THE first fish was caught at 07h00.

By the end of the day, 143 fish had been reeled in – snappers, grunters, perch, stumpies and mullets.

About 33 of them were keepers, weighing between 1kg and 2kg.

This was the scene at the Bluff Navy Base in Durban, where differently abled anglers from East Coast Rollers gathered for the third annual fishing day for those with paraplegia, hosted with the assistance of the Merewent Fishing Forum.

Now in its third year, the event is the brainchild of Yster Smal (70), formerly of Richards Bay, now living in Lesotho, representing Ramcat Fishing, a charity organisation dedicated to those with disabilities, and specifically those who use wheelchairs.

Smal explains the thinking behind the event.

“Our focus is on men and women who use wheelchairs. We assist with accommodation, wheelchairs, clothes and other needs. What we have found is that the biggest request is often for outings. We can take them to a shopping mall for a good meal, but then they become one of hundreds of people in a closed building. So it is a challenge.

“I had this idea to take them fishing, but to go to a dam or river, or even the beach is a problem with wheelchairs getting stuck in the sand and mud,” he says.

“Furthermore, they become victims of criminals who steal their fishing rods, cellphones and money. This leaves them helpless in a remote place. So our first mission was to find them a safe place. No one is allowed to fish at the navy base or Durban terminal, but we have been granted special permission and we are very grateful for that.”

Chairman of East Coast Rollers Desmond Venkadu says the outing addressed a need that is often overlooked.

“There are people with disabilities who do not get a chance to leave their home. Mobility to go anywhere for them is a huge issue,” he says.

“We did not run a traditional competition, but a fun fishing day with catch and release the order of the day,” Smal says.

Members of the Merewent Fishing Forum assisted the participants throughout the day.

“It was indeed humbling to see our fellow members with paraplegia not allowing their disability to deter them from fishing and having some great fun in the process,” chairperson Mithesh Harricharan says.

“Merewent Fishing Forum has again proven that we will not only focus on able‑bodied individuals but also our friends with paraplegia and disabilities who have now become family.

“We will always try and offer our support to all in need as our main and only intention is to serve our communities.”

– IOL News

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