Fishing has Sean hook, line and sinker
“Through joining a club, members can assist you and help you get started. They will also advise you on what equipment you will need.”
Whether one calls the sport fishing or angling, Sean McArthur finds it captivating.
“Gone are the days where you go to the dam with your rod and dop,” he said.
Sean explained fishing had evolved drastically into a highly competitive sport.
“There is a lot of planning involved, especially when it comes to competitions. You have to check the moon phase, the wind, and the weather in general, as these all affect your day’s fishing. You also need to determine what type of bait will work best at each specific dam. For example, Chelmsford Dam is more suited to a fruity type of bait.”
Sean’s extensive knowledge of fishing has come from years of experience.
“I have been fishing almost my entire life. I initially started off with sea fishing, before changing to dam fishing 10 years ago,” he said.
This is a decision he does not regret.
“If I could go to the dam now and fish, I would. In fact, once I’m on pension, that is exactly what I intend to do on a regular basis,” he laughed.
Shortly after taking up dam fishing, Sean became involved in competitive fishing.
“I belong to Iscor Angling Club and Chelmsford Angling Club, and started fishing competitively about six years ago.”
According to Sean, fishing tournaments are not as laid back as people imagine.
“It is not just about going out to the dam and casting your reel. It includes early mornings, meetings, preparing your traces, checking what bait will work best at the dam, and preparing the bait. It also involves a lot of time going in and out of the water,” he explained.
Despite all the effort, fishing remains his passion and he strongly encourages others to take it up.
“What I enjoy about it, is being able to meet new people, going out into nature, overcoming the odds and catching fish. It isn’t a lazy sport and youngsters can get their KwaZulu-Natal colours if they really get into it,” he added.
Sean said the best way to participate in fishing competitions was to join a club.
“Through joining a club, members can assist you and help you get started. They will also advise you on what equipment you will need.”
To join Chelmsford Angling Club, contact Shandy Singh on 084 442 8512.
To join Iscor Angling Club, contact Johan Oosthuizen on 083 262 7780.
