This year’s North Coast Courier Orphan Fund bass competition belonged to the youth, showing the big boys how it’s done.
About 80 keen fishermen and their families spent heritage day morning at Rain Farm Game and Lodge, fishing and picnicking by the water in near perfect weather conditions.
Kodi Sander reeled in the biggest bass of the day to clinch first prize in the senior category. He edged out second and third placed Dudley Macarthur and Bradley Stroberg with one of his early catches from the middle dam.
Tyrone Heenan ruled the reel in the junior division, leaving Bevan Ainslee (second) and Sean Gobbett (third) in his wake.
The tagged bass, worth R5 000 to anyone lucky enough to reel it in, lived to fight another day. Although spotted in the top dam, he successfully evaded capture.
New to this year’s bass competition was a kids bass fishing clinic presented by Seeff and facilitated by the North Coast Courier’s seasoned fisherman, David Hoehler. Not only did the kids learn a thing or two about bass fishing, but they also won prizes for answering questions correctly and showing off their casting skills.
Main sponsors, Seeff Ballito were thrilled with the way the day turned out.
“It was particularly pleasing to see the kids coming out learning and becoming interested in fishing,” said Seeff’s, Tim Johnson.
He congratulated the two sisters, Kayla and Nicole Kruger, who walked away with a brand new fishing rod for winning the kids casting competition. Johnny Dalton raised some excitement when he caught a rather large crab for which he was later awarded a prize for the most unusual catch.
Current Miss Ballito, Kirsten Martin was also on the banks at the crack of dawn, hunting for the illusive tagged bass. Being more than just a pretty face, Martin won one of the general knowledge quiz prizes.
The main purpose of the bass competition was raising funds for the North Coast Courier Orphan Fund and in this it was a big success with a cool R16 450 raised. All the money will go towards various Orphan Fund projects, many of which focus on nutrition and education.
The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund would like to thank the long list of sponsors who generously contributed towards the success of this year’s bass competition, particularly main sponsors Seeff Ballito, the Matkovich Golf Group, BBS Mica and Hook, Line & Sinker.
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