Tag Archives: fishing

The Nineteenth Two Oceans Marlin Tournament – Anglers Stories

These stories come directly from the anglers themselves with just the odd edit from me. The accompanying photographs are snapshots from cellphone videos, captured while the fish was in motion and the boat swayed with the waves so please forgive their less-than-perfect quality

Team Indigo, who caught the first marlin of the competition were the second prize winners.
Crew – Gawie Bruwer (Skipper) Peté (Jannie) Kotze, Werner Kotze,Lourens Odendal, Craig Jenkerson

Monday 3 March 2025

Chasing Dreams: My Journey in the Two Oceans Marlin Tournament

Peté (Jannie) Kotze

For six years, I have attempted to catch my first marlin in the Two Oceans Marlin Tournament. Would 2025 be the year my unfulfilled dream comes true?

Above all, I participate in this tournament for the fun and camaraderie, yet the desire to catch the elusive fish remains strong. Last year, I almost caught one, but it got away, and the sting of losing it was still sorely felt, especially as the crew did not let me forget it!

On the first fishing day of the tournament, we were finalizing the Cona position when the back-line went off. The skipper spotted a single working bird, and putting our lines out early paid off. We were close to the 45s, a bank 45 miles due south of Struisbaai. We got distracted on the way with a good-sized dorado at Halfway House, not expecting a strike just then.

We were unsure. It was too soon, and the pull was not so strong. Then the 80’ ‘Alutecnos started shrieking, and we were in business. What followed were majestic aerial displays, excitement, anxiety, and adrenaline, all keeping me fighting through the deep burn in my arms! May this be my first TOMT marlin, I prayed! Don’t let this be a repeat of last year’s loss! The fear of a recurrence kept me going.

Jannie working through the burn in his arms

The forty-nine minutes felt like an eternity. At last, Werner pulled in the leader. However, this black marlin had the final say. It kicked under the boat before we could properly remove the hooks. It swam off in the wake, released by the engine, still towing our precious pink and blue Cona!

My marlin bogey is off my back, but I already dream of the next and the next marlin. “Is this normal?” my wife asked. I nodded affirmatively.

My heartfelt thanks to my Indigo crew mates, Gawie (skipper), Werner, Lourens, and Craig. This one is for our dear friend Eugene, who passed away suddenly in January. His spirit was with us all the way on the boat.

Team Dory, won first prize for measuring and releasing two marlin.

Crew Dudley Rosslee (Skipper), Emile le Roux, Chris Gillit, Andrew (Davy) Davidson, Johan van der Walt

Tuesday 4 March 2025

Dory’s First Marlin of the Tournament

Andrew Davidson

On the 4th of March 2025, Dory left Struisbaai harbour at around 06:50 and headed out to the Halfway House area. This is a well-known fishing spot en route to the famous Alphard Banks, about 40 nautical miles east of Struisbaai.

Sea conditions were close to perfect, with a light swell and nearly no wind. Upon reaching the area, the team had their coffee and a light breakfast.

We had just started trawling and settling down for the day’s fishing, talking about how fortunate we are to have been a crew for the past nine years when we saw a black marlin coming from the port side.

It hit the short cona, then immediately moved to the starboard side long cona, striking it as well. The marlin then struck the long port side cona and moved away. During this, we continued trawling at about 8.5 knots, hoping to go “vas,” but it did not happen. The entire crew was happy to have had these strikes, but the marlin was not on yet.

We all thought the marlin had left us when the “Hongkong” cona was struck with a huge hit by the marlin. It was game on. I was on the rod and got into the fighting chair and the fight started. We had the privilege to view a black marlin jumping out of the water and giving us an unforgettable show of its power and survival skills. The fish was about 350 meters from the boat at the back, fighting me with all its power to escape and get the cona out of its mouth.

After about 30 minutes, I retrieved most of the line the marlin took and we could see it behind our boat. My thoughts were that the fight was over, but the marlin had other ideas. As I got the marlin closer to the boat, it decided to take a deep dive straight down into the sea next to the boat. After taking line again, I managed to turn it around, and the retrieving process started again. This happened another two times before I managed to get the marlin next to the boat. Emile managed to get hold of the leader line and pulled the marlin next to the boat. Chris was the video operator, and Dudley kept the boat on course next to the marlin.

