REPORT ON THE SADSAA BILLFISH CLASSIC 2009 [/b]
RICHARDS BAY – 18[sup]th[/sup] to 21[sup]st[/sup] FEBRUARY 2009[/b]
[align=right]By Jackie Pratt[/i][/b][/align] [align=right]Tournament Secretary[/i][/b][/align] [align=right] [/i][/b][/align] The first ever SADSAA Billfish Classic got off to sensational spine tingling start that brought tears to the eyes of even the biggest macho fisherman, when 85 boats took off en mass from Richards Bay harbour soon after sunrise on Wednesday morning 18[sup]th[/sup] February. Anglers had come from all over South Africa, some as far afield as Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and even Mozambique, to participate in SADSAA’s first Full Release Billfish Only event, which has been accepted by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) as a qualifying event for the IGFA Offshore World Championships; the winning team will have the opportunity to compete in the World Championships in Mexico in 2010.
On Day 1 the weather was pretty kind with a moderate N.E. wind blowing so most of the boats were able to stay out until the cut-off time of 17H00, by which time all boats had to return and check-in at Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club.
Adjudication was done by means of a photograph of the fish with a crew member, preferably holding the bill, wearing a coloured armband, which was issued on a daily basis. Photographs were downloaded onto a PC and the time of the catch as shown on the photograph was recorded on the score sheet. The time of the catch was crucial as where several boats caught one fish the first fish caught took precedence over fish caught later. Scoring was done on the simple basis of 100 points for a Marlin, 30 for a Sailfish and 15 for a Shortbill Spearfish
On Day 1 five Blue Marlin, three Black Marlin, one Striped Marlin, three Sailfish (two on REEL MAGIC) and one Shortbill were release (total 12 billfish).
On Day 2 all boats launched but unfortunately the SW wind came through and the competition was called of at 13.30 therefore any fish caught after that time did not count. Four Blue Marlin and two Shortbill were recorded, two of the Marlin being on TEASER, the only boat so far with 2 Marlin, however PULSATOR had a Marlin on Day 1 and a Shortbill on Day 2 so they were now lying 2[sup]nd[/sup] with 115 points.
On Friday, Day 3 the SW was still blowing early in the morning and the competition was delayed until 8.30 when the weather committee out on the Point felt that it had abated sufficiently for the boats to launch, however when the guys got out there they found the sea pretty mountainous and by 10.30 the “At Sea†weather committee agreed to cancel the competition for the day and all boats returned to base. A few of the bigger boats did stay out and Clive Rice on THE BEAST released his first ever Black Marlin at around 14.30, although he was one happy cricketer unfortunately his fish did not count in the competition.
On Saturday, the final day of the competition the weather again played ball early on with alight NE wind blowing most of the day, which brought some extreme heat and humidity but also the best days fishing, although the wind did pick up later and the boats had a pretty rough ride home. A total of 10 Marlin were released and two Shortbill. The team PULSATOR caught their 2[sup]nd[/sup] Blue Marlin and also managed to find a Shortbill, unfortunately TEASER did not catch another fish after Day one so the Winners Trophy, Gold Medal and cheque for R100000, plus IGFA Certificate and a spot in the IGFA World Championships, went to PULSATOR skippered by Geoff Barnes with Mike Barnes, Ryan Williamson and Angus Braithwaite on board.
With a Marlin event of this kind, the bigger boats certainly have an advantage over the smaller Ski-Boats who cannot go as far out to the big drop-offs where the majority of marlin tend to spend their time, therefore the rules allowed for a small boat (under 7 Metres) to take the 2[sup]nd[/sup] Prize if the winner was a big boat therefore as PULSATOR is a 30ft Citation (made by Mallards Boats in Durban) the 2[sup]nd[/sup] prize of R50000 and Silver medal went to the locally built 21ft Yeld-Cat BAMBA ZONKE with Cornelius Blignaut, Wynand Rautenbach and Roland Blignaut, skippered by Johan de Beer. Mike and Mearle Buyskes on their boat TEASER (a 37ft Hatteras) together with Skipper Mark Gamin, Willie Booysen, Grant Miller and Johan Major had to settle for the Bronze medal and 3[sup]rd[/sup] prize of R30000.
A total of 31 Billfish were released; 16 Blue Marlin, 3 Black Marlin, 3 Striped Marlin, 3 Sailfish and 6 Shortbill Spearfish. Taking into consideration the fact that Day 3 was blown out and Day 2 the competition was cut short (many boats did not launch and the weather was far from ideal Bill-fishing conditions) the overall result is excellent.
SADSAA sincerely hope that the success of this event has paved the way for future competitions hosted by our Provinces and Clubs around the country to follow by example and introduce the ethic of Release into their “Bonanza†type events, thereby preserving our resource for future generations.
SADSAA would like to thank Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club for assisting in hosting this event, uMhlathuze City Council for their support and sponsorship of the TV coverage, Bell Equipment for the Helicopter to take up the cameraman, as well as major sponsor FOSKOR whose team were untiring with hands on assistance. Grateful thanks also to all other sponsors who gave donations, prizes and assistance : Ford Ritchie Auto, Riviera, Angling Africa and Columbia Clothing, Ski-Boat Magazine, Z-Craft, Captain Morgan, Iland Lures and Pulsator Lures. SADSAA look forward to seeing you all back with us same time, same place in 2010.
