Ski-Boat May 2021 by Angler Publications

CONTENTS

May/June 2021 Volume 37 Number 3 COVER: SILVER BEAUTY! Warren Anthony caught this 32.6kg ’cuda off Durban on 28 February 2021. Photo by Greg Anthony.

FEATURES

Return of the Silverfish ’Cuda stage a comeback in 2021 — by Erwin Bursik

Snell vs Crimp What’s the best way to secure circle hooks? — by Stuart Simpson

Dream Come True Review of the Magnum 46 by Two Oceans Marine — by Erwin Bursik

A Revolution in Outboard Innovation Introducing the Mercury Verado V12 600hp — by Erwin Bursik

Lightning Strikes! How to survive storms at sea — by Mike Telleira

Griled Shad Delicious recipes from a top chef — by Executive Chef Sidwell Yarrow

Fishing can be a Reel Drag Taking a closer look at some working parts — by Paul Nixon

Simply Sublime 2021 Two Oceans Marlin Tournament a record breaker — by Helen Fenwick

DEPARTMENTS 8 9 40 45 47

Editorial — by Erwin Bursik Postbox SADSAA News Subscribe and WIN! Kingfisher Awards

59 61 64 65 66

Mercury Junior Anglers Reel Kids News & Ad Index Business Classifieds & Directory Rapala Lip — Last word from the ladies

The official magazine of the South African Deep Sea Angling Association

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Publisher: Erwin Bursik Editor: Sheena Carnie Advertising Executive: Mark Wilson Editorial Assistant: Vahini Pillay Boat Tests: Heinrich Kleyn Contributors: Greg Bennett, Erwin Bursik, Helen Fenwick, Paul Nixon, Stuart Simpson, Mike Telleria and Sidwell Yarrow. ADVERTISING – NATIONAL SALES: Angler Publications Mark Wilson cell: 073 748 6107 ADVERTISING – Gauteng & Mpumalanga: Lyn Adams — 083 588 0217 Publishers: Angler Publications cc PO Box 20545, Durban North 4016 Telephone: (031) 572-2280/89/97/98 Fax: (031) 572-7891 e-mail: angler@mags.co.za Subscriptions to SKI-BOAT: R180 per annum (six issues). New subscriptions and renewals: SKI-BOAT Subscriptions Department, PO Box 20545, Durban North 4016. Telephone: (031) 572-2280/89/97/98 Fax: (031) 572-7891 • e-mail: angler@mags.co.za • Through www.anglerpublications.co.za, or E-zine through <www.issuu.com> Reproduction: Hirt & Carter, Durban Printer: Robprint (Pty) Ltd, Durban Full production is done in-house by Angler Publications & Promotions on Apple Macintosh software and hardware for output directly to plate. 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.

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EDITORIAL

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

ASING actions on what you think you know can be both daunting and dangerous, and sometimes blatantly stupid when it comes to offshore boating and fishing. It is said one should know their limitations and strive to equal these with experience and build up the base of knowledge that one thinks they have. One of SKI-BOAT magazine’s aims is to help build this base. In March I was invited to go fishing on B’s Nest (pictured below), a 54ft Riviera sportfisher based at Richards Bay. She was recently acquired by my long time skipper and friend Brad Kidd who I have fished with for at least 20 years off Sodwana Bay. It was an invitation I could not posErwin Bursik sibly turn down, not only because of our friendPublisher ship, but also because I had reviewed this specific craft on her arrival in Durban from Australia back in 2004. Back then Derrick Levy of Boating World and I put her through her paces off Durban, and a few years later reviewed her again after substantial upgrades had been made by her owner. As she’s arguably one of the top sportfishers operating in South Africa, I was not only excited to be aboard her again, but also keen to see how she had weathered since her arrival in early 2004. That question was quickly answered — she is immaculate. I could not believe that after being exposed to 17 years of KwaZulu-Natal weather and a few trips to Bazaruto she showed no sign of wear and tear. All the niceties aside, during the many hours I sat at her helm over two days while attempting to attract a marlin into our spread, I came to a stark realisation: Maybe on the many fishing trips I’ve undertaken off Richards Bay I should have spent more time at the helm of the craft I was on rather than just standing on the deck physically fishing. My realisation came as shock as I looked at the large screen GPS plotter and viewed the hundreds of way points covering the area from well south of Richards Bay to up past Mapelane in the north. Which ones should we target, when and how? To begin with I thought it would be easy — just aim for where the waypoints bunch and you can’t go wrong... I soon became aware that I was effectively wandering around in circles not achieving a lot. I most often fish — and skipper — the waters off Durban and Sodwana Bay; I know them intimately because I started fishing there long before the advent of GPS plotters. The knowledge of where to fish and how to fish those specific areas is embedded in my brain, and now using a GPS just puts those visual marks into perspective. The same will be true for regular skippers in other areas. However, take an experienced Durban fisherman and put him in an area he hasn’t skippered before — even if he’s fished the area — and he’s suddenly not nearly as efficient or knowledgeable as he thinks he is! We at SKI-BOAT magazine are looking at ways to document specific areas along the South African coastline, showing not only specific areas to fish, but also when and for what, as a guide for those anglers who enjoy fishing new areas. Arming a skipper who’s new to an area with this info, even if it is generalised, will be far better than telling him: “The fish are coming out up north.” We hope that skippers who are extremely knowledgeable on specific fishing venues will be prepared to pass on this information, thus creating a pool of data for all to use, and expanding our overall knowledge base. Till the next tide.

Erwin Bursik

POSTBOX LEERVIS — THE DEBATE GOES ON Dear Editor I have followed the debate with regard to garrick/leervis movements along our coast for 33 years. Most recently some people (I think it was Harry Viljoen and others) were trying to understand why these fish were being caught north of Henties Bay, in Namibia, up into Angola, and then again from the Berg River estuary and up the east coast. It seemed there was a 2 000km gap between Walvis Bay and Velddrif. I have retired to Velddrif, and can report that so far 2021 has been a bumper year for our garrick fishing. Everybody in my family who had never before caught one can now tick that box. As garrick are not the best eating fish, we release all of them, normally after tagging. This bumper season has also unfortunately created a stampede,

with certain individuals catching and keeping everything, up to 25 in a morning. The authorities do what they have always done. In Prof. Rudy Van Der Elst’s book, A Guide to the Common Sea Fishes of Southern Africa, he indicates that these fish are found along our entire coastline and the entire Namibian coastline. It was thought that the Angolan population and the South African one had become separated at some point, and that a cold-water plug keeps them apart. (The water temps here drop to as low as 10°C, but 12–14°C is regarded as normal.) This was confirmed by the then study (funded by the Viljoen family, I think) that the Berg River estuary fish migrate up the east coast but do not go north up the west coast. This appears to have been confirmed by tagging results. One garrick

was caught and tagged in the Berg River estuary, fitted with a radio tag, and later appeared in False Bay (Cape Town). It was finally caught (and eaten) by a fisherman in Richards Bay. However, another friend of mine caught garrick in the Olifants River estuary, upstream of the low water bridge in Lutzville.This is far north of us up the west coast, and the last perennial river on the west coast before the Orange River. Yet another friend caught some garrick on fly in the Orange River estuary at Alexander Bay in December 2020, before the rains came. It would appear that Prof. Van Der Elst is correct in the first instance. However, I suspect that the part played by the estuaries and sheltered bays along the West Coast is not fully understood. I postulate further that garrick, swimming in the cold water, look for places where they can rest, warm up and feed before they undertake their migration up the east coast and possibly up the west coast. At some point, they take on the cold water between us and Cape Town, when the Berg River comes down with freshwater. I wonder if any of them go to Angola. If so, the Orange River would be the perfect stopover for them, as it is a summer rainfall river, while the Berg and Olifants are winter rainfall rivers. Other stopover points where they could rest to warm up would be near Brand-se-baai, Mc Dougal’s Bay (near Port Nolloth) and then the Orange River estuary, then maybe Lüderitz and Left: Ashley McLeod with 66cm garrick. Below: A lovely 56cm garrick about to be released.

SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 9

so on. All these spots are significantly warmer than the sea due to their sheltered nature and the fact that they are shallow. Going south towards Cape Town and the east coast, they just need to get to Langebaan for their first R&R stopover before taking on the swim to False Bay and then the long trek up the east coast. Is there no young scientist/university student who wants to make this study of garrick the subject of their MSc? Research like that would surely raise awareness around this fish species and other marine resources, as well as the need for proper policing of our resources in general and estuaries in particular. An intersting note is that in 2020 the garrick were typically around 40–50cm in size, while this year they are typically between 55- and 65cm. It is my hope that the vast majority of them make it to the open ocean, where they are less vulnerable, and can reach maturity so that their offspring can return en masse. BRIERS VAN RENSBURG <briersvanrensburg@gmail.com> Right: Author’s map showing areas where he believes garrick might take shelter on their migration routes up and down the west coast of South Africa.

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This ORI tag recapture information proves garrick travel up the east coast, but the author wants research done on their movements up the west coast. REPLY FROM DR PAUL COWLEY OF SAIAB: We are aware of the garrick in the Berg Estuary at Velddrif. A couple of years ago we tagged a few with acoustic transmitters in the Berg to see if they were part of the same stock that migrates to the KZN coast each year. The tagged fish were all adults and yes, we did record at least one swimming from the Berg to KZN — an amazing migration. Garrick are also common in southern Angola and Warren Potts from Rhodes University has done lots of work on that population which also appears to occur in northern Namibia. However, there is no mixing between these two stocks.

FISHING

The team of anglers that represented Natal during a ski-boat competition in 1962 seen striding up the beach at what was known as Vetch’s Pier ski-boat base. Frank Mattsson, Dave Said, Brian Biljoen and Kenny Wightman were chuffed with their haul of ’cuda.

’Cuda stage a comeback in 2021

Ryan Dalton, Scott Magnus and Tyler Dalton were thrilled with their haul of dinner-sized ’cuda caught off the Bluff in early March 2021. Photo courtesy Daryl Milne. SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 13

By Erwin Bursik

Above: George Swart, Les Hayter and Bill Lauderdale with their good haul of ’cuda and one dorado, caught off Durban on 13 February 1954.

