Algoa Bay Tuna Classic 2010
The 18th Algoa Bay Tuna Classic was held from the 19th to 22nd May 2010. This year’s competition was organised by a group of PE Deep Sea Angling Club volunteers again (following five years of professional event organisers) who focused on the anglers and did their best to ensure a return of the spirit and camaraderie previously associated with the Tuna Classic.
Registration took place on Tuesday 18th with each skipper receiving a sizable happy-pack that generally required two crew to be carried away!   A lengthy skipper’s briefing managed to keep most of the 238 anglers away from the Bols caravan until at least seven pm when festivities commenced. The evening was fairly quiet as long term forecasts were pointing to four fine weather days and most anglers realized that they were in for four days at sea without a break.  
The competition kicked off on Wednesday at 07h00 with a blessing of the fleet by Rev Rutthell and a flare fired by the NSRI signaled the beginning of what was to be a fantastic tournament. With very little recent information on the whereabouts of the tuna, Day one saw the fleet of 46 boats heading off in all directions. The first call-up at 10h00 revealed just how far the boats had spread out and a few difficulties were experienced with contacting everyone. Le Corsaire skippered by proud new owner, Michel Zoonekynd, reported the first catch but it was evident from the incoming reports that fishing was slow. Boats that had headed into the East seemed to be having the most success and this remained the pattern for the rest of the first day. Weigh-in revealed that only nineteen fish had been brought to the scales with Bryan Thomson heading the leader board with a Yellowfin of just 24kg.
Day Two dawned with an overcast sky and a very light Westerly breeze. Reports from the previous day had convinced most skippers to head east and this proved to be the correct decision. The overcast conditions seemed to make a difference and reports of bigger fish around the 30-40kg mark came in steadily throughout the day. Ruvaan Palm, skipper of Seriola had however quietly landed the “big one” and the rumor soon spread of an eighty-plus kg fish – for once the rumor turned out to be true – Ruvaan’s fish tipped the scale at 83kg! Adding to the excitement at PEDSAC Brian Webb, on board Tempissed, brought a 119.3kg Black Marlin to the scale and eight other Yellowfin of around 40kgs were also weighed by various anglers. This proved to be the best days angling for the tournament and mention must be made of the most unlucky angler Mark Johnson, fishing with Paul Sherman on Time n Tide, who landed a 71kg Yellowfin only to miss the cutoff by 6 minutes! The next two days fishing, although very enjoyable, did not deliver up any fish bigger than Ruvaan’s and his 83kg Yellowfin went on to take first prize. Ruvaan won a Furuno colour echo sponsored by Commercial Marine, four Goodyear tyres and a cash prize from Toyota Financial Services. Second place (44.8kg) went to another Tuna classic stalwart, Mike Riley, who also won a Furuno colour echo sponsored by Commercial Marine as well as a 42” LCD TV sponsored by Octotech and a cash prize from Algoa Toyota. Kelly Chandler and Johnny Nel (also top Tag and Release boat) came in third and fourth respectively winning an assortment of prizes ranging from radios to cash. Brian’s Marlin couldn’t pass unnoticed and he won a cash prize sponsored by Cerebos. Prizes right down to the 30th largest fish also received an assortment of prizes and cash sponsored by GV Donald and Industrial Highway Carriers. The Roger Peter Memorial Trophy for the crew showing the most spirit and camaraderie proved to be a difficult choice. So many anglers offered assistance and shared information that the decision was taken to award the trophy to “The Competitiors” (all of them!) for 2010. This I believe, typified the spirit of the competition and will hopefully set the tone for future Tuna Classic’s!

Karl van der Merwe
Tuna Classic Tournament Director 2010