EXTREME ANGLING IN MAURITIUS

I have discovered the similarity between marriage, golf and angling – the first 25 years are the most difficult.

I learnt everything I know about angling from that great ex Springbok rock and surf angler from EP, Paul Hansen. Under Paul’s guidance I have gradually over the last 25 years improved my ability to use a 400/3 Purglass surf rod. I have in the process enjoyed some of the happiest moments of my life fishing with Paul.

This prepared me well for my unique angling experience in Mauritius with the next best angler I know, the mad Afrikaans speaking Frenchman Dominique Thevenau (Dom).

I was holidaying at La Paradis with my wife and 3 daughters. When registering for a dive course, I noticed a wall plate advertising Professional Rock and Surf angling, not something I was expecting in Mauritius. I was even more surprised when I phoned Dom and the first question he asked was if I was fit! As I run 8km four times a week, I confidently said yes.

We agreed to go fishing, when Dom saw me he insisted we jog up the road for 1km followed by 10 minutes of stretching! How many times have you had to warm up and stretch before angling (or for golf or marriage? – sorry).

Nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. We set out with Dom’s assistant, Francois, a local black Mauritian, in a 23’ La Pirogue boat, which I am can only describe as an oversized rowing boat with two Yamaha 15’s on the back. Casting for GT’s in the white water margin just behind the reef. Dom’s focus on safety and expert seamanship was clear from the start.

We used 2 rigs; purglass 400/4 with roller tip eye, a large penn 345 level wind 3.5:1 retrieve ratio reels – 130kg line on the reel and 200kg leader with an oversize 4oz wooden plug. This heavy tackle is necessary to avoid break-offs on the coral and to retrieve the fish as quickly as possible so it can be returned with the maximum chance of survival. Dom is the consummate professional guide, meticulous in his preparation of boat and tackle.

We headed for a ‘gap” in the reef looking for the white water margin between deep and shallow water, where the Giant Trevally (GT) feed.

There was a 3m swell running with a brisk southerly breeze making the sea extremely rough. Francois expertly piloted the boat keeping in close to the white water but without getting caught in breaking waves. If you were not distracted by angling and focused on sea you would be terrified.

The technique is too cast about 80m, take up the slack and then tug the rod to get the popper to splash on the surface then reel like crazy to take up the slack and repeat the process, creating a life-like rhythm. Standing up doing this in a small boat in rough sea is very physically demanding – extreme angling! After 4 hrs of this I realised why Dom had asked if I was fit.

We got one big chase – an explosion of energy and silver on the surface following the plug which focussed our attention. The sight of a monster chasing and missing caused a surge of adrenalin. The game was on!

On my third cast after seeing the “chase” I miss-timed a cast got caught off balance and in the choppy sea my takkie slipped on the wet floor, causing me to lurch forward and loose balance. I turned my arm and shoulder to “break” the fall and to prevent the rod from smacking the boat. Unfortunately the reel banged against my forehead connecting just above my right eye. The wound in my head started pumping blood all over the show. Dominique’s assistant had the first aid box out in a flash applying anit-septic. I wanted badly to carry on fishing but Dom decided I needed medical attention and we headed back to shore. We raced off in Dom’s bakkie to see a doctor we had located 30 minutes away at La Paradis. After several stitches had been inserted we headed back to the boat. We were back in the water by 12:15 loosing only 1 1/2hrs of angling.

Dom passed through a gap in the reef and cut of the engines about 1km upwind to start the drift downwind toward the reef. We started casting and retrieving, after 40 minutes my line went tight. Excitement dwindled fast when I realised I was hooked on a marker rope from a local lobster trap.

After another 20minutes of drifting my arms and back were in agony from the exertion of casting & retrieving the giant popper. Seeing the white water coming very close to range I was looking forward to a rest knowing Dom would have to start the motors and move upwind to start the process over. On my last cast before we were too close to the reef I noticed after 3 tugs on the line that the slack vanished with the 4th tug jamming against what felt like a train going in the opposite direction. Despite a tight drag line disappeared off the reel at frightening speed causing a sound that’s impossible to describe – something like a high revving Formula 1 racing car.

Instead of a rest I was in for the fight of my life. The effect of a deep diving fish and a 4m rod on the small of one’s back was devastating. After 45minutes I was sapped of all energy the muscles in the small of my back were about to snap, my eyes were out on stalks and my tongue was hanging out. The fish finally came to the boat. Expertly gaffed in the mouth to avoid unnecessary injury the fish was landed in a flash to the sound of “cent, cent” French meaning a 100 pounder.

In less than 30 seconds the plug was carefully removed, the photo’s taken and the “pig” returned to the sea.

Francois comment was “the South African has a hard head!”

25 years was worth the wait for this dream 125 centimeter/110 pound fish!

Reflections on the National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington D.C - February 2008

Before I left South Africa for Washington my youngest daughter asked me why I had to travel so far for breakfast! After 18 hours in Economy Class I thought she had a point.



