Ski-Boat September 2013

Other countries: R25.00 excl.

The South African Deep Sea Angler

September/October 2013 Vol. 29 No.5

STALKING YELLOWFIN BOAT REVIEWED • Kingcat 2406

Revival of an age-old technique

KING

OF KINGS Tackling up for big ’cuda

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CONTENTS September/October 2013 Volume 29 Number 5 COVER: BIG MACK TIME! Wesley Rapson with an excellent 25kg ’cuda landed at Patinga, a wreck about 20km south of Richards Bay harbour. Read how some of the trophy hunters do it on page 13. Photograph by Bryan Rapson.

FEATURES 13

King of Kings Tackling up for big ’cuda — compiled by Erwin Bursik

20

Rya Mara Reigns Guinjata Mercury/Z-Craft Bonanza — by Lyn Adams

30

Guinjane Lodge A beautiful setting and a warm welcome — by Lyn Adams

32

Double Grand Slam off Durban Superb feats receive IGFA plaudits — by Marius de Wet

38

Boat Review: Kingcat 2406 by Z-Craft Supreme at Sea — by Heinrich Kleyn

47

32

Stalking Yellowfin Tuna Revival of an age-old technique — by Erwin Bursik

58

Good on ya, Tom Buoy!

2013 Shelly Beach Mallards/Mercury Festival — by Dick Pratt

68

Secrets of the Sea Part 3: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask — by Johan Smal

77

Bols SADSAA Tuna Nationals Great Expectations! — by Sean Bekker

87

Species Galore ... ... at the Three Ships Inhaca Challenge

90

Clickety Click!

The internet — a great fishing tool — by Craig Thomassen

97

Durban International Boat Show 2013

47

All things nautical on display

104

Where to fish in Africa Wildfly puts you on the water and into the fish

DEPARTMENTS 8 9 80 83 85 93

Editorial Comment — by Dave Rorke Postbox SADSAA News Subscribe and WIN! This Issue’s Kingfisher Awards Reel Kids

94/101 95 103 112 113 114

Bits & Pieces Mercury Junior Anglers Smalls & Advertisers’ Index Business Classifieds Charters & Destinations Directory Rapala Lip — Last Word from the ladies

38

The official magazine of the South African Deep Sea Angling Association

Managing Editor: Dave Rorke Editor: Sheena Carnie Editorial Assistant: Laura van Niekerk Publishing Executive: Erwin Bursik Advertising Executive: Mark Wilson Advertising Consultant: Joan Wilson Administration Executive: Anne Bursik Accountant: Jane Harvey Executive Assistant: Kim Hook Admin Assistant: Sunny Kandaswami Boat Tests: Heinrich Kleyn Contributors: Lyn Adams, Sean Bekker, Erwin Bursik, Marius de Wet, Heinrich Kleyn, Dick Pratt, Bryan Rapson, SJ Slabbert, Johan Smal, Craig Thomassen, Gary Thompson, Mark Wilson.

ADVERTISING – NATIONAL SALES: Angler Publications Telephone: (031) 572-2280/89/97/98 Mark Wilson cell: 081 270 2433 Joan Wilson ADVERTISING – GAUTENG & MPUMALANGA Lynette Adams (011) 425-2052 or cell 083 588 0217; lynadams@mweb.co.za; skiboatgauteng@icon.co.za 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 admin@mags.co.za Subscriptions to SKI-BOAT: R145,00 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: safety@mags.co.za • Through www.africanangler.com, or • E-zine digital subscriptions — visit www.africanangler.com > SKIBOAT > SUBSCRIBE, then choose your option.

• Click the E-zine short-cut on the magazine’s home page, www.africanangler.com, or visit www.zinio.com/SkiBoat.

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 RNA, 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.

8 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

EDITORIAL COMMENT

I

N my Editorial Comment in the previous issue of SKI-BOAT, I focused on the intended introducion of the draft Marine Living Resources Amendment Bill, 2013, in Parliament by the Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson.

The crux of the editorial was twofold: firstly, to highlight the suspicions surrounding the short notice period given for comment by the Minister; and, secondly, the apparent attempt by DAFF to marginalise the recreational angling sector through this legislation in favour of the “small scale sector”.

Gary Thompson attended the recent RecFish Forum on behalf of Border Deep Sea Angling Association and reported back as follows: “As pointed out in your recent editorial, the government proposed a number of changes to Dave Rorke the Marine Living Resources (MLR) Act. In summary the changes were some 31 pages long and there were several severe amendments to the Act which have upset a number of academics, resulting in some widespread media coverage. I have personally read the anticipated amendments and confess that I too was disturbed by the intended changes and the consequence they would have on us as recreational anglers, as well as the resource in general.

“I recently attended a Recreational Fishing Forum meeting at the DAFF offices in Cape Town where the changes to the MLR Act were discussed. We were informed at this meeting that the vast majority of the proposed changes have been dropped and there are now basically seven proposed amendments. In short, these changes are new definitions for the terms Small Scale Fishers and Communities, and then the remainder of the amendments change the words ‘Subsistence Fisher’ to ‘Small Scale Fisher’.

There are some changes which still disturb me which I will elaborate on later.

“We have not yet had the opportunity to read and consider the precise wording of the new proposals to the MRL Act. We have asked DAFF officials on more than one occasion for these, but at the time of writing we had not received a response from the department.” SADSAA’s new Environment Officer Mark Beyl is in the same boat.

“One of the proposed amendments is of paramount concern to me,” continues Gary, “and I am sure all recreational anglers will concur. Section 19 will be amended to give the Minister the absolute power to establish areas or exclusive zones where Small Scale Fishers may fish. I asked the following question based on my interpretation of the wording which was screened at the meeting: ‘Does this mean the Minister may declare the entire Wild Coast as an exclusive fishing zone for Small Scale Fishers and recreational anglers be denied access?’ The officials responded by saying that it is possible and the Minister would have this power. Theoretically it could happen that an entire stretch of coast be closed to recreational anglers.

“The officials did, however, say that this is unlikely to happen, and if the Minister considered doing so, there would be public participation before declaring these exclusive zones. Because the proposed amendment to the MLR Act gives the Minister the explicit power to declare exclusive zones, this worries me since, as we all know, public comment is not taken seriously by DAFF, especially recreational anglers’ views.

“The other area of concern relates to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). It would seem that the MRL Act will allow for Small Scale Fishers to fish in MPAs. How tragic!

“Although there now appear to be only a few changes to the MRL Act, the recreational angler should not feel at ease. The next step is going to be the interesting part, when the regulations and the detailed Small Scale Fishers implementation plans are put forward. I am of the opinion that we, the recreational anglers of South Africa, will be affected by these regulations and implementation plans, especially in terms of bag limits and limitations placed on the species we may target.

“The ‘resource cake’ is a defined size, and it appears that they are going to re-cut the cake in a different way to accommodate the Small Scale Fisher. We may end up with only the crumbs. The time has now come for all recreational anglers to unite to protect our rights.” Our thanks to Gary for his summary. Watch this space.

Indeed, there are worrying times ahead. This is evil discrimination at its worst.

Happy reading and good catches.

Dave Rorke

POSTBOX

THE (NOT SO) OLD MAN AND THE SKI Dear Dave Isn’t it great when a shad outing aboard a kayak turns into one of those really special fishing days?

On Tuesday 10th July I set out early from Vetch’s at Durban Ski-Boat Club in search of a shad or two for breakfast.

By 7.15am I had three shad in the hatch — shad fillets and poached eggs for breakfast — and I would be at the office by 9.30am. Using a 4-inch KP Scarborough, 6kg line and a flimsy rod I bought in Margate 12 years ago during a shad run, I pitched a whole redeye at something I saw on the surface.

That’s when the fight started — at 7.17am I hooked into something big off Vetch’s/Limestone in 4m of water. My 4-inch was still turning the wrong way, and that gentle, consistent, powerful run wasn’t letting up. The reel was looking a bit thin on line, but this fish wasn’t stopping and headed straight out to sea, just like a shark does. But it couldn’t be a shark, or could it?

My shad trace only has three inches of no. 5 wire and the rest fluorocarbon.

Plus I had let it feed, so if it was a shark, it would surely have swallowed the bait and bitten me off by then. Ditto if it was a big ‘cuda. Perhaps it was a big, confused garrick ...

Still heading north and out to sea, I gently applied pressure and held the flimsy rod “straight stick” in front of me, letting the fish pull the kayak. There was quite a lot of line out so it was touch-and-go as to whether all that 6kg line out there would cope.

However, the line held, the fish was strong and wasn’t letting up, and for 18.6km I had to negotiate ships in the shipping lane, sharks buzzing me, a 2m swell and all the odds stacked against me to land it. But the gods smiled on me, and three hours and three minutes later, at 10.20am, I gaffed a magnificent 19.1kg yellowfin after three attempts —

Letters to the Editor

7km straight off the Bluff, somewhere between No.1 and John Ross.

My grateful thanks to Paul Buchel of EKZN Wildlife who stuck around with me for the last hour and took some amazing pics on the water. Thanks also to my dad, Jen, Daniel and Ang who met me on the beach with a cold beer and also took some amazing photos to capture and record an epic morning!

MARTIN DU PLESSIS <martin@dzmspace.co.za> I’m sure that it’s not coincidental that Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea, Santiago, had the same questions and doubts running through his head as he was towed around the ocean by his big fish. Size doesn’t matter here — it remains a lesson in life, as do everyone’s memorable fishing achievements.

It’s all about beating the odds.

Great catch, Martin. — DR.

Dockside, captain Richard Fullford (left) and angler Gerhardt van Wyk. A FIRST AT ST FRANCIS BAY Dear Dave Gerhardt van Wyk’s first gamefish on 13th July — a sailfish of 30kg — is not only a pending Eastern Province recordbreaker, but is also a very unusual catch for the waters off St Francis Bay. Before being brought in to the boat, it gave Gerhardt and his team a fantastic display of jumps and tailwalks.

This specimen revealed a wealth of information on its diet, besides confirmation of global warming and higher ocean temperatures off our coast, particularly the Eastern Cape.

Gerhardt’s sailfish is the first ever of its kind to be landed and recorded in St Francis Bay. TIM CHRISTY Chairman St Francis Bay Rod Reel & Boat Club <safarisa@lantic.co.za> SERVICE BEYOND EXPECTATION Dear Dave Thank you for a super magazine and for this platform which I am using today to share my recent experience.

During 2012 I traded in my ski-boat on a brand new Seacat 636, dealing directly with Ryan Hansen of Durban Yamaha. Ryan provided excellent service and advice throughout the entire process. Our relationship grew to the point where Ryan joined my crew at the 2012 Billfish 15 000, the first outing in the new boat. We refer to that week as the longest customer handover in history! By the way, the Billfish 15 000 was won by Happy Days, the other Seacat 636 in the fleet.

During the manufacturing process of my boat, I also met Grant Read, the man behind Seacat. Grant builds the Seacat range from his factory on the North Coast. All the customisation I requested was done perfectly, and Grant and his team were very patient with me.

During the customer handover, I noticed that the boat was difficult to load back on the trailer. We were beach launching at Sodwana and, as always, there was plenty of help available, so we managed each time. I was concerned, however, that the trailer design would not allow two people to load the boat. This was proven during our December trip, also at Sodwana.

When I dropped my boat off for its first service at Durban Yamaha during January, I shared my concerns with Ryan. He immediately set to remedy the problem and got Grant involved.

Imagine my amazement when I collected my boat a few weeks later. Not only did these men iron out the small

Nomads GFC turns 50 NOMADS Gamefishing Club, one of the oldest deep sea angling clubs in South Africa, recently hosted the SGDSAA Interclub at Sodwana Bay in memory of great fishing legends like Peter Rindl and Henry Oosthuizen who passed away this year.

Nomads will be hosting their 50th annual closed competition at Ponta Do Oura in October 2013. For further information visit <www.nomadsfishing.co.za>.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 9

issues on my snag list, but they also built me a completely new trailer!

For their fantastic ser vice and informed input, I applaud them. Thank you, gentlemen, you were fantastic!

HENK VAN DER MERWE Owner of Caveman <henkvandermerwe@ymail.com> JETSKI INFO INCORRECT Dear Dave Further to the article The Jet Set by Heinrich Kleyn in the July/August 2013 SKI-BOAT, I would like to bring to your attention, and that of readers, a number of inaccuracies in the article. Indeed, one of the most respected safety officers has confirmed (in writing) that he finds the Racetech Tubby to be manufactured to the highest standard of workmanship, with the durability to withstand the test of our east coast surf.

The same safety officer has confirmed that Racetech Tubbys comply with the current SAMSA rules, which is why he has no problem issuing safety certificates to Racetech Tubbys.

The claim in the article of inferior drainage is ludicrous as the company which manufactures and supplies the drainage system to Racetech supplies the exact same system to Racetech’s competitor whom Mr Kleyn praises for their drainage systems.

Thus far, Racetech have never received any complaint of a fisherman having to “swim”, as alleged by the author.

Unless it is pressure-sealed like a submarine, there is not one lid on the market that seals 100%. The jetski hatches that come as standard fixtures to jetskis from the factory do not seal 100% — they are designed to deflect water and offer water-resistance, and will keep out most of the water.

Racetech have undertaken extensive tests and their lids are extremely waterresistant. However, a marginal amount of water will always enter, and that is where the drainage system is factored in. In short, to say that the lid does not seal “at all” is simply untrue.

With regards to f lotation, the XL Tubby contains 10 litres of PU rigid foam which is moulded into the floor of each Tubby. The XXXL contains 17 litres of PU rigid foam per Tubby, giving both models 100% flotation. So claiming there is no flotation is untrue.

Note that the initial Tubby was smaller and could not sink because it was made of fibreglass and did not warrant flotation. (At that juncture, extensive tests were carried out and the highdensity foam was excluded from the initial Tubby because of the aspect of righting the ski should it capsize.)

Regarding safety tests, Racetech has carried out many trials which demonstrated that even a capsized craft with a Tubby lid left open was able to be right10 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

ed, and then the drainage system did its job once upright.

Finally, three eminent insurance brokers have confirmed that they cover all versions of the Racetech Tubby comprehensively. So they are certainly insurable.

