2nd Annual Cape Town Yellowfin Tuna Blue Water International May 4-9, 2009

[SpearMax]

Here we go again on an exciting adventure to the amazing land of Africa.

Wilddiver Daryl tells me the South Africa crew is working hard on next year's event, so block your calendars in next May.

Tournament dates for 2009 are May 4-9, five potential diving days of which they hope to dive 3 days. AJ will post more details here soon. They are working on a few upgrades, some bigger boats for the old timers (like Daryl and Tommy!), a special package at a cool hotel in Simonstown, packaged GWS cage dives etc. Watch this space! :)

[AJRABIE]

Hi Everyone.

Yip here we go again. I'll have the invite up on the website before end of next week. The tournament will only run for 5 days, but please try to book your tickets to include 5 days after the tournament, if possible, to help insure divable days. We will make sure there is enough things to do in Cape Town and surrounds and that there is boats avaliable to dive from if we need the extra 5 days.
The first international team is commmited!
Team name still unconfirmed but divers are:
Keith Simmons
Chad Morris
Daryl Wong

Cheers
AJ

[Wilddiver]

Second team will be Daryl Balfour, Zak Zuccaro and Tommy Botha. Team Pelaj/IF&SN.

[AJRABIE]

Excellent, glad to have Tommy and the gang from PELAJ once again onboard.
I'm also proud to announce that PELAJ will also take a much more active sponsorship role for this years tournament. I'm also glad to say Daryl Balfour, in his personal capacity ,has offered lots of he's time, pro bono, up towards the comp to help us orgainzers, give the international competitors an even greater experience next year. Thx Daryl

[virgili]

A great challenge ahead!
Congrats to AJ Rabie and to the other organizers
Look's like a top Open++:thumps:
I would like first to confirm that the 2nd CTYBWI 2009 winner will get a $1000 US bonus used to take part to the 2nd Costa Rica BWHO held in 2010!;)

I plan to be there from April 30th to May 16th, 2009 and to take part to the 2nd CTYBWI...and I'm looking for organizing a (cool) team.

My buddies could share with me on the place two incredible experiences:
-Plan to do a 3 days tiger/ bull/ black tip SHARKS freediving in Durban (2 h flight from Cape Town) with my friend Walter: max 2 or 3 divers could take part to the trip and we have to book/ confirm months before.
-Plan also to try some (short) freediving in CT with great white sharks. I have been working this plan for months, it needs a special permit. Have a good relationship with one of the two guys who runned the boat used to take the "Air Jaws1-2" footages. This is a faisible plan, but not guaranteed, other than diving in a cage is possible...
Thank's for keeping in touch and giving me your feedback.
All the best and clear water!
Mail: info@spearfishingmotion.com
Subject: 2nd CTYTBWI

[kill shot]

Hopefully the weather will hold for you guys this year.

[AJRABIE]

I'll leave the awarding to virgili's discretion, but there will also be one free entry into out CT-2009 comp for a lucky team of our sister comp, the 1st Costa Rica BWHO held in January 2009, in Costa Rica. Worth about $1000
AJ Rabie
PS
Mark Butler's SA team has said they are back in!
Black Dog's Mark Bulter
Natal Adrian Padt
Craig Smit

That's 5 spots down of a maximum of 16 team spaces available.

[NOTANX]

ill see if i can get some interest for another palm beach freedivers team. im gonna start saving now.

[23six]

I would say I'm in, can't wait to go back. Hopefully I can swing it by then to bring the family.

[AJRABIE]

The invite:

[virgili]

Nice poster and great job!
Congrats++

[AJRABIE]

Good news!
Wolf says he'll be back also next year!
Also 2 Greek teams, headed by Dimitris Kollias seems very interested, and the invite will also be published in his Greek magazine called Deep magazine. Anyone know this magazine? Also keep an eye out for the next IFSN issue and hopefully I can get a response out of HSD magazine to print the invite in the USA.
Does anyone know of any other Magazines specializing in spearfishing/ freediving that will be interested in printing our add?
Thx
AJ

[kill shot]

AJ,

How many spots are left for teams? I might be putting a few of us together for a team.

