Hoedspruit anglers hook Limpopo spots

HOEDSPRUIT – Two Hoedspruit anglers, Quintin Coetzee and Rigardt Fuls, have secured their places among Limpopo’s top bass fishermen and will represent the province at the upcoming National Bass Fishing Championships at Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape in September.

For Coetzee, the journey began as a child. “My dad used to take us fishing when we were young,” he recalled. “Over the last 10 years, my love for bass fishing has only grown stronger.”

Anglers qualify for the national championship through the provincial league, which runs throughout the year. The top 12 competitors from the league earn the honour of representing Limpopo on the national stage. This will be Coetzee’s third nationals, having previously competed at Witbank Dam and Mearns Dam.

The venue for this year’s competition presents new challenges. “Preparation has been good, but we are competing at a dam that we have never fished before,” he explained.

“Clanwilliam is well known for its big smallmouth bass. Strategies and techniques depend so much on the water, the weather, and the time of year. Everyone has their favourite lures, but it is knowing when to adjust that often means winning or losing.”

Competitive angling, Coetzee said, is very different from casual outings.

“It’s as much fun as recreational fishing, except every bite counts. It can become stressful when you’re trying to make the provincial team. We have some brilliant anglers in our league like Johan Bezuidenhoudt, who won angler of the year for 2025, as well as Derick de Bruyn, Adriaan Joubert and Clinton Ferreira.”

For Coetzee, success is as much about mindset as skill. “Staying calm and trusting your abilities is what keeps me motivated during Nationals. It really is an honour to represent Limpopo at the national level. Knowing the anglers in our league well means that we are also representing them, which is a great privilege.”

Fishing in Limpopo offers unique advantages and challenges.

“We have some of the best weather for fishing, with short winters, and our local dams are well stocked with bass,” he said. “The disadvantage is definitely the crocodiles and hippos we share the waters with.”

Looking ahead to the competition, Coetzee hopes to improve on last year’s 11th-place finish.

“My goal is to do better than last year and to help my teammates during the competition. Being a team player will hopefully help secure a first place for us as a province.”

Beyond personal goals, Coetzee is passionate about the future of the sport. “Hopefully, we can grow bass angling and start a junior league if there’s enough interest. If young people in Hoedspruit see us competing at the national level, maybe they’ll also grow a love for the sport.”

Faith plays a central role in his approach. “I don’t have rituals or good-luck charms,” he said. “My belief is in Jesus. Praying a lot during competitions is my go-to.”