MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The first Light Tackle Boat Angling World Championship is currently under way in Mossel Bay.

Eight boats took to the sea from the slipway in front of the old yacht club building on the first day of the competition today, Tuesday 14 March.

It is a Fédération Internationale de Pêche Sportive - Mer (FIPS-M) competition.

Yesterday Monday, 13 March, the three participating teams from South Africa, Gibraltar and Luxembourg had a practice day and the team from Gibraltar took the first three places. The anglers fish in pairs - two to a boat.

Light tackle boat angling is a unique form of sport angling, in that it limits its rated class line to a maximum of four kilograms' breaking strength.

Today until Thursday, 17 March, are competition days. Friday, 17 March, is a reserve day, in case the anglers cannot go out one day because of bad weather.

The teams

The South African team consists of the pairs of Mike Babich and Dean Meintjes, Francois Blom and Darren Wright; and Ockie Theunissen and Clint Spamers.

Gibraltar team: Charles Carreras and Joseph Charles Lara; Michael Ballester and Lester Chipol; Michael Bosio and Charles Bear.

Luxembourg team: Steve Schaaf and Henri Jungers; Romain Weydert and André Stemper.

The anglers will finish for the day later this afternoon.

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