Eric

[AJRABIE]

Hi Eric
I'll reserve a team for you. Also Camero Kirkonnell at Riffe will be getting onboard with a team. I'll probably also be diving this year so that's about 10 teams booked so far. I'll be taking in maybe 2 more teams and then the rest of the teams will be reserved for sponsors or last years teams not yet committed until end of September then I will be opening it again.
Cheers
AJ

[AJRABIE]

Hi guys
Team corral sea Australia, captain Martin Cunningham will be back also, so the Aus team is back in.
Great news!
Cheers
AJ

[Wilddiver]

Another great prize added to the list already on offer. I have negotiated with Chris and Monique Fallows of Apex Predators (see their website www.apexpredators.com for some of the most awesome white shark images ever taken) that there will be a discount for any of the tournament competitors or their families wanting to do a white shark dive or simply boat based viewing of breaching activities, either with Chris and Monique's operation or African Shark Eco Charters, out of Simonstown to Seal Island. The offices are right out the back of the Quayside Hotel in Simonstown and they launch from the dock out front.

Chris and Monique worked with the National Geographic film crews, the Air Jaws crews and just about anyone else who has done serious white shark filming in South Africa.

Additionally Chris and Monique have generously donated two white shark outings to be used as prizes or lucky draws at the event, perhaps at the opening function so that the winners get to use them on days when we are not spearing tuna!:thumps:

Below are some pics taken by Chris to get your anticipation high!

Both pics (c) Chris Fallows/www.apexpredators.com

[AJRABIE]

Updated invite:

[Wilddiver]

Great looking poster AJ!

And just for those guys reading it and still wondering whether to come, and seeing the "diving to 20-30 metres down" bit and wondering if they are up for it...most of the tuna speared in these waters are shot within 10 metres of the surface! There's no need to have hardcore breath-hold abilities...in fact Tommy Botha reckons he prefers not to shoot tuna in these waters below about 15m (45 feet) because of the danger if you get tangled in the shooting or float line...the water here is about 1000metres deep...a long way to get pulled down!

[BigMako]

I absolutely cannot wait . This is going to be better than last year......and last year was great!

[AJRABIE]

Hi AJ.
The "co-ordinate" team will definitely want to take part in the 2nd
CTYBWI.Have committed ourselves and funds already.Please keep us posted
wrt registration procedures.
Sterkte met die reelings.
Regards.
Rob Guthrie

Great news, another of last years teams have re-commited.
AJ

[AJRABIE]

Also to all the keen land hunters, Craig and I, am thinking of maybe taking the Ausies hunting for some African Game the week before and then maybe having some wild game meat one night during the comp.
Keith or anyone else, you guys in for shooting a springbok, while down in SA?
AJ

[BigMako]

AJ,
Please count me in.

[AJRABIE]

Hi everyone
Best everyone pays their own deposit for accommodation at the hotel.
I have included the provisional booking document to use, and it maybe wise to not only fax your proof of payment to the number stated on the provisional booking(word document, but to also e-mail me and Daryl so we can double check that your room is indeed booked.
Reservation Name International Underwater Group
Reservation Number 503

Thx
AJ

[AJRABIE]

Hi everyone
Just posting a letter from Craig the tourney organizer and giving a bit of feedback on where to expect to see some branding for the comp and to say thx to our present sponsors and to build some excitement for next year. We managed to get an article posted in a Greek magazine so it looks like 3 Greek teams might be on the table for next year. Also look out for the next issue of IFSN for some branding for the sponsors and just to add more excitement for the participants!
Thx
AJ

