NAUTE DAM: Two members of Lynvin Angling Club in Keetmanshoop won N.dollars 1 500 each during a two-day fishing competition held at Naute Dam over the weekend.

A number of angling club members competed against each other in the annual catch-and-release competition held on Friday and Saturday at the dam, which is situated some 40 kilometres south-west of Keetmanshoop.

Henk Louw caught the biggest fish in the Carp fish category weighing 8.32 kilogrammes (kg), and also received a cash prize of N.dollars 1 000 for catching the biggest fish in the Muddy category, which weighed 0.92kg.

Piet Liebenberg walk away with N.dollars 1 500 for his catch of a Catfish weighing 10.60kg.

His wife Charmaine Liebenberg, as the only female competitor in the competition, won N.dollars 1 000 for her catch of the biggest Muddy fish weighing 0.44kg in the ladies’ division.

The competition and prizes were sponsored by the Lynvin Angling club.

Twelve members participated in the competition, with each member paying a minimal fee of N.dollars 14 to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

This fee goes to the Karas Regional Council, which manages the dam.

Fishery technician in the Ministry of Fisheries here, Peter Simasiku, who also oversees the competition, said there is no limit on the number of fish competitors are allowed to catch during the competition.

More than 30 fish were caught and released back into the dam over the two days.

According to Simasiku, the activities also help the ministry to record information on fish such as the types available in the dam, signs of diseases and the approximate population for the specific species.