As the marlin was next to the boat, Emile and I managed to remove both hooks on the cona from the its mouth without any injuries to the fish. The black marlin was measured, and according to the tape, it was about 181 kg. We released it in good condition. We watched it dive under our boat towards the starboard side, and we had the pleasure of seeing it swim away.

The fish alongside the boat Orange band was assigned to this boat when they called in

This was the second black marlin I have caught at a Two Oceans Marlin Tournament, , but the feeling of absolute respect, power, and beauty of such a fish will never leave me. It is an indescribable feeling to have one of the fastest fish in the sea fighting you. The best feeling of catching marlin is releasing it and seeing the fish swim away uninjured and in good shape.

Thursday 6 March 2025

Dory’s Second Marlin of the Tournament

Chris Gillit

As a team we felt jubilant that Andrew (Davy), on Day 2 of the tournament had caught and released a 180kg Black Marlin. What were the chances that we could get a second one?
Nobody had caught on Day three, but when Day Four greeted us with fantastic conditions, we decided we to go to our old hunting ground, the 12-mile bank, where we have had great success in the past. We reached the 100m contour and found shoals of mackerel like never seen before. We were convinced there would be a marlin in the area. With no luck by early afternoon, we decided to go shallower and work some structure.
This decision paid off! At 14:00, the Japan elastic broke, but alas, there was no hookup. We continued trolling and could see a marlin lit up and following the Japan, after two passes, the Captain Morgan lure was engulfed and we were on. This fish was angry and was jumping continuously as it headed for the horizon.
It was my turn in the chair. I have been trying for 14 years to catch a marlin and to say I was nervous is an understatement. My teammates were fantastic and with their encouragement the fight began. Again, with an 80 wide nearly empty I knew this was going to be a tough task.

The fish alongside – yellow band was assigned to this boat when they called in a hook-up

Fifty-five minutes later, we brought the fish to the leader. After a quick measurement, the tape showed she weighed around 220kg. We carefully removed the hooks and released her, watching as this magnificent fish swam gracefully away.

The Eighteenth Two Oceans Marlin Tournament – Prize-Giving

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Friday 16 February 2024

It was a chilly and rainy day in Struisbaai today and the boats certainly were not able to go out for a last attempt to catch a marin! But this meant that all were rested and ready for the Prize-Giving function,

First, the Tournament Director, Grant van der Westhuyzen, gave a vote of thanks to all who were involved in the smooth running of this competition. Mention was made of all the catering staff and bar ladies, the scoring committee, the weather committee, Andrew on radio, and of course all our amazing sponsors.

Then a few special awards were made.

Oom Diekie le Roux was thanked for being the Calcutta Weigh Master and Trevor Brinch (Spotter One) for radio communications

Earl and Helen Fenwick received a case of Springfield Life from Stone for photography and blogging

Then the results of the Calcutta were announced and a 19.1kg Dorado was the heaviest fish caught

Well done for winning the pot, Juan Needham from Team Maverick with Tournament Director, Grant.

Special awards were presented to boats who have entered TOMT for many years in a row. Vleis Visagie’s Multi, Nuts Rupert’s Grace, Dudley Rosslee’s Dory, Mike Broderick’s Bad Co, and Iaan Viljoen’s Kinda’ Magic have all entered 10 years in a row. Rikus de Beer’s Marco Polo, Andrew van Zyl’s Gwaza, and Gawie Bruwer’s Indogo have entered 15 years in a row. Some of these anglers were not present but the ones who were are pictured below with the tournament director, Grant van der Westhuyzen.

It is not often that we see ladies participating in TOMT and this year we had three lovely girls among the crew. I have already mentioned Tammy from My Way but our other two are from the new entrant, Loslappie. We hope to see you back here, next year ladies.

Ada de Wit and Monica Botha of Loslappie

The other lady angler, Tammy von Wildenrath with her partner Aaron

Finally, the winners of the tournament were announced. Well done to all the crew of these boats. Catching a marlin requires team involvement and the glory goes to you all. Once again here are the links to the anglers’ stories.