In light of all the above, it is very clear that Mr Kleyn’s article was misleading and untrue in a number of instances.

Racetech has a product that is wellrespected in the marketplace, locally and internationally, as attested to by our many satisfied clients, and we request that the inaccuracies listed above be communicated to SKI-BOAT readers in your next issue of the magazine.

PATRICK O’KEEFFE Owner Racetech Yamaha PO BOX 200 New Germany 3620 <racetech@mweb.co.za> No sooner said than done. Indeed, Racetech Yamaha is one of the main players in the offshore jetski market in South Africa, which bears testament to the high quality of their PWCs. — DR. MURDER AT MACASSAR Dear Dave There has apparently been a flood of emails into DAFF about the white steenbras treknetting (see cutting from The Cape Times), a number of subsequent detailed newspaper articles and parliamentary questions about the incident.

Apparently the “rights-holder” will be charged on a number of violations and has already been issued with a notice and is likely to lose his permit.

The “rights permit” was apparently issued in 1999, reportedly in response to political pressure, and all so-called “research” leading up to it was allegedly conducted personally by the Chief Director of Sea Fisheries at the time.

However, it’s good to know that an outcr y can bring such a speedy response. This must happen in all instances of plundering of our fish stocks, not just that which occurs in high-visibility treknetting.

Someone needs to keep check that the perpetrator(s) in this instance are actually charged and what penalties are eventually applied. Perhaps readers with political contacts could ask for regular questions to be raised in Parliament about the matter.

We should also place this on the agenda of the RecFish Forum meetings, so that it is in the minutes and on record, and it can be followed up in future meetings.

JOHN RANCE <jcrance@RanceTimber.co.za>

SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND? Write to: The Editor SKI-BOAT PO Box 20545 Durban North 4016 Fax: (031) 572-7891 E-mail: angler@mags.co.za

BACK TO BASICS

compiled by Erwin Bursik

Bryan Rapson with a 24.8kg ’cuda caught on a small bonito off Richards Bay.

How to tackle up for a croc ’cuda GROUP of anglers were chilling out in Pat Peddie’s camp at Mapelane chatting about ... fishing, of course. A doyen of the club, Trevor Rapson, joined the group extremely unhappy and complaining bitterly about having lost a couple of big fish that had bitten off his

A

terminal wire trace.

“Sure it wasn’t a shark?” asked one of the guys. Trevor wasn’t one to be doubted, and replied, “If it was a shark, it was the fastest shark ‘out the blocks’ I’ve ever hooked. They were ’cuda, big ’cuda, believe me.”

All of this took place a long time

ago, before the port of Richards Bay was finally opened and there was reliable access for ski-boats to fish the ’cuda rich areas between Richards Bay and St Lucia.

At the time, Mapelane Ski-Boat Club held the reputation for being the Natal snoek Mecca of South Africa, and was SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 13

the place where seriously big king mackerel (’cuda) were regularly taken.

By big ’cuda we mean those that are 50 lb (23kg) or bigger. Catching a 50 lb ’cuda was then an outstanding achievement, and a 60-pounder really got fellow anglers talking. These big boys were called crocs or crocodiles, and catching one was on every angler’s bucket list. Today’s kilogram weight measurement has somewhat diminished the above benchmark in my mind — 50 lb will always sound a lot better than a roughly 24kg ’cuda. I know that my personal best of 76 lb caught off Mappelane lighthouse, Andre Olivier’s craft sounds far better than the 34.5kg it would be listed as these days.

Those anglers sitting around the campfire knew what they were talking about when it came to croc ’cuda.

Trevor said that one fish had sliced through the No. 8 wire he was using to link the lead hook to the following trebles, and the other had bitten off his No. 7 leader trace. Many of those listening to this story told similar tales of fish that had bitten them off, but which they had presumed were sharks or possibly wahoo.

There was much discussion about how the ’cuda — even with its razor sharp teeth— could physically cut through the wire, but eventually the consensus was that whatever the process, the bottom line was that it was happening. The “croc catchers” went on to discuss many possible solutions, like doubling No 7 wire for the top trace, and even using light cable wire with crimps for the terminal trace.

Some of these methods worked well, but over the years ’cuda, and especially the very big fish, have become scarcer and probably a lot more wily.

As a result anglers have generally reduced the wire thickness quite con-

season, we at SKI-BOAT have coerced a few of the well known ’cuda trophy hunters to share the details of the terminal tackle they use when targeting really big ’cuda using dead- and/or livebait. We gathered information from anglers who operate in a few different areas, ranging from northern Zululand to those that fish the upper reaches of the Transkei from Port Edward.

Having chatted at length with each of these anglers whilst soliciting their help and advice, two very important aspects really stood out.

Firstly, each and every one willingly told of the way they rig up for big ’cuda, as well as the bait they prefer and where to fish. Who says anglers are stingy with information?

Secondly, it really amazed me how similarly each of these well-respected ’cuda hunters rigged up their terminal rigs. In line with this I began to think that perhaps the article would have little merit as it lacked diversity. However, if these guys all agree on so many points, that must be the way to go and the way those of us aspiring to catch a big croc should tackle up.

So much information was divulged by these ’cuda fundis that it flowed way beyond the scope of this feature and can’t all be included here. Perhaps in the near future we’ll run a follow-up article on how and where to fish if you want a good chance of catching a real trophy ’cuda.

Please note, we are aware that all these rigs are not IGFA compliant or SADSAA approved for record purposes, but the traditional Natal ’cuda trace is still highly valued in the eyes of these anglers.

And now over to the trophy ’cuda hunters of the modern era, who all regularly take very big fish. This is how they do it in the 21st Century ...

siderably in order to get pulls, and have had to accept the occasional bite off as the cost of having more ’cuda strikes.

There are, however, still many anglers who regularly target trophy ’cuda on both dead- and livebaits who are fully aware of the big crocs’ capabilities and have modified their tackle makeup to ensure that they still tempt big fish to strike, while making certain that when it happens they don’t get bitten off.

Gary Heath, a very accomplished SADSAA and provincial angler — and Trevor Rapson’s son-in-law — well remembers that period and the theories that abounded. “Some anglers opted for much heavier wire terminal rigs,” he says, “while others opted to go a lot thinner, hoping that the much thinner wire would slip down between the teeth of the big ’cuda and therefore avoid being bitten or kinked off.” Gary and some of the other Mapelane ’cuda fundis even doubled No 7 wire on their big flat ’cuda spoons.

After hearing about a good number of bite-offs during the 2012/13 ’cuda FOR THE RECORD ACCORDING to IGFA, and for their record purposes, our ’cuda are officially narrow-barred mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) and not the socalled king mackerel which is an almost identical fish caught along the east coast of the USA. Our ’cuda is the same fish as those caught off Australia.

The current world and 24kg class IGFA record was in fact caught off Scottborough, KZN, in 1982 by Michael Wilkinson and weighed 44.9kg (or 99 lb, which sounds much better!). All the line class records for these fish range between 30kg and the second heaviest world record of 42kg.

JONATHAN BOOYSEN — RICHARDS BAY Deadbait trace: No.7 wire

Power swivel

1.5 metres No.10 wire

No.9 wire Trebles all 1/0 VMC silver

Copper wire to bind bait’s mouth + 1oz or 2oz barrel sinker

Livebait trace: No.7 wire

1.5 metres

Glow bead

Power swivel No.9 wire

4/0 Kendall No.10 wire No.4 Power swivel

Trebles all 1/0 VMC silver

No.9 wire

TIPS: Patience is imperative. Anchor on a reef that’s known to be frequented by big ’cuda, set your baits and wait. The associated pulling of bottomfish while waiting definitely attracts big ’cuda. I set the reel drag fairly lightly for the initial strike and increase it after hookup.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 15

DARYL BARTHO — DURBAN AND KZN NORTH COAST Deadbait trace: No.6 wire

Power swivel

1 metre

For silkies No.2 Owner silver trebles

No.7 wire No.1 VMC

Trebles No.4 Owner

Livebait trace: No.7 wire

Power swivel

1 metre No.9 wire 2/0 VMC

Trebles 6/0 Owner silver

TIPS: When fishing with live bonnies I don’t believe one needs to be finicky with terminal tackle, and I use big hooks and heavy wire. When using thick-bodied bonnies as bait, place the two hooks in the bite area as ’cuda tend to hit a big bait a lot harder than small, thinner bait like a shad or mackerel.

ANDRE JOUBERT — ZINKWAZI Deadbait and livebait traces: No.6 wire

1 metre +

5/6 swivel

No.8 snoot wires

Trebles No.2 Gamakatsu

Lead hook 1/0

TIPS: When targeting big ’cuda the most important aspect is the quality of your deadbaits. Big fish aren’t fooled by old freezer-burnt baits like walla-walla and silkies. The baits must look like they’re almost alive. I use this standard trace for dead- and livebaits, only altering the snoot lengths to accommodate bigger or smaller baits.

JEREMY HALSOM — UMHLANGA ROCKS AND KZN NORTH COAST Deadbait trace: No.5 or 6 wire

Power swivel

600mm

Lead hook

Red bleeding wire (special knot required)

Trebles VMC x6 brown

Glow bead

Livebait trace: No.5 or 6 wire

Power swivel

600mm No.1 Lead hook VMC brown

Red bleeding wire

Trebles VMC x6 brown

Glow bead

TIPS: I am trying the new “bleeding wire” because red is the first colour of the spectrum to disappear underwater, and being less visible, it should translate to more strikes. Being multi-strand wire, even a big ’cuda can’t bite through it. This wire is new on the market and is difficult to knot, but it works.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 17

TREVOR ROSEVEARE — SCOTTBOROUGH AND KZN SOUTH COAST Deadbait trace: No.6 wire

Power swivel

600/1 metre No.8 wire

Lead hook 1/0

Trebles 1/0

Livebait trace: Power swivel

No.6 wire

600cm - 1 metre No.8 wire Trebles depend on size of live bonnies 1/0 to 3/0

Lead hook 1/0 or 2/0

TIPS: Good bait, especially livebait, is critical to getting strikes from big fish. To keep it on, one’s terminal rig has to be 100% perfect. The single strand wire I use has to be new — old wire can have rust spots. I also make sure not to use any wire that is brittle. When kinking off after doing a Haywire Twist, if the wire kinks off too easily, be wary and test the wire properly before completing the trace.

GREG CUNNIFFE — LOWER KZN SOUTH COAST Deadbait trace: No.5 wire

Medium swivel

1-2 metres No.7 wire No.1 single

No.2 trebles

Livebait trace: No.5 wire

1-2 metres No.7 wire No.1 single

Angler Craig Montgomery’s 41.6kg ’cuda caught off Greg’s boat, Rya Mara.

No.2 trebles

For live bonnies I use a trace with separate leads from the lead hook.

TIPS: When targeting big ’cuda off Hibberdene, if we’ve got live bonnies I slow troll them. However, if we’re using deadbait or another livebait such as mackerel, we anchor and drift the bait astern with some suspended under a balloon.

PIETER BODENSTEIN — PORT EDWARD INTO TRANSKEI Deadbait trace: No.6 or 7 wire

No.4 Power swivel

1 to 1.5 metres No.7 wire

Trebles No.4 VMC brown

Lead hook No.2 mustard

Livebait trace: No.8 wire

No.4 Power swivel 1 to 1.5 metres No.8 wire

Lead hook & trebles vary depending on size of live bait

Lead hook No.1 to 4

Trebles VMC No.2/4 black/brown

TIPS: When targeting big ’cuda we generally anchor in water between 13 and 24 metres deep off Red Sands — preferably slightly green, murky water with a bit of current. We also make use of a flasher and chum bag. I believe an anchored boat emits less noise and vibration.

Without doubt, if the water is very clean and there is no current, then lighter wire (down to No. 6) needs to be used to get strikes.

18 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

COMPETITIONS

There is a society where None intrudes, By the deep sea, and music, In its roar.

– Lord Byron

20 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

by Lyn Adams Photographs by Phillip Kingma, Lyn Adams and Sarel Greyling

T

HE Guinjata Bonanza, which was started 16 years ago by the late Paul Greyling and then taken over by Guinjata Sports Fishing Club’s committee, has really soared to new heights this year. As always there was a strong emphasis on catching a variety of species, and then the big hunt for the biggest fish which would take home the main prize of an F200 Z-Craft boat, powered by twin 115hp Mercury 4-stroke motors on an LA Axles galvanised trailer.

Over the years many areas of the competition have been fine-tuned to include the tag-and-release not only of billfish, but also some gamefish like amberjacks. This underlines the committee’s dedication to the conservation of the fishery. Indeed, it’s fantastic to see all the teams taking the time and trouble to be part of this tagging programme while still scoring points.

The sponsors’ evening on the

Saturday prior to the competition set the scene, with many game plans being discussed for the week ahead.

Registration the following day was jampacked and a very informative talk by the Bartho brothers of Gone Fishin’ fame — acknowledged as the species kings of Guinjata — added much flavour to the evening.

COMPETITION BEGINS IN EARNEST The first day saw a north wind blowing as the fleet of 68 boats thundered out to the deep waters to look for that big one. The “mountains” out deep were the draw card for the day with the likes of Ocean Commotion, Ice Cold, Tequila Sheila, Lady Jane, Mzz SkiBoat, The Bear and Amberjack 111 going far out to sea to look for the mighty beasts of the deep.

Waters close in seemed green, so most boats headed south in search of bluer pastures. Baitfish were plentiful

this year and a bait docking station was well situated between Paindane and Island Rock, with anchored boats catching baitfish.

The Zavora boys were out in full force, but somehow failed in their mission this year as weather and sea conditions did not suit their tactics.

Rya Mara (queen of the seas, according to Scottish legend) set the pace that day with a sailfish tagged and released at 9.30am. Action stations had just begun for them and Neptune picked Rya Mara to reap the ocean’s best bounty of the day. The gallows had not even opened when Rya Mara’s crew clocked in with four species, including a mighty fine 40.1kg giant kingfish. Angler Francois Brunea could not believe the weighmaster’s final audit, and he and team mates Greg Cunnif and Gee van Cayceele walked off with big smiles on their faces.

Francois had set the benchmark

I still experience that intoxicating mixture of fear and fascination which, despite many temptations to remain landbound, always lures me back for just one more voyage.