In recent years good ’cuda catches have been scarce, but Warren Anthony and his dad, Greg, did well catching these two beauties off Durban on 28 February 2021. Warren’s cover-worthy fish weighed in at 32.6kg. 14 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

FLASH of silver is the first reward a ski-boat angler gets following a fast first run and short but dogged fight. That flash is the first confirmation that the adversary is indeed a king mackerel, more commonly known as cuda or couta. Shoals of this magnificent gamefish migrate southwards from Moçambique waters in early summer, arriving in South African waters off Sodwana Bay in November, and thereafter moving down the KwaZulu-Natal coast. They’ve traditionally arrived off Durban on 16 December. This was the history and the fish that was responsible for getting shore-based anglers in the mid 1940s to fabricate small boats — ski-boats — to get out past the backline and target these splendid silver fish that were also so good as table fare.The vagaries of nature often delayed the arrival of these fish until after the Christmas holidays, but the shoals eventually made their way, seemingly reluctantly, down the coast. Early 2021 allowed ski-boaters fair opportunity to target ’cuda from Sodwana Bay down to Salt Rock, but very few reached the Durban/ Umdloti area that, since time immemorial, was traditionally ’cuda rich. However, in the last weekend of February 2021, following some heavy rains and much dirty water flowing into the ocean, the silver fish arrived off Umdloti in fair numbers to reward the flotilla of ski-boats that were there to meet them. Reminiscent of the good old days, a fleet of about 46 boats was spread from just opposite Umdloti’s southern rocks right up to the area opposite Sea Belle at La Mercy.The sight of bending sticks and the tangible excitement in the air provoked continued anticipation of a strike that was so eagerly awaited. Even the “taxman” was not that much of a menace on this day, allowing us anglers a lot more relaxed enjoyment while fighting these magnificent fish. Chasing the shoals of sprats was another firm favourite of the ski-boaters in this area. The good number of Natal snoek (queen mackerel) that came out added greatly to the enjoyment for those anglers who were flicking small lures into the after boiling mass of snoek attacking a shoal of sprats. Back in the 1960s and ’70s, traditionally a ’cuda shoal feeding off Umdloti could be expected to move southwards towards Umhlanga, feeding well off Peace Cottage, then for some inexplicable reason moving out to Durban’s No. 1 reef. The smaller boats that were unwillingly or unable to run to Umdloti would congregate in this relatively small area to fish. An armada, we called it, referring back to those of our fraternity who

fought in World War 2 and who well remembered the assault on Dunkirk. For the small boats available during the ’60s and ’70s, this was realistically Durban ski-boat club boats’ only opportunity to take part in the annual ’cuda run. With the flat bottomed boats of that era, often only powered by two 5hp to 20hp tiller operated outboards, even No. 1 was a long run and good weather conditions were essential to make that run out into deep water. From April, but normally during May and June, until the sardine shoals arrived, the f leet would largely sail south around the Bluff and fish the area off the second whaling station down the “path” — a steep walkway down to the beach where the northernmost houses stopped before the admiralty area that ran further north to the end of the Bluff. A sidenote is that the whale blood that collected on the “flensing floor” of the whaling station was washed out of a pipe into the sea nearby.This attracted not only lot of baitfish but also created an area that produced a lot of snoek for those pulling very small Rapalas. A few of the Durban boats usually followed the shoals of ’cuda down to The Cutting, but in those days that was stretching their capabilities and safety to the limits. When the sardines had passed and the cold clear water was prevalent along of our stretch of coastline, the ’cuda were gone. We speculated that the ’cuda then followed the north-bound shoals before moving back to Moçambique. With the abundance of gamefish then gone, the Durban boats stated targeting bottomfish, generallyy not venturing further south than The Cutting and further north than The Flats off Umhlanga. It’s interesting — and perhaps sur-

This photo shows Mr G Field offloading his haul of 18 ’cuda caught off Durban on 4 January 1953. The fish were all caught between 6am and 11am. prising to younger anglers — to note that back in the 1960s and ’70s hardly any of the boats targeted the tuna shoals that were around. In those days nobody ate yellowfin tuna, and hooking and fighting them not only wasted time but also broke up a lot of terminal tackle, and wasted precious frozen bait which had been carefully collected and frozen for targeting ’cuda. On the drop off ledge that runs on the outside of the No.1 pinnacles, the f locks of whirling birds indicated a shoal of yellowfin tuna. This sight inevitably caused the trolling ski-boats to move inshore of the main pinnacles where they could continue targeting ’cuda. The tuna shoals seldom came in that close. One of the theories that abounded among the old timers and doyens of the sport back then was that ’cuda fol-

lowed the rainfall cycles, and that was borne out over many years. According to the sugar industry’s rainfall statistics going back to the early 1900s, there’s a ten-year cycle that peaks between twoand three years after the turn of each decade.This theory is largely confirmed when looking at historical ’cuda catches off Durban. February/March 2021 falls into this period, and with all the rain and dirty water that have abounded recently, the shoals of “silver fish” that have arrived bring with them huge excitement for the anglers after a relatively lean period over the last few years. ’Tis the time, as they say, to bring out the light tackle, make up the treble hook traces, prepare your boat and head to sea off Durban to enjoy the ’cuda season’s excitement and rewards.

SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 15

TECHNIQUES

SNELL V

What’s the best way

By Stuart Simpson

SIMPLE question asked frequently on deep sea fishing social media groups over the last few months has solicited many different opinions, but boils down to either “snell” or “crimp”. No definite conclusions

18 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

were reached in the online discussions about which one of these methods is best, simply because there can be no definite answer one way or the other due to the complexity of this style of offshore angling. One also has to take into account the extended array of angling options being used for divergent target species — especially billfish — combined

Snelled circle hook with 400 lb leader.

Crimped circle hook with 400 lb leader.

S CRIMP to secure circle hooks?

with the diversity of line classes traditionally used. Stuart Simpson is a Durban prodigy who, after a long stint as a charter captain at Hemingsway Resort at Watamu in Kenya, relocated to the Cape Verde islands where he is one of the top international charter skippers operating in this world renowned marlin “hotspot” on his own boat Nha Cretchéu. He

also skippers a sportfisher off Morocco during the white marlin season off this North African country. Stuart sets out below an incredibly detailed explanation of why and how he uses both snelling and crimping when targeting marlin. He also advises how these strategies can be used in South African waters. ... SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 19

SNELLING AND CRIMPING To start with, as with any knot or other method of attaching hook to leader, this must be 100% perfect. There’s no such thing as “It looks okay” — okay is not good enough. SNELLING A CIRCLE HOOK

Heavy leader crimped to circle hook. Observe a) loop through eye reasonably tight; b) only one crimping; c) mushroom-shaped tag end up against crimp.

Heavy leader snelled to a large circle hook. Observe a) tight loops around hook shank; b) leader exits hook eye facing hook barb; c) snell loop tight against base of hook eye.

through the hook eye. The few musts when crimping are as follows: • The crimp must be the exact correct size for the leader being crimped. • The heat-formed bubble on the tag end must be firmly pulled up against the crimp before crimping. • Always place the crimp in the appropriate size slot on the crimping tool so that the crimping takes place while the crimp is positioned side-on. • Ideally use a table-mounted crimping tool with only one crimp in the centre of the crimp. Don’t double crimp. If you are not satisfied with the first crimp, rather cut off and recrimp. • The size of the loop through the hook’s eye is extremely important. When crimped, this loop must be reasonably small to ensure that the eye of the big circle hook doesn’t get snagged within the loop.

When using a light “top shot”, in situations where you want to ensure leader-hook break off, we use the snell option. The snelled leader will generally part at one of the two spots marked with an x. Whether one is using 50 lb leader or 300 lb leader, the method is well known, but what is important is that the knot tied must be precise — as is shown in the accompanying photographs. In addition, it is essential — absolutely essential — that after completing the snell the leader exits the hook’s eye facing the point/barb of the hook. Not only does this pull the barb of the circle hook into the correct position to ensure a hook-up in the “scissors” of the billfish’s jaw, but it also holds the hook in place throughout the fight. Viewing the knot tied on a 300 lb leader, the top loop must be tight up against the bend in the hook shank as it forms the eye, never the other way around.Additionally, when pulling up the snell, ensure it is as tight as you can get it on the hook shank before pulling the knot into the position explained above.As indicated on the photograph above, when the snell breaks it will always break in one of two places, hence the importance of the way the knot is finally tied. CRIMPING A CIRCLE HOOK Again I must stress the importance of ensuring you create the perfect crimp. In essence, this crimp — or indeed any knot for leader to hook attachment — is the weakest point in your terminal tackle make up, so if it’s not perfect on final inspection, cut it off and recrimp. It’s far better to waste a crimp than lose a big fish. I personally don’t use chafe protectors when forming the loop before crimping simply because I have never lost a marlin from the leader chaffing through where it’s connected 20 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

Heated end of heavy leader. A — Leader which has been heated to create mushroomshaped bubble and allowed to cool. B — Heated tag end which has been flattened while cooling. Note: i) The flattened end provides minimal strength at shoulder of tag end. ii) The round tag end shows a far greater shoulder strength. • Forming the heat bubbles correctly on the end of the tag end is another important aspect of the leader-to-hook make up when crimping. Heat the end of the leader with a lighter until a good-sized mushroom-shaped bubble is formed, then let it cool naturally. Don’t, I repeat don’t, flatten the bubble. When a heat bubble is totally flattened, it reduces the strength of the area where the flattened surface is attached to the leader material. WHICH IS BETTER? Back to the big question — which is better, crimping or snelling? My view is that they are both excellent methods and both play a role in deep sea angling. However, what is indisputable is that, on a pull-off, the crimp will win every time over the snell. I maintain that when fishing for marlin, generally crimping, if done correctly, is not only stronger than snelling, but is

also excellent for livebaiting, skipping or swimbaits. If that’s the case, why do I use a snell so often? The answer is simply that I use this to my advantage when fishing for marlin off Cape Verde where the vast majority of marlin are released. In Cape Verde where pitch baiting to marlin is very successful, I use a leader which incorporates a loop-to-loop connection which allows me to have the main leader connected to the rods and the variation of short leaders kept separately, facilitating easy changes. If there is bill-wear evident on the front-end leader this can be easily swopped instead of having to change the entire leader.