Simon Hipkin

Jean van den Berg

Andrew Pawson

Third place to Multi – Darius Steyn, Andre Pawson, Roelof Visagie, Dawie Theron, Ivaan de Jager, Henk Ackerman

Second place to Maverick Ronald Penninkhof, JP Groenewald, Juan Needham, Jaen van der Berg

Sea Cat. First Place! Simon Hipkin, Smiley Bhungu, Ben Johnson, Chris Steyn

Nobody went home empty handed and each team received a bag of some awesome prizes which they collected at the end of the proceedings.

During the evening there was also another auction for club funds and a beautiful leather travelling bag and a scooter went for a song – or perhaps more than they would ordinarily have paid? But it was all for a very good cause!

Thus ends The Eighteenth Two Oceans Marlin Tournament. We hope to see you all again in 2025.

The Eighteenth Two Oceans Marlin Tournament – Day 1 and Day 2

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Sunday 11 February 2024

Very windy weather and rough seas prevented the boats from fishing on Day One of TOMT so there is not much to report about today’s activities. Dinner, was, of course, served at the club and this evening it was yellowtail and Cape salmon braaied to perfection.

A huge thank you Julian and Mark – Braai Masters Supreme!

After enjoying a lovely evening together most of the anglers opted for an early night as it would be a fishing day on the morrow!

Monday 24 February 2024

The competition was called on and lines in was at 06h00. At that time the south easterly wind was around 12 to 15 knots. The sea was choppy but flattening.

The first sighting of a marlin was from Multi. The fish almost jumped onto the boat! That must have been both scary and exciting! What a great start to the day.

To add interest to the competition there is a Calcutta taking place. The boats can opt to join in by paying an entrance fee. Each angler may weigh one fish per day and a winner will be announced each evening. The overall winner at the end of the competition wins the pot.

At 14:17 a call came in from Maverick, a new boat in this tournament. Jaen van den Berg was vas with a striped marlin. He fought it till 15:01 before safely releasing it. It was Jean’s first marlin. Veels Geluk Jaen!

Jaen will write an account of Maverick’s effort to land their marlin and it will be posted on this blog shortly. All photos will be posted then.

Once again wonderful food was served for dinner at Suidpunt Diepsee Hengelklub this evening. On the menu was a delicious Osso Buco and the anglers, after a tough day at sea, ate heartily.

Here is a slide show of some of the participating boats as they came in this afternoon. I missed getting photographs of those who returned before lines-up but I will post them in a future blog.

Andrew from Marlin Control presented the prizes to today’s winners of the Calcutta and also metered out ‘straf dops’ and snuff to those who committed misdemeanors!

Maverick had already caught and released a marlin and then hooked another very big fish which they thought might be a second marlin but it was an enormous dorado!

Team Maverick with their beautiful winning ‘Dorado Marlin”

Juan receives the Calcutta prize for Maverick

Emile from Team Dory received the Second Prize

Team Mojo was ill-prepared for the day causing confusion on the boat so skipper Jacque had to sniff snuff and down a straf dop for not controlling his crew!

The Eighteenth Two Oceans Marlin Tournament Opening Function

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Saturday 10 February 2024

Today marked the start of the Eighteenth Two Oceans Marlin Tournament, a popular annual event that is held at Suidpunt Diepsee Hengelklub in Struisbaai, Western Cape.

You can click on this link to read about the history of TOMT.

This is a fun catch, measure and release competition and the emphasis is on the conservation of these magnificent fish. All the prizes are donated by our generous sponsors who are listed below. Please support our sponsors,

Airmar	Astron Energy Struisbaai
Biltong and Java	Blenco
Bon Courage Wines	Buffelsfontein/Halewood
Cape Agulhas Surf Shop	Cemstone
Central Forklift	Chas Everitt
Corneilis Ham	Distell
Hadassah Interiors/Magda’s Leather	Four Cousins
FPM Suppliers	Garmin SA
Greenfish	Heinrich Tips
Henk Aggenbagh	HUSQVARNA
Jacita Bait & Tackle	Jebo Connect
Matthee Fire & Safety	Mercury
Peninsula Beverage	Pulsastor Lures
Raymarine Avion	Robertson Toyota
Simrad	Ski-Boat Magazine
South African Breweries	Springfield Wines
Suidpunt Marine	Vatalot
Vijoensdrift	Yamaha

Thanks to Suidpund Deepsea Angling Club for Hosting

This year boats are participating and they are listed below.

