Natal colours boosts avid Toti angler
I don't fish because my husband fishes - I fish because I want to.
Warnadoone Ski-Boat Club (WSBC) member, Candice Coetzer (46) received her Natal colours as an added bonus to the silver medal she scooped at the South African game fish interprovincial hosted by Shelly Beach Ski-Boat Club last month.
“I am passionate about deep sea fishing and I am always willing to learn from other anglers. I am always eager to go out and fish and I was striving for my Natal colours,” she said.
Candice has fished socially for about 20 years and competitively for about 15 years. She was a keen fisherman when she met her husband Johan.
She was born and grew up in Springs, before moving to Toti in 2004 and has been a member of WSBC for 12 years.
“I love waking up in the early hours of the morning knowing we are off to fish, waiting for first light and launching into amazing sunrises and going out to sea and competing,” said Candice. “It is satisfying catching fish on 10kg line, as it gives the fish a fighting chance. The sea and living on the coast has a calming effect on me.”
Her daughter Caitlin (15) also fishes, so a sea trip is a real family affair.
Over the years Candice has racked up an impressive CV.
At the Hibberdene Cuta Classic last year, she was the second runner-up woman angler for her 11kg couta and scooped third place this year at the Umhlanga inter-club competition with clubmates Shane Dennis and Bronwen Singleton.
She was awarded her zonal colours for the first time last year and proved her selection by winning the Natal championship with fellow club member Michelle Richards at Pennington.
She was awarded the meritorious award from Ski-Boat Magazine in June 2013 for a 22.5kg wahoo catch, which earned her the Kingfisher Award.
In 2010 she won the women’s Durban Ski-Boat Club competition and she was featured in the August 2009 edition of Stywe Lyne Tight Lines magazine for a 13kg couta catch.
In December she tagged and released a 160kg marlin.
“My wahoo catch is my favourite one to date,” said Candice. “I hope to one day beat it.”
Her favourite fishing areas are Sodwana, Cape Vidal and Aliwal Shoal.
“I love that women anglers are giving the guys lots of competition out there. I fish for the fun of it and when it is competition time, I give it my all. I have a very big passion for deep sea angling. I don’t fish because my husband fishes – I fish because I want to, although he is my mentor on the boat as he has taught me a lot.”