— Clare Francis, The Commanding Sea

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 21

very high this year, and many agreed that only a yellowfin would be able to beat his monster GT, so many game plans had to be adjusted.

This was the fourth year since the competition changed its structure so that the heaviest fish takes the main prize, meaning that everyone has an equal shot at getting it. Over the last three years wahoo and yellowfin tuna have taken top honours, but it seemed this year might be different ...

On the team points side, Halco Gone Fishin’ clocked up over 1 000 points on day one, showing their incredible skills and dedication to the art of catching species.

DEEPER INTO THE FRAY On day two the conditions were much the same, with more boats joining the hunt in deeper pastures, looking for that big tuna that could pip the GT. Halco Gone Fishin’ again showed some impressive results, with Too Tight and newcomers to Guinjata, Wolfie, working the reefs extensively and clocking up some great scores for the next two days. Lawwerskaai was not to be forgotten this year and also sat high up in the species ranks.

Popular singer and now a fine angler Bok Van Blerk (aka Louis) and his team on Tune Ha also worked themselves up amongst the top

ten teams. Seabound, Watt 4, Green Mamba and Too Tight were also all strong contenders this year, challenging the Halco Gone Fishin’ men for top spot.

Although the deep waters showed beautiful blue colours with nice water temperatures, lots of bird activity and few sharks, the yellowfin tuna proved difficult to find.

Billfish were also scarce this year, with only two marlin, nine sailfish and — a first for Guinjata — two shortbill spearfish released. Tequila Sheila managed to find the yellowfin, though, and landed a nice catch of 29.4kg.

Although it was still way off the leading fish, it was

enough to take the lead in the skins.

The junior section was also hotly contested, with three junior anglers fishing aboard Mzz Ski-Boat, Kataza and C’est La Vie vying for top honours. At the end of the week Branden Swanepoel on Mzz Ski-Boat came out tops with his catch of two ’cuda and an 8kg queenfish. Rudi Zaaiman on C’est La Vie took second spot, followed by Michael Webster on Kataza.

The ladies’ section saw Gilly Roberts landing a lovely 23kg yellowfin tuna and releasing a sailfish to pip me to the post, although I managed to find the nice big

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 23

The best fish was a 40.1kg GT caught by Francois Brunea.

Branden Swanepoel on Mzz Ski-Boat was top junior.

’cuda on days three and five, and landed the biggest ’cuda for the competition. Mandy Webster on Kataza took third spot. It’s great to see more women anglers participating nowadays.

to the scales, as well as some blue kingfish (Ferdi kingfish) and white kingfish By the time the scales closed on day three, Jampacked had not reported in and everyone was growing concerned.

Eventually a call came through that Jampacked was between Island Rock and Legogo, but they had fuel problems and only had one motor. Mzz Ski-Boat set off on the search and rescue mission, along with Mr Mercury — Phillip Kingma.

Jampacked was indeed in a jam as water had filled their built-in tank, one of the motors was not working, fuel was rather thin and

THIRD DAY LUCKY FOR SOME On day three some exceptional fish were weighed and bags were pretty full.

Bearing in mind that only ten fish of each species can be weighed for the week, some clever accounting had to take place among the teams. What was very noticeable was the number of kaakap (green jobfish) and queenfish being brought

Gilly Roberts, top lady angler with her 23kg yellowfin.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2011 • 25

darkness was setting in.

They were very relieved to see the rescue party. Within 15 minutes we had Jampacked back on her way with both motors running, and she soon beached safely at Paindane. Under the watchful lights of the Manitou trucks on the beach, Mzz Ski-Boat beached safely in the dark with assistance from the technical watch of the Guinjata Committee.

BLOWOUT CANCELS FOURTH DAY Day four of the competition

was a blowout with a small southerly gusting through, making launching impossible. Thankfully, as the day progressed the sea calmed down so that the final day of the competition could go ahead. The Thursday night social evening was very well supported and many prizes were given away, with some interesting launches taking place the morning after the night before.

The Manitou machines once again showed their true worth on the beach, retrieving all the boats every day and making clear pas-

When it comes to species hunting, you’d have to go a long way to find a better team than Halco Gone Fishin’ who proved yet again that they are one of the country’s best fishing crews. sage for quick, easy beaching, loading of boats and lots

of time to make for the gallows and a very welcome Duis M beer.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN The morning of the fifth and final day saw a north wind pick up, with plenty of queenfish and kaakap once again being brought to the gallows. Gill N Tonic had a double sailfish release, so they were all smiles.

Meanwhile, Rya Mara’s crew nervously sat waiting at the gallows for the big boats to return from the deep waters, hoping that nothing would beat their

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 27

magnificent giant kingfish.

Most of the boats returned empty handed, so Rya Mara were clearly the winners of the 2013 Guinjata Bonanza and the proud owners of the Z-Craft F200 powered by Mercury.

This was the second boat they’d won in a year, as they had also won the 2012

Shelly Beach Festival.

Neptune certainly was favouring them.

On the species tally for the week the Halco Gone Fishin’ team proved again that they’re one of the finest fishing crews around as they clocked up a record score of 3 064 points with nine species for the week. Wolfie

was second with 1 372 points, narrowly beating Lawwerskaai by 8.4 points (one fish). Too Tight came fourth with 1 206.60 points.

The Guinjata Club committee, under the leadership of Jan Hofman, competition director Brett Padoa, secretary Fiona Hofman and their team must be highly com-

TOP FIVE FISH 1. Francois Brunea, Rya Mara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40.1kg GT 2. Graeme Morgan, Tequila Sheila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29.4kg y’fin tuna 3. Mike Koch, Tequila Sheila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28.9kg y’fin tuna 4. Marcus Potgieter, Lawwerskaai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26.2kg wahoo 5. Dan Greene, Mfana Giti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25.3kg wahoo

TOP FIVE ANGLERS 1. Brett Bartho, Halco Gone Fishin’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190.8pts 2. Daryl Bartho, Halco Gone Fishin’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171.1pts 3. Ralph Jones jnr, Seabound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144.0pts 4. Brad Arthur, Queen Pine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143.8pts 5. Gary Hook, Too Tight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121.6pts

TOP TEN BOATS 1. Halco Gone Fishin’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 064.3 pts 2. Wolfie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 372.0 pts 3. Lawwerskaai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 363.6pts 4. Too Tight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 206.6pts 5. Queen Pine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .859.3pts 6. Vossie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .717.2pts 7. Rya Mara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .661.4pts 8. Watt 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .548.0pts 9. Seabound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .494.4pts 10. Tune Ha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .449.7pts

28 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

mended for a great competition. This tournament has grown from strength to strength and shows no signs of slowing down.

The 17th Guinjata Bonanza will take place from 8th to 13th June 2014, so diarise those dates and watch SKI-BOAT magazine for further details.

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PLACES

by Lyn Adams

GUINJANE LODGE

A beautiful setting and warm welcome await you Find them on your GPS: S 42 04 573 E 035 29.740 PPROXIMATELY 480km north of Maputo and 30km south of the beautiful city of Inhambane, just off the “red road” is a self-catering adventure resort called Guinjane Lodge. It’s name is a combination of Guinjata — the tranquil bay it over looks — and Inhambane, the area it’s situated in. This setting alone is enough to make sure you’ll want to return for another holiday.

Guinjane Lodge is managed by the gracious Michelle van Coller who will welcome you with open arms and a warm smile. She and her staff will go out of their way to make your trip to Moçambique as special as possible.

The luxurious brick and thatch selfcatering chalets vary in size, sleeping, six- or eight people, and are all fully equipped. All you need to bring are

A

30 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

your towels and food stocks. It’s ideal for the family that wants an adventure holiday with all the comforts of home.

There’s also a five-bedroom house which sleeps ten if you also want to bring the neighbours along. With full EDM electricity, 24 hour security, access to the beach and a fully stocked shop close by, what more could one ask for?

Michelle and her staff are on call 24 hours a day and they will personally checks that all your needs are met during your stay.

Guinjane Lodge allows you to create a dream holiday with access to shore and offshore fishing, flyfishing, diving on some magnificent reefs, opportunities to sample the flavours in the local pubs and restaurants, or just sit on the beach and soak up the sun and the fresh sea air.

If you don’t want to bring your own boat, the management is able to arrange fishing and diving on charter boats and can also schedule diving courses at the Guinjata Dive Centre. This area boasts some world-renowned dive sites like Manta Reef, Paindane Express and Coral Gardens, so it’s a wonderful place to learn to dive.

Please bear in mind that in order to get to the lodge you will need a 4x4 or 2x4 vehicle with difflock. Tyres also need to be well deflated for the drive.

Special rates are offered for competition groups and for out-of-season visits. For further information or to book your stay, visit their website <www. guinjanelodge.com>, phone Michelle on +27 72 565 7091, phone Selma on +258 84400 5997 or email <info@guinjanelodge.com>.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 â&#x20AC;¢ 31

MILESTONES

Jubilation aboard Charlie Brown — five marlin in one day caught by father and son team of Marius and Vasie de Wet, with a personal grand slam for Vasie and an IGFA Boat Grand Slam for Leroy White’s Charlie Brown. All four of Vasie’s fish were caught on Black Bart lures.

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by Marius de Wet

Superb feats receive IGFA’s plaudits

R

ECEIVING an IGFA Grand Slam certificate is like being awarded the Holy Grail of offshore angling. To receive one of these awards, an angler/boat not only needs to catch three different species of billfish in one day, but these catches must also be made in accordance with IGFA’s strict rules and regulations.

Such a feat is largely unheard of off the South African coast, especially off Durban, but one skipper is now the proud owner of two such awards.

Leroy White, skipper of the sportfisher Charlie Brown did it on 13th January 2011 — and again less than three weeks later, on 2nd February 2011. The first achievement was even more special because of the five marlin caught, four of them (one blue-, one black- and two striped marlin), were caught by Josias “Vasie” de Wet. This made it a double-header of an IGFA Boat Grand Slam for Charlie Brown as well as a personal grand slam for Vasie.

In the 2013 IGFA World Record Game Fishes Book, in which all the registered grand slams are recorded, it is exciting to see Charlie Brown, owned and skippered by Leroy White, with anglers Marius and Vasie de Wet, officially awarded with the first IGFA Boat Grand Slam in South African waters. Vasie’s personal grand slam is of course the cherry on top. The unbelievable follow-on feat early in February, where Leroy, along with anglers Steve Elmes and Grant Wessels, recorded the second IGFA Boat Grand Slam is even more reason to crack open the champagne.

The story of the first grand slam needs to be told, because hooking five marlin in one day and bringing them all to the boat for release is an amazing accomplishment. Doing it twice is extraordinary.

Marius de Wet, Vasie’s father, told us the story of their amazing day’s billfishing off Durban ...

It all started when my friend, Leroy White, who owns Charlie Brown, a beautiful 42 foot Luhrs Open, invited my eldest son, Vasie, and I to come along to test his boat one

The flags say it all: Charlie Brown’s Durban double in January 2011, an IGFA Boat Grand Slam and a personal grand slam. morning after the motors had been serviced. We hadn’t planned to go fishing, but after half-an-hour of riding straight out at sea we were approaching good water, so we put out four 80 lb rods and trolled for a while to see if we could catch some dorado for a fish braai that afternoon.

Once the rods were set, Leroy, Vasie and I were about to get something to drink when the first rod started screaming.

There was to be no rest that day.

Vasie and Marius de Wet with their IGFA certificates, acknowledging their magnificent achievements off Durban.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 33

Charlie Brown’s second IGFA Boat Grand Slam was notched up in early February 2011 by Grant Wessels (second left) and Steve Elms (right), with skipper Leroy White (left) replicating the magnificent feat of less than a month earlier.

By 8.30am the first striped marlin was hooked. Vasie was in the chair, Leroy was at the helm and I was playing deckie.

Half-an-hour later the ±60kg fish was at the boat and released.

I was thrilled to see my son catch his first striped marlin.

By 9.30 the second marlin was on! Once again Vasie was in the chair, and once again it was a stripey, but this one was estimated to weigh 80kg. We soon had the fish at the boat, removed the hooks and got her back in the water. Taking photos was difficult as Vasie was fighting the fish, I was leadering and billing the fish, and Leroy was on the top deck, manoeuvring the boat to make my life as deckie a bit easier.

An IGFA Boat Grand Slam is unheard of off the South African coast, especially off Durban, but one skipper is now the proud owner of two such awards ...

Just after 10am we had our third strike! Vasie was in the chair, but was moaning that I should take a turn. Leroy was shouting at me to clear the rods quickly because this one looked like a big blue and was jumping like mad. It felt a lot longer, but about an hour later we had a blue marlin of ±120kg at the boat. We removed the hook, revived her and watched her swim away.

We were all shouting in disbelief — we’d caught three marlin in two hours. Vasie lay down on the bench, telling us that marlin fishing is not for sissies. Leroy and I were just overjoyed, and I wished that my father, my youngest son,

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 35

Charlie Brown’s skipper, Leroy White, flanked by Marius de Wet (left) and Vasie de Wet (right) after the first IGFA Boat Grand Slam in South African waters and Vasie’s personal grand slam.

Pieter, and the rest of my family could have been with us.

Around 11am Leroy commented, “Imagine if we got a black marlin today — that would give us a grand slam.”While he was explaining this to me, the Japan line went off. I cleared some rods and then jumped in the chair while Leroy scrambled up the tower, laughing all the way.

After a short fight we released another small stripey of about 60kg — my first striped marlin. Our score was four marlin for the day and we were on cloud nine.

36 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

As we reset the lures we continued to discuss our unbelievable luck. Leroy was wishing that his son, Richard, could have been with us too, but he was in Panama, skippering a boat for Tropic Star Lodge and enjoying the experience of a lifetime in marlin paradise.

All was quiet for the next couple of hours, aside from a small dorado and a yellowfin tuna that came into the spread.

At 3pm Leroy suggested we turn around and slow troll back home to Durban.

As we turned all hell broke loose with line peeling off the short corner 80 lb rod at great speed. I cleared rods and chased Vasie back to the chair, while Leroy ran up the tower again, screaming,“It’s a moerse big black marlin! We’re in for a fight!”

