Ready for Big Ones at This Year’s Richards Bay Billfish Interprovincial
Our team brings you all the tournament info: All the dates, contacts, programme, teams, qualifying species and what to expect at the Richards bay Billfish Interprovincial
33 Anglers in 11 teams for 9 provinces. 5 Marlin species and 3 days of top-level game fishing. The Richards Bay Billfish Interprovincial is happening 2–5 March 2023. Organised by Zululand Deep Sea Angling Association (ZDSAA), SADSAA and hosted at Richards Bay Ski-boat Club, conditions are looking good – weather-wise – for an exciting comp this year.
“So far it looks like good fishing days, but there’s a good chance we’ll be able to fish all three of the planned days,” says Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club’s competitions officer, Charl Van Den Berg.
RICHARDS BAY BILLFISH INTERPROVINCIAL
One of SA’s best-known provincial-level billfish tournaments, the Richards Bay Billfish Interprovincial is a strictly catch-and-release marlin competition, fished under IGFA and SADSAA rules and 37kg line class. And there are nine provincial associations represented at this year’s tournament, which kicks off with registration in March 2023, with fishing commencing soon after. (See the programme below.)
And word is that it’s been an on-and-off season for the marlin in this usually very species-rich part of the country. “The fish have been a bit scarce of late compared to previous years,” Charl comments, “so the guys are going to have to bring their A-game.”
BILLFISH INTERPROVINCIAL DATES AND PROGRAMME
2 March 2023
16:00 – 18:00 Registration
19:00 Briefing and dinner at Clubhouse
3–4 March 2023
05:00 Boats launch (exit port when given permission)
15:00 Weigh-in opens
17:00 Weigh-in closes
5 March 2023
05:00 Boats launch (exit port when given permission)
15:00 Weigh-in opens
16:00 Weigh-in closes
19:00 Dinner and prize-giving at Clubhouse
QUALIFYING FISH SPECIES
The Richards Bay Billfish Interprovincial only recognises billfish species, including short bill, black marlin, blue marlin, striped marlin and sailfish. And points are awarded for successful releases, though all hook-ups should be reported and even the break-off time recorded.
SOME BILLFISH INTERPROVINCIAL COMPETITION RULES
For scoring, a successful release will be when the hook-up is radioed in to tournament control (a boat out at sea) and photo or video of the release is mandatory. The requirements are a clear image of the fish, under control and on the leader at the side of the boat, with the nominated coloured signal/item (to be confirmed at the briefing) in the frame with the correct time and date stamp visible.
The clubhouse will be open for members during the tournament. Tight lines to everyone!
RICHARDS BAY BILLFISH INTERPROVINCIAL
2–5 March 2023
Organised by Zululand Deep Sea Angling Association | 035 753 5804 |
Hosted by Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club
1 Beach Rd, Richards Bay
Phone: 035 753 2516
Website
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