Common Venue Round 1 done and dusted

The first Common Venue Round of the 2025/26 Zululand Shore Angling Association season took place over the weekend of 25–26 October.

For these rounds, all clubs fish together within a pre-selected zone during an eight-hour competition window.

Scores are then tallied to determine both club and individual standings.

Common Venue Rounds are the truest test of both team strategy and individual skill — and play a major role in selection for the Zululand Association Team, which will represent the region at interprovincial competitions in 2027.

Conditions and catches

Although the sea was in excellent condition, the fish seemed to have received advance notice of the competition — and stayed away!

Early in the session, two ragged-tooth sharks were landed, which proved decisive for the final standings.

The rest of the day brought a handful of blue rays, sharpnose brown rays and a few small edibles – a challenging day’s fishing all around.

Club results

1 uMfolozi A (113.71 points)
2 KwaMbonambi A (85.23)
3 Inkwazi B (31.74)
4 Tugela A (26.58)
5 Inkwazi A (26.10)
6 Inkwazi C (17.96)
7 uMfolozi B (9.96)
8 Port Natal A (8.68)
9 KwaMbonambi B (2.16)
10 KwaMbonambi C (1.50)
11 Tugela B (1.47)
12 Mtunzini A (1.23)
13 Inkwazi D (0.00)
14 Port Natal B (0.00)

Top 10 anglers

1 K Tiltman (96.91 points)
2 S Dafel (79.81)
3 K Govender (22.28)
4 J Naidoo (16.03)
5 R Prinsloo (12.97)
6 J Tiltman (9.96)
7 G van Wyk (8.68)
8 A Petit (7.83)
9 K Govender (6.57)
10 G Minnie (4.69)

Outstanding catches

Kyle Tiltman – 96.91kg ragged-tooth shark

Shaun Dafel – 78.91kg ragged-tooth shark both fish were safely released, in line with competition regulations.

Local catches

Teneal Naidoo landed a solid spotted grunter in the Richards Bay Canal.

Kreesan Naidoo brought home a bronze bream on pink prawn — dinner sorted!

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