I was invited to the NPB by my friend Garth Collins whose modesty prevented him from explaining in detail, what was awaiting me on the trip. Garth, a dedicated follower of Jesus, has been providing small groups of African politicians and businessmen with faith-based support to promote ethical leadership for many years and has attended NPB’s periodically over the last 30 years.



I met and set off with the irrepressible Wits Student Leader Mbuyiseni Ndlozi whose razor-sharp intellect was camouflaged by a smile like a full-moon in a clear African sky.



Given that Africans generally - and many others around the world – aren’t impressed by America’s involvement in Iran and, that according to Bono they have not lived up to their development aid commitments to Africa, I had mixed feelings about the trip. I also confess to being puzzled as to why a self-employed, ex-businessman and ordinary member of St Columba’s congregation in Parkview found himself in the company of religious leaders, high-ranking politicians and businessmen from around the world.



This was the 56th successive event attended personally by the incumbent President of the USA which underlines how seriously it is taken.



We kicked off with a two-day retreat in Winchester kindly hosted by Ken and Bob which enabled Africans from 10 Countries to recover from jet-lag, build friendships, and discuss issues of faith and challenges facing the African Continent.



The Hon. Simeon Ginindza was the fourth SA delegate, a huge man with a huge faith who joined us in Washington.



Garth commands tremendous respect in an extensive USA and African network. His standing was underlined by the fact that he secured a private audience for us with NPB co-chair Senator Mike Enzi; a privilege not accorded any of the other 3500 attending the event. Senator Enzi is in charge of PEPFAR (the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and has visited SA to get a first hand view of what action should be taken to address HIV/Aids. The budget of PEPFAR has recently been doubled.



While Garth and Simeon had dinner at C-Street (a home-from-home for Senators and Congressmen) on Capitol Hill I was hosted by Pepper Bullock whom I am told was a “Jolly Green Jumper” in the Vietnam War, a person sent in to rescue pilots behind enemy lines. Other fascinating people at this dinner were Dale Jones an executive of the Case Foundation, (Steve Case was Founder of AOL and his foundation uses technology to promote social causes) focused on providing clean water throughout Africa using bore-holes driven by Children’s merry-go-rounds, and Perrine Dufoix, head of a foundation aimed at promoting relationships between France and Israel, using the arts and social development.



Before the NPB we attended a breakfast hosted by Senators where African leaders spoke about their respective countries. In particular the Vice President of Kenya gave his perspective on his country and asked especially for our prayers. We had the great privilege of listening to Burundian President Nkurinzize who spoke with humility about the transition from 10 years of bush war to democracy and how he formed choirs to re-engage the many young people who had been his soldiers in the war. His priority has been to build schools and clinics. Burundi used to have the worst record of pregnancy mortality. It emerged that Garth had played a pivotal role in resolving some of the conflicts in Burundi on their road to democracy. He was trusted as a man of faith.



The day before the NPB we attended a lunch addressed by Rick Warren author of the leading best seller “Purpose Driven Living” and Sami Anwar a follower of Christ from Palestine who was forced into a refugee camp after his Grandfather was shot by a sniper. After being educated in the US he has gone back to Palestine and created “the Holy Land Trust” dedicated to resolving Middle East conflict through disciplined peaceful action. Sami spoke about his organization living the concept of “loving your enemy” through getting to a point where you can share their hopes, fears joys and sorrows! His disciplined peaceful protest actions have been seen to reduce heavily armed soldiers to tears.



Much discussion takes place between formal meal-time functions, e.g. the Middle-East suite was a-buzz with some of the interesting people I met: Carl Mediaris who studied Middle Eastern History and lived as a Christian social worker in Palestine for 15 years. Carl introduced me to Shayk At-Tariqa, head of the 3-million strong Sufi Movement in Sudan. The Shayk spoke with reverence about Jesus as a prophet and the expectant savior and claimed that the Nativity was most beautifully depicted in the Koran.



The common bondage of faith unites the NPB attendees in a remarkable way, unlike trade shows and business seminars that I have attended where a large portion of time is spent explaining credentials and “sizing-up” potential partners. The first meeting starts with a conventional hand-shake and the second, with a huge hug! I felt understood, where at home, living my faith was more often than not seen as eccentric.



Africa took centre stage at the event with the Key-note speaker, Ward Brehm (Chairman of the US based Africa Development Fund) sharing the podium with President George W and Mrs Bush. Ward follows an eminent list of previous speakers such as Bono, Chairman of the Human Genome project and Mother Theresa. He has written a book “White Man Walking” about his experiences of African Poverty and wilderness. Ward and the President used humour, faith, brevity and deep concern for poverty to produce one of the best combination speeches I have heard.



I sat next to the Haiti Ambassador to the US and William Armony ex CEO of The United Way a USA Charity that raised over US$3billion a year. He belonged to a small support group including an ex Attorney General and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. William spoke of how he had reduced the annual expenditure of state penitentiaries by 60% through introducing restorative justice principles after personally engaging prison life.



