The Angling Professional League’s inaugural season was a fresh catch in the angling fraternity.
Crowned with success and introducing new concepts, the APL hosted the Grand Challenge and Social Outing Competition to mark the end of a glorious maiden season.
Paper House and the Fishing People contested the Grand Challenge.
These two teams earned the right as the respective winners of the League and the Knock-Out competitions at Sandford on April 12.
Paper House amassed 60 points, and emerged emphatic victors.
Oosie Oosthuizen was crowned the champion of the contest, while the top three anglers were Matthew Shunmugam (25 points), Oosie Oosthuizen (21 points) and Yusheer Govender (15 points).
Naesh Rajkumar and Matthew impressed with a 5,8 kilogram carp and 12,5kg barbel respectively.
Owing to the incentive-based format of the APL, Paper House earned itself R2 500 as winners of four League competitions and the Grand Challenge, while Fishing People and Streetwire received R500 apiece for their respective wins in the Knock Out and League One.
Monty Slabbert was crowned Angler of the Year.
For this, he received a weekend break for the family sponsored by the APL, with Naesh and Matthew earning R500 each for dominance in the scaled and non-scaled categories.
Title-holders for the 2014/2015 season are as follows:
Naesh Rajkumar: heaviest scaled fish – 5,82kg, Matthew Shunmugam: heaviest non-scaled fish – 12,52kg, Shakeel Sheik and Kishore Datadin: heaviest scaly,Shane Mangaroo: Champion of Champions, Harry Singh: Knock-Out champion and Internal Knock-Out Singles champion, Avi Buduram: Junior Angler of the Year, Dan Govender: Senior Angler of the Year, Rishen Nankoo and Minesh Gopi: Knock-Out Doubles Champions, Whitey Maharaj: Social Outing Champion for scaled and non-scaled fish, Oosie Oosthuizen: Grand Challenge Champion, Monty Slabbert: Most Fish Caught, Highest Point Scorer, League Champion and Angler of the Year
The season ended with an overnight social outing to Sandford on April 18.
Anglers had to contend with testing weather conditions and the fish seemed elusive, although Whitey Maharaj, a 77-year-old veteran, landed a carp of 3,2kg and a barbel of 3,48kg.
The APL will host a prize-giving function soon to reward fine achievements.
August 1 brings with it the new season, where longstanding teams and new affiliates will duke it out for the top honours of the league.
Individual members who wish to join the APL are welcome.New memberships are currently being taken – collect membership forms from Mr Omar at Midas Spares, Shabir at the Fishing People, Terence Chetty (072 786 0866), Monty Slabbert (082 391 6324) or Matthew Shunmugam (082 807 8919).