What felt like five hours was actually three hours, with the leader bead surfacing four times before we finally got the fish to the boat. She was enormous. Charlie Brown measures ±4m starboard to port, and with its bill on the port edge, this fish’s tail stuck out past the starboard corner. I reduced the pressure on the leader, at which the fish shook its head, the hook popped out and the mighty marlin swam away. We all had this incredibly tired but happy feeling.

Vasie and I were snapped out of our reverie by Leroy who was shouting at the top of his voice: “That was great! We’ve just caught five marlin in one day — three striped marlin, one blue and one black, a ±350-450kg fish!”

We suddenly realised it was almost dark and Leroy radioed port to let them know we were okay and on our way in.

On the way back in Leroy said we might have set a new SA record for five marlin in one day, three different species and four of them caught by one fisherman. I felt like crying because I was thinking,“Dear God, thank you!” — and wishing my father was alive to have seen this.

Vasie and Leroy’s IGFA Grand Slam certificates acknowledge their wonderful achievements — and even better, it’s a first for South Africa!

BOAT REVIEW

by Heinrich Kleyn

38 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

I

THOUGHT Christmas had come early when I received a phone call from Erwin Bursik asking me to accompany him to Richards Bay to test a new Kingcat 2406 with a hardtop. This was the first time I’d had a chance to test a Z-craft boat, and it’s something I’d been wanting to do for a while. This new 2406 had been custom-built for a customer in Richards Bay who had a lot of input with the layout and specs.

I’ve seen many Z-Craft boats in the marketplace and on the water, and I knew the late Peter Motzouris, so am generally familiar with his designs and their workmanship. I also know Peter’s sons, Tyron and Dustin, who are both involved in the business, so I was keen to see how they were doing.

Erwin and I were at the Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club when Tyron towed the craft past us to the slipway. My first impression was “Wow — that’s a huge boat!” And yes, she is a big boat, but on closer inspection she looks bigger than she actually is because all ZCraft boats are built to stand proud — in and out of the water.

When you see a Kingcat out at sea the bow always seems to be high up in the water. This has huge benefits not only on the overall performance of the boat, but also because it means the ride will be very dry.

Although I’ve seen plenty of Kingcats around, I’ve never actually been aboard one, so I couldn’t wait to take a closer look. One thing I’ve always noticed from afar, though, is that their decks look very spacious.

However, it’s only once you’re actually on board that you realise just how spacious she really is.

I stayed aboard Supremasea while Tyron reversed her into the water and she slid off the trailer very smoothly.

Remember, this is a big boat, so you have to be fully aware of what you’re doing all the time.

I had a quick look around the deck while Tyron parked the car and Erwin got the photography boat — an F200 — into the water. To begin with we put the Kingcat 2406 hardtop through her paces in the bay so that Erwin could take the necessary photographs, and then Tyron and I went off to play with her.

Kingcat 2406 by Z-Craft Unfortunately, the conditions were not good at all. The sea was all over the place, and anyone who is familiar with Richards Bay will know that the sea in and around the mouth can be rather unpleasant at times.

Supremasea’s owner gave Tyron a list of requirements for the boat, including what engines, electronic equipment and outriggers he wanted — essentially the best on the market. Supremasea was fitted with twin 225hp Yamaha 4strokes with binnacle-mount controls, by far the smoothest I have ever felt on a boat. The steering was also very

smooth and light, even with the big engines on the transom.

And yes, it might be overkill to have such big engines on this boat, but take her for a ride and feel the power — and then let’s talk again. It’s like going from driving a 1600 Toyota Tazz to an Audi R8. I still believe it’s better to have too much power than too little.

Supremasea does have too much power, but her oomph is simply awesome. From stationary she gets on the plane in less than three seconds.

“Hold on, boet, Pa gaan jaag!”

I have to admit that on the first pull

away from stationary to full throttle I was terrified. We were airborne almost immediately. I had not expected that kind of reaction and power-to-speed ratio. My immediate reaction was to tap off on the throttles as quickly as I had pushed them open, and then work my way up gradually ...

The Kingcat’s ride is so smooth — even in bad conditions — that once you’re on the plane you don’t realise how fast you’re going. We were cruising out at sea when Tyron suggested I look at the speed on the GPS — we were doing 40kph!

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 39

I had to slow down dramatically to get us to trolling speed (4 knots) just to get the feel of it, then I worked my way back up to 12 knots. She was steady as a rock and bone-dry — not a splash of water came over the front or the side.

The Kingcat 2406 was very steady in all directions. Whether with a following sea, turning around and heading straight into the swell, or with the swell coming from the side, I didn’t once feel uncomfortable. Even at cruising speeds of 20 knots there was no pounding. I also did my usual figure-of-eight test and could not get her to cavitate at all.

This boat would be easy to launch from the beach. She has a push plate at the stern, and with all that power behind her — as well as quick response when turning — I believe she would handle the surf with ease.

Getting back to her looks, the hardtop fitted to the Kingcat 2406 gave her

a great finish. It’s also the place where Z-Craft have fitted the outriggers and reels for the teasers, as well as some extra stainless-steel rod holders. A few gaff holders have also been fitted to the hardtop. They are easy to reach and there’s a small spotlight in the middle.

The windscreen has been raised much higher than is the norm, which means that the clears they have fitted are much smaller and easier to handle.

I think it’s a great idea.

The window in the centre of the console does not open like on most boats — it doesn’t slide from side to side and is not removable, but it flips up from the console towards the outside.

The 2406 has a very spacious hatch in the front — big enough to fit a bed — and all the batteries have been fitted in a small compartment in the floor, protected from all the elements. She has been fitted with state-of-the-art elec-

tronics including two combo units, cruise control and enough radio equipment to make a DJ jealous.

The two bum boxes that have been fitted are very comfortable and provide plenty of storage space. The fuel hatches are inside the deck, and I believe there’s enough space for almost 24 jerry cans.

The Luna tubes are fitted at the back with the pumps sunk into the floor.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 41

The livebait well is in the middle of the false transom, and it’s so big that it reminded me of my koi pond at home.

Downriggers were fitted on both sides of the gunnels, and the gunnels are higher than knee height and nicely padded so that you can lean against them.

The roll bars for the rod holders in front of the engines were designed in a U-shape so that a crew member can easily sit on the false transom between the rods while fishing. I saw this idea a couple of years ago when a friend of mine from Bloemfontein had his rod holders designed like that, and we figured it was just a matter of time before boat builders caught on to this idea.

The fighting chair is situated in the middle of the floor and would be easy to manoeuvre while fishing. It can also be removed when it’s not required.

This client certainly knew what he wanted and did a great job designing the layout of his boat. The finish on this craft is also of a very high standard.

As I mentioned earlier, the 2406 was very easy to offload on the slipway,

42 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

and the changes Z-Craft have made to the trailer, including adding tunnel guides which made it much easier to drive this craft back up onto the trailer.

Summing up, her handling capabilities out at sea were excellent. Stabilitywise, I think there are but a few boats that could measure up to her.

I have to say that I now understand why everyone who owns a Z-Craft boat raves about their prized possession.

This was my first experience aboard a Kingcat and it was a very pleasant one that I hope to repeat soon.

If I was in the market for a marlin boat I would definitely put the Kingcat 2406 on my list. She is big and spacious, but is still light enough to tow to Moçambique. With Z-Craft producing boats of such high quality — and with the option of customising her to your requirements — what could be better?

I’m thrilled to see how well the next generation of Motzouris boys are doing, and I wish them great success with their excellent range of Z-Craft boats.

GAMEFISH

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OTHING in the sport of angling outdoes the excitement of casting to visible, boiling fish. Even today, with all the modern equipment and sophisticated tackle we have, nothing compares to watching fish boil or even seeing them on the sounder, and then being able to place one’s craft in a position for the crew to cast a livebait, spoon, popper or stickbait to them.

The anticipation of the strike, watching a fish boil behind one’s lure and seeing the strike gives 90% of the pleasure of targeting fish such as yellowfin tuna, giant trevally, queen mackerel or little eastern tuna, to mention

some of the most prolific gamefish off the East African coast.

However, it’s the yellowfin tuna that has been targeted worldwide — initially by commercial anglers and more recently by recreational anglers — using techniques adapted for small, slow-moving craft.

THE TECHNIQUE Originally this technique involved the casting of livebait including chumming with slimy mackerel with their tails either broken or cut off so that they stayed within the area surrounding the boat and the boiling tuna. These days, with modern boats and very efficient

by Erwin Bursik

livebait wells, this ancient technique is practised worldwide, including when targeting billfish.

In the June 2013 issue of Sport Fishing Magazine the editor, Doug Olander, writes about the pandemonium and adrenaline rush he experienced while casting to pods of huge yellowfin tuna that were hunting together with porpoise pods off Costa Rica. Fish up to 300 lb (140kg) are caught using this method.

This particular article sparked my attention for two reasons. Firstly, on a trip to Oman a few years ago to target yellowfin tuna, we spent the entire time at sea travelling at about 25 knots SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 47

scanning the ocean for telltale splashes on the mirror-like sea to indicate the presence of dolphins. Once spotted, we would race off to the pod and cast live maasbankers to the yellowfin tuna boiling amongst these dolphins.

Secondly, I recalled the methods we used to target yellowfin tuna during ski-boat competitions off Durban in the mid 1970s. In those days yellowfin tuna were plentiful, shoaling on the outer side of our No.1 fishing area. We didn’t eat yellowfin in those days, nor could we give them away, so we didn’t target them. In fact, when we saw a shoal of yellowfin boil near us we moved away, not wanting our special ’cuda baits to be messed up, and not wanting to waste precious ’cuda catching time fighting multiple strikes of yellowfin tuna.

TARGETING TUNA However, during competitions where tuna counted, we established that if we trolled big lures like Rapalas across the front of a pod of dolphins, we generally got strikes from yellowfin. It was hard work, though, and in those days the boats were slower. One had to chase a pod of dolphins for a long way to be able to manoeuvre and simultaneously run out the spread of not more than three Rapalas to have a chance of swimming them at the right speed across the front of the dolphins.

If one did hookup, the pod of dolphins would have disappeared by the time the fish was landed. If one did not get a strike and wanted to move on, by the time the lines were all retrieved — if we could still see the dolphins — it was an almighty long chase to have another shot at getting the Rapalas in position for another chance at the tuna.

Of course, there was no guarantee that the tuna were indeed with the dolphins. On many attempts we didn’t get a strike and used a huge quantity of fuel chasing these pods. Despite all that, similar tactics are still popular among some anglers.

WHY DO TUNA AND DOLPHIN SWIM TOGETHER? Before I detail a technique that has become very popular off Durban — targeting yellowfin tuna by casting live baits, poppers and stickbaits in the vicinity of dolphin pods — here’s a short synopsis of the research and theory about tuna and dolphin swimming together ...

During 2012 Dr Michael Scott undertook detailed research to try to find out why yellowfin tuna and spotted dolphins often swim together, specifically in eastern tropical Pacific waters. (For the full report go to <http://sarasotadolphin.org/2012/12/24/why-do-tuna-anddolphin-swim-together/>.)

To summarise this research, it seems

Diagram courtesy of Dave Underwood/Sport Fishing Magazine www.sportfishingmag.com

Photo by Brad Kidd that tuna and dolphins swim together mainly because the combined size of both shoals reduces the risk of predation from the big ocean predators such as sharks and killer whales (orcas), and this association is neither permanent nor obligatory.

When we were in Oman, we were told that the dolphins use their sonar to find a shoal of baitfish. Tuna then push this bait shoal to the surface for both to feast on.

Dr Scott does not support this theory.

He says that dolphins and tuna feed on different baitfish/squid at different depths and at different times of the day and night.

In addition, dolphins traditionally swim above the thermocline (at depths of 1520m) during the day and deeper below the thermocline at night, whereas tuna generally swim near the thermocline.

So it seems that sometimes during daylight the tuna come above the ther-

mocline to mix with the dolphins — especially at times when they are most likely to encounter orcas or big sharks.

They generally swim together 15 to 20 metres below the surface.

So much for science.

THE LOCAL METHOD Here off Durban the system of targeting yellowfin tuna is relatively straightforward. Find a pod of dolphins, approach it with a ski-boat and aim the approach so that once the boat is stopped the crew can cast their livebaits or lures to the head of the visible lead dolphin.

This is usually about 20 to 40 metres away. That’s the secret — the head of the lead dolphin is the target.

The hardest part of this technique is getting the craft into the correct position and having anglers that can cast accurately within the window of opporSKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 49

tunity that only lasts for a few seconds.

If the livebait or lure is correctly positioned, the take by one or multiple yellowfin is instantaneous — that is, of course, if there are yellowfin accompanying the pod of dolphins you have been following.

In our waters a live “mossie” (maasbanker) or mackerel is deemed to be the top choice of livebait, with bigger mackerel generally producing the bigger sized tuna.

To tackle up to catch yellowfin tuna by casting livebait or lures around pods of dolphins, you need a short, heavy-action rod fitted with a sturdy fixed spool reel loaded with good quality spinning braid line. The main reason for using the big guns is that when fighting these fish, some of which are well in excess of 30kg, one needs to subdue them as quickly as possible to avoid them from being “taxed” by the ever-growing shark presence along the entire KwaZulu-Natal coast.

Regarding the terminal tackle preferred for this style of tuna fishing, the general view of those who have been successful is that there is no need to fish “skelm”. The reason is that the speed and ferocity of the strike indicate that the competition element amongst the tuna forces them to strike first and think later.

For livebaiting, a circle hook or short shanked Jhook sized to match the livebait is perfectly adequate.

Connect one of those to leader material in the 50/60 lb class, which is directly attached to the braid line. Fluorocarbon line can be used, but it does not add much in the way of camouflaging one’s presentation of the livebait due to the ferocity of the strike.

However, during a sustained fight it’s important to watch out that the abrasive effect of the “scissors” of the tuna’s jaw does not cause a parting of the leader material at that point. Experience has indicated that thinner diameter leader material wears through much more quickly.

When rigging a livebait for tossing to tuna, simply put the hook through the livebait’s jaw or just under the eye socket. Most importantly, make sure it is securely attached to the hook to be able to endure the cast, splash down on the water and, hopefully, being swallowed by a tuna.