RICHARDS BAY – 18[sup]th[/sup] to 21[sup]st[/sup] FEBRUARY 2009[/b]
[align=right]By Jackie Pratt[/i][/b][/align] [align=right]Tournament Secretary[/i][/b][/align] [align=right] [/i][/b][/align] The first ever SADSAA Billfish Classic got off to sensational spine tingling start that brought tears to the eyes of even the biggest macho fisherman, when 85 boats took off en mass from Richards Bay harbour soon after sunrise on Wednesday morning 18[sup]th[/sup] February. Anglers had come from all over South Africa, some as far afield as Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and even Mozambique, to participate in SADSAA’s first Full Release Billfish Only event, which has been accepted by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) as a qualifying event for the IGFA Offshore World Championships; the winning team will have the opportunity to compete in the World Championships in Mexico in 2010.
On Day 1 the weather was pretty kind with a moderate N.E. wind blowing so most of the boats were able to stay out until the cut-off time of 17H00, by which time all boats had to return and check-in at Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club.
Adjudication was done by means of a photograph of the fish with a crew member, preferably holding the bill, wearing a coloured armband, which was issued on a daily basis. Photographs were downloaded onto a PC and the time of the catch as shown on the photograph was recorded on the score sheet. The time of the catch was crucial as where several boats caught one fish the first fish caught took precedence over fish caught later. Scoring was done on the simple basis of 100 points for a Marlin, 30 for a Sailfish and 15 for a Shortbill Spearfish
On Day 1 five Blue Marlin, three Black Marlin, one Striped Marlin, three Sailfish (two on REEL MAGIC) and one Shortbill were release (total 12 billfish).
On Day 2 all boats launched but unfortunately the SW wind came through and the competition was called of at 13.30 therefore any fish caught after that time did not count. Four Blue Marlin and two Shortbill were recorded, two of the Marlin being on TEASER, the only boat so far with 2 Marlin, however PULSATOR had a Marlin on Day 1 and a Shortbill on Day 2 so they were now lying 2[sup]nd[/sup] with 115 points.
On Friday, Day 3 the SW was still blowing early in the morning and the competition was delayed until 8.30 when the weather committee out on the Point felt that it had abated sufficiently for the boats to launch, however when the guys got out there they found the sea pretty mountainous and by 10.30 the “At Sea†weather committee agreed to cancel the competition for the day and all boats returned to base. A few of the bigger boats did stay out and Clive Rice on THE BEAST released his first ever Black Marlin at around 14.30, although he was one happy cricketer unfortunately his fish did not count in the competition.
On Saturday, the final day of the competition the weather again played ball early on with alight NE wind blowing most of the day, which brought some extreme heat and humidity but also the best days fishing, although the wind did pick up later and the boats had a pretty rough ride home. A total of 10 Marlin were released and two Shortbill. The team PULSATOR caught their 2[sup]nd[/sup] Blue Marlin and also managed to find a Shortbill, unfortunately TEASER did not catch another fish after Day one so the Winners Trophy, Gold Medal and cheque for R100000, plus IGFA Certificate and a spot in the IGFA World Championships, went to PULSATOR skippered by Geoff Barnes with Mike Barnes, Ryan Williamson and Angus Braithwaite on board.
With a Marlin event of this kind, the bigger boats certainly have an advantage over the smaller Ski-Boats who cannot go as far out to the big drop-offs where the majority of marlin tend to spend their time, therefore the rules allowed for a small boat (under 7 Metres) to take the 2[sup]nd[/sup] Prize if the winner was a big boat therefore as PULSATOR is a 30ft Citation (made by Mallards Boats in Durban) the 2[sup]nd[/sup] prize of R50000 and Silver medal went to the locally built 21ft Yeld-Cat BAMBA ZONKE with Cornelius Blignaut, Wynand Rautenbach and Roland Blignaut, skippered by Johan de Beer. Mike and Mearle Buyskes on their boat TEASER (a 37ft Hatteras) together with Skipper Mark Gamin, Willie Booysen, Grant Miller and Johan Major had to settle for the Bronze medal and 3[sup]rd[/sup] prize of R30000.
A total of 31 Billfish were released; 16 Blue Marlin, 3 Black Marlin, 3 Striped Marlin, 3 Sailfish and 6 Shortbill Spearfish. Taking into consideration the fact that Day 3 was blown out and Day 2 the competition was cut short (many boats did not launch and the weather was far from ideal Bill-fishing conditions) the overall result is excellent.
SADSAA sincerely hope that the success of this event has paved the way for future competitions hosted by our Provinces and Clubs around the country to follow by example and introduce the ethic of Release into their “Bonanza†type events, thereby preserving our resource for future generations.
SADSAA would like to thank Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club for assisting in hosting this event, uMhlathuze City Council for their support and sponsorship of the TV coverage, Bell Equipment for the Helicopter to take up the cameraman, as well as major sponsor FOSKOR whose team were untiring with hands on assistance. Grateful thanks also to all other sponsors who gave donations, prizes and assistance : Ford Ritchie Auto, Riviera, Angling Africa and Columbia Clothing, Ski-Boat Magazine, Z-Craft, Captain Morgan, Iland Lures and Pulsator Lures. SADSAA look forward to seeing you all back with us same time, same place in 2010.
