Ronel lands late knock-out punch
The 33.2kg Couta, which was larger than Ronel Hulley, took 40 minutes to land.
LEADING the competition after the first day, former Springbok rugby ace Andre Joubert would have thought his 28.1kg Couta was good enough to take home the R30 000 prize money in the uMlalazi Couta Classic held during the weekend.
But it was not to be as eShowe’s Ronel Hulley pulled the cat, or is it the Couta, out of the hat, landing a 33.2kg Couta on Sunday.
Recalling her experience, a beaming Ronel said she caught the fish just outside Richards Bay harbour in the vicinity where the MV Smart ran aground about two years ago.
The Couta, which was larger than herself, took 40 minutes to land.
The competition had an entry of 142 anglers on 46 boats and 43 fish were weighed in over the two days.
Debbie Smith from the main sponsors, Imperial Nissan Zululand, presented the prizes to the 28 top anglers.
Top three winners
Couta
1 Ronel Hulley (33.2kg)
2 Andre Joubert (28.1kg)
3 Etienne de Villiers (25.5kg)
Other game fish
1 Johan Joubert – Yellowfin Tuna (14.4kg)
2 Rudi Soll – Yellowfin Tuna (13.6kg)
3 Nick Ferriera – Yellowfin Tuna (13.4kg)
PHOTO: LARRY BENTLEY
