FISHING BILLFISH 15000

PEP TALK. It takes teamwork to

fight a marlin. CP Kloppers from the
boat Break Away works up a sweat
in the fighting chair, while Serpico
Selvestri gives moral support.
74 February 2014

THE

MARLIN
MEN
The Billfish 15000 is an epic deep-sea fishing
competition, held in Sodwana Bay each year.
Strap yourself into the fighting chair and lean
back as we take you behind the scenes.

LIzA VAN DEVENTER/foto24

WORDS & PICTURES ERNS GRUNDLING

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February 2014 75

FISHING BILLFISH 15000

BEACH SCENES. The fishing boats at

the Billfish are enormous and most are
launched by tractor (top). Betsie von
Wielligh and Rina Bowie from Beach
Control (above) are the voice of the
competition. They stay in contact with
the anglers and make sure everyone gets
safely back to shore.
76 February 2014

ts 3.30am on a Monday and Johan Burgers

voice rips through my tent walls. Get up
Erns! I open my eyes with a start I only
went to bed two hours ago! Now Johan is
inside my tent and hes passing me a Choice
government condom. Its all too much for my
groggy brain, but before I run away screaming he
sets my mind at ease: The condom is to keep my
cellphone dry when were out at sea. Its day one
of the Billfish 15000 and Im heading out with
Johan on his boat Fish Buster.
Its still dark on the beach but people are
hustling. Tractor engines are rumbling, ready to
get the 70 competing boats into the water from
4.30am. Thats if the weather decides to play along.
If the wind reaches 21 knots or the waves are
too dangerous for launching, those 70 boats are
going nowhere.
These are serious fishing boats, not little
dinghies. Most are around 24 feet in length, with
neat cabins and twin four-stroke engines. Each
carries an average of four competitors and five
fishing rods with gleaming reels attached.
Theres no shortage of cash in South Africa,
an onlooker remarks drily at my side. Looking at the
names of the boats, theres no shortage of creativity
either: Visvraat, Shag & Release, Speeltyd, Overdraft,
Ocean Commotion
The anglers have come to Sodwana from as far
as Namibia, Cape Town, Hoedspruit and Polokwane
for a five-day test on the deep sea. Participation is
by invitation only, something that differentiates the
Billfish from many other competitions.
Its the cream of the crop, says Jaco Hendriksz,
the enthusiastic competition MC and a Protea
angler himself.
On the beach, near the launch site, Betsie
von Wielligh and Rina Bowie are sitting in a
wooden lean-to on stilts. Theyre members of
Beach Control and theyre ready and waiting to
communicate with the boats at sea over radio.
Their task is to assist the boats and note the
information when someone catches a fish. Last
night, dominee Stanus Cloete, whos fishing on
Fanta Sea today, prayed that Betsie and Rina
would be alert and energetic.
The weathers looking promising this morning.
At exactly 4.30am, a ritual happens that will
be repeated for the rest of the week: Colourful
fireworks explode above the beach like a triumphant
21-gun salute. The anticipation is palpable. Every
boat becomes the maritime equivalent of a rugby
locker the strong smell of testosterone and Deep
Heat, just before the guys huddle down in a circle.

The first boats burst through the waves and roar

out to sea, signalling the start of the 2013 Billfish
15000. Sodwanas marlins better watch out

From mine to marlin

A big camp has been set up in the campsite at

Sodwana, called the Ramkamp. Its the temporary
HQ of the Dorado ski boat club committee, which
organises the competition. Ramkamp will also be
my base for the week. Each morning Ill depart
from here on a different boat.
What makes the tournament remarkable is that
the Dorado ski boat club is based in the mining
town of Carletonville. Yes, South Africas biggest
and most renowned deep-sea fishing competition
is organised 700km from the coast.
The Billfish 15000 is 27 years old this year and
its the Holy Grail for marlin anglers. The name
comes from the R15000 prize money that was
awarded at the very first instalment in 1987.
Today the total value of all the prizes is close
to R1,7 million. First prize is a huge, silver Ram
1500 bakkie worth about R800000.
Everything I know about marlin comes from
Ernest Hemingways The Old Man and the Sea,
which I read in high school. This is about to change.
To catch a marlin takes a rare combination of
luck, stamina and teamwork. Actually, catch is
the wrong word. You fight a marlin. You sit in
the fighting chair, often for more than two hours,
while your skipper and your buddies help you out,
practically and psychologically. Its an epic battle
some participants go as far as to say its a mental
game, a battle of wills, your will versus the marlins.
Its an emotional experience, too, as committee
member Willie Pretorius explains: When the fish
stands on its tail and starts to dance, thats when
the tears start to flow.
Five species are recognised on the Billfish points
system: blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin,
sailfish and shortbill spearfish. With conservation
in mind, no one hangs these fish on a big hook on
the beach any more. Catch and release is the name
of the game and anyone who doesnt abide faces
a stiff fine.
In terms of the competition rules, the onus
is on the angler to take a clear photo or video of
his fish next to the boat. After the days fishing,
the photos and videos are checked and points
are awarded. Because the fish are freed and not
weighed, you get points for the number of fish
caught and the variety of different species. Truly
monster fish have been caught at the Billfish over

LIZA VAN DEVENTER/foto24

BOUNCING BOAT. Under gloomy Sodwana

skies, a boat comes back to shore after
a day at sea. Most of the 70 competing
boats launch at dawn and return at about
3pm. Each angler is allowed two rods and
the flags indicate the respective catches.