Hi Guys
>>
>> On behalf of AJ the Committee and myself I would like to thank you all
>> for
>> your support and sponsorship for the tournament held in May 2008 and hope
>> you will want to be involved with 2009 tournament. Just a little feedback
>> on
>> May 2008 tournament on Spearboard.com chat site the tournament got over
>> 16000 hits the second highest on the website. We have 10 international
>> teams
>> confirmed for May 2009 and we have increased the number of teams
>> participating from 12 (2008) to 16 (2009) and extended the tournament to
>> 5
>> possible diving days of which we plan to dive 3 days.
>> One of the sponsors IFSN has given us great coverage as well as placing
>> advertisements for the tournament all articles have and will display your
>> logos. The next edition will have a full colour add with all your logos.
>> I
>> have also attached a copy of an article as well as an add that was placed
>> in
>> the Greek free diving magazine and so far 3 Greek teams have shown great
>> interest.
>>
>> We have also negotiated with the Costa Rico blue water tournament which
>> you
>> are also involved in to make a $1000 entrance discount prize to our
>> tournament to the winner of the tournament later in the year and we will
>> have the same for May 2009 as a prize for the Costa Rico Tournament in
>> 2009
Craig Hagan

[AJRABIE]

More great news!
North East Yanks is back in for next year!
See the mail below I received from Jonathan.


AJ,

Great to see you have gotten the ball rolling again, The North East Yanks
are back and ready to come down and take some of your fish this year, Brian
Jessurun and myself are committed and will be there, we will have a third
team mate soon. But please accept this as our commitment to attend the 2009
tournament. Please use me as the contact for this year’s tournament, and I
am very much looking forward to see every one again.

Is Ryan still around and will he be spearing?

Talk with you soon,

Jonathan Lounsbury
North East Yank

[AJRABIE]

Seems like Palm beach freedivers are back in!
thanks craig. we will most likely be diving under the palm beach freedivers name again this year, unless we get a big sponsor.
shane

Craig got 2 brand new Worldcats to enter the comp for next year, some pics included of the offload at the harbour!

[AJRABIE]

Hi guys
To touch on Johnathan's request
Regarding Ryan, he's in Australia with martin and the ausies diving and shooting loads of fish! Very unfair if you ask me!:thumps:

Here is a reply from Libby about the ausies and ryan:

Hi Craig,
Hope you have dried out a bit since your last email. The rain has finally stopped here for a while. I spoke to Marty tonight on the sat phone, he said Ryan is loving it so I can only imagine the weather has been good. They will be out for another week I think and then back in for a break, that will be about a 10 day trip. I have been away with Simon and the kids, camping. At the back of Innisfail (the town I live in) is called the Tablelands, lots of beautiful lakes and walking tracks and about 10 degrees cooler, no crocodiles or sharks either, makes for a nice change.
By the way I'm not vegetarian either, I love my Sunday roast. I didn't mean to offend, it was said to Ryan lightheartedly, more that I couldn't do it, but I know martin and Simon would be interested. On our way through Cairns last week I saw a big sign outside a deli, Sth African Biltong available, I will have to get some for Ryan for when he gets home sick. The photos you sent of your storm were just unbelievable. Do you have any sequence shots of the lobster shack and waves? Even Ryan was blown away.
Anyway got lots to catch up on the only drama with taking a break, the catch up.

By for now,
Libby Cunningham

[AJRABIE]

And we in the CApe of STorms got this:
BRASS BELL RESTAURANT- KALK BAY

[AJRABIE]

Hi Guys
Another SA team interest are DR PIET KAMFER and 2 team mates, not sure of the team name yet,but we will find out soon.
Thx
AJ Rabie

[Wilddiver]

This is the report from this year's blown-out comp, as used in IF&SN magazine, which AJ has asked me to post here:

THE CAPE OF STORMS LIVES UP TO ITS NAME:mad:


South Africa’s inaugural Yellowfin Tuna Blue Water Invitational spearfishing competition slated for May 6-10 this year (2008) saw the Cape of Good Hope live up to its alternative acronym – the Cape of Storms – with all diving completely blown out by gale force winds and tempestuous seas that made any thought of sending divers 30 miles offshore to the famous tuna grounds out of the question.