The “sucker stick” option used to keep the bait’s head away from the gape of the circle hook. With the lighter leader used in this photo the tag end of the snell was wrapped with dental floss as added protection, and helps to hold the sucker stick whipping in place. Loop to loop connection of 400 lb leader to 300 lb “topshot” allows for a quick change if the 300 lb section is damaged. See the photo above of a heavy duty 400 lb leader connected to the last five feet of 300 lb leader using a crimped loop-to-loop method. The hook is attached to the last piece of leader using a snell connection. Why do it this way? Well, as the majority of Cape Verde anglers don’t need the traditional photographs of their fish alongside the boat, the leader man takes the main leader, locks on, and this inevitably results in the snell breaking where it’s attached to the hook. Only the circle hook is left in the fish’s jaw, with no long leader attached, and this is obviously better for the marlin. In competition fishing where a fish has to be leadered carefully so that it comes alongside for witnessing, photographs, measurements or colour band display, I would definitely only use a crimp to attach the hook to the full IGFA allowable leader length, using 400 lb leader. However, the snell configuration works extremely well and I have not experienced snelling failure on leaders made up to 100 lb test material.This is worth considering, especially when using lighter line classes, say up to 50 lb class, like when fishing for sailfish or tarpon. Again I cannot over stress the importance of snelling correctly. Remember, the snelled leader must come out of the circle hook’s eye on the barb side. Try it — pull on the leader with the hook sliding through your semi-clenched left hand. It will hook up every time. If it’s wrongly snelled or crimped you will be lucky to get one hook up out of three tries. A further bit of advice that really has nothing to do with the snell vs. crimp discussion is my method of rigging say friggies (bonita) to a circle hook rig. I still mostly use the snell configuration for this, and only use the crimped variation on my heavy tackle pitchbaits when I have a chance of targeting huge marlin and need the odds of nothing breaking stacked in my favour.When pitching to fish over 400 lb I generally prefer a crimped-hook rig on a full-length 27ft 400 lb leader. When rigging a pitch- or swim bait, I have moved away from using a sucker stick separator from the wax threaded hook to the bait. I now use a plastic bead about 20mm in diameter snagged up against the hook shank, and then tie the bait firmly behind it. This method definitely holds the bait a lot firmer and prevents the hook from doubling back into the

The suggested concept of using a hard plastic ball instead of a sucker stick as a spacer, for the reasons detailed in the text. bait’s head. In addition, the bead produces a vortex that largely prevents the tie to the bait’s head from breaking up during a long troll. In conclusion, tackle and tackle make up is an extremely important aspect of offshore angling, especially when hunting very big marlin. The weakest link analogy applies — don’t take a chance; that once-in-a-lifetime fish can be lost if you take a chance when rigging your tackle. Again, remember that whether you’re snelling or crimping the leader through the eye of the hook, it must result in the circle hook being pulled into position in the scissors of the jaw, as the leader pulls outwards against the point of the hook’s barb. This can only be achieved by ensuring that you feed the leader line through the eye of the hook towards the hook’s barb before crimping it, and that when you’re snelling, the leader goes through the hook’s eye from the back towards the barb, resulting in the desired pull back to assist the hook’s positioning. SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 21

BOAT REVIEW

The Magnum 46 by Two Oceans Marine Reviewed by Erwin Bursik

ALKING down the ramp of Hout Bay Marina I was forced to stop in my tracks, for there in front of

me was an array of some of South Africa’s finest offshore recreational craft. Many of these beauties were made in Cape Town by Two Oceans Marine. In between the Magnum 32s lying at mooring was the amazing 750

Powercat Quo Vadis on which I spent a few days in the Bazaruto Archipelago, and two of the latest Magnum 46s which I was due to review. To put it mildly, I was blown away. Mark Delany, MD of Two Oceans SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 23

Marine, and the crew of Reel Easy, a Magnum 46, were there to take me to sea to experience not only what one of their newest craft is capable of, but also to get a closer look at her impeccable layout and finishes. Reel Easy is the sister craft of Reel Therapy, a Magnum 32 I reviewed off Plettenberg Bay (see the September/ October 2018 issue of SKI-BOAT).At the time I described her as “wider, bigger and higher” than the previous Magnum 32 models. The Magnum 46 has taken this range of offshore sportfishing craft to a completely new level. As for suitable adjectives, none can adequately describe these highly impressive craft; the only way to get a full appreciation of them is to physically view the craft. Reel Easy has been specifically designed and finished for use as a recreational craft targeting tuna in the deep waters off Cape Point. She will, more than adequately, provide a platform to catch these fish, but those aboard will also enjoy the experience in ultimate comfort. Every conceivable onboard facility is available to enable even the most fanatical anglers to participate in this sport under the most advantageous conditions. The second Magnum 46 in the Hout Bay Marina, Andiamo, is destined to be moored at Desroches in Seychelles. Her deck layout and, to a degree, internal configuration are different to those of Reel Easy, to take into account her specific use. Andiamo will provide her owners and guests with a beautiful platform for scuba diving, flyfishing, light tackle gamefishing as well as targeting billfish and dogtooth tuna. Reel Easy, unlike all the other Magnums I have reviewed, is not powered by outboard motors, but by twin 550hp Cummins Q5B67 diesel inboard shaft drive motors. This not only changes the dynamics of the Magnum’s on-water performance and feel, but also moves her into the realms of the sportfisher class of craft. Before I took her helm, Mark manoeuvred her off her moorings and out to sea through Hout Bay Harbour. The deep-throated growl as her props grabbed the water, and the slight shudder transmitted through the craft, so indicative of the running feel of big sportfishers, sent a tingle through me. It’s incredibly exciting as one pushes the throttles forward. Even though much is done to limit engine noise, the shudder and the way the craft gets up onto the plane is an unbeatable adrenaline rush for me in recreational boating. The revolutions climbed as I moved the single throttle lever forward. After electronically synchronising the throttle, I could feel the hull over water performance as she climbed onto the plane and settled at 21 knots at 2 550rpm. Seated as I was up on the fly bridge, 24 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 25

protected from the cold wind by a heavy, clear perspex screen, viewing a formidable array of electronic displays and engine gauges, whilst relaxing in one of the most comfortable helm seats I have experienced, I felt I was as close to heaven as I will probably ever get. Fortunately — some may say unfortunately — the sea off Hout Bay was very calm, with only a slight southerly wind on the day of the review. At a range of speeds just over 25 knots at 2 800rpm, she literally glided over the ocean’s surface. I have no penchant for testing a craft’s top speed, but Mark told me that during a speed trial she maxed out at 3 200rpm producing a SOW of 33 knots. I was not personally able to try her in rough water, but apparently during a recent competition off the same port running out to the deep was ver y rough, and whereas the majority of the fleet could barely achieve 18/20 knots Reel Easy maintained a ride of 25

knots. I was further told that in a big following sea this craft, with her weighty engines situated relatively far aft, provides a stable and safe ride. So often in the deep off Cape Point some serious seas are experienced while hunting big tuna and chasing from trawler to trawler, but I’m led to believe Reel Easy handles these situation with aplomb as well as speed. The dual helm stations situated in the saloon and on the fly bridge are equally well endowed with instrumentation and electronics — and amazingly comfortable helm chairs. Furuno electronics in large format have been used, including a large screen sounder display on the port side of the saloon entrance to enable anglers to view the sounding while they’re fishing. On this trip I had my first personal experience of the use of the Furuno sonar scanning system that makes use of a retractable pod in the port sponson. We played around picking up

shoals of dolphins and seals and tracking them, as this 360 degree scanner can also track from the surface to the seabed. Drawing on their own practical experiences, Mark and the marine designers have put a huge amount of thought into the fishing deck’s layout and design. Bearing in mind that Reel Easy’s main target will be big yellowfin tuna in the world class tuna fishery situated off Cape Point, and the fact that the trend of standup fishing is firmly entrenched, the entire fish deck on Reel Easy is dedicated to anglers harnessed up to ply their “trade”. A close inspection of the accompanying photographs will show not only the large centralised console with an aft-situated tuna prep station, but also easy access to the vertically stored array of rods. On the console’s starboard face is an accessible rack for harnesses, and on the port side a tackle rack with removable drawers. When anglers are SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 27

tackling up, the entire drawer is removed and placed on top of the console. On the aft fish prep console, knives, spining rods and hand spray are readily available, as is a foam mat for the fish to be placed on for processing. A high-pressure deck wash ensures a totally clean deck after working one’s fish. On the craft’s aft port side is a water spray used to attract tuna. Reel Easy also has facilities to carry a ton of ice to ensure the yellowfin tuna caught are not only quickly cooled down, but are also kept on ice for the long ride back to port, all to ensure a top quality product for consumption. Lastly there’s a handwash basin where the anglers can clean up after working their fish. Hot and cold water is available. The entire deck and saloon layout has been designed to create a walk around that provides adequate space for an angler coupled to his tackle and a large tuna to be able to follow it the entire perimeter of the craft. The gunnels have been set at the correct abovedeck height to facilitate standup fishing, and anglers have the ability to lean back against the saloon’s outer side for comfort or rest during the fight. Finally, in terms of the deck layout, there are two enormous fish hatches that can each easily accommodate a 100kg tuna and ice to keep it cold. The surrounding deck is clad in teak, and the semi aft hatches giving access to the two Cummins motors are properly sealed to reduce noise and prevent deck water from getting into the motor well. A pair of Lee’s bracket outriggers have also been fitted for use when the owner wants to go billfishing. Not only are these very practically placed and easy to run lures from, but they also add tremendously to the overall appearance of this magnificent sportfisher. Creature comforts for those aboard have certainly not been ignored, as the internal layout of the saloon, the two below-deck siesta cabins, the heads and shower ensures they are all easily accessible even in rough weather. All these areas are also immaculately fitted out for the purpose they serve. As an example, the long seats in the saloon have been widened to not only ensure very comfortable seating, but also so that they’re wide enough to lie down on during periods of inactivity. Quick access to the fish deck is via wide glass doors so you can reach your rod quickly if the reels start screaming. I also appreciated the saloon table that can be folded in half if necessary, but even when it’s fully open a big guy can slide in behind it with ease. In the aft section of the saloon there’s a practically sized galley incorporating an induction stove, microwave 28 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

and fridge, with adequate accessible storage for dry foods as well as all the necessary crockery and cutlery. On each side of the saloon helm station there’s access down into the single berth sited midship in each sponson. These are both very comfortable with good ceiling heights and ventilation via a small window high up on the cabin’s inward panel. Neat yet private. In the forward area of the port sponson there’s an electric head, and in the starboard sponson the hot and coldwater shower. Once again these belowdeck facilities are spacious and would be ver y practical to use even in inclement weather. The wooden steps leading down to these facilities have wide treads, so climbing down and up is extremely easy. Have a look at the accompanying photographs of Reel Easy as she planed over the ocean’s surface off Hout Bay, and you’ll see what I mean when I say that although she has the feel of a sportfisher, she has the head-on sea attack of a very large ski-boat. After getting the feel of her through various manoeuvres and getting over my awe at the instrumentation and helm, I was able to concentrate on how well she performs as a craft over water.At speed her hull not only throws its wake far aft, but one can also feel her getting onto the plane, reducing her wetted area and literally gliding over the surface. If one had only a quick glance at the photos, one might even mistake her for a 30ft ski-boat. However, with just one look at the main photo at the start of this article, you will agree that Reel Easy is magnificent. My last task in the review of this Magnum 46 is to cover her overall finishes. That’s not an easy task as I could elaborate in detail for days, but space precludes me from saying much except that the work that goes into this side of her production is formidable. I watched internal components for another Magnum being made in Two Oceans’ huge factor y and was impressed at the precision and accuracy required, yet seeing them installed takes this workmanship to an entirely new level. Wherever I looked — including behind drawers and cupboards — everything was beautifully finished and robust enough to take on the “shake, rattle and roll” she endures when fighting the wild waters off Cape Town. The finishes on Reel Easy are not skin deep and the stainless steel and aluminium fittings are of a high and durable standard that all together help to make this craft simply stunning. The two Magnum 46s I reviewed are a credit to all those involved in their conception and manufacture, and must be dreams come true for the owners who have placed their faith in Two Oceans Marine.

