South African Mark Wals won the second international sport-fishing competition) that ran from March 10-12 in Uganda’s scenic Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP).
The event attracted 43 competitors. Mr. Wals, who is in the construction business, won with 710 points nearly twice the number of points scored by his closest rival, John Dahl who got 430 points. Alistair Brew came third with 380 points. Wals also caught the biggest fish of the competition – a 75kg Nile Perch that earned him 290 points, while Dahl caught a 69kg Nile Perch.
Other fish species that were caught during the competition include catfish, squeakers, yellow fish, and electric catfish.
One participant who caught an electric catfish failed to weigh and measure it after it jolted him twice.
In win points, the competitors were required to measure and weigh the fish, and return it to the water alive. Fish that died during the weighing process were automatically disqualified. Only one fish (a 37kg Nile Perch) died during the competition, and it was immediately disqualified.
The three-day event was organised by the National Lake Rescue Institute (NLRI), a Ugandan NGO that provides training in marine safety. The first competition took place in February 2005.
Branded as the “2006 Murchison Falls International Invitational Fishing Competition”, the event attracted participants from 14 different nationalities including the Scots, Irish, English, Iceland, Indian, Belgian, South African, Kenyan, American, Greek, among others. Many of the participants live and work in Uganda. Eight of the 43 participants flew from South Africa for the event.
The competition was jointly sponsored by several organisations including Uganda Wildlife Authority, which gave a 25 percent discount on all sport fishing permits for the participants, and allowed children below 12 years to fish free of charge.
Sport fishing is one of the popular tourist attractions offered by Uganda Wildlife Authority in Murchison Falls National Park, with fishing permits selling at $50 for a one-day permit, $100 for a 4-day permit and $300 for an annual permit.
Although some of the competitors did not catch any fish, they said the experience had helped them learn new sport-fishing skills from their colleagues. They also loved the experience of fishing on the world’s longest river – The Nile.
“The hospitality in this country is enormous, right from the taxi that picked us from the airport till now,” remarked one of the South Africans participants.
The competition winner walked away with a 15-foot aluminum Workboat, a 25-horse-power Mercury engine, a trophy, and a position in the International Game Fishing Association annual competition in Florida, USA, Castle Lager and a bottle of champagne.
The first-runner up won a Mercury engine, a trophy and Castle Lager, while the second runner-up won sport-fishing equipment, a trophy and castle Lager.
The Tournament Director, Jerry Burley said this year’s competition was bigger and much better than last year’s event because it had more participants, more boats and more big fish caught. UWA
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