With 12 teams of three spearos each having gathered in Simonstown, near Cape Town, from as far afield as the USA and Australia for the groundbreaking event, the disappointment was palpable each morning as the weather call was made – “no diving today!” But while disappointment filled the air there was little dissent about the decisions, even though the seas outside the spectacularly located Cape Boat & Skiboat Club clubhouse often looked calm as a millpond. With legendary South African spearo Tommy Botha, an 11-times SA champion and a pioneer of tuna spearing in the Cape waters, co-opted onto the weather committee as the “spearfishermens’ representative” all contestants knew that the decision not to dive was being made or endorsed by one of the most experienced and hardcore spearos on the planet.


Tommy, a member of Team IF&SN/Pelaj along with fellow-South Africans Zak Zuccaro and myself, all experienced tuna spearfishermen in these waters, actually set out to sea on one morning when the conditions seemed faintly possible. Launching with skipper Peter Burley in his boat Reel Escape in the pre-dawn darkness we ran the 11 nautical miles from the slipway in relative calm, sheltered in the lee of the Cape Peninsula in False Bay. Glancing at our boat’s fish-finder/depth sounder from time to time I shivered as I saw the water temperature – fluctuating between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius! (About 50ºF) Brrr!


But as we rounded Cape Point we ventured out into the open Atlantic Ocean, and into the teeth of the northwesterly wind that was already hitting 18-20 knots, and climbing…and this still only 7am. With high seas running and a rising wind it was evident that conditions further out to sea would be even worse, and the chances of divers being able to stay with the burley trail, or even get the chum to sink into the depths to lure the tuna up to spear-able depths, non-existent. Tommy also pointed out that with the swell running at more than 4 metres and the wind likely to push the boat away from divers in the water, chances of a competitor being lost at sea were too high to be even remotely acceptable. Regrettably the decision was taken once more to call the diving off for the day.


(As an aside, the second weather boat, San Michelle, with three local western Cape spearos aboard, decided to stay out for a while longer and attempt to at least catch some Yellowfin or albacore tuna on rod and line. Later that day they limped back to the club slipway, the boat smashed by the high seas and forced to withdraw from the remainder of the competition!)


Chad Morris, (aka GRISWOLD) a member of the USA’s Deep South Divers team along with another Spearboard luminary, Keith Simmons aka Big Mako, later told me that while all the contestants waiting in the clubhouse were hugely disappointed when the call came back from our boat that conditions were not suitable for diving, he did not hear one dissenting voice or opinion, such is the esteem in which Tommy Botha is held in the international spearfishing community!


Sadly for the organisers, the Bellville Underwater Club and the Cape Boat & Skiboat Club, bad weather and no diving was the story of the event.


Craig Hagan, the tournament director, was understandably gutted at the outcome, but remained upbeat for the future of this event, groundbreaking for the manner in which it had seen divers and anglers, traditional rivals if not outright enemies, united in a common cause. Fifteen deep sea fishing boats belonging to experienced anglers had been offered, along with their skippers, to host divers during the tournament, while the boat club and its members had allowed the spearos full use of all the clubhouse facilities and services.


Every fishing boat skipper I spoke to echoed the same sentiments – “You guys have gotta be crazy getting into the sea out there. We really wanted to see how you do it, see how you spear and boat these big tuna. We know how they fight and how long it takes us to boat them…and you want to do it in the water - you’re all crazy!”


From the contestants’ viewpoints the organization of the tournament was top-notch, with many acclaiming it as the best-run event they had ever attended. Breakfasts were laid on at 5am at the clubhouse every morning, diving or not, and supper every evening. Several of the local competitors stepped in as hosts and tour guides to take international visitors to the local sights, dive shops and out to the acclaimed Stellenbosch winelands, and some even managed to fit in a short safari to a nearby wildlife ranch to see some of Africa’s famous big game. Others ventured out to the notorious Seal Island in False Bay to make a cage dive to see Great White Sharks, and one commented that the chill he felt on seeing a five-metre shark cruising up to him while in the cage made the 10 ºC waters feel positively warm!


