The local Rock and Surf Fishing South Africa (RASSPL) catch and release fishing franchise, the Kowie Crackers, held their season finale recently.
The local Rock and Surf Fishing South Africa (RASSPL) catch and release fishing franchise, the Kowie Crackers, held their season finale recently.
Unlike the other competitions of the season, where fishing is confined to a relatively short stretch of the coast, this outing was open access.
Anglers were free to fish anywhere that was publicly accessible, between the western banks of the Fish River mouth and Cannon Rocks.
Twelve anglers competed on the day, which started out in relatively good conditions.
The day finished with a powerful westerly, making the long walk back difficult for anglers who headed out to the east.
The day’s fishing was rounded off with a braai and prize-giving for the day and for the season, at Port Alfred High School.
Coming into the final competition the top spot was bound to be a hot contest, with not much separating Warren Potts in 1st place and Justin Bezuidenhout in 2nd place.
Justin put in a great effort, taking 4th place on the day, however, Warren, who ended the day in 7th, just managed enough to end clear in the lead for the season, leaving Justin to claim 2nd place.
Jason Lisher, Quinton Fick and Marcus Mardon took the top 3 spots for the day with Amber Potts claiming the top lady’s spot.
Good sized fish were hard to find in the final competition, with only 3 fish, out of a possible 6, qualifying for prizes.
Quinton Fick took the prize for the heaviest fish, a white steenbras of 2.7 kg, Amber Childs’ bronze bream of 1.7 kg took the second spot and Lance Parker’s zebra of 1 kg rounded off the prize-winning fish.
The prize for the biggest ray remained unclaimed, with none being landed.
Two ragged-tooth sharks of over 100 kg were landed, the heaviest of which was calculated to be 137 kg, winning the heaviest shark prize for Marcus Mardon.
Among the raggies Marcus landed on the day was a very interesting catch.
Marcus caught a tagged shark, tagged in the national program run by the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) in Durban, of 1.72 m (84 kg).
This shark was tagged at Black Rock in Zululand, 954 km away in November 2003 when it measured 1.59 m. The shark had grown 13 cm in about 10 years.
Thanks must be given to Penn for their continued support in providing prizes throughout the season, with 2 Penn Squalls up for grabs at each outing.
Prizes for the season's prize-giving were also generously sponsored by Penn.
Season prizes were awarded in a similar fashion to each of the outings for the season, with the 6 heaviest fish, the heaviest ray/skate, and the heaviest shark for the season all winning prizes.
Anglers had to be present at the prize giving to claim their prize.
In their absence, the next fish in line claimed that category’s prize.
Warren Potts took the prize for the heaviest fish of the season with a white musselcracker of 6 kg caught in the previous competition at Riet River.
Quiton Fick’s white steenbras of 5.7 kg, caught in the 4th outing of the season at Kleinemonde, took the runner up prize.
Quinton Fick also got the third place prize with a black musselcracker of 2.5 kg.
The heaviest ray was landed by Matt Parkinson, a bull ray of 9.6 kg caught at the season’s 6th competition, in Port Alfred.
Marcus’ raggie, caught on the day, also claimed the season’s prize for this category.
The 2013/2014 season culminates in a National Competition where anglers from all of the franchises around the country will compete in Kowie’s local waters, to claim their National ranking.
With the recent change in ownership of the RASSPL brand, there is great excitement and anticipation for this three-day competition that will be taking place between the 24th and the 26th of April.
