

On our way back, we were heading towards Bonarua islands and spotted a large flock of birds diving. At first we thought the fish were yellowfin tuna, but as we got closer, we realised they were really large king mackerel (kingfish), which had created a bait ball they were eating off. Again there were sharks everywhere, and we knew that anything we manage to hook up would be “taxed”.

Before long I hooked my first shark on a popper. What an experience! This shark was now being chased by other sharks, and I had to hold on for dear life as the runs were immense. Despite my injured arm I finally managed to get it close enough for us to retrieve my lure and it swam off to the deep.

The next half hour or so was great fun and all of us caught our fair share of king mackerel, although most only came out in pieces. Cobus unexpectedly hooked into a GT, but dropped it after a short fight. At that exact moment a king mackerel grabbed the lure! After an epic battle Cobus managed to get the whole fish on the boat – dinner had been delivered!

Eventually, with dusk approaching we called “last cast”, and everybody was hoping to get one last fish. I was retrieving a bright green stickbait lure, closely watching its beautiful action, when suddenly I saw something darting towards it from the depths of the ocean at an incredible speed. The largest king mackerel imaginable (as long as I am tall) grabbed my lure and shot up into the air right in front of all of us. It just kept going higher and higher into the air.

It was as though time stood still for a few moments – the fish in the air, sun right behind it and this neon green lure in its mouth, slowly reaching the high point its momentum carried it to before starting to drop down to the water. I waited for it to get back to the water before striking, but it was too late – the fish dropped the lure on the way down and the five of us just stood there looking at each other in awe. It was the perfect ending.

On our last day the conditions were finally suitable for us to get out to Harry’s Breakfast reef. We arrived there with expectations as high as the clouds, and Manu and Cobus got a double hook-up in no time. Cobus unfortunately got reefed, but Manu was fighting yet another big fish he’d hooked at the 120m mark. Something seemed to be strange about the fish Manu was fighting and approximately 30 minutes later he had caught his fourth shark for the trip – this time on a jig! Our luck turned when the clouds started building up again and Michael made the call to get closer to home.

As we passed Igoigoli Island, we spotted a large group of baitfish frantically fleeing two sailfish. We made a few casts with the hope of maybe getting lucky, but the sailies were only interested in the baitfish. Cobus then hooked a massive garfish that managed to strip all the epoxy off his lure.After giving us a fantastic aerial display we managed to get the fish onto the boat and off the hooks.

We then headed towards Warri Island, and it was there that Manu’s most popular lure got attacked and completely destroyed by the biggest barracuda any of us has ever seen.The day ended with each of us being awarded with a nice GT on our last triple hook-up for the week.

The next day we headed back towards Alotau and made a few casts along the way, but it was just not the same – we all realised that we had come to the end of a trip none of us would ever forget. But this is not the last PNG has seen of me … I still have a score to settle with one of her enormous Napoleon wrasses.

EVENTS

B

OATICA Cape Town Boat Show, proudly partnered with the City of Cape Town and Sabbex, celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2023, with the event held at the V&A Waterfront from 27 to 29 October. The boat show once again showcased an impressive display of South African boat, yacht, and catamaran manufacturers, while the land-based stands featured a comprehensive array of the latest boating equipment and accessories. The event attracted over 3200 visitors, despite one inclement weather day, and notably welcomed attendees from nine different countries.

This year’s boat show saw some exciting launches:Yamaha unveiled the new F200 outboard motor, UX Marine shared their revolutionary UX Spin, and Boating World launched the spectacular Azimut Flybridge 60.

The Great Optimist Race sponsored by boatica, and the dragon boat races all added an exra fun on-water element for the spectators to enjoy.

Taylor Marine – Furuno

Inteto Connect

Permadeck

MDM Marine Services – Raymarine

52 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

Mercury

Yamaha

Vetus

Lalizas

UX Marine

Ski-Boat Magazine

The 2023 Yamaha F200 high-horsepower outboard which was launched at the show boasts a steering system ahead of its time, and a fresh and strikingly sleek design. The addition of an integrated steering system affords skippers the choice of either a completely digital control with an integrated electro-hydraulic steering, or more traditional hydraulic steering for those who enjoy the advantage of simplicity.

The latter now comes within a sealed cylinder on the transom bracket of the engine, making for a neater appearance and clean rigging. The integrated digital electro-hydraulic steering relies on a convenient plug-and-play system that connects electronically to the steering control unit within the engine.

The digital control option is hosted in an enclosed system within the engine so that it’s less exposed and less suscepti-

Atomic Power Boats

ble to damage that could result from accidental impact. The steering system is also compatible with all the key features of Yamaha’s Helm Master EX System.