Always remember the window of opportunity is extremely small. A missed cast, a bait breaking off the hook or a cast snag means you are history in that particular round with the tuna.

Casting a popper or stickbait can be just as effective as livebaiting and is a good substitute if you see a pod of dolphins and you don’t have livebait available.

The terminal rig for using a lure is the same as when casting lures to GT, a subject that has been widely covered in previous issues of SKI-BOAT. In the July/August 2013 issue Bruce Birkett showed how he rigged poppers for GT off Mafia Island, Tanzania, and that same rig would work well for targeting yellowfin tuna.

To sum up — and to emphasise that this method is not as easy as it sounds — I cannot do better than quote a few paragraphs penned by Doug Olander describing his pursuit of big yellowfin tuna off Costa Rica ...

“In the company of several other resort boats, we spent at least the next couple of hours running and gunning, trying to stay on the dolphin and tuna until the yellowfin left, or perhaps went deep. Most anglers had hooked tuna in that time and some had brought several fish to the boat.

“Best of all is that running and gunning for tuna means nonstop activity. If you’re not actually hooked up, you’re casting into fish or standing on the bow, SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 51

Dolphins chasing baitfish off Costa Rica. Photo courtesy of Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica (www.crocodilebay.com). ready as the skipper gets you into position. There’s never a dull moment.

“At least that’s true when the yellowfin are feeding. If the tuna bite among the moving dolphins turns off, it might only be a matter of time until the fish start whacking bait again. ‘I had an angler out who really wanted a tuna on his popper. We stayed with a load of dolphin for four hours before the tuna went on a feed,’ says Todd Staley, the resort’s

52 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

fishing director. ‘Just before sunset, he ended up boating the 180 lb yellowfin that slam-dunked his popper.’”

That’s the real trick, I guess — perseverance.

• This method of fishing for tuna amongst dolphins is used throughout the world and has been popular for many years. In South Africa some draft legislation is in the pipeline, proposing

that craft be restricted from getting too close to dolphins, ostensibly to clamp down on people who harass whales and dolphins. Should this eventually become law, it just may have an effect on this technique.

It’s a grey area indeed since one’s boat often attracts dolphins which frolic and swim alongside ski-boats for a considerable length of time, or spontaneously pop up where one is fishing. — Ed.

TACKLE TALK

Reputation counts!

PULSATOR — the SA lure big marlin love

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HEN you choose a lure to run in the spread you are setting to target marlin, what should you look for? A million dollar question? Not really. Just look for the lure that has a reputation for catching the most billfish.

Not every lure that’s dragged behind your boat will catch fish, so make sure you select a lure that’s designed to swim effectively behind the type of craft we use in South Africa and which has proved its worth in our waters as well as billfish waters around the globe.

A range of lures that ticks all these boxes is Pulsator.

Since its inception in 2005, Pulsator Lures has grown from strength to strength in its mission of manufacturing top quality saltwater lures. All lures are handmade in-house from scratch by staff who have been manufacturing lures for the past 30 years, and who have maintained the high standard of manufacturing and development at Pulsator Lures. The quality of these products is attested to by the amazing results and the number of fish that have been caught on these lures.

Ryan Williamson inherited his late father’s passion for angling and has been fishing ever since he could hold a rod, both locally and extensively in foreign waters. Ryan has witnessed techniques used by top skippers and crew all around the world, and he has combined tricks learnt from these crews with his own knowledge to create some outstanding saltwater lures.

One advantage of having grown up in South Africa and having fished our waters for many years is that Ryan understands the fish species targeted in South Africa and the fishing techniques used.

All this experience helps him develop a diverse product range that caters for every angler’s needs. Their

PULSATOR’S INTERNATIONAL SCORECARD PLACE Bazaruto Bazaruto Bazaruto

SPECIES Black marlin Black marlin Black marlin

WEIGHT 1 098 lb 935 lb 660 lb

LURE Bonito Smoker Tuna Teaser Tuna Teaser

Madeira Madeira Madeira Madeira Madeira

Blue marlin Blue marlin Blue marlin Blue marlin Blue marlin

950 lb 800 lb 750 lb 715 lb 600 lb

Marlin Magnet Stripey Ticklert Bonito Smoker Bonito Smoker Pulsator Tube

Richards Bay Richards Bay Richards Bay

Blue marlin Blue marlin Blue marlin

812 lb 695 lb 757 lb

Boaster Stripey Tickler Big Blue Instigator

Kenya Kenya

Blue marlin Blue marlin

664 lb 622 lb

Big Blue Instigator Big Blue Instigator

Ascension Island Blue marlin Ascension Island Blue marlin

800 lb 600 lb

Marlin Magnet Marlin Magnet

Mauritius Mauritius

Blue marlin Blue marlin

712 lb 550 lb

Marlin Magnet Tuna Teaser

Cape Vidal

Blue marlin

740 lb

Big Blue Instigator

Durban

Blue marlin

551 lb

Tuna Teaser

Sodwana Sodwana Sodwana Sodwana

Black marlin Blue marlin Blue marlin Blue marlin

400 lb 701 lb 612 lb 480 lb

Bonito Smoker Big Blue Instigator Big Blue Instigator Big Blue Instigator

Cape Verde Cape Verde

Blue marlin Blue marlin

550 lb 500 lb

Boaster Boaster

Mapelane

Blue marlin

616 lb

Big Blue Instigator

Bahamas Bahamas

Blue marlin Blue marlin

522 lb 600 lb

Smoking Machine Boaster

lures range from large trolling lures for marlin, sailfish and big pelagic fish, to smaller lures targeting your

56 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

smaller pelagic fish such as ’cuda, queen mackerel and just about any gamefish.

Pulsator’s other products

such as ’cuda traces, snoek traces, dusters and many more have been created from feedback received from top anglers who spend a great deal of time on the water.

Ryan’s research is very thorough. Therefore,when you purchase a Pulsator product you can be assured that these products have all been tested, so you know it will work.

Pulsator’s aim is to help anglers land their dream catch with products that are durable and affordable.

It’s not only the big things that make a difference to the way a lure performs, there are a number of small tweaks that Pulsator uses to enhance the lures too, such as using shaped heads and adjusting the weight in the lure — either heavier or lighter — to ensure the best performance.

Pulsator only uses the finest hooks, swivels and nylon to make sure their products can withstand the toughest battles. The colours they use have been chosen with the assistance of numerous experienced skippers and anglers to find the colours that work most effectively in different areas.

At Pulsator Lures every catch on their products is important and any feedback on how they can improve the products is also gratefully received. If you would like to share your thoughts on Pulsator Lures with Ryan, email your feedback and any advice to <info@ pulsatorlures.co.za>.

Catch reports and statistics that show that some of the top fish around the world have been caught on his products drive Ryan to keep making great lures and accessories. There certainly are plenty of good results — just look at the list alongside and you’ll see how big marlin the world over just can’t resist Pulsator lures.

Isn’t it time you tried them?

COMPETITIONS

Highs and lows of the 2013 Shelly Beach

Louis Posthumus with his beautiful 27kg â&#x20AC;&#x2122;cuda.

by Dick Pratt, photos courtesy www.jfkphotography.com

Mallards/Mercury Ski-boat Festival

Shane Dennisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 28.6kg yellowfin tuna took first prize.

2013 Shelly Beach Mallards/Mercury Ski - boat Festival

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VERY so often our wonderfully warm Agulhas current moves way offshore and creates a strong counter-current running from south to north inshore. Commonly known as a reverse current, anglers along the lower KZN South Coast know that this phenomenon is a killer of gamefishing. This, and the fact that the only sardines to be found in the area were in the fishmongerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s freezers, made angling conditions at the 2013 Mallards/Mercury Ski-Boat Festival very challenging.

Usually at the end of June we expect to see large shoals of sardines arrive along the KZN South Coast, along with thousands of dolphins, whales and sea birds in an ocean that is alive with the wonders of nature. This year, with the water temperature still being closer to summer norms than winter, which accounted for the fact that there was absolutely no sign of the usual sardine run, it was anybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guess what the winning gamefish was likely to be and where it would be caught.

As in the past the magnificent prize of a Mallards Cobra Cat powered by twin 4-stroke 115hp Mercury motors would be

awarded to the heaviest gamefish weighed at the competition headquarters at Uvongo Town Hall.

Although Mother Nature threw us a curved ball with the currents, she certainly did cooperate with the weather. The tournament was blessed with four days of fishing, only the first day being a little difficult in a blustery southwester. On the other three days there was virtually no wind to speak of, and even if the fishing was slow, it was a pleasure for the competitors to spend quality time on the ocean.

The tournament is held annually in the winter school holidays to allow the whole family to enter and every effort is made to accommodate and reward the junior anglers. For the first time in many years it was decided to open the tournament to ski-boats launching from Durban, and whilst a few Durban boats did participate, we suspect that these numbers will increase dramatically in the future as it was one of the Durban boats that walked away with the big prize.

One of the big positives in recent times is that the winning fish have been caught in a wide area, stretching from Sikombie

Among the species caught this year were ’cuda, yellowfin tuna and amberjack. in the south to Hibberdene in the north. This has encouraged increasing numbers of boats to launch at various launch sites other than Shelly Beach, thus relieving the Shelly base of the long queues and launching frustrations of the past. With a fair sprinkling of boats launching from Port Edward, Hibberdene, Umkomaas and now Durban, the Shelly Beach boats had a pretty quick entry into the sea each morning.

The first day Louis Posthumus, fishing on Tom & Gemmy, launching from Port Edward, weighed an excellent ’cuda of 27kg, setting up a fine benchmark for the week. There was also a nice amberjack of 22.4kg caught on Deep Burn launching from Hibberdene, and a few quality yellowfin were weighed from boats launching from Durban and Shelly Beach.

The second day of the tournament saw more fish being weighed than any other day, the heaviest fish coming from Shane Dennis of Durban, fishing aboard Tom Buoy. He landed a fine yellowfin of 28.6kg which was eventually the overall winner. A good number of yellowfin up to 20kg were also weighed that day, including a 17.4kg fish landed by 15-year-old Kay-Leigh Parker also fishing aboard Tom Buoy.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 63

Everyone’s a winner at the Shelly Beach Festival ...

On the third day of the tournament it seemed that the ocean just went to sleep. Very few fish were weighed, although a fine ’cuda of 28kg was caught way down south of Port Edward by Shawn Posthumus aboard Tom & Gemmy.

The final day of the tournament was yet another lovely day at sea, the weather being sunny and warm with no wind. A few quality fish were weighed, including another yellowfin of 27.4kg caught by Lawrence Parker aboard Tom Buoy and a 26.2kg ’cuda by Mike Schneider on Must Byt, launched from Port Edward. However, neither of these fish was heavy enough to beat Shane Dennis’s 28.6kg yellowfin caught on the second day.

On the Saturday night a huge array of prizes was awarded to the anglers, and aside from the main boat, the next most sought-after prize was a magnificent GPS fishfinder supplied by Lowrance. A vast number of other sponsors all contributed to what we believe is still the best looking prize list in the country for a fishing competition.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 65

Tom Buoy’s crew — Shane Dennis, Kay-Leigh Parker and Lawrence Parker — were thrilled to take ownership of their new boat courtesy of Mike Barnes from Mallards and Phillip Kingma from Mercury.

Finally, to the sounds of Stand up for the Champions, the magnificent first prize was presented to a delighted Shane Dennis, Lawrence Parker and his daughter Kay-Leigh Parker, the team on Tom Buoy.

Anglers in the Shelly Beach area always expect to have some of their fish taken by sharks, particularly just before the sardine run. However, this year the percentage of fish lost to the taxman

66 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

was extremely high. Hopefully the sardines will make an appearance soon and restore some balance to the ocean. Right now it is practically impossible to land a decent fish.

Shelly Beach Ski-Boat Club conveys their most sincere thanks to our fantastic sponsors, and we look forward to welcoming all our visitors back to the lower South Coast in 2014.

Grateful thanks to all our SPONSORS for their outstanding support!

A B D CONSTRUCTION ACE PLANT HIRE AUTOZONE BATTERY CENTRE MANABA BAY VIEW LODGE BEACH BROLLYS BEARING MAN BUILDERS W'HOUSE MARBURG BUILDERS W'HOUSE MARGATE C P MOLDT JEWELLERS CDS TRANSPORT CHARLES DU PLESSIS COUNTY AUTO CUDO DGB DISTELL DYNACHEM EDWARD SNELL & CO EMERALD COVE FEVER, SOUTH COAST FIREHOUSE FIREQUIP GETSEA GLASFIT GRANT THOMPSON'S FISH MOUNTS

GRIPPLE SA HIP PRODUCTS HALEWOOD INTERNATIONAL HENRY OOSTHUIZEN JEFFS PALM RESORT - GUINJATA JIGSTAR AFRICA LOWRANCE LUCKYS MALLARDS BOATING MARGATE CONSTRUCTION MARGATE PANEL BEATERS MARTINS ELECTRONICS MCB CONSTRUCTION MERCURY MARINE MIDAS MIDAS SUPER AUTO MUST BYT FISHING CHARTERS NATAL PORTLAND CEMENT NATAL POWER BOATS NATAL POWER STEERING NATIONAL DRILLING NEMISIS PALMER STEEL FABRICATIONS PARADISE BEACH LODGE PARTNERS HAIR & BEAUTY

PAYMASTER PAWN SHOP PETER NOTHARD PG GLASS POWERFLOW EXHAUSTS PRINTCO PULSATOR RAPTOR ELECTRICAL RENASA INSURANCE SA OLYMPIC HEALTH WORLD SAB CASTLE LAGER SKI-BOAT MAGAZINE SOUTH COAST BUSINESS MACHINES SPAR - HARBOUR VIEW SPEEDYS SUPAQUICK TACKLE BOX TENTS DIRECT TRELLIDOR UGU TOURISM - KZN TOURISM UMZIMKULU MARINA US TRUCKS VANGUARD INSURANCE VINIMARK WURTH SA ISANDO

COMPETITIONS

by Sean Bekker www.sadsaa.com Zululand’s Robin Vermaak landed an 82.15kg yellowfin on the first day whilst fishing off Sea Spirit, skippered by Mark Pienaar.

