INTERNATIONAL
2022 EFSA Species Championship By Francois Beukes
Wayne Gerber, Allen Ford, Francois Beukes and John Luef with great catches on a practice day.
T
HIS year a Protea team was once again invited to represent South Africa in the European Federation of Sea Anglers (EFSA) European Species Championship in Iceland in May, and once again we showed the world the high calibre of SA anglers. Our four-man team consisted of our captain Allen Ford (Border), John Luef (Border), Wayne Gerber (Eastern Province) and Francois Beukes (Natal). Once the initial excitement of team
selection was over, planning and preparations began immediately. If we were to be competitive, we needed to carefully plan our strategy. We spent a great deal of time researching, including watching stacks of YouTube videos on target species, tackle requirements and conditions. It was clear that the team would be tested to the limit with the expected species, tackle, traces, and bait presentations. The booking of flights, visa applications, booking accommodation and
practice fishing days all formed part of the hype of actually fishing in Iceland. It was the first time Wayne and I had fished there and, like our teammates, we were over the moon to fish in what we were told was fishing heaven on earth. The team landed at Doha airport after an overnight flight from Jo’burg and then flew on to Dublin in Ireland before eventually reaching Reykjavik in Iceland. We spent one night in Reykjavik before moving on to the picSKI-BOAT September/October 2022 • 31
