Social Media

The world is getting smaller and smarter. The internet, cellular phones and computers are responsible for accelerating and revolutionising the way the world collaborates and conducts business today. Social media and web 2.0 applications are the big drivers of this evolution.

The term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue, by allowing for the creation and exchange of user-generated content. Social media can take on many different forms, including collaborative projects like Wikipedia, blogs and microblogs like WordPress and Twitter, content communities like YouTube and social networking sites such as Facebook.

Statistics released on these social networks are mind boggling. Facebook alone has more than 750 million active users. These users spend more than 70 billion minutes on Facebook every single month. More than 30 billion pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photo albums, etc.) is shared each month and people on Facebook install 20 million applications every day.

Twitter and YouTube each has more than 100 million active users. YouTube receives more than 2 billion hits per day and Twitter satisfies more than 200 million tweets per day. WordPress, one of many blog publishing applications, currently has 55 million unique sites with 285 million people viewing an average of 2.5 billion blogs every month.

During the past year, I have been following an international billfish report on Twitter. This mechanism enabled me to track all the international tournaments and billfish catch reports in detail. In addition, this Twitter profile have kept me up to date with all the granders (marlin over 1000lbs) that have been caught across the world. Eleven granders for 2011 to date, you can see them on the Mpumalanga Deep Sea Angling Facebook fan page – content is king!

The South Africa Deep Sea Angling Association (SADSAA) runs their website on a social networking platform called JomSocial. The platform gives its members the opportunity to collaborate via forums, upload their photos and to read blogs amongst other things.

The Mpumalanga Deep Sea Angling Association (MDSAA) runs their website on WordPress. The platform connects to various social media platforms including Twitter and Facebook. MDSAA has also recently created a Facebook fan page and a Twitter account. The aim is to keep fellow anglers and any other interested parties informed with real time tournament reports and to share interesting and relevant information.

Join the conversation by liking our Facebook fan page and following our twitter account today! You will receive live feeds during the Mercury OET Bill & Gamefish Tournament and also the Tri-facet SADSAA National Championships.

• http://www.facebook.com/mdsaafishing

• http://www.twitter.com/mdsaafishing

Social networking is the future. It will help the world to understand the sport we love and bring new people into Deep Sea Angling. Pro anglers across the world publish in as many venues as possible to benefit sponsors and fans. People need the content; they live vicariously through your information – They want to follow you…

There’s an old saying between anglers which states – “if your line’s not in the water, you won’t catch fish”. The same goes for social networking, you will be left behind if you don’t get into it…

MDSAA Facebook Page

MDSAA WordPress Page

BillfishReport Twitter Page

2011 Tri-facet National Championships

The Mpumalanga Deep Sea Angling Association is proud to announce the 2011 Tri-facet SADSAA National Championships hosted by the Mpumalanga Deep Sea Angling Association at Sodwana Bay from 20 to 25 November 2011.

Once again this prestigious tournament is proudly sponsored by the South African Deep Sea Angling Association (SADSAA). 

The first tri-facet SADSAA Nationals as decided by the SADSAA counsel was hosted by Mpumalanga Deep Sea Angling Association in November 2010.  Combining the Heavy Tackle Billfish Nationals, Light Tackle Billfish Nationals and Game Fish Nationals proved to be a great success and this year we believe it will be no different.

The tournament will be fished on 6Kg, 10Kg and 37Kg  depending on the facet.  The SADSAA points scoring system will apply and IGFA rules will be applicable.

The previous years tournament report can be found here: SADSAA Nationals 2010 – The Return of Tetrapturus

Entry Forms below:

2011 SADSAA Heavy Tackle Billfish Nationals Entry Form

2011 SADSAA Light Tackle Billfish Nationals Entry Form

2011 SADSAA Gamefish Nationals Entry Form

We support Tag & Release!!!

Until recently, IGFA did not have rules that specifically addressed the use of assist hooks on lures. However, because of their increasing popularity the following rule has been created that governs their use:

Assist hooks or other such single hooks that are attached to a lure with a lead constructed of monofilament, multifilament, wire or other such material must conform to the following: When using assist hooks on any artificial lure, other than a skirted lure, the lead cannot be more than 1 ½ hook’s length and the bend of the hook may not be more than 4 inches (101 mm), whichever is less, from the closest point of attachment on the lure. Double and treble hooks may not be used as assist hooks.

IGFA believes that this new language will make it easier for anglers to understand and comply with rules regarding assist hooks. In addition, it also helps facilitate their use with plugs, which are far less damaging to fish than traditional double and treble hooks.

Source: IGFA

2011

The Mpumalanga Deep Sea Angling Association is proud to announce the 34th Mercury OET Bill & Gamefish Tournament hosted at Sodwana Bay from 7 to 11 November 2011.

Once again this prestigious tournament is proudly sponsored by Mercury Outboards.  This tournament has grown from strength to strength since its inception in the late seventies, hence the timeous announcement.  Our field has been limited to 75 boats, so it is vitally important to make use of this early reminder to register straight away.

The tournament will be fished on 10Kg and 37Kg line (line class to be nominated daily) and we will once again have four categories, namely, Marlin, Sailfish, Tag & Release Billfish and Gamefish. The SADSAA scoring system will apply and IGFA rules will be applicable. Teams must consist of not less than two (2) persons and no more than legally permitted on a boat.

The most meritorious fish caught during the tournament will win a MALLARDS 630 Cobra Cat fitted with two 125hp MERCURY OPTIMAX outboards on a TRAUTECH trailer. The winner will also receive insurance cover for one year by Vanguard Marine & Leisure.

2011 OET Bill & Gamefish Tournament Entry Form

We are privileged to have sponsors on board that have been with us for many fine and fruitful years. Some of the committed sponsors are the likes of Captain Morgan, Windhoek Lager, Highveld Outdoor & Marine, Mallards Boating, Mercury Marine, Ski Boat Magazine, SSS Security, Warn-Off Road Products, Rapala, Rani Resorts, McGee Motors, Penn Fishing Tackle, Trautech Trailers, Rothman Motors Ermelo, Leatherbacks, Lowveld Construction, Malelane Toyota, Snomaster,  Cross Country, Tally-Ho Game Farm, Zavora Lodge, Vanguard  Marine & Leisure, Wynn Oil SA, Pulsator Lures, Sodwana Angling Club, Swazi Roof Masters, Seevarkie Guest House, Tony’s Art and Certainty Charters.

We also have some new exiting sponsors that have come aboard, these will be revealed during the opening ceremony and skippers briefing.

Member clubs within the province also contribute to the sponsorship and Sodwana Angling Club, Albatros, Dagga Boat & Angling, Hoedspruit Deep Sea Angling , Seapike, Taratibo & NDAC needs to be thanked for their support.

We support Tag & Release!!!