MOTORS By Erwin Bursik

T the opening of the 2004 Miami Boat Show, Mercury launched their “Project X” —The Mercury Verado 200-, 250-, and 275hp 6-cyclinder inline supercharged 4-stroke outboard motors. I stood amongst the hoard of eager observers at this world-renowned boat show as the veil was lifted, exposing these new outboard engines to the world.

30 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

Seventeen years later, in the midst of the international pandemic lockdown, Mercury Marine surprised the international boating fraternity with another innovation that has taken the industry by storm. On Tuesday 9 Februar y 2021 Chris Drew – President of Mercury Marine – hosted a virtual media event announcing to the world the advent of their latest and most advanced outboard engine, the 7.6 litre V12 600hp Verado. Whilst nothing can compare to actually standing alongside such an engine, seeing this amazing machine virtually during its introduction was for me an honour and a mind-blowing experience. Growing up in an era that heralded a 40hp outboard 2-stroke motor as the be-all of boating, it’s hard for me to comprehend seeing the absolute “beast” of all outboards, this huge V12 600hp Mercury Verado. With comprehension maxing out comes the string of innovations to bolster if not over overshadow the first visual impact.An outboard bolted to a transom where the upper section does not move is a huge paradigm shift requiring a change in mind set for all of us who have clamped on, then bolted outboards onto boats since their earliest innovation in the early 1940s. This incredible engine, which has taken over a decade to produce, from conception through innovation, design and manufacture, all under a cloud of secrecy, was now a reality to the boating world. Viewed on YouTube and other platforms, its overall impression is formidable, but one quickly realises nothing surpasses a visual hands-on experience like the one I had with the initial Verado launch. The first V12 600hp Verado to reach South Africa will enable many of us to fulfil the dream of seeing it launching and hopefully feel its power when it is mounted on an offshore boat. Overall size and styling was the first impression I got, but as awesome as it looks, the eye is immediately drawn to the impressive contrarotating propellers.When you view the videos the full implications of having a fixed motor mounting and its steerable gear case become obvious. So many queries came to mind that I had to get Paul van der Westhuizen, Brunswick (Mercury) Sales manager Africa, and long-time friend and technical guru to talk me through the major innovations of these new outboard engines. SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 31

In layman’s terms, the following are the basic innovations of this mighty machine. For the more technically minded, I suggest you go onto the Internet to read up on all the nitty gritty aspects. • The world’s first V12 outboard, the 600hp Verado engine features a naturally aspirated, large-displacement, quad-cam powerhead that generates impressive torque to get heavy boats out the hole and onto the plane quickly, and to rapidly accelerate up to rated speed. • The industry’s first two-speed automatic transmission for an outboard

32 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

optimises engine rpm according to workload, facilitating powerful acceleration and highly efficient performance at cruise speeds. • The industr y’s first steerable gearcase on an outboard pivots independently underwater while the engine’s powerhead remains in a space-saving fixed position. This provides more room for multiengine configurations and a wider steering angle for agile handling. With help from contra-rotating propellers, it also has better “bite” in the water for docking and other closequarters manoeuvring.

• Several enhanced Mercury technologies work in conjunction to enable the V12 Verado outboard to deliver exceptional fuel economy and range. Paul answered the number of personal queries I had relating to these aspects and delved a bit deeper, which readers may find helpful too... • Is there really a need for such an enormous motor? The move within the boating OMEs is to have craft up to 40ft designed for outboard power.The designs will be for twin-, triple- or quadruple outboard installations in a basic move away from closed shaft-drive inboard motors. Further to this, many manufacturers are reengineering existing craft up to 50ft.The use of outboard engines on this style of craft releases a lot of space presently occupied by big diesel motors situated midship to shaft drive propellers. Of course the power- and speed-hungry among us will be delighted with the speeds up to 80 miles per hour that are offered by these big motors. • How does it help to have a “fixed position of the power head”? This design feature means the size of the transom motor well of the craft is greatly reduced, especially when two or more engines are required. In essence, the motors are then placed closer together on the transom. • What do they mean by “steerable gear case”? In essence, this lower unit pivots individually and is con-

trolled by “fly by wire” steering as well as a joystick control up to 2000rpm. This enables easier dockside handling. There is also a “skyhook” electronics positioning holding system, so in practical terms one can use the joystick for slow speed manoeuvring and backing up on a fish. Thereafter, when powering up, the conventional steering is used. • How does this affect trimming? Whilst it is understood that the upper unit is fixed, it can be trimmed vertically to adjust the craft’s ride. When you’re on moorings this also enables the lower unit to be raised out of the water. • How does the two–speed automatic transmission work? When you’re powering out the hole, the low or first gear provides the initial thrust out the hole and onto the plane. Once the craft is on the plane it will automatically change gear to reduce rpm and effectively provide smoother running at reduced fuel consumption. This transmission system completely removes the feel and noise associated with gear selection. • How practical is the motor housing? Access to the Verado 600 engine is via a removable top cover that gives a technician access to undertake all the service-related aspects right up to the 1 000hr service. In practise, as the boat owner, one removes the top pommel only to check oil etc. • How do the dual counter-rotating propellers help? This concept effectively increases propeller “bite” by 15%, thus providing better out-thehole performance and top end speed. • Where is the cooling water intake situated? On these motors the water intake is on the two sides above the gear box as well as the leading edge of the gearbox housing when high speed running. • What’s the engine weight and shaft length? The V12 600hp Verado engine weighs 572kg (1 261 lb) and is available in four different shaft lengths – 20-, 25-, 30- and 35 inches. • Does this motor have a commercial application? This basic V12 engine is used in the Verado Sea Pro 500 for commercial application and is down rated power-wise to provide more durability. One can’t help but be astounded by the incredible R&D, design and manufacture of the V12 600hp outboard motors — and the immense financial investment Mercury has made to effectively take this product to the next level of outboard innovation and performance. Now it’s with much interest that we wait for the first of these outboard engines to reach South Africa. SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 33

SAFETY

By Mike Telleira in association with SKI-BOAT magazine

OUTH Africa’s rugged terrain and very hot summer months make it conducive to violent late afternoon thunder and lightning storms. The majority of South Africans have become accustomed to these and, to a degree, have become complacent about them, even though we watch in awe from the safety of our homes. When we’re on our boats — be they at sea or on the country’s inland waters — the “safety at home” scenario takes on an entirely different and dangerous perspective. Gone are the lightning strike earthing systems of our house that conduct direct or indirect strikes to earth, or, if one is in a motor vehicle, the metal Faraday Cage of the vehicle’s body which insulates the occupants therein. A boat on the water, and its occupants, are literally sitting ducks. Those South African ski-boaters

who have endured a violent electrical storm whilst out at sea will confirm how incredibly frightening it is. Those of us who mostly use our craft on the ocean tend to miss the ferocity of thunder and lightning activity which, along our inshore coastline, takes place largely in the late afternoon into early evening when the vast majority of offshore ski-boats are back on the beach. However, those who fish at night, and especially the anglers who fish on upcountry inland waters and go for booze cruises in the late afternoon and early evening, are at substantial risk. Mike Telleira who writes for the American Boating Safety Magazine — a sister magazine to Marlin and Sportfishing — willingly shared with us his findings on the subject and the numerous strategies for surviving lightning strikes while boating. Powerful, dangerous, highly unpredictable — all are common descriptions

of lightning. A direct strike that only results in ringing ears and a few roasted electronics would be considered lucky. Unlucky would be thru-hulls blown out, a sunk boat or worse – possibly serious injury or death. Many power boaters like to think they’ve got the speed to simply outrun or get out of the way of thunderstorms, or they figure they’re safe if they only go boating when it’s clear and sunny. This attitude is aided by the low odds of a boat being struck by lightning, which BoatU.S. pegs at about 1 out of 1 000 boats in any given year. No worries, right mate? Wrong. Engines can malfunction or run out of fuel, big storms can leave little to no room to escape, and bright and sunny mornings can quickly turn dark and threatening in the afternoon. If yours is the only boat in the area during a lightning storm, the odds of being stuck go way up, leaving you and your crew vulnerable to millions of volts

SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 35

raining down from the skies. Lightning protection begins with being informed and being prepared to take action in the event of a thunderstorm or actual strike. While manufacturers can build in a degree of protection, there are several things boaters should know and do to minimise the chance for injury and damage.

STORM! A strategy of only boating on sunny, cloudless days may work well in some places, but in high risk areas like most of South Africa, this greatly curtails one’s opportunities to go boating. Boaters should, of course, track VHF, internet and television weather reports and make responsible decisions about This illustration shows all the basic elements required in a lightning protection system.