Much time was spent examining equipment brought to the event by the international contingent. Most South African spearos make do with simple Rob Allen or Rabitech railguns when hunting tuna, or the custom-made Tommy Botha tuna guns, but the nine USA contestants arrived with a spectacular array or weaponry that had the locals gawping in amazement. There were guns with inner titanium tubes for water ballasting, six or seven bands, magnetic line releases, enclosed shafts, custom paint jobs, lead ballast weights and custom carbon-fibre stocks. But the quote of the tournament must have been a quip by Tommy Botha, admiring a selection of these guns, who commented: “My guns don’t do any of those things. They just shoot fish.” And with that he produced his old faithful teak gun, the first one he made, with four bands of disparate rubber and showing all the signs of the 100 or more tuna taken with it!


The final evening’s closing function and prize giving went ahead as scheduled, with prizes being awarded on a lucky draw basis in lieu of the planned-for highest aggregate weights, with every team present at the function walking off with prizes ranging from Rabitech, Rob Allen and Freedivers spearguns and an array of other dive accessories. Each boat skipper was also called up for an award, with the top prize of a Yamaha generator - a handy unit given South Africa’s current power shortages - going to the first name out of the hat.


Most gratifying for the organizers, however, must have been the enthusiasm among the international contingent for this event in the future. There was a unanimous “we’ll be back next year” and “we have already booked our flights” from all with whom I spoke. (And judging by the list of entries already confirmed for 2009, they were being serious!)


Craig Hagan and AJ Rabie of the organising committee are already looking to the future, with the possibility that the event will be staged over a longer “waiting period” of perhaps 10 – 14 days. Statistically the month of May is the ideal time period for the tournament – the big fish are most prolific and there is usually a window in the Cape’s notoriously bad weather at this time of year. Reinforcing this opinion is the fact that the week immediately prior to the event saw the staging of the Gordon’s Bay Yellowfin Classic while the week immediately afterwards was scheduled for the South African Yellowfin Tuna National Championships, two of the country’s premier tuna angling events. (Incidentally, the week immediately after the tournament the weather remained as bad, if not worse, with winds up to 40 knots and 6-metre swells!)


This year the contest was limited to 12 teams of 3 divers each, but the organisers have said they will be able to increase this to 16 in the future. Teams who entered the 2008 event will get priority in 2009…so start preparing for May next year!


I look forward to seeing you all there!

[BigMako]

I have to add that although I was extremely disappointed in not being able to dive, I was in awe of the country, it's people and mostly the professional way in which the contestants were entertained and made to feel absolutely welcome. A great experience and I can't wait until April when I will be winging my way to this beautiful country again, both to see new friends and to battle Yellowfin. I highly recommend this tourney to all that can attend. You won't be disappointed. Look out Ryan, I'm after your record!

[AJRABIE]

Hi Guys
It’s time to start paying your entrance fee to ensure your booking for next year
Please pay up if possible by the end of November your teams R6000 entrance fee only.
(If you need more time to pay,just let me know, and fill in the admin page of the divers so atleast I have my documentation in order.
Fuel deposits will be handed in only at registration.
Sorry for the delay in sending out the invite
AJ

[Wilddiver]

Look out Ryan, I'm after your record!

Ha...didn't you find out last time...you're too old!:lol::D

[BigMako]

I forgot. I'm not even a "golden Oldie," just old.