UX Marine also used the event to introduce a new product to the market – their 17’ 6” UX Spin.

With a state-of-the-art boatbuilding facility in Simonstown, the company’s unique approach to building boats is led by their CEO, Dr Mike Johnston, a veteran innovator with a diverse background spanning telecommunications, finance, and nuclear physics.

“Our customisable range of boats is a testament to our passion for catering to the thrill-seeking sea adventurer. The UX Spin is not just a boat, it’s a carefully curated experience for fishing enthusiasts,” shared master boat builder Richey Rumble.

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 53

Boating World

Southern Power Products

Viking Life-Saving Equipment

Sika South Africa

Aquadex Africa

Escape Gear

At the other end of the scale, Boating World showed off the Azimut Flybridge 60, offering co-ownership opportunities in the stylish 60ft imported craft.

Characterised by sporty lines and larger volumes, the Azimut 60 pioneers a new generation in motor yacht design.

Extensive use of the space – without increasing the yacht’s weight – produces better performance and unprecedented onboard comfort.

The boat show really provides a window to South Africa’s thriving boat building industry, renowned for its exceptional quality and sea-keeping abilities, which is a significant contributor to the national GDP. Valued at a staggering R3.2-billion annually, this sector supports approximately 3 700 direct jobs.

54 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

EvadeX

With an impressive international presence, the sector has witnessed a significant increase in export volumes in recent years, with close to 300 vessels exported annually. South Africa currently ranks as the second-largest leisure sailing catamaran builder worldwide, after France, and is the leading large power catamaran manufacturer.

The industry’s strategic collaborations with international organisations, coupled with its focus on import substitution, position South Africa as a global leader in the marine industry, offering innovative solutions and cutting-edge practices that resonate on an international scale.

Boatica Cape Town Boat Show 2024 is already scheduled for the weekend of 25 to 27 October, so mark the dates in your diary.

MARKETPLACE

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Mercury’s new electric motor arrives in SA

By Erwin Bursik

E

VER the innovator, Mercur y used the 2023 Boatica Cape Town Boat Show to launch their one of their newest innovations – the Avator.The 7.5e is an electric outboard motor that’s the equivalent of a 3.5hp fuel-powered outboard, with 750W power at the propeller.

This is not the first time I’ve seen Mercury’s innovation in action. I was at the Miami Boat Show in 2004 when they unveiled the first Verado – an outboard engine that not only opened the eyes of all their competitors, but also set a benchmark for high-powered outboard engines going forward.

I’ve heard a lot about the incredible Mercury Marine factory at Fond du Lac in Wisconsin – their centre of innovation, development and onwater trials – and although I was not able to visit it, it’s exciting to see all the developments that emanate from those premises.

And now it seems Mercury has gone from the “sublime to the cor blimey” with their range of offerings varying dramatically from the 400hp Verado to the Avator 7.5e.

One look at this transverse f lux electric motor which offers zero direct emissions and a smooth, quiet performance conjures up thoughts of many diverse possibilities for this highly efficient, simple-to-use outboard.

For various applications, from inland waters to dinghy and auxilliary purposes, this very stylish looking outboard will fit the bill perfectly.

While playing with the Avator on a three-metre craft in the waters of the V&A Waterfront, I found her extremely efficient and powerful for her size. She was a lot of fun and surprised me with her performance and manoeuvrability in some fairly choppy water.

Having spent upwards of 20 years extensively using electric outboards primarily on inland waters, I had a base against which to judge the Avator.

This motor is a definite step up, not only in appearance and use, but also in the advanced digital display that provides all the information I wish I had on the electric motors I own.

This display shows speed, battery levels, time and distance to empty, and other relevant alerts. Having this information – especially the battery level

and time/distance to go – is the proverbial answer to a maiden’s prayer. For years I have stressed over not having this information, especially when fishing large inland waters.

The days of running out of power without warning are over with the Avator.

Another aspect I really liked is that there are no heavy battery and cable leads to get in the way while skippering from an aft seated position, as the Avator’s power comes from an advanced lithium-ion battery that slides into place under the flip-up top cowl.A spare battery can also be carried in one’s tackle box and is easily changed in just a matter of seconds while out on the water.

Trying to define the Avator’s power output and capabilities is difficult, but with three of us aboard a three-metre craft, I was impressed at her thrust and top-end performance. Even her out-thehole performance surprised me.

Her stylish looks and finishes and ease of physical use parcel the Avator into an extremely beautiful electric motor that’s far more than just a “pretty face”.

SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 55

Kingfisher Award Application Form I hereby apply for the Kingfisher Award in the category:

Meritorious Fish

Outstanding Catch

Tick the appropriate box and supply us with the following information.

Please remember to print clearly.

Applicant’s Details: Name: ...................................................

Address: ............................................... ............................................................... ...............................................................

Code: ....................................................

Tel No: ...................................................

E-mail: ...............................................................

Club (if member): .................................. ...............................................................

I, the undersigned, agree to abide by the rules of this award.

Signature: ..............................................

Meritorious Fish Species: ................................................

Weight: ..................................................

Date of Capture: ....................................

Where Caught: ......................................

Skipper's Name: ....................................

Outstanding catch Category applied for (tick appropriate box): 3:1

5:1

7:1

10:1

YOUR favourite offshore angling magazine, SKI-BOAT, in conjunction with The Kingfisher and the South African Deep Sea Angling Association, is proud to offer all South African ski-boaters the unique opportunity to win awards for excellence in angling.

All deep sea anglers who achieve laid down standards of excellence will be entitled to apply for the KINGFISHER AWARD. Upon ratification by a panel of adjudicators, the angler will receive a handsome digital certificate, suitably inscribed.

The Kingfisher Award will be made for fish caught in two sections:

a personal best, and is not confined to the species listed below.

Tackle used is of no consideration here, the fish's weight being the main criterion.

2) Outstanding Catch To satisfy the requirements for this award, anglers can catch any recognised fish species. As a guideline, the weight of that fish must equal or exceed the suggested weights below, or certain laid down fish weight:line class ratios.

Awards will be made in the following ratio categories: 3:1 – Bronze Award 5:1 – Silver Award 7:1 – Silver Award

1) Meritorious Fish This award is for a fish that’s a memorable achievement for the angler, if not

10:1 – Gold Award.

Applies to IGFA line class 1kg , 2kg, 4kg, 6kg, 10kg, 15kg, 24kg, 37kg and 60kg.

RULES: 1) There is no restriction on the number of awards which can be applied for.

2) Award applicants must submit a photograph of the relevant fish with the application form and a photograph of the angler with the fish.

3) SKI-BOAT reserves the right to use the photograph as it sees fit.

4) Entries must be on the official form which is included in all issues of the magazine.

5) Entires must be received within 45 days of capture.

6) No witnesses of the catch are required.

The award is made in the true spirit of sportsmanship and relies on the integrity of the angler to make a just claim.

7) A selection of award winners’ names will be announced in future issues of SKIBOAT, along with relevant photographs.

8) Award applicants should allow 30-45 days for processing of applications.

9) There is no charge for Kingfisher Awards.

SPECIES: Barracuda Dorado Kingfish (Ignobilis) Garrick (Leervis) King Mackerel (’Cuda) Black Marlin Blue Marlin Striped Marlin Prodigal Son Sailfish (Pacific) Spearfish (Longbill) Spearfish (Shortbill) Tarpon Tuna (Big Eye) Tuna (Longfin) Tuna (Yellowfin) Wahoo Yellowtail

SUGGESTED WEIGHT: 15kg 12kg 20kg 12kg 15kg 100kg 100kg 60kg 15kg 25kg 20kg 20kg 45kg 50kg 25kg 50kg 15kg 15kg

Email applications to: angler@mags.co.za

RELEASED BILLFISH AND GT (Ignobilis) KINGFISH

Species: ................................................

Weight: ..................................................

Line class: .............................................

Date of Capture: ....................................

Where Caught: ......................................

Skipper’s Name: ....................................

With the strong trend towards releasing these and other fish, we have decided to amend the Kingfisher Award rules to provide for acknowledgement of all released fish. All we need is a photo of the fish being released or prior to release (e.g. GT held next to the boat) and the approximate weight of the fish

Digital emailed photographs should be high-resolution.

In line with this trend we will not be carrying photographs on the Kingfisher Awards page of any billfish or GTs aside from those that are released.

56 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

which should fall in line with the stipulated weights set out above.

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between 1st November 2023 and 1st February 2024 and win

YOUR NEXT YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION ABSOLUTELY FREE! Three lucky subscribers will each win a full year’s subscription to SKI-BOAT magazine, valued at the newsstand price of R270. This means, should you subscribe and win, you will receive your next year’s subscription ABSOLUTELY FREE!

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All about fishing!