PROTECTION Lightning protection does not stop lightning from striking. Heeding weather warnings, avoiding storms and seeking shelter are by far the best ways to avoid injury and damage. The aim of lightning protection is to minimise the likelihood of injury and damage if struck. In its most basic form, a conventional boat lightning protection system consists of an air terminal (lightning rod) above the boat connected to a thick electrical wire that is run down to an underwater metal ground plate attached to the hull. Sometimes an antenna or flag pole serves double duty as a lightning rod. If struck, the hope is that all the dangerous current will remain within this path instead of bouncing around the inside of the boat’s wiring and metal objects seeking multiple paths to the water (which could be through a human). The traditional guidance has been to centre a single rod above the boat and run a single wire down through the middle of the boat to the immersed ground plate underwater. Some have challenged this method saying it’s better to use multiple rods and run wires down the sides of the boat to grounding electrodes at the water’s surface.“We want to protect the boat like a building and create multiple paths to route the lightning surge around the outside of the boat instead of down through the inside,” says Dr. Ewen Thomson, founder of Marine Lightning Protection, Inc. <www.marinelightning.com>.“When routed through a single conductor down the middle of the boat, the surge can still find other paths to ground through metal objects, wires and even people — especially in freshwater, which is hundreds of times more resistant to electrical flow than saltwater.” Current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards have incorporated these ideas, and the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) is in the process of reevaluating its lightning protection guidance. Some research shows that boats without a protection system do suffer more damage, and that boats struck in freshwater get it worse than boats struck in saltwater. Larger enclosed boats, trawlers, and sailboats will sometimes come with the basic conventional protection system installed.With open boats it’s typically up to the owner to carry a portable pole with attached wire and ground plate that can be deployed in a storm. Additional steps can be taken to protect electronics, some of which are almost always damaged in a strike. Disconnecting them in a storm makes sense, but is easier said than done. Lightning arrestors, protective gaps and surge capacitors are available to protect antennas,AC equipment and DC electronics. While some electronics protection can be DIY work, installing a permanent lightning protection system should be handled by a professional familiar with the appropriate guidelines. 36 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

whether to go boating depending on the likelihood of storms. Short-term forecasts can actually be pretty good at predicting bigger storms, but small, localised storms might not be reported. This is when it’s very handy to know how to read the weather yourself. Lightning strikes typically occur in the afternoon. A towering build-up of puffy, cotton white clouds that rises to the customary flat “anvil” top is a good indication that you should clear the water and seek shelter — or move out of the storm’s path if possible. That’s if the storm is at least some way off in the distance. Most storms are about 15 miles in diameter and can build to dangerous levels in less than 30 minutes. If lightning and thunder are present, just count the seconds between the lightning and corresponding thunder, then divide by five — this will provide a rough estimate of how many miles away the storm is. A storm that builds directly overhead might be less obvious until those pretty white clouds that were providing some nice shade moments ago turn a threatening hue of gray and start to dump rain and blow wind or, worse yet, boom with thunder and lightning that are right on top of each other. Now is the time for a mad dash to the dock and shelter if there’s any close by. Like our National Weather Service says: “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!” If you’re out on open water or too far from shore and shelter, it’s time to hunker down and ride it out. CAUGHT! Boaters who have been struck by lightning often begin their stories with: “I was caught in this storm…” before they share their miraculous or harrowing tales of survival and destruction. Even though getting caught in a storm is not always avoidable, there’s still plenty that can be done to minimise the chance of a strike and reduce injury and damage if there is a strike. We all learn at school that lightning seeks the highest point, and on the water that’s the top of the boat — typically a mast, antenna, bimini or even the tallest person in an open boat. If possible, find a protected area out of the wind and drop anchor. If the boat has an enclosed cabin, people should be directed to go inside and stay well away from metal objects, electrical outlets and appliances. It’s a good idea to have life jackets handy too. Sideflashes can jump from metal objects to other objects — even bodies — as they seek a path to the water. Lowering antennas, towers, fishing poles and outriggers is also advised, unless it’s part of a designated lightning protection system (see sidebar). Some boaters also like to disconnect the con-

There’s no hard proof that bottlebrush static dissipaters actually reduce (much less prevent) lightning strikes, but they are fine for use as an air terminal in a lightning protection system.

A common dockside strategy for powerboaters is to dock next to or between sailboats. It’s not a bad idea, but there are plenty of cases of powerboats being struck anyway — and even a near strike can cause serious damage to electronics.

Notice how the air terminal (static dissipator) is lower than the antenna and outriggers on this boat. The antenna and outriggers should be lowered during a thunderstorm so the air terminal becomes the highest point on the boat.

nections and power leads to their antennas and other electronics, which are often damaged or destroyed during a strike or near strike. Under no circumstances should the VHF radio be used during an electrical storm unless it’s an emergency. Handheld radios are okay. Also be careful not to grab two metal objects, like a metal steering wheel and metal railing; that can be a deadly spot to be in if there’s a strike. Some boaters opt to steer with a wooden spoon and keep

The customary “anvil” flat top of a thunderstorm in the distance.

their other hand in a pocket if they’re forced to man the helm during a storm. An open boat like a ski-boat is the most dangerous to be on during a storm. If shore is out of reach, the guidance is to drop anchor, remove all metal jewelry, put on life jackets and get low in the centre of the boat. Definitely stay out of the water — shutdown the wakeboarding or tubing, get all bodies out of the water and stow the fishing poles. If all goes well the storm will blow

past or rain itself out in 20-30 minutes. It’s best to wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before resuming activities. HIT! Knowing what to do in a storm and having the best lightning protection system installed on the boat is by no means a guarantee that lightning won’t strike. The immediate checklist for a direct hit is very short: 1) Check for unconscious or injured

SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 37

The future of boat lightning protection could include side electrodes like these. Multiple lightning rods would protect the perimeter of the boat (similar to the way a building is protected), and a strike surge would be routed around the outside of the boat to multiple electrodes near the water’s surface. Photo courtesy of Marine Lightning Protection, Inc

Never use the boat VHF during a storm unless it’s an emergency, and definitely do not hold onto a metal wheel and the radio at the same time. This could be deadly if lightning strikes the antenna and uses you to bridge across to the metal wheel.

A microwave oven is an excellent Faraday cage, and many boaters will stow backup handheld radios, laptops with navigation software and other important electronics inside to protect them during an electrical storm. Just wrapping them in tinfoil can also do the trick.

An immersed 1 square-foot ground plate is recommended by ABYC, ideally centred directly below the air terminal (lightning rod) and connecting wire. This is to create a low-resistance path for lightning current to flow along instead of through other parts of the boat or its crew.

persons. If they’re moving and breathing they’ll likely be okay. Immediately begin CPR on unconscious persons if pulse and/or breathing are absent. Remember that there’s no danger of being shocked by someone just struck by lightning. 2) Have someone check the bilges for water. It’s rare, but lightning can blow out a transducer or thru-hull — or even just blow a hole in the boat. Plug the hole, get the bilge pumps running, work the bail bucket — whatever it takes to keep af loat. An emergency call on the VHF is warranted if the situation is dire. If the radio is toast, break out the flare kit. 3) If there are no injuries and no holes or major leaks below, just continue to wait it out. Once the danger has passed, check the operation of the engine and all electronics. Even a near strike can fry electronics and an electronically-controlled engine’s ECU, cutting off navigation, communication and even propulsion. Some boaters stash charged handheld VHF and GPS units and a spare engine ECU in the microwave or a tin box for this very reason. 4) Obvious damage will need to be assessed and set right. Even those lucky enough to come away com-

pletely unscathed with no apparent damage should have a professional survey done just to be sure. Minor damage to thru-hulls can result in slow leaks, and all manner of electrical wackiness can emerge — sometimes much later. It’s best to catch these issues right away and get that information to the insurance folks for coverage.

insurance claim data from a ten-year period and found that the odds of being struck are about 1 out of 1 000 in any given year (see below for a breakdown by boat type). Location, however, matters a great deal. Thirteen American states — places like Nebraska and Idaho — didn’t have any lightning claims, while Florida accounted for 33% of all claims and the Chesapeake Bay area accounted for 29%. Boat Type Chances per 1 000 Multi-hull sail 9.100 Auxiliary sail 4.500 Cruiser .860 Sail only .730 Trawlers .180 Bass boat .180 Runabout/Ski-boat .120 Houseboat .110 Pontoon .030 PWC .003

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INVEST IN INSURANCE On many levels, robust insurance coverage plays a huge role in your lightning protection plan. Knowing how to avoid storms and read the weather are certainly important, being ready for action in the event of a storm or strike is crucial, and an upfront investment in lightning protection can lessen destruction. When it comes to dealing with the aftermath of a damaging strike, however, extensive lightning coverage can’t be beat. Just take it from a luxury trawler owner who sustained more than US$1million in damages from a strike: “Boat insurance turns out to be the best investment we have made in the past ten years!” he said.“We will never again grumble about writing a cheque for an insurance premium.” WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? As mentioned above, BoatU.S. gathered

GET SMART A smart phone coupled with real-time NOAA lightning tracking information can make a powerful tool for avoiding storms. Some apps will even notify you if there is a strike near any of your designated areas. Do an internet search for “lightning app NOAA” — there are a number of iPhone and Android apps available. A little early warning could give you the time you need to make it back to shore and seek shelter.

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Phillip Marx, SADSAA President

N the last report I spoke about staying positive and keeping the “motors running” within the parameters of Covid-19. Thank you to all who have championed our sport in these difficult times by hosting clinics, tackle talks and social media demonstrations etc while we were kept off the water. Our patience has paid off, and now that we are on Alert Level 1 we will be able to host our usual fishing tournaments. See the calendar opposite which is correct as of 15 March 2021. Note that dates may change, so please keep in contact with your clubs and provinces. Hosting these tournaments will only be possible if all the existing COVID-19 protocols are adhered to by the hosting provinces and clubs.

Please wear masks, sanitise hands and respect the Covid-19 rules and regulations while we enjoy and participate in SADSAA-sanctioned and social fishing events. The fishing has been exceptional over the past few weeks, with boats continuing to report great catches of marlin, sailfish, yellowfin, ’cuda, queenfish and dorado. It is interesting to see the number of juvenile marlin that have been caught and released recently.We are entering the best time of our gamefish season and there is no reason that this trend should not continue and make for some interesting and competitive gamefish angling over the next few months. In preparation for the up-and-coming Gamefish Nationals (junior and senior), clubs and provinces have been hosting tackle talks and clinics. Fishing as a whole is not an exact science, but one aspect of fishing certainly is — the preparation and tackle aspect of our sport. SADSAA Development Officer Neil Coetzer recently facilitated a Gamefish clinic at the Guinjata Ski-Boat Club. According to Neil and our PRO

Attendees at the gamefish clinic hosted by Shaun Aspden (right).

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Officer, Martin du Plessis, Shaun Aspden delivered a superb clinic and shared his expert knowledge of the fine art of catching ’cuda. One good thing about Covid-19 is, whether we like it or not, Teams, Zoom and Live Stream have become a part of our lives. I say it’s a good thing as this has taught us to accept certain Covid-19 parameters and work within the boundaries to participate in our sport. This particular clinic was livestreamed on the SADSAA Facebook page, so participation was not limited to the physical attendees but to anyone who wanted to dial in. The count as of 15 March 2021 shows that the video reached 2 190 people — exceptional! Thank you to all those involved for making this a huge success. Neil Coetzer and Martin du Plessis will be hosting further clinics so look out for details of those. It is great to see the excellent preparation, enthusiasm and competitive spirit of our anglers as we build up to our first Nationals in April 2021. Tight lines and let’s keep the “motors running”.

