Tight Lines Proteas: Team SA at the EFSA Championships

Protea anglers representing SA, all the dates, full programme of events, what to expect and all qualifying species at the EFSA Championships, Plus: Review SA’s past performances

NOTE: The below post reflects back on a previous year’s EFSA Championships. The NEW 2022 competition is taking place 20–22 May 2022 in Olafsvik, Iceland.

Previous year report

5 of SA’s best anglers. Versus a dozen top European countries’ best. And 5 days of some of the best bottom fishing in the world. The (European Federation of Sea Anglers) EFSA Championships is on 9–13 September 2019. And we have some insights on the Protea that’s already in Weymouth, England preparing for this big annual championship fishing event.

We bring you all the Proteas representing SA. Some of the practice-day action. All the EFSA Championships 2019 dates and the full event programme. What to expect and a list of all qualifying bottom fish species. Plus: We review SA’s performances in EFSA Championship of the past.

MEET THE PROTEAS COMPETING IN EFSA CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

Wayne Gerber
Francois Beukes
Martin Gierz (Captain)
Allen Ford
John Luef

It’s a very formidable team, with the trio of Martin, Allen and John probably SA’s most experienced bottom anglers at this level at the moment, having fished this same competition in Iceland last year where they managed 11th place among 20+ competing teams. And Martin is, of course, one of our most experienced captains, having led more SA team in EFSA Champs than most of us can remember.

That combined with the fresh blood of Francois, who we’ve seen perform exceptionally well on the local scene over the last few years. And Wayne who’s competed in international events around the world this year.

Team SA arrived ready to compete in the upcoming EFSA Championships at the start of September. This after an awesome Protea Sendoff event at OR Tambo International, to which all anglers and the public were invited, organised by the South Africa Deep Sea Angling Association (SADSAA) on 30 August 2019.

A TASTE OF WHAT’S TO COME: PRACTICE DAYS AT EFSA CHAMPS

The team already have two practice days behind them. With notable factors being England’s ocean and weather conditions to get used to, and the fact that this year’s comp is using the English town of Weymouth’s fishing charter fleet. That means the team has access to boats and highly experienced skippers who chase fish almost every day. The only drawback being that all the other teams have the benefit of these skippers’ experience, too.

Some highlights from practice day 2, where the team managed around 10 species:

Some pretty windy conditions out there!

WHAT TO EXPECT: FULL PROGRAMME OF EFSA CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

The official parade and flag-raising happens on Sunday 8 September, with fishing commencing the next morning at 07:30. PLEASE NOTE: These times are local UK times, South Africa is one hour ahead of UK times.

Sat 7 Sept

Registration at Hotel – 14:00–18:00
EFSA Executive Officers Meeting – 18:00–22:00

Sun 8 Sept

EFSA March followed by Flag Raising Ceremony:
Assemble at Seafront Clocktower – 16:00
March from Clocktower to Pavillion – 16:30–17:00
Flag-raising followed by Reception – 17:30

LINE CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP

Mon 9 Sept

Assemble on Quayside – 07:30
Boats commence departure – 08:00
Fishing time: 6 hours from lines down
Back to port – 17:00

Sun 10 Sept

Assemble on Quayside – 07:30
Boats commence departure – 08:00
Fishing time: 6 hours from lines down
Back to port – 17:00

BOAT CHAMPIONSHIP

Wed 11 Sept

Assemble at Quayside – 07:30
Boats Commence Departure – 08:00
Fishing time 6 hours from lines down
Back to port – 17:00

Thurs 12 Sept

Assemble at Quayside – 07:30
Boats Commence Departure – 08:00
Fishing time 6 hours from lines down
Back to port – 17:00

Fri 13 Sept 

Assemble at Quayside – 07:30
Boats Commence Departure – 08:00
Fishing time 6 hours from lines down
Back to port – 17:00
Prize Giving and Gala Dinner, Weymouth Pavilion – 19:00 til late

QUALIFYING FISH SPEES: EFSA CHAMPIONSHIPS

The EFSA Championships feature Line Class and Boat Class competitions. All species are allowed in both levels, with the notable difference being the line class allowed, and in the Line Class competition, you have to fish while at anchor and all size fish count but they usually need to be above 2.2kg in weight. In the Boat champs, you can fish at anchor or on the drift, but you have size limits on the fish: they must be at least 20cm in length.

LINE CLASS QUALIFYING FISH SPECIES

Conger, all sizes, 15 points
Rays, all sizes, 10 points
Tope, all sizes,  5 points
All others, 2.2kg or above, 5 points

BOAT CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFYING FISH

6 points

Brill
Cod
Conger Eel
Rays
Tope
Turbot 

4 points

Bream (all)
Bull Huss
Gurnards (all)
Ling
Mullet (all)
Plaice
Pollack
Smoothound
Trigger Fish 

2 points

Dab
L.S. Dogfish
Garfish
Mackerel
Pout and Poor Cod
Scad
Whiting
Wrasse Cuckoo
Wrasse (all other)

SA PERFORMANCES IN PAST EFSA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Like we mentioned, South Africa placed 11th in the 2018 EFSA Championships in Iceland, with a special Protea light-tackle team coming in at 12th. The teams to beat last year were Norway (1st), Scotland (2nd) and Germany (3rd). And it wasn’t too dissimilar the year before.

In 2017, the EFSA Championships were held in Norway, where South Africa (under captain Martin Gierz and featuring Allen Ford) claimed fourth place. The top teams here were Norway (both 1st and 2nd place) and Scotland (3rd).

So it’s probably fair to say that team SA should keep a close eye on the Norwegians this year, as well as the Scots (who might be comfortable fishing Weymouth) and perhaps even the German team.

Tight lines, Proteas!

EFSA CHAMPIONSHIPS

9–13 September 2019
Weymouth, England
Updates: SADSAA Facebook page

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You might also be interested in all the fishing competitions in September. Or discover all of this year’s big fishing tournaments.

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