HIS year’s SADSAA Tuna Nationals had a lot to live up to after Dr Frank Scholtz’s multiple record-breaking 106.75kg yellowfin (10kg line class), landed after a marathon six-and-a-half hour battle in last year’s competition.

There were some early concerns about the availability of tuna this year as the season had started slowly, but the Gordon’s Bay Offshore League, fished a few weeks earlier, had produced a few decent yellowfin around the 60-70kg mark and some nice-sized 25kg-plus longfin.

Weather conditions were uncharacteristically near-perfect in the lead-up

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to the start of the competition. Excitement increased when multiple reports came in of boats landing both quantity and quality fish. One boat reported landing six yellowfin over 80kg two days before the event.

This year’s Tuna Nationals were hosted by Western Province Deep Sea Angling Association out of Atlantic Boat Club, Hout Bay. Eight provincial teams and one SADSAA team gathered at the registration and opening function on 13th May 2013.

Present were the following: • Mpumalanga (Michael de Kock, Dwayne Viviers and Jan Strydom) • Northerns (Riaan Odendaal, Hen du Plessis and Chris Barnard) • Border (Kevin Bourke, Frank Scholtz and Mike Christie) • Southern Cape (Connie Gartsman, Maurits Lammers and Louis Theron) • SADSAA (Dale Hattingh, Dawie van Zyl and Marius Coetzee) • Zululand (John Str ydom, Hein Kohrs and Robin Vermaak) • Free State (Andreas Papchristoforou, Jaco Botes and Emiel Scholtz)

The SADSAA team — victorious: Dale Hattingh, Dawie van Zyl and Marius Coetzee.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 77

Second place went to Southern Cape’s Connie Gartsman, Maurits Lammers and Louis Theron ...

• Eastern Province (Colin Barris, Riaan Raubenheimer and Martin Getz) • Western Province (Dale Nicolay, Nish Ibrahim and Chris Pike) The first day of the competition — 14th May 2013 — got underway in perfect weather conditions. Nine boats had a comfortable run out to the deep and the day’s angling began well.

Early information at the two call-ups pointed at some decent action and at scales two nice yellowfin were weighed.

It was a very good start for Zululand’s Robin Vermaak, fishing off Sea Spirit skippered by Mark Pienaar, who landed an 82.15kg yellowfin after a oneand-three-quarter hour fight, and SADSAA’s Marius Coetzee, fishing off Gratitude skippered by William Melck, who presented a yellowfin of 63.20kg.

78 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

Both were great achievements in the 10kg line class.

Robin’s effort not only set a high benchmark, but helped put his team into first place with a lead of more than 320 points over SADSAA, with Free State trailing a distant third.

Except for a splash of rain, perfect conditions greeted the anglers on the second day, and at scales 85 fish were landed on eight of the nine boats. Two yellowfin worth mentioning were brought back — one over 55kg and the other over 65kg.

The SADSAA team was showing a consistent effort which saw them move into first place. Marius Coetzee notched up 2384.02 points, Dawie van Zyl scored 1941.00 points and Dale Hattingh registered 1546.52 points.

Southern Cape’s Connie Gartsman scored 2148.44 points, Maurits Lammers 1938.21 and Louis Theron 532.36 points, which pushed them past Zululand into second place.

After the high expectations set on the first two days, both size and bag number waned in the last two days of the event.

One yellowfin just made the minimum weight on the third day, amongst some 20-30kg longfin, and the final day yielded only nine longfin.

The selectors were spot-on with their SADSAA team which displayed consistency throughout and took first

... and Zululand held on to third place represented by John Strydom, Hein Kohrs and Robin Vermaak. place with 8972.91 points. Second place went to Southern Cape with 5219.49 points and third to Zululand with 4342.78 points.

Congratulations to Marius Coetzee (SADSAA) who took top angler with 3910.23 points, followed by Dawie van Zyl (SADSAA) who scored 2850.72 points and Zululand’s Robin Vermaak who came in third with 2586.71 points.

Many thanks to all the skippers who made themselves available. The top three boats were Gratitude, skippered

by William Melck, Voluptuous, skippered by Kurt Hill, and Sea Spirit, skippered by Mark Pienaar.

For all the latest SADSAA news, views and events, plus all your national and provincial contacts and links, visit <www.sadsaa.com>.

Geoffrey Wanvig, SADSAA President UNCLAIMED SKIPPERS TICKETS KIPPERS’ tickets for the following skippers in Gauteng, examined by A Bowie, were all posted off but never collected. They have been returned to the SADSAA Office, so please contact Donna on <sadsaasec@sadsaaoffice.co.za> to arrange collection.

• SR Allnutt • AC Andrews • M Bashir • JP Basson • AF Bezuidenhout • S Botha • RM Botton • NJ Brits • KC Brown • Busakwe • SF Butler • JM Calvario • RN Calvario • Coetzer • SK Cohen • AC Cornelius • M Damons • N de Agrela • GW de Boer • PS Duvenhage • MC Engelbrecht • PJD Fourie • C Fraser • ME Greyvenstein • SB Hansen • NN Harase • AE Harris • R Harris • DP Hatfield • CM Heyneke • JB Hillcoat • MR Hooper • KF Jones • MJ Khwekhwe • LC Kruger • V Kruger • GN la Cock • JP la Cock • WJ la Grange • D le Roux • A Liebenberg • S Lines • SP Masinga • R Mer • TA Modisakeng • DJ Moir • Y Moosa • DM Morcom • M Nel • FW Ongers • FKG Paxton • SF Pearson • L Poonyane • GW Pretorius • J Rossouw • EA Sam • HJ Sam • RM Samuels • PD Sanders • KM Seller • GI Shaw • RW Sheldrake • M Slabbert • PD Smith • R Smith • DS Sterling • N Steytler • WJ Strydom • JJ Swarts • RT Swiegers • CP Taylor • SM van Deventer • H van Wyk • HMD Venter • NA Venter • CA Williamson • MG Wilson • DL Wressell • GD Young

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2013/2014 SADSAA OFFICE BEARERS HE SADSAA Council and Annual General meetings were held on 21st June 2013 at the Farm Inn Hotel, Pretoria. The following office bearers were elected: President — Geoff Wanvig, Vice President — Phillip Marx, Secretary — Mearl Buyskes, Treasurer — Erwin Bursik, Tournament Officer — Dick Pratt, Records Officer — Dave Oostingh, Public Relations Officer — Hymie Steyn, National Safety Officer — Stan Walter, Inland Deputy Safety Officer — Karl Krause, Coastal Deputy Safety Officer — Anton Gets, Development Officer — Paul Borcherds. There were no nominations for Environmental Officer and the Action Committee was tasked with finding a suitable candidate. Mark Beyl was subsequently appointed.

Additional members elected to the Finance Committee: Andrew Bowie and John Raubenheimer. Additional members to the Action Committee: Mike Buyskes,Andrew Bowie and Dave Oostingh. Selectors: Lappies Labuschagne,Ted Horn, Mike Buyskes, Phillip Marx, Chris Jacobs, Anton Gets, Tim Scholtz and Barry Turk. Alternates: Paul Borcherds and Chris Rothman.

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TOURNAMENTS • Columbia has withdrawn their sponsorship of the Billfish Classic, but they have offered to continue supplying clothing to SADSAA at a reduced price. Andrew Bowie and Betsie Von Wielligh have joined the tournaments’ committee to assist with trying to secure sponsorships. Council members unanimously agreed that the tournament would take place, even at the risk of a possible negative financial result if a substantial sponsor is not secured. Because of inflation Council agreed that the tournament entry fee had to be increased to R1 100 per angler.

• Sailfish Interprovincial Kenya: The costs for this are approximately R30 000 per angler, excluding airfares. Dick Pratt will soon be calling for nominations for a SADSAA team for this tournament.

• Sailfish Interprovincial: Mike Buyskes reported that the planning of the tournament is well under control and the invitations have been sent out. This tournament will be fished only with circle hooks.

• Bottomfish Nationals: This tournament has been awarded to Natal for 2014 and will be hosted by the Rod and Reel Club from Durban.

• Junior Nationals:This tournament has been awarded to Eastern Province for 2014.

It will be run as a bottomfish tournament run from Port St. Francis.

• Tri-Facet Nationals: This has again been awarded to Mpumalanga and will take place in November from Sodwana Bay. TEAM SELECTIONS Barry Turk reported that three Protea Teams have been selected to fish in the following internationals: • Hawaii 54th Annual HIB Tournament: Phillip Marx, Capt (Zululand), Herman Olivier (Zululand),Andrew Bowie (Gauteng), Kobus Sutherland (Mpumalanga).

• France 22nd FIPS-M Big Game Trolling Championship: Martin du Plessis, Capt (Natal), Nicolaas Nel (Natal), Steven Walder (Natal).

• Mexico 2013 EFSA Game Fish Championship: Richard Hartley, Capt (S. Gauteng), Trevor Spence (S. Gauteng), Jacques van Wyk (Zululand), Mike Riley (Griquas).

Too few nominations were received for Puerto Rico, so a recall for nominations was sent out together with a call for nominations to Guatemala.

DEVELOPMENT Paul Borcherds reported that all SADSAA coaching manuals created and published to date have been submitted to SASCOC for accreditation. An application form has been created to be used when funds are requested for development courses.

SAFETY Stan Walter recently had a meeting with SAMSA where SAMSA confirmed that up to the date of that meeting there was a backlog of some 1 100 skippers’ tickets still to be issued, most of which have been outstanding for quite some time.

SADSAA CONTACTS: Office phone: (012) 996-9007 • Website: www.sadsaa.com

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E-Zine Subscriptions (Electronic Format): www.zinio.com/SkiBoat SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 83

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

All deep sea anglers who achieve laid down prestigious standards of excellence will be entitled to apply for the KINGFISHER AWARD. Upon ratification by a panel of adjudicators, the angler will receive a handsome certificate, suitably inscribed, PLUS a hand-embroidered cloth badge – both confirming the catch achievement.

The Kingfisher Award will be made for fish caught in two sections: 1) The Kingfisher Award - Meritorious Fish To satisfy the requirements for this award, anglers are required to catch a fish included in the list detailed hereunder, equal to or better than the nominated weight.

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

The different eligible fish and their corresponding minimum nominated weights are as in the accompanying list below SPECIES Gamefish: Barracuda Dorado Kingfish (Ignobilis) Garrick (Leervis) King Mackerel (’Cuda) Black Marlin Blue Marlin Striped Marlin Prodigal Son Sailfish (Pacific) Spearfish (Longbill) Spearfish (Shortbill) Tuna (Big Eye)

NOMINATED WEIGHT 20kg 15kg 20kg 15kg 24kg 225kg 150kg 75kg 18kg 35kg 20kg 20kg 30kg

RULES: 1) All members of SADSAA-affiliated clubs may apply for Kingfisher Awards.

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

3) Award-applicants must submit a photograph of the relevant fish with the application form, preferably a photograph of the angler holding the fish.

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

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

6) Entries must be received within 45 days of capture.

7) Certificates awarded will be as follows: Meritorious Fish - Gold

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

Meritorious Fish Outstanding Catch Tick the appropriate box and supply us with the following information.

Please remember to print clearly.

Applicant's Details: Name: ..................................................................................

Address: .............................................................................. .......................................................... Code: ........................

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

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

Club: ....................................................................................

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

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

A gold certificate and a hand-embroidered cloth badge will be awarded for this achievement.

Complementing this section is the second award category: 2) Kingfisher Award - Outstanding Catch To satisfy the requirements for this award, anglers can catch any recognised fish and the weight of that fish must equal or exceed certain laid down fish weight:line class ratios.

Awards will be made in the following ratio categories: 3:1 – Bronze Award S:1 – Silver Award 7:1 – Silver Award 10:1 – Gold Award.

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

Certificates Certificates will carry all the information about the catch (fish, weight, line class and ratio), the successful angler's name and the date on which the catch was made.

SPECIES

NOMINATED WEIGHT

Tuna (Longfin) Tuna (Yellowfin) Wahoo Yellowtail Shark (Hammerhead) Shark (Mako) Shark (Thresher) Shark (Tiger)

25kg 50kg 20kg 18kg 200kg 80kg 110kg 200kg

Bottom Fish: Kob (Daga) Musselcracker (Black)

30kg 27kg

Outstanding Catch 3: 1 - Bronze; 5: 1 and 7: 1 - Silver; 10:1 - Gold.

Cloth embroidered badges will be awarded in all categories.

8)

No witnesses of the catch are required. The award is made in the true spirit of sportsmanship and relies on the integrity of the angler to make a just claim.

9) A selection of award winners’ names will be announced in future issues of SKI-BOAT, along with relevant photographs.

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

11) There is no charge for Kingfisher Awards.

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

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

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

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

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

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

5:1

7:1

10:1

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

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

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

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

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

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

COMPETITIONS

by SKI-BOAT Reporter

Lomar Breedt with a nice yellowfin — the top fish on the second day.

At the 16th Three Ships Inhaca Gamefish Challenge

S the 36 boats approached the beautiful island of Inhaca some 32km offshore of Maputo harbour, there was an expectation of the same fair weather and amazing catches we experienced last year. The 2013 Inhaca Challenge was officially opened by the new Three Ships Inhaca Challenge organiser, Gavin Martins, who thanked all the local dignitaries as well as the Moçambican authorities, without whom this competition would not be possible. Spirits were high and the opening function was enjoyed by everyone, with some diehards enjoying the sponsored Three Ships Whisky and 2M beer till late into the evening.

This year’s sponsors contributed over R500 000 worth of prizes — a truly generous contribution in these tough times — and we thank them for making the competition possible.

Unfortunately spirits were dampened long before sunrise on the first day, when the wind was recorded at 27 knots on the end of the pier, meaning there would be no fishing that day.

Fishing conditions on the second day were also tough, but all the boats fished on bravely in uncomfortable conditions.

With species earning a multiplication of points, the local boat from Maputo, Sholay, came in first followed by Sea Nergy and My Cat. Top fish of the day went to Top Shot.

The weather eventually calmed on the third day, and the anglers were

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enthusiastic about having a good day’s angling. Fish were very shy, though, and proved difficult to hook. Once again species were the answer, with My Cat taking the day. Also maximising points on species and in second place was the crew on Gone Overboard. Third spot for the day went to On Strike. The biggest fish of the day was a 13.3kg ’cuda caught from Frisky Girl.

