Nine-year-old Umdloti angler Max de Robillard recently upstaged a formidable senior field to take top honours in the individual competition at an inter-club ski-boat angling event hosted by Warnerdoone Ski-Boat Club in Kingsburgh on September 12 and 13.

The youngster reeled in 470.59 points, leaving second-placed Douglas Slogrove of Umhlanga trailing on 265.31 points.

Max’s team, Umdloti Beach Ski Boat Club B, captained by his father, Daron, also won the inter-club team competition, edging out Umhlanga Ski Boat Club by
1 081.53 points to 735.16.

Proving the apple does not fall far from the tree, Daron finished fourth overall.

The winning team comprised Max, Daron and Brad Goldman, who competed aboard the Flying Dutchman, skippered by Piet Cordier. They not only outclassed teams from rival clubs but also their fellow clubmates, Umdloti Beach Ski Boat Club A, who finished eighth.

A tricky low-tide launch left many boats drenched as 11 three-man teams from KZN and one from Gauteng took to the water at dawn.

With the water colder than usual, bites were scarce, and day one delivered what would prove to be the defining results.

The 10kg line-class competition followed International Game Fish Association (IGFA) rules, with most anglers targeting bottom and game fish.