[AJRABIE]

Hi There
Let's have a break down.
You will need to pay your plane ticket to Cape Town if not form the Republic of South Africa. I'm not sure but from USA about $1500 per person.
Your entrance fee is about $600 per team for 3 that is $200 per person. This gets you a boat and skipper for 3 days and food for the duration of the tournament. Also we like to give a lucky packet of SA spices and goods like marmite and biltong. The accommodation will cost you between $500 minimum and a $1000 dollars max depending on your tipe of stay. Fuel deposit will be about maximum $200 per person, depending on the days dived. Beers with the present exchange rate is about 60 US cents for a beer.
So you are looking at about $2500 per person worst case.
PS, there is absolutely no profit incentive for the organizers, we do it for the sport and to basically provide a venue and infrastructure for international divers to come shoot a Big Yellowfin tuna, and meet some new friends and contacts while you are at it!
Cheers
AJ

[BigMako]

Very Highly recommended. It's a great event.

[downandout]

192 days, to get in shape, and until I am having a beer with my South African friends again. Can't wait! I hope the rest of you take this time to put on a couple of extra pounds over the holidays to give myself and my team an advantage next May.

See you all soon,
Jonathan

[AJRABIE]

Hi guys
So I went yellowtail hunting the other day and got a PB of 14 kg's
I added a couple of pictures. I got the R6000 deposit of the Langebaan team thx guys and glad to have you back for next year.

The ALFA banks is about 42 miles south of Cape Agulhas the southern most point of africa. This means about 2 hours and thirty minutes drive to reach you destination. But worth it! We shot 26 yellowtail with 6 fish weighing over 10kg's! I saw a couple of fish at close to 20 kg's. That's about 40 pounds I think. I'm going back as soon as possible to bag a 40 pound or bigger fish.
Will keep everyone updated

I've asked ryan to give us an update on the tuna ground.
Cheers
AJ

[Wilddiver]

Nice fish AJ. About to leave for a full month spearing in Mozambique getting in shape for Costa Rica, then off to Virgili's comp with Tommy and Zak immediately after that. Will keep you posted how things go over there.

[RyanNienaber]

You won't be disappointed. Look out Ryan, I'm after your record!

hey anytime your welcome to have it, id be only to happy to see someone else enjoy the privilege of spearing a tuna over 100kg's in my home ground off Cape Point, im not to fazed about records, just good times and seeing people catch and spear there first tuna, its always a special moment and its great to be able to make it happen for someone else, its all about having fun, thats why i love the sport.

[RyanNienaber]

Hi to all

AJ asked me to give you a little rundown on the tuna grounds, to what I can tell you since I returned from a month at the coral sea with martin cunningham in Australia in mid October, is we haven’t fished as hard as normal due to erratic weather conditions, in October I fished the end of the month doing 4 trips in the last week, working on a commercial vessel so there was no spearing unfortunately, catches were
24 longfin 1 yellowfin,
36 longfin 0 yellowfin,
5 yellowfin 19 longfin 2 yellowtail,
25 longfin 2 yellowfin,
the water conditions have been changing daily according to the wind conditions and maybe from flooding up country. We have had days with crystal clean water and 22’c temperature to days where the water is brown and down to 17’c.

November looked more promising towards the end of the month, and looks like the water is settling into a more stable condition, but it is’nt called the cape of storms for no reason and we have still had many days of strong wind and big seas. I fished the deep 10 days in November, with mixed results, 2 of these days was in a fishing competition and the balance was on a commercial day vessel. My catches were
0 longfin, 1 yellowfin, 15 yellowtail,
26 longfin 6 yellowfin,
3 longfin 0 yellowfin – competition day
2 longfin 1 yellowfin – competition day
17 longfin 3 yellowfin,
31 longfin 2 yellowfin
3 longfin, 7 yellowfin, 28 yellowtail, 2 dorado
5 longfin 7 yellowfin
5 longfin 12 yellowfin
0 longfin 0 yellowfin

I have been fishing on a smaller day vessel but some of the larger boats had days where 20 yellowfin have been caught.

Unfortunately iv been working so haven’t done any tuna spearing lately, although there were some days when we had close to ten yellowfin swimming alongside the vessel on many occasions. We have also seen large numbers of yellowfin jumping out the water after baitfish.

