On Saturday, February 22nd, KZN hosted a practice round to get both new and experienced surfcasting anglers ready for the 2025 season. Held at Amanzimtoti Pipeline Beach, the event was a resounding success, attracting a group of eager and enthusiastic anglers.

Dr. Avash Juggernath began the briefing at 7:30 AM, after which registration and zone selections were completed while anglers prepared their gear. By 8:30 AM, boundaries were set, and lines were cast at 9 AM. The event started with a bang, especially in Zones A and B, where anglers caught fish on their first casts. This early action lifted everyone's spirits and fueled the excitement as both novice and experienced anglers competed to get fish on the scoreboard.

Within the first hour, scorecards already featured catches of Blacktail, Wave Garrick, and Sillago (Banana Fish). However, the conditions were challenging due to heavy rains two nights before, which brought down rivers, and with them, a lot of dirt, debris, and murky brown water.

Many anglers struggled with lines getting covered in weed, plastics, and other debris, causing their lines to drift rapidly in the surf. Despite these difficulties, anglers continued to record catches throughout the day. Notably, Upasana Juggernath caught a 75cm Lesser Sand Shark while fishing in Zone A, which remained productive all day.

Lines were reeled in at 12:00 PM, and many happy faces could be seen on the beach as novices enjoyed the experience and the day out. As the sun reached its peak and the heat intensified, anglers made their way back to the parking lot. Dr. Juggernath conducted a debriefing, and senior anglers like Dinesh Lallman, Kris Pillay, and Peter Van Der Walt offered advice to the younger participants while scorecards were collected.

Overall, it was a fantastic day with many anglers learning and enjoying this wonderful aspect of angling. A big thank you goes to Dr. Juggernath for his incredible efforts in promoting surfcasting, especially among the juniors in KZN.