Friday 11 July 2025

In every sea fishing competition, meticulous planning lays the foundation—sponsors are confirmed, catering organised, pamphlets printed, accommodation booked, and excitement builds. Yet, there’s one element that remains stubbornly immune to preparation: the weather. No angler wants his precious fishing days lost to stormy weather and rough seas, especially after traveling great distances with rods, boats, and hopes in tow.

This year’s tournament opened under less-than-ideal conditions. Still, the first day offered just enough mercy from the waves and wind for each angler to land a few prized catches. Spirits lifted, camaraderie thrived. Then came the second day, when the weather god let loose—howling winds raged through the night, rain pounded relentlessly, and the sea churned with unpredictable fury.

Safety always comes first, and with that in mind, the day’s fishing was reluctantly postponed. But this unexpected pause became a cherished interlude.

At midday, the anglers were invited to come to the club for a lunch before which Grant Crighton would talk about his Airmar Transducers. He was all smiles when so many showed an interest, and he was able to answer many of their questions.

Unlike traditional fixed-frequency transducers, Airmar’s broadband CHIRP models sweep through a wide range of frequencies, delivering sonar returns with razor-sharp detail. Whether you’re chasing elusive gamefish or decoding the terrain near the seabed, these transducers are built to impress. Transom, thru-hull, in-hull, keel, or pocket—whatever your boat’s build, Airmar’s got a match.

Following the presentation, anglers made their way to the snack table, where an enticing array of treats awaited—hot dogs, succulent meatballs, crispy chicken drumsticks, golden samosas, and a selection of other savoury bites. Just like every meal throughout the tournament, this generous spread was proudly catered by OK Foods, whose exceptional offerings have truly delighted the crowd.

Over lunch, the anglers bonded over past fishing stories and future plans. Laughter echoed, friendships deepened, and in spite of the stormy weather a very good time was had by all.

The afternoon was free for socializing, exploring or napping whatever the anglers felt was their greatest need. Then everyone was back at the clubhouse for another delicious dinner.
In the last blog, I mentioned that Southern Cape had put up their banner. Before that Eastern Cape, perhaps the team with the most spirit, had already had theirs up from the beginning. Western Province just avoided a strafdop by putting theirs up today!

Some anglers, though, did not escape punishment for perceived crimes and whether it was saying something stupid or almost being left behind when their crew were about to launch, they had to pay the price by downing a strafdop,

Once again there was a draw for an Airmar jacket. With a flourish I drew out a strip of paper, opened it and called Chris Schorn to receive his prize.

Tonight’s taste adventure featured flame-cooked hamburgers – juicy, smoky, and downright scrumptious.

A big, bun-sized thank you goes out to the fabulous catering ladies, whose cheerful presence and tireless service make every evening such a pleasure for the hungry anglers.

Wise to the ways of the wind and water the anglers started packing up a little earlier than usual after dinner. Tomorrow’s conditions are whispering promises of fishing, but the verdict remains in suspense until 9 a.m., when the weather committee will check the conditions and consider the safety of all concerned before calling lines in!

Fingers crossed, rods poised, and may the weather god be merciful!