TEAM LOWRANCE VICTORY IN GUINJATA

They did it! Springbok angler Lynette Adams and her Team Lowrance won the recent Guinjata Bonanza held in Mozambique –fulfilling their lifelong dream of winning a major competition.

When Nikolas Glyphis caught the heaviest gamefish - a 27.7kg Wahoo, on the second day of this five- day competition, there was no containing their excitement as this was an obvious contender for the main prize – but they also had to endure an agonizing wait for the next four days as the competition played out among the many top anglers taking part. At stake? A Z-Craft F200 skiboat, with twin 115HP Mercury 4-stroke motors on a trailer – worth around R500 000.

Months of careful planning and days of practice at various fishing spots beforehand had paid off - the team had arrived five days ahead of time to familiarize themselves with the waters and their Lowrance/Boating International/Club Marine Insurance-sponsored Ace Glider 750 with twin 250HP Mercury Verado outboards.

While the other competitors were convinced that they were tempting fate and using up all their luck – the team took it as a good sign when they hooked and released six Billfish in their three run-up practice days. They had already decided not to go for Species prizes but to concentrate on the “Big One” and it turned out to be a winning choice.

Everyone was disappointed when the first day was blown out – so serious fishing only really got underway on the second day of the competition - in moderate conditions with an average wind and swell. Lynette and her crew comprising Sefan du Plessis, Brandon Swanepoel, Paul Borcherds and Nikolas Glyphis headed off to the deep off Legogo – where their winning fish was there for the picking. 

After Nikolas hooked the big Wahoo, they reversed up very quickly as it was clear that this was a possible winner. Lynette said every weigh-in after the first day proved agonizing – waiting to see if another fish would challenge this 27.7kg beauty – which ultimately stayed on top of the leader board.

She says “we held our breath for four days – so the relief was indescribable when we realized we’d  won”!  Although Lynette has had huge success as a top angler over the years (she also caught a 65kg Sailfish and a 22kg Tuna among others) this was her first real crack at winning the boat. She and her delighted team also hooked and released another two Billfish during the competition.