Kinda Magic	Andre Swart	Mojo	Jacques van Niekerk
	Kevin Swart		Hannes Schreuder
	Jared Swart		Anthony Tait
	Iaan Viljoen		Grant van der Westhuizen
	Steven Shanken		Brendon Tait

Bad Co	Mike Broderick	Multi	Roelof Visagie
	Campbell		Dawie Theron
	Richard Bell		Darious Steyn
	Patrick Christodoulou		Andrew Pawson
			Ivaan De Jager
Catitude	Mike Riley		Henk Ackerman
	Michele Fleischer
	Ted Horn	My Way	Simon Lowe
	Nick Fleischer		Aaron Sachs
			Tommy Von Wildenrath
Charlie’s Cat	C Geldenhuys		Nic De Stadler
	D Geldenhuys
	N De Beer	Sea Cat	Chris Steyn
	F Greivenstein		Craig Maas
			Simon Hipkin
Dory	Dudley Rosslee		Ben Johnson
	Emile Le Roux
	Andrew Davidson	Marco Polo	Rikus de Beer
	Chris Gillet		Anton de Beer
	Johan van der Walt		Christo de Beer
			Quinten Jansen
Grace	Nuts Rupert		Theunis Kruger
	G Rupert
	Harold Turner	Gwaza	Andrew van Zyl
	T Maree		Kobin Koch
			Heinrich Tipps
Indigo	Gawie Bruwer		James Taylor
	Werner Kotze
	Eugene Terblanche	Maverick	JP Groenewald
	Serge Wessels		Juan Needham
	Pete Kotze		Jaen van den Berg
			Ronald Penninkhof
John Graeme	Chris Goatley
	Hylton Goatley	Loslappie	Peet Botha
	Wayne Cooke		Monica Botha
	John Leppan		Brendon Gravenor
	Willem Skein		Briers van Rensburg
	Chris Hepworth-Brown		Phillip Erasmus
			Pierre de Wit
			Ada de Wit

If any names are incorrectly spelled please let me know and I will correct them. They appear here as they were given to me.

At the opening function this evening the teams gathered to sign in, collect their goodie bags, and find out the modus operandi for the week.

As usual Marinda, manageress of Suidpunt Deepsea Angling Club and her amazing team put on a delicious spread for the anglers to enjoy. We have an Island Theme for this entire week and it was great to see how many embraced this by dressing up, wearing flower garlands and really getting into the spirit of the theme.

Nothing is too much trouble for these two (Trevor’s Photo)

These guys always help with a lamb on the spit for the shawarmas

Most of the boats have fished the competition a few times before but this year we welcome two new teams – Maverick and Loslappie. Welkom hier by die Suidste Punt. Mag julle ‘n wonderlik tyd hier saam met ons deurbring.

Grant van der Westhuizen, the tournament director started the proceedings explaining the rules for the week and fielding some questions from the floor. Then Dudley Rosslee, the club president welcomed everybody before handing over to Andrew Perrins who controls the radios and announces weather conditions. A weather committee was elected and Sea Cat, the smallest boat will have the biggest say on whether to fish in dickie weather!

Grant our tournament director (Trevor’s Photo)

Dudley Rosslee – Club President (Trevor’s Photo)

Andrew Perrins – Radio Control (Trevor’s Photo)

Every year at TOMT Gawie Bruwer honours one of the legends in fishing and this year the plaque went to Mike Broderick.

Gawie expounds on the merits of Mike (Trevor’s Photo)

The wonderful vocalist, Ted Horn, gave a wonderful rendition of “Danny Boy” to honour Mike. Ted is almost ninety years old, still fishes this competition and is still in full voice! Ted, never stop singing. We love your songs!

Uncle Tes singing “Danny Boy” (Trevor’s Photo)

Mike Riley telling us that Uncle Ted is about to turn 90! (Trevor’s Photo)

Thank you to Trevor Brinch (Spotter One) for helping with the photography. His photos are amazing. The slide show that follows shows how TOMT 24 started on a very viby note. Click on the first photo and then use the arrows to move on to the next. The photographs were taken by Trevor and me.