Alley Cat. Hooky Nooky. Pussycat. Puff Daddy. Sanddollar. These are not the names of fancy cocktails, but rather of boats that were rowing for the title of Kenya’s ultimate fisherman or woman in the Friends of Kenya Fishing Tournament 2025 held in Watamu three weeks ago.
It is Kenya’s only 36-hour sport fishing competition.
On the eve of the fishing competition, wards of cash were thrown around for the fanciest of boat/s, placing wagers of varying amounts: Sh53,000! Sh45,000! Sh19,000!
The highest bid boat in the auction went for Sh65,000 by a group of Russians—which is also one of the highest bids ever. The cheapest one, “Puff Daddy,” sailing on Sh5,000 was auctioned to Oggie Ogden and angled by William Dyer, Geoff Morley and Joss Craig.
The entry fee
“Every boat pays an entry fee of Sh15,000,” said Erastus Kalandi, the Hemingways Watamu, fishing centre manager which organises the fishing competition which has been running since 2002.
“Each boat has a maximum of three anglers [persons who fish with a rod and line], with each extra angler paying an additional Sh5,000.”
Nineteen boats entered this year’s competition.
On the day of the fishing competition, the anglers left shore at 5:30 am, each boat with at least two, off to the deep waters of Malindi.
“This is the only tournament in Kenya that includes night fishing, making it a true test of endurance and skill,” said Mr Kalandi.
Catch and release
Once the anglers catch the fish, they would take a picture and release it back into the sea.
“Every two hours, there is a callout for the anglers to report what fish they have caught. On the prize-giving day, you need to show a video of the fish you caught.”
Fishing is hard, even if you are experienced. It requires a mix of luck, timing, and technique. It’s what “Unreel,” the winning boat skippered by Rob Hellier and Paul Amos did.
They were named the 2025 Friends of Kenya Fishing Tournament champions. The winner gets 40 percent of the total boat auctioned money, which they can choose to reinvest back into the charity.
“Very proud to have won the Friends of Kenya Tournament for the second year in a row,” said Mr Hellier.
“Amazing effort and stamina by all on board.”
Lady angler prize
A special lady angler prize was also awarded to Gina Scott, whose boat, “About Time” also attracted the second-highest auction bid at Sh53,000 and finished as runner’s up to “Unreel,” scoring 2,960 points.
A total of 61 Billfish [a type of fish with long, bony, spear-shaped bills, also called a snout] were tagged and released.
In the competition, the fishermen fish for 36 hours straight, 12 hours day, 12 hours night, and another 12 hours on the final day. They have to adhere to the catch-and-release policy for Billfish, which has been standard practice in Kenya since the early 1990s, to not only protect fish populations but also provide invaluable data for research into the migratory patterns of Billfish across the world’s oceans.
Special hooks
To ensure the fish does not die, if it happens the fishermen lose points, they use sharp, barb-less hooks.
As the boats returned in the afternoon, flags flew from the masts, signalling victory. Later, prizes were awarded to the top anglers, and celebrations filled the air as the sun set over the waters.
Kenga Mzungu, a coxswain with over 25 years of experience at Hemingways Watamu, noted how the tournament has evolved into a significant event, attracting competitors from across Africa.
“People practice for this event,” he said. “You will find the winners here will also go and compete in other fishing competitions across Africa."
The big vision
To win, one must master a few tricks. One, fish do not like to be spooked. Fish do not like shadows, because it reminds them of predators. Others come to Watamu for the fishing competition not to win but have fun.
“The big vision for this event is to bring people together, local and international anglers to enjoy the sport,” said Mr Kalandi.
“Fishing is much more than just about fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers,” adds Denis Maina, the Fishing Center Clark who has been at Hemingways Watamu for the last nine years.
