There was exciting fishing in both tournaments, the Watamu SFC International at the weekend and the Hemingways ‘Friends of Kenya’ which followed a couple of days later.
The Watamu competition, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, Pulsator Lures and Captain Andy’s Fishing Supplies resulted in a win for the team on Simba, Pam Basco, Richard Richardson and Seth Horn all over from the USA, which tagged four sail the first day, but it was the blue and two striped marlin all released on the second day which put them firmly at the top of the board.
Second came Clueless, fished by Robert Duff, David Darnborough, Andrew Buckoke and Eric van Vliet- the latter fought and released a very big blue marlin estimated at over 700 lbs (320kgs) after a three and a half hour fight, winning the best marlin prize, to add to the striped marlin and two sailfish they had already caught. Third place went to Robin James and Jackson Safari on White Bear, with a blue and a striped marlin and a sail released. Tega with Chris Bett, Brad George and Steve George ran in fifth with fourteen sailfish.
Fourth was the team on Cheza, Henry Henley, Harry Dyer and Karisa Ndokolani which had a successful double strike of black marlin the second day, but it was the drama on the first day which denied them first place overall, as Henry caught and boated a big blue marlin of 412 lbs (187kgs) but an overheating engine problem caused them to be late back and forfeit all the points – hard luck, Henry.
Top Small boat went to Dilligaf, fished by Mark Jury with two sail, while Jodie Thomas was Top Lady with a striped marlin and a sailfish on White Mischief. With 21 boats, over 100 anglers and masses of billfish, a very good tournament indeed.
The Friends of Kenya tournament, sponsored by Aggreko and Hemingways, saw 25 boats in a two day affair as the usual overnight was not fished for security reasons, and finished with a popular win for the Bamara team of Dickie Evans, Robin James and Stuart Simpson. With a striped marlin the first day and a big blue marlin estimated over 600 lbs (273kgs) caught and tagged by Dickie on the second day for 2590 pts, this gave them a narrow lead over the Instedda team of Imran, Moosa and Baisa with 2540 pts with two marlin and a couple of sail.
Third place went to Black Widow, fished by skipper Adam Ogden with Adam Lenga and Nixon which scored a blue marlin and a sail the first day, then a black marlin the second. Cheza after a blank first day, found Henry Henley catching a striped marlin on his flyrod, which scores extra points, which put them in fourth place while the Neptune team from Dubai of Dick Leslonnise, Don Rafferty and Andy de Mare came in fifth with a stripey and sailfish.
Two great tournaments much enjoyed by all, and some really nice big fish as we get towards the end of the season.