2021 SADSAA TOURNAMENTS CALENDAR DATE TOURNAMENT VENUE 1–5 April SADSAA Junior Gamefish Nationals Point Yacht Club, Durban 9–11 April Umhlanga Festival Umhlanga 12–16 April SGDSAA Rosebowl Sodwana 15–18 April Billfish Interprovincial Richards Bay 15–25 April Tuna Masters Hout Bay,WC 26–30 April SADSAA Gamefish Nationals St Lucia 25 April – 8 May Gordon’s Bay Boat Angling Club Offshore Classic Gordon’s Bay,WC 26 April – 1 May Port St Francis Ski Boat Tuna Challenge Port St Francis, EC 29 April – 2 May Gonubie Marine Club Interclub East London 1–2 May Umlalazi Cuta Classic Umlalazi 6–9 May Mapelane Trophy Interclub Mapelane 7–9 May Shelly Beach Interclub Shelly Beach 9–12 May EFSA European Championship Big Game Fishing Cape Verde 9–14 May SADSAA All Inland Interprovincial Sodwana 13–16 May SADSAA All Coastal Interprovincial Gonubie, East London 14–16 May Pennington Gamefish Interprovincial Pennington 17–22 May WPDSAA Own Choice Tuna Interprovincial Miller’s Point,WC 20–22 May EFSA European Species Championship Olafsvik, Iceland 31 May – 5 June Cuba International Billfish Tournament Cuba 4–6 June Mapelane Cuda Derby Mapelane 6–12 June Guinjata Species Bonanza Guinjata 24–26 June Richards Bay Ski-boat Club Interclub Richards Bay 28 June – 2 July SADSAA Light Tackle Billfish Nationals Sodwana 30 June – 3 July Tuna Bonanza Festival Shelly Beach 1–4 July Mapelane Junior Interclub Mapelane 3–5 July 21 Species Richards Bay 4–9 July SADSAA Tuna Nationals Shelly Beach 23–25 July Warnadoone Interclub Warnadoone 7–8 August Umhlanga Interclub Umhlanga 10–14 August Kleinbaai Bottomfish Interprovincial Kleinbaai,WP 20–22 August Natal Rod and Reel Interclub Durban 19–25 September EFSA Boat & Line Championships (Bottomfish) Ireland 10–16 October SADSAA Bottomfish Nationals Struisbaai 11–15 October SADSAA Light Tackle Billfish Interprovincial Sodwana 15–30 October CBSC October Tuna Invitational Miller’s Point,WC 1–5 November OET Game & Bill Fish Tournament Sodwana 4–14 November Tuna Derby Hout Bay,WC 6–7 November Ladies Gamefish Tournament St Lucia 8–12 November Billfish 15 000 Sodwana 14–19 November SADSAA Heavy Tackle Nationals Sodwana *Tournaments and dates may change from time to time. Kindly keep in contact with your club with regard to the latest calendar.

SAFETY

HERE are a number of unclaimed skippers’ licences. The names of these skippers are up on the SADSAA website, but if you have any queries, please contact our Safety Officer, Lyn Adams on <safety@sadsaa.co.za> or visit the Benoni office at the East Rand Speedboat Club.

HOST NDSAA Umhlanga ERBCF Meer-en-see SBC ABC ZDSAA Gordon’s Bay SBC Port St Francis SBC Gonubie Marine Club Umlalazi Mapelane SBC SBSBC SADSAA/PROTEA MDSAA Border NDSAA WPDSAA SADSAA/PROTEA SADSAA/PROTEA Mapelane SBC GSBC RBSBC NGDSAA SBSBC Mapelane SBC MSBC NDSAA WSBC Umhlanga WPDSAA Natal Rod and Reel SADSAA/PROTEA WPDSAA NGDSAA CBSC MDSAA ABC SLSBC DSBC MDSAA

Keep up to date with all the SADSAA news by visiting our website www.sadsaa.co.za or our facebook page @sadeepseaanglingassociaion

SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 41

RECIPE

GRILLED SHAD with charred corn and yogurt dressing by Executive Chef Sidwell Yarrow

SERVES TWO

INGREDIENTS: CHARRED CORN AND YOGURT DRESSING 2 cups Greek-style yogurt 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for oiling grill grates 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced (about 13⁄ cup) 1 4⁄ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 teaspoon chilli powder 1 2⁄ cup chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish 1 4⁄ cup fresh chopped dill, plus more for garnish 1 2⁄ cup thinly sliced scallions or chives Freshly ground black pepper; Kosher salt 2 ears fresh sweet corn, shucked and cleaned GRILLED SHAD 1-2kg whole shad, scaled and gutted 2 tablespoons mayo (I like Kewpie brand Japanese mayo) PEACH AND TOMATO SALAD 2 peaches or your favourite stone fruit (apricots work well), cut into bite-size pieces (approximately 112⁄ cups) 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half 2 cups rocket or other salad greens, washed and dried 112⁄ teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 3 tablespoons good quality extra virgin olive oil PREPARATION: Preheat gas grill to medium-high heat or prepare coals, spreading them across 23⁄ of the grill. While grill is warming, prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, whip yogurt until slightly fluffy.Add olive oil, jalapeños, lemon juice, chilli powder, cilantro, dill, scallions, 1 teaspoon

black pepper and 2 teaspoons salt. Lightly oil both corn and grill grates. Sprinkle corn with salt and pepper and place on the grill. Grill corn until nicely charred and cooked (about 4 to 6 minutes), turning frequently. Remove from grill and allow to cool. Cut grilled corn off the cob, roughly chop and add to yogurt mixture and stir until well combined. Set aside. Next, prepare the shad. If you’re using a gas grill, lower the temperature on one side. Pat the fish dry with a paper towel. Coat exterior of fish with mayo and sprinkle lightly with salt inside and out. Place fish over coals or hot side of grill and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Using a spatula and tongs,“hug” the fish and carefully roll onto the opposite side. Cook for an additional 10 to 12 minutes. If fish is charring too quickly, carefully move it to the cooler side of the grill and place cover over the grill to finish cooking. The fish is done when internal temperature reaches 60- to 65°C or when fish flakes apart easily and the flesh has turned from translucent to opaque. While the shad cooks, prepare the salad. Place peaches and tomatoes in a large bowl, toss with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper, and allow to rest for 5 to 7 minutes. Next add the rocket, lemon juice and olive oil and toss until thoroughly combined.Taste for salt, adding more as needed. To serve, spread salad over a platter large enough to accommodate the fish. Place fish atop the salad. Garnish with dill and cilantro and finish with a dollop of the charred corn yogurt, serving more on the side. Please adhere to the minimum size restrictions, bag limits and closed season to ensure the survival of this species.

Chef Sidwell’s experience is extensive, and his career has seen him travel around the world to perfect his craft. Born in Stellenbosch, the first position he held was under chef Craig Cormack at Spier Wine Estate in 2003. Since those early days Sidwell has gone on to ply his trade across the world and worked under numerous world-renowned chefs in countries such as USA, UK and Dubai. In 2010 while working at the Madinat Jumeirah Resort in Dubai, Chef Sidwell was named runner up in the Chef of the Year competition hosted by the Emirates Culinary Guild, and achieved silver and bronze medals in a very competitive market with some of the world’s best chefs. A major part of his career was spent working at sea, and over a decade Sidwell worked his way up the ranks aboard ultra-luxury cruise ships, yachts and ocean liners such as the mighty Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2. He currently holds the position of Executive Chef at multi-award winning Viking Cruises, overseeing the operation of seven restaurants on a day-to-day basis. “Being a professional chef, boater and avid fisherman I would like showcase the diversity of what the South African coastline has to offer from classic regional favourites to warm winter treats. I want the average person to be able to utilise the recipe and not feel intimidated while attempting to prepare it at home.”

42 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 43

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48 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

TACKLE

By Paul Nixon

ISHING reels have come a long way over the years, starting off with very rudimentary workings and moving on to very high performance and fancy specimens indeed. Gone are the days of having to douse a reel in water to cool it down because of huge runs and reels overheating due to extreme drag pressure. As a result of the drag friction on those old reels, anglers sometimes had to deal with inconsistent drag performance. Before discussing the various materials used in modern fishing reels, let’s consider how drag washers function. Drag systems — through a series of disks and washers connected to the reel’s spool — rub (or drag) together, applying friction which creates drag or pressure to slow down the line as the fish pulls on hard runs. All this happens in a controlled manner so as not to create a sudden stop which might cause your line to part.

This Shimano Torium 50 has been cleaned and polished and is ready for the carbontex upgrade installment.

Standard drag washer from Shimano TLD Star 2040 and upgrade carbontex washer.

A big selection of carbontex washers.

This is a Shimano TLD Star 2040 showing the new carbontex washers and original washers.

SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 49

Grease is either lightly massaged into each washer or lightly brushed on.

Only the best drag grease must be used for premium carbontex washers. Cal’s is a good option. Certain materials handle this pressure and friction better than others, while some washers compress over time and have poor heat expelling properties. All of this leads anglers to upgrade existing drags to more durable materials. Drag washers generally get more fancy the higher up the reel spectrum you go. Entry level reels — those you would not really use to consistently target big and fast fish — have simple plastic or cloth washers; they provide some level of

50 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

resistance, but not ultra-responsive drag pressure. Mid- and high-end reels, particularly nowadays, come with standard issue carbon weave plate washers as these offer really good responsiveness, longevity and a much smoother drag than their cloth drag predecessors. What is carbontex and how does it work? These drag washers are made from high-quality carbon fibre with very high heat tolerance which allows for silky smooth, consistent pressure. This system relies on friction, so some form of lubrication will also need to be considered. Due to the fact that we are now playing with high end materials, only high-end lubricants should be applied. A good friend put it this way: Don’t put retreads on your Ferrari. Cal’s Drag Grease is a good option. Massage a small amount into both sides of the carbon washer to give you the best results. Over lubricating a reel and its drag washers can have negative effects. If you are not sure exactly how to do this then rather go to someone who does this professionally.