Two other days of particular interest, is when we found a massive floating log that was covered in barnacles and surrounded with yellowtail, dorado and tuna, unluckily we weren’t the first boat there and the log had already been worked hard.

The other day, 28 November 2008, a broadbill swordfish (150 - 200kg) was sighted by a number of boats swimming on the surface between the vessels for sometime, this fish was docile and unfazed by anyone and seemed to be sunning itself. One boat trolled passed it and hooked (fowl I think) it but lost it after a short fight, unluckly there were no spearos near by to take care of him.

So far December has been pretty windy, some of the large deck boats left last night so we will see what they have caught on there return..

I will probably be out there early next week weather permitting and will keep you all posted if you like.

ryan

[BigMako]

If you're going to shoot a Swordfish, be sure to have a buddy ready with another gun. They will attack. They have really foul temperments and have been known to attack boats.

[RandyMan]

anybody need a third for the tournament? None of my friends seem to have the time or the cash, I'm out in California with the LA Fathomiers and am used to shooting yellowfin in Mexico. Looks like fun! PM with a reply
RandyMan

[RyanNienaber]

92777

92778

a couple yellowtail Aj, myself, steven and jaco shot this past week.

average weight 11.5kg

[AJRABIE]

Hi guys
Craig has asked me to post this letter to get some responce from everyone
Thx
AJ

To: All Spears
Cape Town Yellowfin Tuna International
4 - 9 May 2009



From: Tournament Co-ordinators
Cape Boat & Bellville Underwater Club



The committee felt it important to send this notice out about the current lack of Yellowfin Tuna in our waters for the past and current season.

The Yellowfin Tuna season has been the worst in years, although we hope and believe it will pick up from March and peak in May [May is normally the best month, weather and fish wise]. Just to give you an idea, the week before the spear fishing tournament is the Gordons Bay Classic and the week after is the Nationals Tuna Tournament. These competitions are on the SADSAA calendar and are going ahead.

The concern we have is the cost factor for the international competitors to come all the way and not get the experience of shooting a Yellowfin.

Can we get some feedback from you, the competitors – Should we move the tournament to May 2010 or go ahead with the current dates?

I have had several meetings with the boat owners and they are all keen to make their boats available, so from our side the competition will be run as professionally as in May 2008, if not better.

Please let us have your feedback so a decision can be made.

Yours in Spear Fishing



Craig Hagan & AJ Rabie

[Wilddiver]

Hi AJ,
In USA with Chad and Keith at present on way back from Costa Rica. Our feelings are if it is not likely to be good better to call it off until 2010. We have had too much non-spearing of late. But at least if it is not postponed all potential competitors know the fishing may be poor.

Daryl & Zak

[downandout]

As for myself, I will leave it up to the locals to decide. I place my trust in you, after all, last year was great and we did not even get out! But after all this is "Fishing" you could call the tournament and that could be the best fishing week in ten years.

But like I said, I leave it up to you!
Jon

[BigMako]

My feelings exactly. You guys make the call. You are in a much better position to make a decision than I am. I don't think there would be any repercussions either way. If it goes, I'm looking forward to it, if we wait , then I'm waiting longer but still looking forward to it.

[RyanNienaber]

i was out fishing in the deep on Tueday, the water was 21'c, very clean deep blue colour, we were on a small vessel so did'nt catch as much as the larger deck boats, our tally for the day was 1.7ton of longfin 143 pieces 11.8kg ave, with some fish over 16kg, and only one yellowfin carcass weight 28.5kg

most deck boats came in after two days with 20-25ton each, about 1800pieces of longfin and are heading back out again, some of them had 15-30 smaller yellowfin (30-50kg) on board, as well as there quota of yellowtail, and i even saw a large dorado between the fish while off loading.

heres a pic from tuesday when we had no more space to pack fish.

[downandout]

Hi AJ,

Not to put pressure on you, but I am waiting to book my flight and lodging until you make your decision. What are your thoughts as of now?

