MAGUGA – The coveted E100 000 prize remained unclaimed at the Maguga Cash Challenge after no angler managed to land a bass weighing 4.5kg or more.
Peter McCullough instead emerged as the biggest catch winner after producing a 3.545kg bass in the two-day Eswatini Angling Association competition held at Maguga Lodge over the weekend.
The competition poster offered E100 000 for the biggest bass weighing 4.5kg and above, but with the heaviest fish falling short of the mark, the jackpot was not triggered.
McCullough took the alternative prize of E15 000 cash for the biggest bass below 4.5kg, together with a first-aid kit, tool kit and other goodies, taking the total value of his prize package to about E20 000.
The experienced angler landed his winning bass at about 11am, with roughly an hour of fishing remaining, after targeting water where he believed other competitors had not been fishing.
The victory was particularly significant for McCullough, who had retired from competitive angling about eight years ago and said he had not fished for about a year before entering the competition.
“I was lucky,” he said.
McCullough, however, stressed that preparation and watercraft played an important role in finding fish.
“You try to fish where others didn’t fish,” he said.
He said anglers needed to study a dam, understand changing conditions and work out where fish were likely to be holding.
“Fishing is 80 per cent casting ability and 20 per cent luck,” he said.
Matthew Furniss, from Malelane, finished second with a 3.190kg bass and received E6 000 cash, while Curtis Matthews was third with a 3.140kg catch from about 14 metres of water. Matthews received E3 000 and goodies.
McCullough has represented Eswatini in Spain, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Italy and South Africa.
He also has fond memories of Maguga, having caught a 3.4kg bass there in 2008 while representing Eswatini in a competition in which the local team defeated South Africa.
The Maguga Cash Challenge is an annual fundraising competition for the Eswatini Angling Association and attracted 45 anglers from Eswatini and South Africa this year.
Organiser Wimpie Bouwer said the competition had been a success, with organisers encouraged by the participation and keen to grow angling in Eswatini.
The event had 21 sponsors, with the sponsorship and prize schedule showing a combined value of approximately E95 736 in cash, vouchers, accommodation, equipment, fishing tackle and other prizes.
Among the major contributions were E15 000 from Mbabane Motors, E5 000 from Resource 4 Africa, E5 000 from Buffalo Soldiers, E4 000 from Netcom, E4 000 in Goldwagen goodies, E4 000 from Tool Rite, E4 000 from MVJ Surgical & Medical and E3 000 from SAS.
Other prizes included accommodation vouchers, fishing rods, tackle vouchers, tools, first-aid kits, a cordless grass trimmer and blower, toolbox, cooler boxes, trophies and other goodies.
Bouwer said the organisers appreciated the support of the sponsors and anglers and wanted to see more people take up the sport.
McCullough thanked the organisers, sponsors and the weigh station.
He singled out Mbabane Motors for its sponsorship of the main prize.
The competition also featured a boat auction which raised E6 750, with McCullough revealing that he spent E500 to buy the boat.
The next Fish-Offs tournament at Mjoli Dam is scheduled for next month and will count towards national log points.
RESULTS
1. Peter McCullough – 3.545kg – E20 080 prize value
2. Matthew Furniss – 3.190kg – E11 120 prize value
3. Curtis Matthews – 3.140kg – E6 120 prize value
4. Torren Bouwer – 2.585kg – E5 760 prize value
5. Matthew Furniss – 2.540kg – E3 800 prize value
6. Darryl McKenzie – 2.510kg – E3 640 prize value
7. Kevin Lincon – 2.495kg – E3 440 prize value
8. Darren McKenzie – 2.490kg – E3 200 prize value
9. Rudolf Pretorius – 2.360kg – E2 900 prize value
10. Louis van Zuydam – 2.215kg – E2 750 prize value
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