The fishing was a bit tougher today for the 13 countries competing at the Vaal River, which is hosting the 13th annual Black Bass World Championships.
On Thursday, nine countries cracked the 10-kilogram (approximately 22 pounds) mark with the cumulative totals of three two-man teams competing for each country. Today, that number fell to five countries.
Host South Africa took over the lead today behind a daily total of 13.04 kg (28.75 pounds), which bumped its two-day total to 27.95 kg (61.62 pounds).
As the event is following International Sport Fishing Conferderation rules, the standings are not determined by the teams’ cumulative weights, but by fewest penalty points accumulated.
Penalty points are assessed for catching fewer fish than other competitors and also for finishing behind other countries in different angler groups. For instance, each country has three two-man teams on the water – one in the A group, one in the B group and one in the C group. A team finishing second or third in a given group will lead to penalty points being assessed.
By that measure, South Africa has a comfortable lead having amassed just 50.5 penalty points over the first two days. Day-1 leader Italy, which has caught 26.12 kg overall after amassing 10.82 kg today, dropped to 2nd with 71 penalty points.
Germany is 3rd with 91 penalty points and third in total weight with 24.9 kg.
The United States team moved up two spots and is 1 1/2 points out of medal range. Despite being 5th in the weight standings, the U.S. penalty point total of 92.5 is good for 4th, a half-point better than Zambia. Team USA totaled 11.02 kg (24.29 pounds) today and has 24.03 kg overall.
The U.S. Group C duo of James Watson and Fred Roumbanis, which didn’t compete on day 1, led the U.S. team with a 4.04-kg bag today, the 10th-biggest stringer of the day. David Dudley and Mark Rose, the Group B team, caught 4.02 kg, good for 11th on the day, while Scott Martin and Scott Canterbury, the Group A duo, had 2.96 kg.
The German team of Thomas Engert and Marc Ptacovsky had today’s biggest stringer, a 5.64-kg limit that is the equivalent of a 12.43-pound bag.
Here’s a look at the team standings entering the final day of competition:
1. South Africa: 50.5 penalty points
2. Italy: 71
3. Germany: 91
4. United States: 92.5
5. Zambia: 93
6. Spain: 101.5
7. Swaziland: 114.5
8. Namibia: 122.5
9. Zimbabwe: 133.5
10. Portugal: 147
11. Mexico: 168
12. Croatia: 174
13. Russia: 201