COMPETITIONS

By Helen Fenwick

NUMBER of years ago Meirion Williams, Traill Witthuhn, Gawie Bruwer, Hannes Schreuder, Gerard de Kock, Johan Jooste and Johan van der Walt thought it would be a good idea to investigate the numbers and sizes of the marlin swimming in the Agulhas area, and so the first TOMT was held in 2006. Now, 15 years later, it still draws many anglers to test their skills at catching the elusive monster of the sea. The

52 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

2021 event, held in early February, was an exceptional one by any standards.To start with the weather was near perfect, and anglers were able to fish for a full six days which some of them found quite gruelling. Then there were the high numbers of marlin — over 50 marlin strikes were recorded by the 23 participating boats — the most marlin seen around this area in many years. As always the fun and camaraderie is also noticeable, with much sharing of information among the competitors. The opening function was held on Friday 5 February, and although Day

One was actually only on the Sunday, the Saturday dawned bright and beautiful, so an informal competition was held amongst the boats that decided to go out. Kevin Swart from Kinda Magic was thrilled when he successfully released a black marlin and was declared angler of the day. DAY ONE The sea was a tad lumpy on the first official day of the tournament, and some of the smaller boats had a less than comfortable ride, but otherwise conditions were good. At 8.30am Mojo

called in the first strike, but it was off within minutes.Then, just eight minutes later, Marco Polo’s Anton de Beer was vas and a long battle to land a huge black began. At 12.54pm the fish came alongside the boat, went under, broke loose and swam to freedom. At 11.14am John Graeme reported a hook-up that ended more successfully. According to skipper Chris Goatley, this is how it went down: “We put a livebait out near the 12mile bank, and it wasn’t more than two minutes before we had what we thought was a shark on the end of the line.Then the black marlin came up, tail walking, and headed straight for the boat! We shouted in excitement when we saw her. It was unbelievably strong and we battled her through the ore carrier lanes — three passed within shouting distance! “John Leppan was the leaderman and had some nervous moments before he grabbed the bill and got the circle hook out before reviving and releasing her. It was my son Hylton’s first marlin and measured and looked to be just

under 200kg, and the fight lasted just over three hours! “We all agreed that this experience was one of the most emotional events we had been part of on our beautiful ocean and were truly humbled by this magnificent creature.” DAY TWO On the second day of the tournament the wind was blowing under 10 knots from the south, and the sky was overcast when 22 boats ventured out at 5am. Safety at sea is a priority and good radio communication is essential for this. Mention must be made of Andrew Perrins, the safety officer, and Earl Fenwick, who spent months working on getting a high site for a new aerial which they — along with some strong helpers — erected to ensure it was fully operational in time for this year’s competition.Thank you for your dedication, gentlemen. Hookups were reported by Multi, Mojo, Met Eish, Catch Cook, Reel Deal and Kinda Magic, but all of them

PARTICIPATING BOATS AND SKIPPERS OF TOMT 2021 Amazing Grace – John Burger Bad Co – Mike Broderick Bayswater – Piet Wessels Black Pearl – Harold Turner Catch Cook – Bryan Ashington Dory – Dudley Rosslee Duckbill – Marius Grabie G-Spot – Koos Pretorius Indigo – Gawie Bruwer John Graeme – Chris Goatley Jolly Rodger – Jannie Allendale Kinda Magic – Kevin Swart Lyfie – Rudi Moolman Marco Polo – Rikus de Beer Met Eish – Steven Griffiths Mojo – Jacques van Niekerk Moon Dancer – Allan Hill Multi – Roelof Visagie Rampala – Waldo Janeke Reel Deal – JB Snyman Sea Cat – Chris Steyn Zeeman – De Wet Zeeman Ziggy – Alan Firmani

SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 53

ended up in lost fish. By the end of the day nobody had managed to successfully land and release a marlin. DAY THREE The Tuesday turned out to be an exciting one for the crew aboard Lyfie, and Lucas Landman tells all: “Today was the most epic and exciting fishing day I have ever experienced! The swell was running at a height of two metres, there was a light south wind blowing and the water at the 12mile bank, to the west of Struisbaai, was beautifully clean at a very promising 23°C. In short, ideal conditions, but I did not believe that marlin even existed in Cape waters! This negative thought was suddenly crushed when a big black marlin appeared among our spread of lures. It took the left long lure and ran the line on the reel into its backing, until the reel went silent and we dropped the fish. Within half an hour we had another on/off. After losing our third, we decided to change our game and switched to livebait trolling with skipjack bonito. “Soon we hooked a nice size fish which Robin Vermaak expertly rigged with a 12/0 circle hook and with a bridle between the eyes. The youngest member of our crew, ten-year-old Mickyle Vermaak, volunteered to hold the trace with the live bonito rigged on it. We were still clearing the deck and getting ourselves ready when Mickyle’s excited and high pitched voice broke the silence:‘Big marlin! Big marlin!’The bait had only been swimming for two minutes. “Robin free spooled the reel and only placed his fingers lightly on the spool to prevent any over wind. After a while Robin pushed up the drag of the Shimano 80 lb reel and, to our great joy, the rod started bending and the line peeled off at an exhilarating speed.‘Ons is vas,manne!’ came the collective shout.

“A magnificent black marlin breached the calm waters less than 50m behind the boat and started grey hounding towards the horizon. I was skippering the boat and Robin was in the fighting chair. We applied pressure from various angles, and with Robin pulling as hard as he could, the fish was next to the boat within 20 minutes. “Pierre Vermaak took the leader and with some anxious verbal instructions from his father, he did extremely well in leadering the fish and holding it next to the boat.This gave the crew the opportunity to safely remove the hook, measure the fish with a marlin tape and take photos and videos. It was estimated to be between 120- and 130kg. “What happened next was surreal; I had never experience it before. We were tight on both Shimano 80 lb rods and realised it must be the same fish, as both lines went off in the same direction. Incredibly, the same fish took and swallowed both our baitfish! This time I got into the fighting chair. I took the rod with the baitfish which we’d swum out of the short right rigger and Robin took the other rod, which was still in the gimbal on the starboard gunwale. We were fighting the same fish with two different rods! “Soon Robin declared that his fish was off and his bonito popped up to the surface of the water. He reeled in the bait and excitedly reported that it was squashed and had the clear lacerations of a bill on the skin — tell-tale signs of a marlin strike. Just then a huge black marlin stuck out its bill, head and torso approximately 150m from the boat, shaking its head violently left and right before setting off at a blistering speed. “We had the fish below the boat four times. It swam in between the engines at an approximate depth of 30 metres. Eventually we entered a stalemate position with the fish; he was not winning and neither were we.Time was

Dudly Rosslee of Dory and Rudi Moolman of Lyfie were joint winners.

running out. “Robin shouted to me: ‘Pull with all of your strength. Don’t let the fish take any line.’ I did as he suggested, with good results.There are few sights in life as pleasing as the sudden appearance of the double line and the wind-on leader out of the water next to the boat, knowing that the marlin is only a few more agonising metres away. “The fight lasted 55 minutes, with Robin managing to manoeuvre the fish between the engines and avoid the props. “It was the biggest marlin I have ever seen, and its sheer size next to the boat was intimidating. Thankfully the fish settled, and I got out of the chair and posed for a photo. The marlin tape was taken out again and it indicated a fish between 277- and 312kg. “What a day!” DAY FOUR Having fished hard for three days in a row, some boats decided to take an unofficial rest day. There was a slight breeze blowing, the swell was moderate and the water warm, with just the toughest of the fleet determined to get a strike. Skipper Rikus de Beer on Marco Polo was one of those who went out: “We were two miles southeast of the 12 mile bank when one of our bait rods started screaming. Linette grabbed the rod and started to retrieve some line while I got the livebait trace with the circle hook ready.Anton de Beer lifted a nice 4kg oceanic bonito out of the water and brought it to the bait station. In less than a minute the bonito was back in the ocean rigged with the circle hook and swimming 10m behind the boat. “Anton held the elastic band feeling every move of our livebait. After 20 minutes I got the call all of us were waiting for: ‘Strike!’ I stopped the boat and Anton started to feed the line off the reel. He couldn’t keep up with the

Team Bayswater joint second place.

SKI-BOAT May/June 2021 • 55

feeding and I told him to tighten the drag on the reel.As the rod bent over, a marlin jumped out of the water 60m behind the boat. I looked at my watch — 9.34am. “Christo de Beer got into the fighting chair and Linette helped him to get the harness on while Anton and I put the rod into the gimble on the fighting chair. Line was screaming off the reel and we were ready to start fighting the fish. Linette steered the fighting chair while I turned the boat to help Christo retrieve some line. “I called the marlin in on rthe radio and was allocated an orange armband. The marlin gave us a stunning aerial display as it tried to free itself, but 40 minutes after the start of the fight the leader was at the tip of the rod. Anton grabbed the leader and gently pulled the fish to the boat while Christo got out of the fighting chair and grabbed the bill of the fish. It was an approximately 90kg striped marlin.” DAY FIVE On the fifth day conditions were perfect for marlin fishing, yet for the first few hours the radios were unusually quiet. Eventually at 10.15am Koos Pretorius on G-Spot reported a strike while fishing on the Alphard Banks, but it soon dropped off. More hook-ups and and lost fish were reported by Catch Cook, John Graeme, Reel Deal, Sea Cat and Bayswater. The real excitement began at 2.23pm when Sea Cat had a hook-up at position 58/50. It was a huge fish, seen jumping numerous, but unfortunately at 4.07pm the huge black marlin threw the hook. John Graeme had reported another hook-up a bit earlier but that too was lost. Finally at 3pm Bayswater called in another hook-up with a black marlin. Piet Wessels told us what happened: “The angler in the chair was Hannes Smuts, age 63, and as this was his first marlin he was very excited. He fought

the marlin for an hour and 15 minutes until we had it next to the boat. The fish was estimated to weigh 170- to 180kg. This was a great experience to be able to share with my special team of Michel De Kock, Dwayne Viviers and Chris Moolman.” DAY SIX The final day dawned a tad overcast with a spit and a spot of rain, but this cleared as the day wore on. What an exciting day it turned out to be. Calls started coming in from 8.25am, but Sea Cat’s “marlin” turned out to be a bronzie, and Black Pearl, Bayswater, Sea Cat and Zeeman all dropped catches. The excitement really rose at 12.55pm when Dory called in a double strike. Skipper Dudley Rosslee relates their day’s adventures: “On the last day of the tournament the crew on Dory decided to work the 59/49 contours with livebait.At 1.30pm the livebait went wild and the 80 lb Tiagra took off like a spitfire. “After an epic fight of about 55 minutes Andrew landed a reasonable black marlin which measured in at 262kg. “At 3pm, with two freshly caught livebait and an hour until lines up, we decided to have one last try at getting a marlin. Soon the first livey was hit and taken. Seconds later the second livey was hit and taken, but unfortunately soon afterwards everything was gone except for the first hook-up. As the fish took off, we realised that we only had 35 minutes before lines up to land this fish. We proceeded to fight the fish downstream to help the angler, Emile Le Roux, as much as possible. “After ten minutes of fighting, the fish started to come towards the boat. It was a massive black marlin and with the help of ‘Mr Garmin’ giving us directions (bietjie links, bietjie regs) and taking videos of procedures, we managed to bring her alongside the boat. Chris Gillitt barked out the weights as per the tape measure; this one would have

Stuart Goatley, Wayne Cook, Hylton Goatley, Chris Hepburn Brown, Chris Goatley & John Leppan of Team John Graeme joint second place. 56 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

Lucas Landman’s marlin put Lyfie in joint first place. WINNERS — TOMT 2021 Joint first: Lyfie and Dory Joint second: John Graeme and Bayswater Third: Marco Polo weighed in at around 362kg. “There was unbelievable joy on the boat when we realised we were joint winners with Lyfie!” Congratulations to Lyfie and Dory on coming joint first. In another surprise, two boats — John Graeme and Bayswater — also tied for second place, with Marco Polo taking third place. It was indeed an amazing tournament, with so many marlin joining the party. Thank you to the sponsors and to Marinda de Kock and the staff of Suidpunt Deep Sea Angling Club for the excellent catering and smooth running of the week’s events. See you there next year!