Unfortunately due to postal issues beyond our control we are no longer accepting international subscriptions for the paper version of SKI-BOAT. However anyone is able to access the digital version for free on www.issuu.com

NEW SUBSCRIBERS: Before you pay into our account please email angler@mags.co.za so we can check we have deliveries to your area.

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FREE DIGITAL E-ZINE ON WWW.ISSUU.COM 58 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

CATCHING A WHOPPER!

by Luke Serfontein (11)

O

N 11 November we headed out of Hout Bay at 6am with the team from Fish Tales onboard the FT2, going hunting for tuna.The weather and water were calm and warm – perfect for tuna.

I’m 11 now and I love fishing with my friend Duran who’s 14, but I had never experienced the thrill of the big ocean and was a bit nervous about the day ahead.

At first the bite was slow as we trolled for a few hours with zero luck. We had a couple of “on-offs”, and Duran hooked a longfin tuna and made short work of it. It would be my turn the next time a reel went, and my impatience and nervousness started to build.

Just before midday, the beautiful sound of the zinging reel woke all of us! Something had been hooked and it was big!

After clearing the lines, the crew checked my harness was on properly and got me in position for the fight. After fighting the fish for half an hour I was exhausted and still didn’t know what species was on the other end of the line. Eventually the fish showed itself. It was a big eye tuna!

I couldn’t believe it, but knew I had to stay focused.

My dad says I kept my composure, fought like a champ and never gave up. After another ten minutes the fish was in the boat. It was a real monster.

Johan and Pumbaa from Fish Tales were absolutely amazing and helped us so much. They kept everyone calm and supported us so well.

We were kept very busy after that and landed seven more longfin tuna before it was time to head back to the harbour.

On the trip back I felt completely different to the way I felt on the trip out. There were no more nerves, only pride and excitement. It feels like I’ve got enough stories and tales of friends, fishing the ocean and “the monster” for the rest of my life. The first question I asked when we docked back in Hout Bay was, “When are we going again, Dad?” It really was a beautiful day, and everyone was very impressed that I had reeled in this 83.2kg monster!

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O

NE of the most terrifying situations to be caught in is a fire, and considering how much fuel ski-boaters carry around, spilled fuel – and a resulting fire – is not an unlikely scenario if your fuel cans aren’t up to spec.

This is what drove Geoff Hardy to develop a top quality, UN safety specs level jerry can.

In 2001, the original mould for the jerry can was scrapped by Megapak, and Rutherford asked Geoff to develop a new mould. With a long history of involvement in the ski-boating world, Geoff agreed to help.

He soon realised the importance of the product he was working on, but producing one to the right specs to ensure complete peace of mind was easier said than done. Not only did the jerry can need to fill the requirements of the ski-boating industry and fit into all the existing boats, it also had to be safe to transport fuel in a vehicle.

SAMSA couldn’t help Geoff with specs for a freestanding jerry can, so he applied for a United Nations specification for a freestanding fuel container which can be carried in a vehicle.

Throughout Geoff’s research and development that was the standard the product was held to.

Geoff also wanted to do away with the fuel smell that leaches out of nonf luorinated containers, so the H.I.P. 62 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024

jerry cans are fluorinated so that fluorocarbons in the fuel can’t permeate through the wall of the can.

After extensive tests which included pressure testing to 3-bar, numerous drop tests and fluorination permeation testing, Geoff and his team achieved the UN spec and he felt comfortable selling a fuel container that was safe in a boat and a vehicle.

The H.I.P. jerry can carries the UN mark of approval, assuring users that the container is safe to transport fuel in a vehicle.

Another common problem that was highlighted during Geoff’s research was fuel spillage in hatches. He proceeded to develop and test a fuel pick-up system that would solve the problem, ensuring the safe extraction of fuel and preventing spillage in the fuel hatch.

Look for the distinctive red baffle on H.I.P. fuel pick-ups which is your guarantee that the fuel won’t splash out of the vent hole.

Geoff says,“Although this pick-up is not a replacement for the proper spec fuel tank that one gets supplied when buying a new outboard motor, it does the job exceptionally well and has proved to be extremely reliable over the last 22 years, with no incidents of any kind whatsoever.”

H.I.P. jerry cans and fuel pick-ups are available from Rutherford Marine and AMP and their agents.

Seaport Supply Boat Buckle . . . . . . . . 52 Solly’s Angler’s Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Stubbsea Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Supercat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Taylor Marine SA – Furuno . . . . . . . . 27 The Kingfisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Trysome Towing Equipment . . . . . . . 18 Two Oceans Marlin Tournament . . . . 30 Vanguard Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC Yamaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

DEADLINE FOR THE MARCH 2024 ISSUE OF

IS 15 JANUARY 2024.