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FISHING BILLFISH 15000

the years, including a giant of 351kg. It must be
like having a wriggling Kobus Wiese at the end of
your line
There are superstitions aplenty at a competition
like this one: Some fishermen toss R2 coins over
their shoulders to appease King Neptune, others say
there shouldnt be any apples or eggs on the boat,
and there are some who think its good luck if one
of the guys on board has a serious hangover!

Clear heads & camaraderie

There are two deep offshore canyons at Sodwana

Bay, which fall sharply to 700m and beyond. Its at
these drop-offs where shallow and deep water meet
that youll find marlin. (Its also where a number of
coelacanths have been discovered.)
The names of fishing sites like Rondekop,
Klein Witsand, Diepgat and Rooiwalle echo on
the radio as skippers send their positions back to
Beach Control. Communication takes place on
one channel so that participants are always aware
of whats going on. Besides competition admin
and safety, Beach Control is also the sympathetic
shoulder of the Billfish. When a skipper mumbles
over the radio, Beach Control, we lost the fish,
Betsie is ready with a heartfelt: Were very sorry
to hear that. Similarly, if someone catches and
releases a marlin and shares the news, the other
skippers answer with a sporting, Congrats!

HANDS ON. Pine Pienaar (top) sets his

reel. On the Wednesday of last years
competition, a record 36 marlin were
caught and released. For points to be
awarded, you need to take a clear photo
(or video) of your catch, with a colour card
from Beach Control as proof.
78 February 2014

On Tuesday I head out with the current com

petition leaders aboard Naughty Cat. Skipper
Tommie Cowan owns the Spur in Randfontein
and in 2011 he tamed a 256kg marlin from this
very boat. The mood on Naughty Cat is one of selfconfident excitement: Tommie and his men reckon
theyre three marlins away from the bakkie.
Once weve smashed through the breakers
and the boat is on autopilot, we bow our heads.
One of the team members, Ronnie Edwards,
says a prayer: Be with us on the sea today, dear
Lord. And if it is Your will, give us a fish or two.
Then everyone does a high five and assumes their
positions. At the moment the fighting chair is
empty, but the second a reel starts screaming,
someone will climb up and get into the harness.
Around us is the infinite, inscrutable ocean,
with a thin strip of coastline in the distance. Its
a lot of water, Tommie says. You realise how tiny
you are.
These days, most of the anglers fish with konas,
man-made lures, unlike in the past when live bait
was the norm. Each of the rods aboard Naughty Cat
has a kona in the water, dragging behind the boat
like a colourful octopus.
But nothing happens. The guys have stopped
bantering and most of them are staring off into
the distance. It reminds me of a Leonard Cohen

song: Theres a bar where the boys have stopped

talking / Theyvebeen sentenced to death by
the blues.
On TV, those fishing shows make it look
so easy, Tommie says. They dont show the
frustrating times when youre just sitting around
and waiting.
Unfortunately the situation doesnt improve
and Naughty Cat heads back to the beach at about
3pm, empty-handed. What a *** day, Flip Jonker
growls. But hey, at least its better than working.

Free brandy, high spirits

In the evenings, everyone gathers for the daily

prize-giving where each team that caught a fish is
recognised. This get-together in the marquee is one
of the oldest traditions at the Billfish. There are
serious awards and then theres the monkey of
the day award, a floating trophy of a stuffed vervet
monkey that is given to the participant who did
the silliest thing that day. (Johan Burger would win
the overall prize for a joke he played on one of the
competition sponsors: The poor guy struggled for
more than half an hour with a marlin that was
actually just a bucket.)
Theres a strong spirit of camaraderie: One
evening a bunch of skippers gets a standing ovation
in recognition of the work they did coming to the
aid of the boat Nirvana, when both of its engines
broke down in the waves. There are also strong
family ties at the Billfish. Theres a father-andson combo in almost every team and you often
hear things like, I want to thank my old man
or Thanks for the fish, Dad.
Two of the teams are even comprised of married
couples. Like Johan and Elize Smith from Sodwana,
who are known as the Seevarkies. Johans boat is
called Seevarkie and Elizes is called Mrs Seevarkie.
On the third day of the Billfish, both Seevarkies reel
in a marlin at exactly the same time!
But everyones favourite competitor is without
a doubt Oom Attie van Rensburg from Vryheid.
Oom Attie is 90 years old and hes still an
active participant on his boat Dolos. He wants
to sit in the fighting chair just one more time.
Hemingways Santiago has nothing on Oom
Attie: hes the true old man of the sea. He
calls a marlin my sweet meraai and talks
to them often when hes out at sea.
Despite his advanced years, he still hangs out
in the bar tent every night, sharing stories. The
bar tent is sponsored by Bols brandy, which is
free for the duration of the Billfish (just dont
lose your glass). Youd think that the endless supply
of hard tack would encourage bad behaviour, but
Im surprised at how chilled out everything is.
Even the guys who try to charm some barmaids
with an ear-splitting rendition of Cat Stevenss

