Port Elizabeth’s ‘Catch’ of the Day

By Julia Holmes

“Deep sea fishing should be about knowledge and experience, not about being male or female” says Melissa De Villiers (21), who strongly agrees that “you don’t get taken as seriously” competing as woman in a male dominated sport. How does the dynamic, cheerful blonde prove herself? She confidently advises: “You just need to catch bigger fish than them”.

Introduced to deep sea fishing from the age of five, fishing has always been a family bonding experience for Melissa, with various family members taking a liking to the sport. Fortunate to never get sea sick, she laughs and says: “I guess they put me on a boat and I really enjoyed it”.

The current Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) student says: “What I love most about fishing is that is very relaxing being out in the fresh air and you always get to experience something new”. For Melissa, each trip out to sea is “never the same”, where the sport has allowed her to travel extensively, including fishing trips to beautiful towns along the South African coastline, such as: Cape Town, Knysna, Richards Bay, and, on a global scale, a fishing trip to Canada in 2012 with her father and uncle.

A loyal member of the Port Elizabeth Deep Sea Angling Club, which hosts the renowned, annual Algoa Bay Tuna Classic competition, Melissa says that “fishing can be a difficult sport to start. It is easier if you know someone that can take you out on a boat or to the beach to fish, as equipment is pricy”. She says: “With the rise in fuel cost, people are definitely fishing less. On a good day, it can be worth it, but on a bad day, where you catch little to no fish, it is very disappointing”.

Proving that dynamite comes in small packages, and that gender is no limitation, the talented deep sea angler has accumulated impressive bragging rights over the years. Of the many, includes: competing in the Junior Bottom Fish Nationals in Knysna in 2011, where Eastern Province placed 3rd, winning the junior division of the Algoa Bay Tuna Classic in 2006 and placing second in the senior division of the Algoa Bay Tuna Classic in 2012. Overall, Melissa has competed in 10 consecutive Algoa Bag Tuna Classic competitions!

Embarking on the occasional hunting trip, Melissa has always been a fan of the outdoors, and has recently started fishing off the beach when visiting the family holiday home in Gibson Bay. She says: “Fishing off the beach is very different, and acquires different skills and techniques to what I am used to, so I am still getting there. It is a lot of fun, and we pack some snacks, drinks, and really enjoy ourselves”.

With regards to deep sea fishing in Algoa Bay, she comments: “The fish aren’t as abundant as they use to be. There is, however, the possibility to catch lots of different fish, such as yellowtail, tuna, and geelbek (Cape Salmon). It is a challenging endeavor, with good and bad days, but at the right time of year, in the right kind of weather conditions, it can be very successful”.

For further information or advice concerning fishing in Algoa Bay, contact the following:

• Martin Gierz from IBY Deep Sea Fishing Charters: +27 41 366 1794
• Neil Murison for rock & surf information: +27 82 777 8384
• Chris De Beer for bass and trout fishing information: +27 82 569 4204
• Denise van der Merwe from the Port Elizabeth Deep Sea Angling Club (PEDSAC): +27 84 284 1046

Contact Julia if you would like her to write for you!