BOOK YOUR SPACE NOW. CALL: 073 748 6107 <mark@mags.co.za>

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SKI-BOAT January/February 2024 • 63

Last word from the ladies

RAPALA LIP

CHEERS TO TURNING 40!

By Fransien Myburg

T

URNING 40 is a big thing, especially if your best friend, who also happens to be your sister-in-law, is turning 40 in the same month as you! In some women turning 40 is cause for a Rapala Lip, but not in this family.And how else to celebrate except by going on a fishing trip with the family.The only question was, where to?

Doing a charter with Maki Cat which runs charters around Madagascar had been one of our big dreams for years, so we decided this was the perfect opportunity. Madagascar, here we come! With a lot of fishing gear.

There was no surf launch to worry about, and we had smooth sailing north to the Mitsio archipelago off the northwest coast of Madagascar.

As soon as we could, we got our lines in the water. There were lots of jokes about me always being first at the rod, and I overheard Fransientjie asking her dad to somehow get in my way so she would have a chance to get to the rod. Hmm, my Rapala Lip grew dik … this was supposed to be my birthday trip and it was clear I had an obstacle to overcome.

Before long the reel screamed and I did what any good mom would do – I gave the rod to Fransientjie. She and Simone were on with a double strike on wahoo’s, both on Iland Lures! How can anyone stay dikbek in the middle of such excitement?

The next one was mine – a beautiful brightly coloured dorado; I couldn’t have been happier. Dinner shopping done!

Johan, my brother, is also often the first one to get to a screaming reel, and we give each other a good go when we are together on a boat. He was up next, and soon landed a solid ’cuda.

The Mitsio archipelago is absolutely beautiful, with lots of small islands and reefs that come up to 15m in the deep ocean.We were in paradise!

The fish were plentiful, and we decided to give our jigging gear a spin. We’d taken a lot with us, not because Maki 2 doesn’t have enough, but because, you know – it’s therapeutic to go to a tackle shop and choose one rig.

Of course it never ends with one rig … the tackle shop

outing goes something like this:“I want this one, and this one, and look at this one! Can I just take them all?”

When you’ve got a fishing mad family of five, these little outings can become expensive, and when the husband starts growing a Rapala Lip it’s time for Mom to be the mature one.

We each chose one we liked.

Now it was time to see which ones the fish liked best. Let the games begin!

The boat was a hive of activity. Chris helped Phillip fight a nice size bluefin trevally and he was thrilled when he could once again release this beauty. Johan was also on and had tough fight with a dogtooth tuna. What an awesome species to tick off your list!

Clearly my jig was not the fish’s favourite and I was seeing no action. Chris noticed my growing Rapala Lip when I saw Johan’s doggie; he knew I wanted one as well. He’s always super helpful – and wanted to keep the wife happy – so Chris immediately helped me change my rig to the same one as he was using.

As soon as the squid landed on the bottom I had a strike.

Yes! In my head I already saw the photo of me posing with the monster doggie I would soon bring to the boat, and how jealous my brother would be.Then the rod went “click”.

Noooooo! The whole rig was off! I just wanted to cry.

But, like any good fisherman, I knew that giving up was not an option, so I rigged up again and let down my line.

While I waited, Estelle and Fransien had another double strike – this time on rockcod.The girls loved the fish’s bright red colouring with pink spots. Finally I was on again, yippeee!

It wasn’t a doggie, but I was also happy with the green jobfish I brought to the boat.

We also had a sailfish in our spread, and there was great disappointment when it didn’t bite, but seeing it jump free in the ocean was still a great experience.

What a holiday! To be truthful, there were very few Rapala Lips among the group. How can there be when you’re catching six species of fish in a day? After spending seven days sailing around Nosy Be visiting different islands each day, we ended the most awesome holiday ever holiday on a high note.

Cheers to the next 40 years of fishing!

YOUR CHANCE TO TELL A TALL TALE LADIES — are you an angling widow? Are you a frustrated crew member? Do you outfish the men on the boat and have to deal with their Rapala Lips? Do you bite your lip at the comments coming from chauvinistic male anglers? Or do you just have great support from the skipper and anglers around you who want to help you catch a new PB? We’re looking for new writers for our Rapala Lip column. All contributions are gladly accepted and they will appear anonymously if necessary to protect the writers from divorce suits, cold shoulders, banishments, cut up credit cards etc. Come on ladies, share your fishing stories with us — you know you want to. Email them to <sheena@mags.co.za>.

64 • SKI-BOAT January/February 2024