LIZA VAN DEVENTER/foto24

BILLFISH BRIGADE. At 90 years old, Oom Attie van Rensburg (top) must be one of the eldest competitive marlin anglers around. He bought his first boat, Dolos, at the age of 67 when most people would be
thinking of retiring from the sport. (He lost part of his right index finger as a five-year-old when he and his brother were digging for earthworms.) Most of your time at sea is spent waiting (above left) but that
reel can start singing at any moment. Getting up early is a given at the Billfish (above right). The anglers and their helpers check out the conditions at dawn before heading out to sea.
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FISHING BILLFISH 15000

Your own deep-sea

fishing adventure
You might not be invited to the
next Billfish, but at Sodwana you
can go deep-sea fishing with Johan
and Elize Smith from the Seevarkie
Guesthouse. Trips depart at 5.30am
and last about seven hours.
How much? Boat hire costs R5000
per day for game fishing with live
bait and R6000 per day for marlin
fishing with konas. On board
theres enough space for up to five
fishermen. All angling equipment is
supplied, just bring your own snacks
and drinks.
Stay over. The Seevarkie Guesthouse
sleeps 16 people, with an adjacent
cottage that sleeps six. Rates from
R300 per person (self-catering).
Contact: 082890 2370 (Elize);
seevarkie.co.za

80 February 2014

LIZA VAN DEVENTER/foto24

CONGRATS, DAD. Janus Wasserman,

skipper of the winning boat Real Passion,
with his wife Cheryl and son Conrad.

Father and Son accept their rejection in a very

gentlemanly fashion.
After all, there are many other fish in the sea.

Slippery buffaloes

On the last morning of the competition, I head

out with a seasoned angling family on their boat
Kit Kat. Skipper Jan Hendricksz (66) is a Billfish
legend whos been a participant since its inception.
He steers his brand-new boat with his feet while
humming quietly, Its you, its you, its you, the
only one for me...
His son Jaco (the MC in the evenings) caught
his first marlin when he was just eight years old.
He sat in the fighting chair and every now and
then wed bring him a bucket to throw up into,
Jan chuckles. But he carried on fighting.
Jacos wife Mariette is part of the team and has
also hauled in a few marlins in her time. When
that reel starts singing, its music to my ears,
she says.
The Hendricksz family boasts three generations
of anglers with national colours. I think its
hereditary, Jaco says.
Pine Pienaar from Potchefstroom is also on the
boat. Hes still smiling broadly after catching his
first marlin earlier in the week a moment hed
been dreaming about for 17 years. I was in the
fighting chair for almost three hours, Pine tells
me. The marlin is the buffalo of the sea, its the
ultimate rush.

Despite the angling pedigree on board, its

not Kit Kats day today, which gets me thinking:
None of the teams Ive been out with has caught
a marlin with me on board.Maybe Im the Jonah?
Elsewhere at sea, Real Passion (with Jans
19-year-old grandson Mario Els on board) is
having much better luck. In a twist that ends up
determining the entire competition, they have a
double strike two striped marlins take the bait
at the same time and the fishermen manage to
reel both in, photograph them and set them free.
Its enough to just nudge them to the top of the
points table.
Moving scenes play out on the beach when
the boat returns. Family members rush up to the
winners and embrace them. That night, at the final
prize-giving ceremony, they walk with a flaming
torch to the bakkie, while Freddie Mercury belts out
Barcelona over the loudspeakers.
I watch the happy anglers with their families
and friends, and I think back to something
Jaco told me in the tent on the very first night:
Winning or even catching a marlin isnt the
only thing. There are people in this tent and
thats the essence of the Billfish: Its lekker to
be a person, so you have to be a lekker person.
Theres no shortage of lekker people here.
Janus Wasserman, skipper of the winning team,
opens the bakkies door. His son Conrad, hardly
20 months old, is sleeping inside. He already
walks around with a fishing rod, Janus says,
smiling broadly.

MARLIN PATROL. Jaco Hendricksz works in

the construction business but fishing is his
passion. Hes a former Protea angler, hes
fished as far as Mexico and Portugal and he
has 55 marlin behind his name. Here he is
on his boat Kit Kat.

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