The Hout Bay Tuna Derby sponsored by Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing was held at the Atlantic Boat Club in Hout Bay between the 7th and 11th of November 2007.A great deal of planning ensured that, providing the weather was kind, another successful Tuna fishing tournament would take place. This tournament carried a first prize of a Magnum 23 ft.boat built and sponsored by Two Oceans Marine with engines sponsored by Yamaha which meant that there was a lot to fish for.
Registration
commenced on Tuesday 6th November with a record number of fifty two
boats, twenty of which being Magnums built by Two Oceans Marine, and over two
hundred and forty five enthusiastic anglers being registered. The club was
thrilled to have international guests from as far afield as the USA and the UK
and also from Johannesburg and Natal. The weather outlook was not good for the
week ahead and there were some concerns that the tournament was not going to
take place as was the case the previous year.
However the
tournament did take place over
four consecutive days and it proved to be a true test of deep sea
fishing skills for all those who took part. The first scheduled day of the
competition was called off due to strong north westerly winds in excess of thirty knots with high swells.
The weather
committee decided to commence the first days fishing with a mass start from the
Hout Bay harbour at 0700hrs. on Thursday morning. Reasonably strong winds were
still predicted and this coupled with the increasing swell ensured that all participants
would be put to the test in terms of
their seamanship.
The weather
committee had decided not to limit the size of the boats taking part, which
allowed the entry of some smaller craft, making this tournament accessible to a
wider group of anglers. Unfortunately, the smaller craft, some between 16 and
20 ft.were hampered by the conditions but full compliments are due to the
responsible seamanship evidenced by their crews during the tournament.
After the
start, the fleet disbursed on various headings between 250 and 270 degrees from the harbour. This meant that there would be
at least 20nm. separating the fleet once they had reached their fishing grounds
which range from 30 to 40 n.m from Hout Bay.
The lighthouse keeper at Cape Point, known as Penguin, booked all the boats out into “The Deep”and a lengthy and bumpy ride ensued for all aboard. The weather was not ideal and unfortunately the fishing followed suit with only six Yellowfin Tuna and fifty three Longfin Tuna being landed on this first day. The rules of the competition allowed each angler to weigh one Longfin and one Yellowfin per day, thereby encouraging the principle of tag and release.
The first
weigh in put the legendary team on the Magnum 32, “En Garde” in first place
with a fish of only 62 kg. With harsh weather predicted for the rest of the
tournament there were some thoughts that this might in fact be the winning
fish.
The rough
sea conditions persisted for the second and third day with westerly to north
westerly winds of 17 to 20 knots and swells of over four meters. Only 17 of the
fifty boats entered, put to sea on the Friday contributing to the dismal
statistics of but two Yellowfin being brought to the scales. The 62 kg fish
landed on the first day remained in the lead. Whilst a few more Longfin were
landed numerous boats returned without catching a fish.(not normal for Cape
Towns tuna grounds)
Fishing conditions began to improve on
the third day,Saturday, and some fine Yellowfin were landed. Sixteen Yellowfin
and only 13 Longfin were weighed in. The 62kg fish landed on the first day was
repeatedly removed from the top spot as the fish were weighed.Rian
Raubenhauber, fishing from the Magnum 32 “Blue Water” brought in a magnificent
98,34kg Yellowfin which naturally set the bench mark for the last day. The
heaviest Long Fin of 18.98kg was boated by Eric Nienaber on another Magnum
“Scaramouche”. The team on “Blue Water”are true sportsman, and whilst they must
have wished for all manner of means to hasten the end of the final day, they
went out to defend their top position in a humble and sporting manner.
The weather prediction for the final day
was still not good. Everybody was tired,however when Chris Shield, the
tournament officer, who had been tasked with some difficult weather decisions
over the preceding days, announced that the final day was to be a fishing day,
everybody showed their best competitive spirit.
The final
day dawned and the breakfast room at the club was abuzz with which heading to
take to find the big Yellows.Lines up on the final day was to be an hour
earlier than on previous days and this coupled with a predicted frontal weather
system made for a challenging day at sea.The fleet was spread far and wide with
boats some 30 miles apart between the Northern and Southern sectors on courses
of 220 to 290 degrees from Hout Bay harbour. This makes life more interesting
as the competitors in these sectors are unaware of each others success or
failure owing to restricted radio communications over these distances.
At approximately 20 minutes before lines
up the boats fishing in the Southern sector were able to find some Yellowfin
behind a trawler.Extra time was called for and “Cloud 9”, a Magnum 32, crewed
by some very experienced competitors was to hook a very large fish. Amongst
this experienced crew was a youngster who had hooked this big fish. Little
Hubert who himself is only some 50kg, had to have some help from Kevin Hodgeson
to fight and land this big fish thereby disqualifying the same from the competition.
The fish ,in excess of 90kg would have been a contender for one of the top
prizes had it qualified. It shows that perseverance to the last second is the
name of the game in the sport of deep sea fishing.
Once all
the boats had safely returned to their bases and Penguin had cleared the book
for the day it was possible to see where the prizes would be going.The largest
Yellowfin for the final day, 85kg, was caught by Anthony Martinez on the boat
Moses
A fantastic prize giving brought to an end a true deep sea fishing contest with the winning fish going to Riaan Raubenheimer on the Magnum 32 “Blue Water”. Riaan takes home the Magnum 23 and sets the benchmark for the 2008 Tuna Derby.
The host
club, Atlantic Boat Club, “ABC” with their team of organisers has to be
congratulated on many fronts for hosting such an event.Their professionalism
and organisation is unquestionable but what is truly evident is the positive
and friendly way in which they welcome all outside competitors and their
families to such an event.Thank you ABC for running a safe and enjoyable
competition where you gave the maximum exposure to your sponsors.
Schedule of
results;
2nd
Junior Overall Willem
Gresse Lady
Go Diver
Top Junior Chris
Hau Fishful
Thinking
Top Lady Renate
De Stadler Piranha
Longfin
10 18.18kg Chris
Wilson Deep
Blu
9 18.48kg Chris
Pike BobCat
8 18.54kg Steward
Henshilwood Decadence
7 18.72kg Christopher
Hau Fishful
Thinking
6 18.90kg Ronnie
Henks Country
Lady
5 18.98kg Eric
Nienaber Scaramouche
4 19.88kg Patrick
Christodoulou Magoofter
3 19.90kg Schalk
Jacobs Agape
2 20.18kg Neil
Strydom Moses
1 25.62kg Regis
Le Comme En
Garde
Yellowfin
10 65.94kg Gwain
Weiman Ama
Feesh
9 66.08kg Patrick
Christodoulou Magoofter
8 66.65kg Charlie
Roseveare Cloud
9
7 68.96kg Angus
Nel Moses
6 71.62kg John
Stroebel Beluga
5 73.08kg Steve
Potter Beluga
4 74.32kg Steve
Potter Beluga
3 79.12kg Paul
Von Nimwegen Decedance
2 84.64kg Anthony Martinese Moses
1 98.34kg Rian Raubenheimer Blue Water