The weather gods once again prevented the fleet from launching on the fourth day, so the anglers spent the day exploring the island’s restaurants and lodges.

By Friday everyone was raring to go to sea, and when the weather gave us a gap the organising committee agreed to extend fishing time by an hour.

Once again the top boats on the final

3 SHIPS INHACA CHALLENGE 2013 STATISTICS Gamefish caught Number Total kg King mackerel 65 551.1 Greater barracuda 5 36.6 Wahoo 2 29.0 Dorado 11 82.8 Cobia 1 8.1 Queen mackerel 1 5.6 Yellowfin tuna 6 57.2 Kawakawa 5 32.0 Dogtooth tuna 1 8.6 Released Gamefish Number Kingfish, giant 3 Kingfish, yellow spotted 2 Kingfish, blue fin 2 Kingfish, golden 1 Bludger 4 Amberjack 7 Tropical yellowtail 3 Green jobfish 6

70-79cm 1 1 1 2 2 2 4

80-89cm 1 2 4 1 1

Biggest (kg) 17.0 8.3 15.5 9.0 8.1 5.6 17.7 7.0 8.6 90-99cm 1 1 1

100-110cm 2 1 -

Tag & Release Billfish Sailfish — 11 Black Marlin —1 SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 87

My Cat — Marius Bosman, Theo Van der Walt, Pierre Pienaar, Andre Pienaar and Fernando Cuna — took winning honours. day cashed in on the species factor, with My Cat edging out Sholay. The biggest fish of the day went to the crew aboard Supremasea who landed a lovely 17kg ’cuda.

The excitement was was palpable as we all knew that the final points tally would be a close one. In the end it was My Cat skippered by Pierre Pienaar (378.2 points) that just pipped Sholay skippered by Bino Nordine (345.7 points) to the post. Third spot went to Sea Nergy skippered by Theo Isaiah (214.65 points). The top boat ended up with a total of nine species, proving that

88 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

The billfish release winning team: Ward Rijkenberg, Derek Hopf, Gordon Bradford, Ricus Bateman and Corrie Bateman.

this is the way to win the Inhaca Challenge.

Top angler was Richard Martins on Sholay, followed by Theo Isaiah on Sea Nergy and Theo van der Walt fishing on My Cat. The R34 000 Calcutta prize for the biggest fish of the competition was taken by a 17.7kg yellowfin tuna caught

by Lomar Breedt aboard Top Shot.

Although the Inhaca Challenge is largely a gamefish tournament, the release of billfish is acknowledged and encouraged. This year one marlin and 11 sailfish were released during the three days fished. The prize for top billfish

release team went to the anglers aboard On Strike. My Cat came second on a count-out and Denwa One took third place.

Once again the request to release selected species of gamefish was honoured by the anglers, with 28 fish being released successfully, including three fish of over a metre long. This is truly a great achievement, considering that the challenge is a 10kg line class competition.

A big thanks to Gavin Martins and the organising committee for an extremely well organised competition.

See you again next May!

THIS & THAT

by Craig Thomassen

CLICKETY CLICK! The internet — a great fishing tool

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N the current age of information technology we have a variety of useful tools at our fingertips to help us with our fishing. There are websites that deal with tides, weather, moon phases, etc., to help us plan trips. There are interactive websites packed with information about all sorts of fishing issues, from tackle to local advice on productive fishing spots. In fact, one can research almost any fishing question sitting in front of a PC and get very satisfactory answers.

There are even websites that store your fishing pictures and videos, where you can create albums and have your friends visit and admire your catches.

Meanwhile, social media sites provide real time information on things like fish movements and can be hugely useful when trying to track down specific happenings like the sardine run, for example.

We also have access to reports, articles and blogs written by experts and guides, giving us all of the latest news in the fishing world.

With all of the information available to us, it’s no wonder fishermen are becoming far better informed than ever before. In fact, over the last ten years the average fisherman in South Africa has become far more educated and is much more aware of all of the latest products and techniques being used around the world.

In the past most of the knowledge was held by a few experts and the general angling population were very much of the chuck-and-chance variety. The web, as well as the other media such as

90 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

magazines and TV shows, are all responsible for changing this.

It’s amazing that we can now view video footage of a lure and how it swims underwater, for example, or find a video clip showing how to rig the hooks on a specific lure. This sort of information is invaluable and was never so readily available in the past.

Want to know how to tie a knot?

Simply Google it and you’ll find video tutorials, animated knot sites and a whole variety of other ways to learn to tie your knot. You can sit at your desk with a piece of line and practise tying that knot, while you repeat the tutorial as many times as you need to.

Thankfully, these platforms have also gone a long way towards promoting responsible angling. Recreational fishermen in South Africa have been exposed to information on fish handling and release, and have bought into the concept of catch-and-release to a large degree. This trend is having a positive effect on our inshore fish stocks and is going to help ensure the future of our sport in years to come.

These days an angler who is not plugged into the online fishing network is at a severe disadvantage. He is missing out on tons of free information and services which can help to advance his knowledge base. Being out of the loop means he’s still living in the dark ages, as far as fishing is concerned.

Some fishing websites, such as <Fishtube.tv> have evolved to include a conservation slant. The Roam Free conservation initiative promoted on fishtube encourages catch-and-release and

collates information on fish species’ whereabouts and movements.

Recreational fishermen can therefore contribute to a major conservation initiative without having to be members of a specific tagging programme. Released catches do not need to be tagged, they simply need to be reported. This is a great way to involve the public in fishery conservation and information gathering.

There are specialised fishing websites that deal with specific disciplines of angling, such as flyfishing, and there are general fishing sites which cover every aspect of fishing that one can imagine. Some of these sites have thousands of members, while others are small and intimate. Choosing which fishing website suits your needs is a very personal decision, but there is indeed something out there for everyone. Many anglers chose to belong to a few online fishing communities to broaden their information gathering net, so to speak.

So, if you are a thinking angler, who is constantly on the lookout for ways to improve your fishing, it makes sense to join in and get the most out of the web.

If you are plugged into the various websites and social media sites, as well as reading the latest magazines and watching the TV shows, then you will be as well informed as possible, and even a part-time angler can stay abreast of trends in the fishing world right from his desk.

We are very fortunate to have this incredible resource, and for those who take advantage of it, it’s hard to imagine how we ever got by without it.

MY BIGGEST FISH

by Whelan Swart (11)

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HE first fishing competition I participated in was this year’s Hoedspruit tournament. I really love fishing and it’s always been my dream to follow in my dad’s footsteps. Our friend, Uncle Piet Jordaan, invited my dad, my sister and I to fish the Hoedspruit junior tournament with him aboard Jorrie.

On the first day I was very nervous because it was my first experience of competition angling. Early that morning we trolled some lures and halfbeaks in the hopes of catching a tuna or sailfish. By 10am we had nothing, though, so we decided to try for ’cuda instead.

That was when my learning curve really started. We usually use treble hooks, but now I had to learn to get J-hooks into the bait. I let my mackerel bait out between the motors, then suddenly, two metres behind the boat the ’cuda hit my bait. I kept my thumb on the spool and when the fish stopped running I pushed up the drag and the fight began! My arms were burning, but after about 20 minutes I managed to get my 21.6kg ’cuda to the boat. It’s my biggest gamefish and I was really proud of myself.

We also hooked a sailfish that day, but unfortunately another boat drove over our line and cut it off.

I learnt so much during the seminars that I can’t wait for next year’s competition. I want to thank everyone who helped make it possible for us to participate. One of these days the older anglers are going to have to watch out for us youngsters, then we can swop the lemonade “strafdoppe” for something stronger!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ANNUAL WINNER AJ Van Zyl (12) of Primrose, left, was thrilled to receive his prize of two Shimano Tiagra 30 reels and a Shimano rod courtesy of Bell Equipment and Rapala VMC on his birthday! Chris Botha and Dirk Truter were at the handover.

AJ is a real little fisherman and would rather miss a friend’s birthday party than a fishing trip. He can’t wait to put his new tackle to the test and hopes his prize will help him land a big tuna. Happy fishing, AJ, and our sincere thanks to Bell for their continued support of the next generation of anglers!

HIS feature is dedicated to all the young anglers out there who have stories to tell — after all, you wouldn’t be a real fisherman/ woman if you didn’t have a story to tell.

Send us a ±500 word story about one of your favourite fishing outings, the big one you caught or got away, or simply tell us how much you love fishing, who introduced you to it, and what your greatest catch has been.

Make sure you send along one or two good photos too.

If your story is published in SKI-BOAT you’ll receive a miniature replica of a Bell tri-wheel logger and a fabulous jacket and cap, kindly sponsored by Bell Equipment. Once a year we’ll choose a winner from amongst the stories that have been published, and that lucky boy or girl will receive two Tiagra 30 reels and a Shimano rod, all sponsored by Bell Equipment. Come on, show us what you’ve got!

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Remember to include your age and contact details.

E-mail your story to <sheena@mags.co.za> with “Reel Kids” in the subject line.

MARKETPLACE Maxsea Navigation App for your iPad

Diawa is ready to reel in those shad

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HAD/ELF season is around the corner, so now is a good time to look at buying a Daiwa AG6000.

Robust and powerful, this big capacity reel offers exceptional value to anglers on a budget. It has a powerful and accurate micrometric front drag system and is suited to both surfand freshwater anglers. Although the recommended retail price is just R495, don’t be fooled — this reel really performs.

Take a closer look at the Daiwa AG6000 at your nearest fishing tackle store or contact The Kingfisher on (031) 368-3903, email <kingfish@iafrica.com> or visit their website <www.kingfisher.co.za>.

MTECH Marine South Africa is proud to announce the upcoming launch of the MaxSea TimeZero marine navigation app for iPads — the only app that offers a full 3D chart engine and boasts the unique PhotoFusion feature. MaxSea TimeZero is powered by TimeZero technology, featuring a 2D/3D chart display, PhotoFusion and the most accurate marine charts thanks to MapMedia’s unique Raster mm3d format.

Plot your position in real-time on the marine charts thanks to the built-in geolocation features of your iPad such as GPS and/or WiFi. With the MaxSea TimeZero App, you can easily create waypoints and routes, overlay tidal information and satellite photos for a more complete display.

The MaxSea TimeZero App has been designed to offer an extremely simple system that allows users to constantly display and have access to all the essential information.

For more information contact Imtech Marine South Africa on 0861 123 555 or email <info.za@imtechmarine.com>.

Pure Fishing buys Hardy & Greys

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URE Fishing are thrilled to annouce that they recently acquired Hardy & Greys Limited.

For over 140 years, Hardy & Greys and its employees have worked together to build a portfolio of well-respected brands, including Hardy®, Hardy Bros®, Greys® and Chub®, and serve as a leader providing innovation, quality and reliability to fishing markets around the world. Hardy & Greys also specialise in the design and manufacture of tubular components from advanced composite materials.

This transaction reinforces Pure Fishing’s mission to provide the ultimate experience for anglers and customers, through leading brands, innovative products and superior services.

High thrust option for Suzuki’s DF60

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UZUKI’S current DF60 outboard motor will soon be available with a higher thrust compared to the current model DF60.

Pontoon buyers will appreciate the added thrust offered by the optional “High Energy Rotation” lower unit now available with the 60hpDF60AV model outboard.

With a 2.42:1 gear ratio, the DF60AV can swing a 14-inch diameter propeller, adding lots of blade area to help move and back down heavier boats, especially when wind or current come into play.

The standard DF60A has a 2.27:1 ratio and typically swings an 11.75-inch diameter propeller. The DF60AV also features Suzuki’s three-cylinder, DOHC 12-valve powerhead and electronic fuel injection with Lean Burn, for a significant improvement in fuel economy.

For more information, visit <www.suzukisa.co.za>.

94 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

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With Quatix you’ll be fully equipped

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ARMIN Southern Africa recently unveiled quatix™, its first GPS watch designed for passionate mariners. Quatix combines the most crucial marine features and provides comprehensive navigation and sailing capabilities, while integrating Garmin’s industry-leading GPS technology and user-friendly interface.

Mariners can rely on quatix for data such as tidal information, COG, SOG and VMG, along with alerts for speed and anchor drag. Quatix is also equipped with altimeter, barometer and compass sensors, providing mariners with real-time information regarding their environment.

In addition to providing crucial marine data, quatix helps keep the user safe as well. With the integrated MOB feature, the watch can automatically trigger a MOB alarm on a Garmin chartplotter. This allows the captain to see when someone wearing the quatix has fallen overboard.

The quatix is now available at a suggested retail price of R5 649 incl VAT.

Raymarine launches CP100 sonar module

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AYMARINE is proud to introduce the CP100 Sonar Module, a CHIRP powered “black box”, network sonar module that brings photo-like underwater vision to Raymarine’s latest generation of multifunction displays. Following up on Raymarine’s award winning Dragonfly DownVisionª CHIRP sonar, the CP100 now brings this technology to Raymarine multifunction displays.

The photo-like imagery of bottom structure using CHIRP DownVision technology is fantastic, while the dual-channel DownVision and conventional sonar allows for independent adjustments and very high ping rates (up to 50 pings per second).

For further information on these and other Raymarine products, contact MDM Marine Services on (021) 671-6751 or email <info@ mdmservices.co.za>.

SKI-BOAT, 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 photograph of yourself and the fish you caught, you will be eligible to receive — in recognition of your achievement — some wonderful goodies from Mercury.

Upon ratification, all junior anglers who submit entries will receive a handsome certificate suitably inscribed, PLUS an embroidered cloth badge — both confirming the catch achievement.

If the picture you submit is featured on the Mercury Junior Angler page, you will also receive an additional limited edition Mercury cap which will make you the envy of all your fishing buddies.

And there’s more …

At the end of a year, the names of all junior anglers whose 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 • Fish species and weight • Line class • Date and place of capture • Boat’s name and skipper Please note: Photo submissions that were taken with a cellphone will not be eligible to be used on our Juniors page.