We were all impressed by the huge commitment to Youth Leadership by senior politicians through mentoring, internships at the Capitol, and seminars. Equally serious is the commitment to small groups.



Fierce rivalry between Republicans and Democrats on “the Hill” is legend and yet every week numerous small groups of 8 to 10 people, including both political parties, meet to share and grow in their faith and to discuss their deepest personal challenges and to provide mutual support in an environment of complete trust. Deep personal relationships based on faith are capable of overcoming any ideological differences.



The African contingent finished the NPB with a guided tour of the Capitol buildings with Congressman Coleman, followed by a dinner hosted by Senator Jim Inhofe, who has undertaken multiple (one a year for the last 10 years) trips to Africa and has encouraged numerous Congressmen and Senators to take a personal interest - a huge personal commitment for a US politician - which will surely translate to the benefit of many Africans in the future. I had the privilege of sitting next to Ronald A Tschetter the Chairman of the Peace Corps and his charming wife Nancy. About 200 members of the Corps are currently deployed assisting our Dept of Education.



Needless to say my perception that American politicians do not care about Africa, was significantly altered on this trip. A truly remarkable experience!



Rob Taylor

March 2008

Xenophobia the harsh reality - A privileged persons perspective

June 2008
As I observed the images of violent excruciating deaths that saturated our news I was horrified and confounded.
How could this be happening Black Africans attacking Black Africans? What about Ubuntu?
The boiling frog syndrome diluted my deep anguish for the victims – most South Africans have feared gratuitous violence for so long they have begun to take it as part of normal life.
The high, electrified walls around my house gave me a brief illusion of separation - I live in a different more civilized world than the pictures showed.
I searched for answers and could not find them. I needed someone to blame so I drew up a list of culprits
1. The President and his Government.
The government announced they had been aware of the risk through the National security services. They claimed this was the work of a minority of criminals and deployed the army to quell the violence. This highlighted how disconnected our political leadership are from society – it helped me understand what happened in Polokwane.
2. Lack of leadership.
Where were the Biko’s , the Hani’s and the Mandela’s visiting conflict areas and leading by example.
2. Incompetent Immigration Policy
Skills deficit, corruption and incompetence in home affairs with resultant shambolic state of immigration policy . Lack of education of the electorate on the ills of homophobia.
3. Poverty and the Competition for Resources
Poor service delivery by local authorities and inadequate access to education, water, sanitation, health care and housing and consequent competition for resources (exacerbated by rapid urbanization).
4. Apartheid
The old scapegoat of Apartheid and its violent legacy must stand up and be counted. Shame the boere are punch drunk and they would surely deny culpability. I say they are the reason for so much shit in our past they have to be on the list.
5. Breakdown of social Structure
There can be no doubt that breakdown of the family unit due to migrant labour and HIV/Aids has played a huge role.
6. Imperialism
Colonial exploitation of Africa and dispossession the masses from their land would have to be on the list even if a bit dated.
7. Capitalism and Western Culture
The vast inequalities in our economy is a major issue, the fact that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer places the Capitalists and their system high on the list of culprits. If this is true then daily headlines of massive windfalls of wealth for a new black elite can’t be helping perceptions.
I have no doubt that our consumerist culture and consequent focus on hedonistic gods of wealth and fame plays a big part.
I can’t help asking myself where are the Black philosophers who can distil the magic of African indigenous society and present this to us and the rest of the world as a proud contribution to solving the challenges we all face.
9. The Media
Why should the media escape accusation? They thrive on selling bad news – then again this is more of a consequence than a cause - so they get let off.
10. The Church
The Faith organisations have been conspicuous in their absence – given that the vast majority of our population frequently attend worship gatherings – they are on the list by virtue of omission rather than commission.
11. Racism
I can hear some of my rich white acquaintance’s saying “ the Coons are really screwing up the Country”. Racism and skepticism are two of the largest obstacles to developing trusting relationships in society and the development of social Capital essential to stable communities. The bigots are high on the list and one of the most dangerous for reasons I will give below.
Lets assume all of the above factors share some degree of blame; this does not explain the gratuitous violence that accompanied the Xenophobia. Humankind’s propensity for violence is legendary consider Bosnia, Iraq, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Tribalism or bigotry is the eye of the stream that turns into the flood of genocide. Victims are justified in attacking their oppressors and in the process become equally guilty of the sin of violence. This is a universal demon which produces hell on earth as we have recently witnessed.
I can’t think of anyone else to blame and neither can I alienate myself from this hell of prejudice and violence - my inner conscience will not free me. It would be so much easier if I could rationalize what I saw as a weakness in someone else. I want to blame someone else’s tribe to exonerate my own. The harder I try to distance myself the closer I come to assuming the identity of the demon. My efforts seem like those of a savage animal trying to bight off it’s own limb.
This desire for separation and blame assumes the same identity of the Xenophobe. I am forced to examine my own heart and I see a picture of the smiling panga murderer.
I have not loved my neighbor I have tried to abandon him! That I have not resorted to violence is merely a question of degree.
The Crux of the matter is what do I do now?