EASTER WEEKEND AT THE HIBBERDENE COUTA CLASSIC
24 May 2012
Club Marine’s Caryne and Russell and Dean Levy of Boating International braved the howling weather with 287 skiboat, paddleski and jetski anglers on Good Friday and joined excited family and friends - to register for the festive annual Hibberdene Couta Classic over the Easter weekend. Fred van Scalkwyk Chairman of the Hibberdene Skiboat Club and his hard-working committee ran an outstanding competition – despite the difficult weather conditions.
The sea was absolutely on its head which elicited great bravado and some hilarious comments from the safety of the giant marquee as anglers contemplated a nightmare launch and “washing machine” conditions.
Despite their trepidation most of 119 registered boats launched the next morning negotiating a 40-knot wind and turbulent 4m swells but even some of the bravest among the many seasoned anglers found themselves “talking to the fish”.
The club’s secretary Jenny Defilippi - fishing in her first competition - managed to catch and release a Hammerhead shark despite being terribly seasick.
Caryne, Russell and Dean risked going out because they were onboard the Ace Glider 750 with Lyle Fraser owner of Too-Blue Exclusive Fishing Charters and his skipper Brett Bowden who has had many years experience in the local waters. Lee-Anne at Avance Photography took some amazing photos and DVD’s of the launches – so give her a call for copies 082 854 4546.
A total of 710kg of fish were caught altogether and of those 580.95kg were Couta. Peter Bodenstein of Uvongo caught the winning fish of 24.45kg off Port Edward to take home the big prize - a Seacat 510 with 2 x 60trim and tilt Yamahas on a trailer sponsored by Stick a tile and Yamaha valued at R250 000.00.
Sharene Kymdell (centre) from Hillcrest was the very excited winner of a Daiwa Rod and Saltist BG50H reel valued at R3000.00 in the Club Marine lucky draw.
Sharene, who has been fishing with her father Phillip Kymdell of Hibberdene Skiboat Club since the age of 14, was persuaded to enter the draw at the last minute.