All entries should be sent to: Mercury Junior Angler SKI-BOAT Magazine PO Box 20545, Durban North, 4016 or e-mailed to <angler@mags.co.za> There is no restriction on the number of awards that can be applied for, and SKI-BOAT reserves the right to use the photographs as it sees fit. A selection of six award winners will be announced in each issue of SKI-BOAT, along with their name and photograph.

Junior anglers — Mercury and SKI-BOATmagazine acknowledge that you hold the future of our sport in your hands. Here’s your chance to show us what you can do!

INDUSTRY

by SKI-BOAT Reporter

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HIS yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Durban International Boat and Lifestyle Show was once again a great success, with three days of magnificent weather greeting the public as the show celebrated its tenth year at the Durban Marina.

Floods of people ventured down to the aquatic show, with the counter reaching over 10 000 visitors. All things nautical were on display in their natural environment, from small model boats to impressive luxury catamarans, and visitors were wowed at every turn.

One of the big attractions, the CocaCola Cardboard Boat Race, was a huge hit on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the closed race organised by the eThekwini Maritime Cluster saw 50 scholars from around the province enjoy the culmination of their week-long Welcome to the Water campaign. The kids had been on a sailing course and then, on the Saturday,

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ 97

had the opportunity to create their very own boats that they could race.

The event was won by Washington Ngwabe. His was the only boat out of seven to complete the short course, with all of his competition’s boats disintegrating along the way.

Sunday’s cardboard boat race was open to the public and a fabulous fleet took to the water to race around a 150m-long course. Two teams’ boats took on water and unfortunately didn’t get out of the starting blocks. The remainder of the boats, made only of cardboard and duct tape, managed to get round the two NSRI buoys. On the final stretch, the action heated up with young Gabriel Hilton-Clarke (10) from Morningside being reeled in by Nicolette Crozier.

A tussle for the line ensued with Hilton-Clarke having the legs to pip Crozier at the post, taking the honours and the winner’s cheque of R1 000.

Third place was another young entry, Jessica Lilly Jolley (8), from Umbilo.

Event organisers Barry Meehan and Devra Smith of Creative Events were delighted with this year’s show. “Even with the current global financial situation, the show had plenty of incredible boats and lifestyle items on offer, as well as fantastic attractions, along with a friendly atmosphere on and off the moorings,” Barry said.

The annual attraction will be back next year — same place, same time — with the organisers plotting more funfilled attractions for the Durban International Boat and Lifestyle Show.

98 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

MARKETPLACE Tarpon immortalised

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OME months ago SKI-BOAT magazine sent out a request to the South African angling community — we were looking for a full mount of a big tarpon. Word came back that the Pennington Ski-Boat Club had an old mount of a big tarpon hanging in their clubhouse.

Grant Thompson who specialises in creating replicas was ecstatic and asked if he could use the club’s fish as a mould and then restore it to its former glory. Looking at the accompanying photo of the restored ±70kg tarpon, it’s clear the restoration was a great success, although no photo can properly capture the finer features of this recreated tarpon mount and the incredible detail Grant has worked into the old mount. Using exquisite imported paints he has achieved the remarkable pearlescent colouring of this fish’s lower body, exactly mimicking its colours when it’s alive.

For further information on fish mounts contact Grant Thompson on 082 771 3645 or email <gcthompson@mweb.co.za>.

New Elite-5 HDI units from Lowrance

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OWRANCE has just added a top-notch, affordable new option to their vast product range, the Elite-5 Hybrid Dual Imaging (HDI) series, which means even more anglers can access high-performance fishfinders and chartplotters. Strikingly compact, yet bursting with powerful features, the easy-to-use new series is available either as a fishfinder/chartplotter combo model (Elite-5 HDI combo) or as a stand-alone fishfinder (Elite-5x HDI) or chartplotter (Elite-5m).

Eliminating guess work, Broadband Sounder and Downscan Imaging allows anglers to mark fish arches and track lure action while viewing crystal-clear, picture-like images of structure and

bottom detail. A simple adjustment exposes fish targets, clearly separating them from the surrounding structure.

Look out for the Elite-5 HDI units at Lowrance’s stand at the CapeTown Boat Show — 4th to 6th October at the Cape Town ICC. These fantastic new Elite-5 HDI units are protected by a three-year warranty if bought through an authorised South African dealer. Ask your dealer for further information, or contact Lowrance South Africa on (031) 368-6649 or <sales@lowrance.co.za>.

New management for Riotz Taxidermy

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ITH the passing on of Peter Rindl, Riotz Taxidermy will carry on under the management of well known deep sea angler Anthony Illing. The standard of work will remain as high as it always has and Anthony has even undertaken to assist people who paid deposits for mounts prior to Pete’s death.

Give Anthony a call on 082 6522 364 to discuss all your taxerdermy/mount needs.

Only the best tackle

T

ROPICAL Dream Tackle’s owner and Protea angler Kobus Sutherland, believes second best isn’t good enough for his clients and Kobus’s passion for excellence in his products can clearly be seen.

Tropical Dream Tackle manufactures marlin and sailfish lures, wind-on leaders, hook sets and all other fishing accessories. Lures can be purchased rigged or unrigged and are priced to make them affordable to the average angler.

They can also be custom-made to suit your requirements and you can even have your boat’s name etched onto the lures. Tried-and-tested, the bottom line is that these lures catch fish!

Contact Kobus on 082 564 3225 or email <tropicaldream@telkomsa.net>.

SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 101

SMALLS

ADVERTISERS’ BOAT FOR SALE

SKIPPERS’TRAINING

OBTAIN your SAMSA skipper’s certificate of competence. Theoretical, practical and surf launch training by an experienced commercial skipper.

Phone Kobus on 082 891 3652, (012) 348-9078 or (012) 361-2617, e-mail <skippers@twobar.co.za> or visit their website <www.twobar.co.za>.

BOAT FOR SALE

OCEAN CAT 520 (2010), one owner.

Complete with 2 x 60hp Suzuki 4strokes, beach kits, skeg protectors, engine rests, power steering, collapsible T-top, livewell, HDS 5 Lowrance combo, 4 Scotty rod holders on trolling boards, outrigger bases, Scotty downrigger, 29mHz radio, CD player, galvanised b/neck trailer with spare, all safety equip, seaworthy to end December 2013. Everything in good working order.

Price: R250 000 Contact: Louis on 082 524 8350

BOAT FOR SALE

RAMPAGE 23ft with 2 x 115hp 4-stroke Yamahas (2005), includes Lowrance LCX-112C combo GPS, f/finder, radar, VHF & UHF radios, fighting chair, outriggers, safety equip and galvanised trailer.

Price: R350 000 Contact: Deo Botha on 082 928 4080

BOAT FOR SALE

ACE GLIDER 750 Enclosed (2012 model) with 2 x 200hp Mercur y Optimax motors. Includes Smart Craft gauges, Lowrance HDS 10, VHF & 29mHz radios, Lowrance Sonic Hub, remote spotlight, electric windlass anchor system, Luna tubes, livewell, two electric downriggers, Tri-pot outrigger bases/poles, Compressor fridge, aluminium sliding doors, full safety equipment, electric toilet, antifouling, freshwater system, f/chair, deckwash system, double axle trailer with oilfilled axles and electric braking system. Excellent condition.

Price: R1 180 000 ONO Contact: Tokkie on 083 268 0646

YELD CAT 17ft (2010) with 2 x 60hp Yamaha 4-stroke EFT motors (±150 hrs), beach kits, hydraulic steering, 29mHz, VHF and FM radio, Lowrance HD f/finder/GPS combo with Navionics Gold charts, Yeld SS collapsible T-top, livewell & pump, outriggers, all safety equip & eight fuel cans included, galv b/neck trailer with oil-filled axles and disc brakes plus three tyres on galv.

L/Cruiser rims. Ready to go to sea.

Price: R360 000 Contact: Johan on 083 628 3894 or email <johan.snyman@mmc.co.za>

DEADLINE for the November/December 2013 issue of SKI-BOAT magazine

is 18th September.

BOOK YOUR SPACE NOW! Phone Joan on (031) 572-2289 or Lyn on (011) 425-2052

INDEX Accessories Spares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Actual Images. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Billfish 15 000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Billfish University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Black Bart Lures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Blue Water Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Boating International . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Boating World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Boating World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Cape Town Boat Show . . . . . . . . . . 100 Club marine Insurance . . . . . . . . . . 76 Costa Sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Durban Yamaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Ganis Angling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Garmin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Grant Thompson Fish Replicas . . . 101 Guinjane Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Guinjata Sponsors Thanks . . . . . . . . 29 Hibberdene Sponsors Thanks . . . . . 99 Honda Knysna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Honda Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Honda Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Imtech Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Inhaca Sponsors Thanks . . . . . . . . . 88 Jigstar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Jonsson Clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Kenya Billfish Challenge . . . . . . . . . 50 LA Axles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Leecat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Lowrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Lucky’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Manitou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Matoya Lodge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 McCrystal Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 MDM — Raymarine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Mercury 4-stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Mercury Optimax . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Mias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Mr Winch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Natal Caravans & Marine . . . . . . . . . . 2 Natal Powerboats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Offshore Bait Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Pro Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Pulsator Lures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Pure Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Racetech Yamaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Rapala X-Rap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Roam Free . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 SADSAA Billfish Classic . . . . . . . . . . 81 Shelly Beach Sponsors Thanks . . . . . 67 Ski-Port Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Sodwana Tigerfish Bonanza . . . . . . . 37 Solly’s Angler’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Southern Power Products . . . . . . . . 51 Sportfishing Tackle Shop . . . . . . . . . 78 Supafly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Supercat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Suzuki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 The Kingfisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 TOPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Turboformance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Twister Marine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Two Oceans Marine. . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Vanguard Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Warn Winch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Wildfly Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Yamaha F200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Yamaha Seacat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Z-Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 103

BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS

Advertise your company in the BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS for

ONLY R900

(incl. VAT)

PER BLOCK!

CONTACT JOAN ON (031) 572-2289 TODAY. 112 â&#x20AC;¢ SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

DIRECTORY

SEA ADVENTURES Ltd. KENYA

Pat & Simon Hemphill. Kenya’s top scoring marlin skippers.

Tel: 09254 40 52220/52205 • Fax: +254 41 2227675 Website: www.bigame.com • E-mail: hemphill@bigame.com

KENYA

For the best results!

Phone Erwin Bursik Tel: (031) 572-2289

ONLY R480 PER BLOCK! PHONE JOAN ON (031) 572-2289 NOW! SKI-BOAT September/October 2013 • 113

RAPALA LIP

A

LTHOUGH most women will do pretty much anything to impress a man they really like, I’m not so sure that most women would go as far as go deep sea fishing for his sake. However, I’m not like most women, and I usually can’t be bothered to impress anyone.

Then a couple of months ago I met a special man who just happened to have a ski-boat, and he invited me to go fishing with him and some friends on a particular Sunday.

I must admit that I wasn’t particularly excited about the fishing part, but after a few Captain Morgans in the pub on the Saturday night, I decided that I was a pirate and that I would indeed go out to sea the next morning. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?

On the Sunday morning we prepared to launch at 8am from the East London harbour. I’d put on my “fishing pants” and was as ready as I would ever be.

The ride out of the harbour was really exiting, and on the way to the fishing grounds my partner showed me how to work the fishing rod. By the time we arrived at “the spot” I sortof knew how to tie half a knot. We put the fishing rods in the water with funny looking hooks attached that I thought would make pretty earrings. It wasn’t long before I caught my first fish and I was so excited — until I found out it was “livebait”.

Surprisingly, I didn’t feel seasick at all, even after all my “pirate juice” the previous evening. We travelled a little deeper out to sea and by then I could handle the fishing rod all by myself, so I made myself useful catching another few livebaits.

114 • SKI-BOAT September/October 2013

On the next mark I was taught how to put bait on the hooks. A big surprise to the men was that I didn’t mind cutting my own bait and rigging it. On one occasion I tried fishing one of the live sardines and was starting to celebrate catching something when I realised it was just my bait I was reeling in. So it was time to have a beer to calm my nerves ...

Suddenly I felt a real fish biting and quickly handed my beer to my partner.

I reeled and reeled and reeled and reeled ... and finally displayed my catch to the others with all the pride in the world. The guys took one look at it, unhooked it and threw it back overboard! All I could do was watch in disbelief as it disappeared behind us.

Apparently my fish couldn’t be used for anything.

You should have seen how fast my Rapala Lip grew. All that work and my fish was just tossed aside! I reckoned they were just jealous, and didn’t want a woman to out-fish them.

I refused to give up, though. A few minutes later I had to put my sandwich down to reel up yet another fish, and this time I was allowed to keep it. But, can you believe it, when I caught a few more, without a word they were tossed back overboard. Once a funny looking bird decided to take my allegedly useless recently-released catch for lunch.

At least the bird thought it was good for something.

One of the men caught a beautiful pyjama shark or striped catshark. I offered to release it back into the ocean, although I secretly wished I could keep it as a pet. I’ve got a pair of shoes that would match it perfectly. I

Last Word by SJ Slabbert

know that a fish can’t be taken for a walk, but it would’ve made a brilliant photo to put on Facebook.

While out at sea we saw whales and dolphins and birds that take fish from your hands. It was amazing, and gradually the irritation of having my fish thrown back just melted away. I hardly said a word out there which really is a miracle — everyone who knows me wouldn’t believe it, but it is true.

Eventually a bottle of champagne was handed to me on our ride back and I got braver with every sip. The ride to the beach was amazing and I can’t wait to go again.

Back at the club I went to get us all drinks while the men cleaned the boat and the fish — quite clever, I thought, and the best way to make sure the men didn’t think I would do the “housework” in exchange for a great day out.

Supervising the men as they washed the boat is not an easy job, but the Captain and Coke helped ease my pain.

While mulling over the day I decided to rename the boat “Donald” as it’s a duck.

A few other fishermen asked me what we’d caught, to which I answered “fish”. I told them that, among others, I’d caught a red roman, but forgot to mention the fact that it was undersized and we had to put him back. It doesn’t matter, though, because next time we go out he’ll be bigger and I’ll catch him again.

My motto is “Try everything in life at least once, and if it’s good, do it again”.

It turns out fishing is definitely worth doing again. I’m properly hooked now and have decided to join the club so that I can learn to fish properly and can enter the ladies league next year. Watch out, boys, here I come!