Team Marco Polo in third place.

SKI-BOAT magazine, in conjunction with Mercury, is proud to offer all junior deep sea anglers the opportunity to win awards for excellence in angling. If you are 16 years old or younger and you submit a photo of yourself and the fish you caught, you will receive a handsome certificate suitably inscribed confirming the catch. And there’s more ... Once a year the names of all junior anglers whos photographs appeared on the Mercury Junior Angler page will be included in a lucky draw and the winner will receive, courtesy of Mercury, a fantastic prize of a 2.5hp outboard motor. All you need to do is send us a photograph of yourself and your catch, together with the following details: • Your name address, telephone number and date of birth • Species and weight of the fish you caught • Line class used • Date and place fish was caught • Boat and skipper’s name All entries should be sent to : Mercury Junior Angler SKI-BOAT magazine PO Box 20545, Durban North 4016 or email your entry to <angler@mags.co.za>. There is no restriction on the number of awards that can be applied for, and SKI-BOAT magazine reserves the right to use the photographs as it sees fit. A selection of five award winners will appear in each issue of SKI-BOAT magazine. Junior anglers, Mercury and SKI-BOAT magazine acknowledge that you hold the future of our sport in your hands. Here’s your chance to show us what you can do!

58 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

60 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

MY YELLOWFIN STORY by Trent van Eck (8)

N Sunday 7 February 2021 I woke up early and got myself ready for fishing with my dad and grandpa for the DSBC social comp.We were all very excited and the weather was looking great. I really wanted to catch a fish. We launched at five in the morning and went straight to the bait spot where we caught lots of mozzies and three shad. Then we moved to our fishing spot for the morning. After trolling for a while we caught a few bonnies that we put back in the water. I hope they grow bigger so I can catch them again. We moved to another spot and I asked my dad if I could make my own trace and fish for a dorado or yellowfin. He looked at my trace and said the knots looked good, and he helped me put a sinker on the line to get my mozzie to the bottom where we thought the fish were eating. I didn’t get a bite for a while, and then the west wind started blowing and I thought that our fishing was over. I reeled my bait up a little and all of a sudden my line started peeling off. I held on tight to the rod and almost fell off the boat. My dad told me that I had a nice fish, and I just hoped it wasn’t a shark. After 15 minutes of fighting the fish my arms were really tired, but my dad said I had to keep reeling and that I could rest the rod on the side of the boat to help. I kept winding and eventually the fish came up next to the boat. I was so excited when my grandpa gaffed it and got it on the deck. This was the first yellowfin I have ever caught. We

fished for a while longer and caught more bonnies and then went back to the ski-boat club to weigh my fish. It weighed 11.88kg and I ended up winning the junior competition! I won a rod and some traces and was so happy because now I don’t have to use one of my dad’s rods. My dad even gave me one of his reels for my new rod. I think fishing is the best sport in the world and I hope I get to do it forever.

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By Greg Bennett

HE idyllic hamlet of Plettenberg Bay on the southern Cape coast has long been the favoured vacation destination of many inland city dweller families looking for somewhere to regain their sanity for a couple of weeks a year. Many of these inland visitors bring watercraft of some sort with them to make the most of their time in this coastal paradise. These craft require motors, accessories and servicing, and that’s where Plett Yamaha comes in. Craig Lelliyet kept the Yamaha flag flying in Piesang Valley Road for many years, the last six with Rory Lombard as his very able assistant. Four years ago they moved the business to a new location just off the N2. These premises, with great highway visibility and easy access to the Keurbooms River, have seen the business become a major player in the Southern Cape marine industry.

Rory and his new business partner, Mike de Kock, bought the business from Craig in October last year.The two men invested in good boat and motor stock at the beginning of the season, and Plett Yamaha achieved Yamaha’s top selling dealer status in the last quarter of 2020. Rory and Mike, recognising the local need for top class fishing tackle, have extended the showroom and installed one of the best stocked fishing stores in the Western Cape, aptly named The Tackle Box. With an excellent selection of the finest brands of rods, reels, lures and equipment, managed by highly experienced and renowned fishermanWade Scott, the shop is a winner. A new team in the parts department, headed by parts manager Brandon Warneke and workshop foreman Alwyn Rose, completes the new venture. For further information visit their website <www.plettyamaha.co.za/>, phone them on 044 533 1433 or email <info@plettyamaha.co.za>.

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RAPALA LIP

MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN

N anyone’s book, the thirteenth day of a month, regardless of the day of the week, has an air of doom and gloom. This is even more true of the past 13 months of our lives when we’ve all boasted a Rapala Lip on more than one occasion. Little did I know that the thirteenth day of 2021 would be one to remember for the rest of my life. Maybe it was because it was a sunny Wednesday, but the unlucky thirteenth day of January turned out to be my lucky day! From a very early age, my sister and I regularly joined our dad on hunting and fishing trips. On this memorable day, armed with suntan lotion and dressed in our bathing suits, my sister, my friend and I were excited to go deep sea fishing. Under the guidance of our skippers, Brad and Zahn from Lynski Charters, and of course under the watchful eye of my dad, we launched at 6 o’clock with blue skies above and deep water ahead. Memories were shared and stories were told, whilst we all had our turn at retrieving several dorado. Happy with our catch of seven dorado and a tuna, we eventually headed back to shore. All in all just another wonderful day on the water, a typical day like many of you have had. I’m sure many readers have, by now, formed amental picture of us: the typical father and his son, taking his sister and friend on a fishing expedition whilst on holiday at the coast. Well, let me tell you — I am the other daughter! A typical 16-year-old girl, with blonde hair and green eyes, I was born and bred in Nelspruit, close to the Kruger National Park. We do not spend as much time on the water as we would like, but I am no stranger to it

either. The hunting expeditions are rather similar — whether in the bush or on the water, the adrenalin rush that comes when you spot your quarry is exactly the same, the major difference being the weapon in your hand. Armed with a fishing rod and a dorado line, I prolonged the fishing on this particular day by trolling on our way back to shore, with the experienced Zahn skippering. Suddenly, the ordinary day turned into an extraordinary day. I had a bite — a big bite! In that very moment two things happened at once — I realised I had a marlin on the dorado line and, more remarkably, this typical 16-year-old girl turned into a man, and for the first time in my life I fully understood a man’s frustrations:“I’ve hooked a massive marlin; give me space! I know what to do, keep quiet! I’m thirsty. Hold my beer!” Of course the big man in the fighting chair has to have the obligatory cheerleading squad by his side, and my sister and friend fulfilled that role to a tee. Now, don’t get me wrong, a man likes the attention as long as it doesn’t interfere with his fishing. The boat suddenly seemed too small to contain my broad shoulders as well as the cheering spectators. In every situation a man needs a wingman, a buddy, a confidante, a best friend, and I had mine — Brad! That’s what I needed, not cheerleaders, not my dad; I needed my best man by my side. Having suddenly developed the manly ability to only hear what I wanted to hear, it became easy to ignore my fans and only focus on my mentor’s voice. Don’t get me wrong, I knew what I was doing, but Brad and I were on the same page. It was as if he could read my mind by calling for radio silence whilst

I was reeling in this monster of a catch. Whether he literally switched off the radio or merely silenced my fans around me was irrelevant: I could, after all, only focus on one thing at a time; multi-tasking is totally overrated! As we all know, fighting a marlin creates an insatiable thirst in an angler. Once again my wingman had my back. “Just say what you need, buddy; you’re in charge.” It was music to my ears. I knew I was in charge, but unfortunately I couldn’t exactly ask for a double brandy and Coke with my dad in the audience! My sister came to the rescue with a bottle of water and, with my hands rather occupied at that moment, she ended up spilling most of the water down my chin. As if that wasn’t annoying enough, my patience was tested even more when my dad and sister started passing the much needed water between them like a rugby ball! Once again, my best friend, came to the rescue, reassuring me that the Lochness Monster was still securely on my hook. At last ninety minutes of pure muscle, endurance and fitness paid off and the whale of a catch was next to the boat. There was no way even three grown men (excluding me) could get my marlin on board, and we decided to release her. Estimated at approximately 180kg (it might get bigger the more this story gets told), I can now proudly say: “I’ve been there, done that and got the certificate to prove it!” I was the man of the match, the hero of the day. The crowd went wild, and as I was about to lift my shirt to join the men in the “flash-I-caught-amarlin tradition”, it hit me like a ton of bricks: Man! I feel like a woman!

YOUR CHANCE TO GET EVEN 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? We’re looking for new writers for our Rapala Lip column. All contributions are gladly accepted and they will appear anonymously to protect the writers from divorce suits, cold shoulders, banishments, cut up credit cards etc. Come on ladies, share your stories with us — you know you want to. Email them to <sheena@mags.co.za>. 66 • SKI-BOAT May/June 2021

Ski-Boat May 2021

Articles inside

SIMPLY SUBLIME

FISHING CAN BE A REEL DRAG

LIGHTNING STRIKES

A REVOLUTION IN OUTBOARD INNOVATION

DREAM COME TRUE

SNELL vs CRIMP

RETURN OF THE SILVER FISH

SHARING KNOWLEDGE