The winning team
Kevin Jenzen
History is made in the Two Oceans Marine Tuna Derby with 5 out of 5 fishing days!
Every year in November, Atlantic Boat Club play host to the Tuna Derby in the majestic setting of Hout Bay. It is from here where those crazy men in their fishing machines head out into the blue yonder where ocean depths reach a 1000 meters and the 100kg yellow fatties (or simply Yellowfin Tuna) reside during our summer months. Of course, not to be forgotten, there are also the rugby balls, a smaller species of tuna namely Longfin. We also come across the Jack Russell of our waters, the Skip Jack. All of these fish provide an amazing fishing opportunity for the enthusiastic sport fisherman. A better venue to host the Two Oceans Marine Tuna Derby would be hard to find.
From far and wide the anglers come to fish the ultimate sport fishing competition. This years Tuna Derby was no different with entrants from all over South Africa and beyond converging to compete and have fun.
Not only is the Derby earmarked with great fishing but the camaraderie and friendship supplies the energy and passion that runs like tuna on a feeding frenzy through the event. Sportsmanship was the order of the day and a good example of this was skippers sharing the positions of where they had been getting fish on the radio. Unheard of in other competitions.
ABC's staff are well versed in hosting this event and from the opening function the staff at the club go out of their way (and sacrifice a lot of sleep) to make sure that the participants have a great time.
A variety of boats in different shapes and sizes partook in the event with the majority being those Two Oceans Marine Magnum range of boats, from the 25 footer all the way through to latest 36 foot walk around ( a mean, smart looking fishing machine). They are tried and tested in these waters and are a favourite of the local offshore fisherman.
The weather on the first two days of the competition could have been better with the skippers and crew taking a beating in strong winds and washing machine seas. The conditions were not for the faint of hart and in true hard core style the fleet set course for the deep and returned with some sizeable fish with James Sara winning the first day with a 78.2kg yellowfin tuna. Unfortunately his lead did not last very long. On the third day of the competition Kennedy Randall of Kei Mouth Ski Boat Club landed a 81.7 kg yellowfin. The competition was well and truly on!
As bad as the weather was on the first two days of the competition that good it was on the last three! With light winds and small seas the conditions were perfect. Unfortunately the fish were not as prevalent as we have become accustomed to ( perhaps spoilt is a better description) but still a good number of longfin and yellowfin tuna were caught with the biggest weighing in at 85.9 kg and stories of fish bigger than this getting away (we are fisherman after all!).
This competition would not exist without the sponsors that make it possible and once again Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing stepped into the role of major sponsor. A number of other sponsors also contributed to make the Tuna Derby what it is with combined sponsorships totaling in excess of R 500 000!
As with all tournaments there are winners, but in the Tuna Derby there are no losers! With great goodie bags, awesome in club entertainment, great fishing and good friendships, how can there be losers?
The tournament was won by Kevin Jenzen with his 85.9kg yellowfin caught on the second last day of the tournament. Second was Kennedy Randall fishing off Captain Sea with a fish of 81.7kg’s and the podium was rounded out by James Sara with a yellowfin of 78.2 kg's. The top lady angler was Michelle Mostert with a longfin of 11.6kg’s. For the full results see the table further down on this page.
As the pictures attest to, a great time was had by all. Bring on the Tuna Derby 2011!
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CATEGORIES |
WEIGHT |
SPECIES |
SPONSOR |
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JUNIOR / BOAT DRAW |
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Hooked on Africa, Outdoor Warehouse, Fishing Specialist |
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LADIES: Michelle Mostert |
11.60 L/F |
Longfin |
Lalizas, Outdoor Warehouse, Springfield Wine, Breco |
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RELEASE |
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1st: 2 Oceans |
7 L/F |
Longfin |
Captain Morgan |
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2nd: Cloud 9 |
3 L/F |
Longfin |
Captain Morgan |
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RAFFLE |
TV |
Raffle |
P & G - Don Wadeley |
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CALCUTTA |
R16 200 |
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CPT SEA: Gary Thompson, Terry Eleftheriou, John Rance, Kennedy Randall |
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LONGFIN |
Weight |
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1st : Claude Boardman |
16.36 |
Longfin |
Bridgestone - Supa Quick, Lalizas, Outdoor Warehouse, Kajiki Fishing |
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2nd: Sven Rands |
14.95 |
Longfin |
Chapmans Peak Hotel, Breco Seafoods, Cpt Morgan |
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3rd: Rossouw Louw |
13.20 |
Longfin |
Outdoor Warehouse, Cpt Morgan, Pertec |
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YELLOWFIN |
Weight |
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1st: Kevin Jenzen |
85.90 |
Yellowfin |
Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing & Yamaha |
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2nd: Kennedy Randall |
81.70 |
Yellowfin |
Pertec & TOM, Outdoor Warehouse |
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3rd: James Sara |
78.22 |
Yellowfin |
Pertec & TOM, Outdoor Warehouse |
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4th: Mark Delany |
73.52 |
Yellowfin |
Pertec & TOM, Outdoor Warehouse, Wall Space cc , Central Boating |
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5th: Kevin Jenzen |
72.35 |
Yellowfin |
Grandi Engineering, Two Oceans, Central Boating,Outdoor Warehouse |
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6th : Don Wadeley |
67.85 |
Yellowfin |
Texies, Central Boating, Lalizas, Hout Bay Boatyard |
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7th : Greg Grant |
65.70 |
Yellowfin |
Texies, HBBY, Outdoor Warehouse |
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8th: Tommy Eigelaar |
60.60 |
Yellowfin |
Distell, Brandhouse, Breco, Outdoor Warehouse |
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9th: Gareth Decker |
57.00 |
Yellowfin |
Springfield Wines, Breco, Outdoor Warehouse, |
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10th: Paul Loomes |
56.40 |
Yellowfin |
Windhoek , Outdoor Warehouse, Breco |