Jon

[sacha58]

Does anyone know of any other Magazines specializing in spearfishing/ freediving that will be interested in printing our add?
Thx
AJ[/QUOTE]

Try " PESCASUB " and " APNEA MAGAZINE " In Italy and " APNEA " in France

[BigMako]

Any decisions yet?

[BigMako]

Thanks for making what was, I'm sure, a difficult, yet informed decision. I'll look forward to 2010. I may see you guys anyway later this year. Thanks again!

[Wilddiver]

Just in case nobody knows, AJ and Craig, tournament organisers, have canned this event for 2009 and will hold it in 2010 instead. Apart from a very poor tuna season to date, the world economic situation is not making it easy for spearos to travel to exotic locations, such as Cape Town.:( Hopefully by 2010 the economies will be better and the tuna will have recovered. Better to hold no event than a poor event I reckon. So for all our friends we were hoping to catch up with in Cape Town this May...it'll have to be in 2010 instead.:beer:

And by then we may have a blue water invitational in Mozambique immediately beforehand...and of course the Soccer World Cup is being held in SA in June 2010 too!

[BigMako]

That(World Cup) just means prices will double for that period!:eek:

[virgili]

Too bad!:( I planned to take part to the 2009 edition.. Bertrand Tiap Chong the CR winner got a free entry to the tourn, but he told me he can't get there.
I will stay in C Town and Durban area (freediving with tiger sharks) in May and will probably visit my South African colleagues/ friends...;)
Look also forward to 2010, the 2nd CR BWHO winner will again get a free entry...
AJRABIE and CRAIG did a gread job!:thumps:

[RyanNienaber]

if anyone is about cape town, there is a quite bit of longfin out there at the moment and has been quite plentyful the last couple days, but relativly small size.

[downandout]

So how is the weather this year, is anyone fishing?

Jonathan

[arindam.0000]

if i book a ticket 2 days after?aus teem is back so it will be pleasure..

[AJRABIE]

Hi guys
Sorry for being quite for a while, things have been very slow regarding the economy also! We only felt it a year later than the US guys. I feel 2010 will be a great year for tuna, just adding a fish shot 2 weeks ago by a local spearo. 85.5kg's!
Also any spearo wanting to come shoot 40 pound + yellowtail if they are in SA during the summer months, (November to end April) should give me a ring we are really shooting some nice fish lately on the alphard banks of Struisbaai(CLose to Cape Agulhas, the southern most point of Africa! The southernmost point of Africa is not Cape Point as many people tend to believe/think).

The yellowtail was shot on the 5'th of April. We got about 25 fish the day.
The smallest 11kg's the biggest 16kg's. Average 14kg fish.

We lost probably another 20 fish due to the fish reefing.

The Alphard banks are 40 nautical miles from land, but come up to about 15 meters depth. The yellowtail are so big and strong, that while you ascend to get your breath after shooting them, they reef themselves and tear out even if it's a great lateral shot, only a side line shot, paralyzing the fish, guarantees you have a good chance of keeping it.

I think slip point spears like we use on the yellowfin tunas will probably be the answer and I got some made up for my reel gun. I shoot the fish with a 1.3 meter reel gun with a single elastic band at present. More than enough fire power, the spears go thorough, but due to the depth or should I rather say lack of depth, it’s a real mess to land them.

[virgili]

hi AJRABIE,
good to hear from you
was there in april and pretty lucky during a short stay in CT to get sunny weather, sea becalmed and blue water there (Hout Bay)
caught over 100 lb yf tunas and by chance a 68.1 lb albacore/ longfin tuna: a SA record and a smashed W.R. I unfortunaly forgot to measure the fish:(... my mind should be at the time in a whirl by coming to the southern hemisphere!

[BigMako]

Any plans on a tournament in 2010? I'd sure like to start making plans for this.

[Wilddiver]

News I hear from Cape Town is that 2010 is off and they are hoping to get it back on track in 2011. But this is hearsay, as the organisers themselves are very quiet and I've not had replies to emails to AJ Rabie...