Tanga fishermen win first day of fishing competition

Fishermen from Tanga emerged winners in the first day of Tanga Open Fishing Competition after they successfully hooked out a Sailfish with 35.1 kilograms on Saturday.

The fishermen, using a boat nick named ‘Lady Dianna’, won the competition which took place at Tanga Yacht Club and sponsored by Tanga Cement
Public Limited Company (TCPLC).

The company has dished out Tsh. 6.2m to sponsor the two-day competition which kicked-off on Saturday. 

Speaking about the event, the company’s managing director, Reinhardt Swart, said they were proud to be associated with the event for the sixth year in a row.

He said that the competition was the most attractive social events in Tanga region.

Swart added that the competition was another sports event that the company has been sponsoring for the sixth time as the main sponsor but it is a gear to promote sports activities in the region.

He further said that the participating anglers were from various areas of the country, including Arusha and Tanga while the number of boats which participated in the competition was 11.

He said the event attracted people of all walks of life including business communities, employees of his company and other individuals from within and outside the region.

“This time around we are lucky to have an exclusive boat with lady members. They displayed their fishing talents and added value to this event that has been organised by Tanga Yacht Club,” he said.

Asif Murtaza one of the angler from Tanga told reporters that this year’s competition was well organised but the most challenging factor is illegal fishing activities (dynamite fishing).

Murtaza called upon Tanga City authorities in cooperation with private sector to join their efforts together in the ongoing fighting against dynamite fishing in the coast region, especially Tanga.

The starting time for both days was 06:30 and fishing time was 17:00 for day one and 16:00 for day two.

Other sports events that TCPLC has sponsored this year include the Kilimanjaro Marathon that was held on March 2 in Moshi and the Tanga Motor Rally that took place in Tanga in September.

Fans converged at the Tanga Yacht Club where the event was organised to see variety of fish hooked by the participating anglers.

The event coloured the shores of the city as boats kept struggling against the high-amplitude waves but safety was maintained to the end.