History of SASACC
History of the Sport of Angling in South Africa
In the early 1947’s the SA Hengel Unie was established with the members which includes some coastal Unions and Suid Wes Afrika Unie. The Transvaalse Hengel Unie was established in 1948 and affiliated to the SA Hengel Unie.
At first, the participation between the unions at that stage was focused on saltwater disciplines. The clubs of the Transvaalse Hengel Unie took part in freshwater competitions against one another.
Most of the provincial inland angling unions was established between 1951 and 1952. The coastal unions were established before this period. During the annual meeting of the SA Hengel Unie in 1957, the decision was taken that the freshwater angling discipline may have its own National Championships with the host being the Transvaalse Hengel Unie.
In 1957 an organization called SAGFA (South African Gamefish Association) was formed, and this organization catered mainly for the anglers who fished from larger boats on the sea. In 1958 the SASBAA (South African Ski-Boat Association) was formed which catered for the anglers using smaller boats to catch the same species at sea.
At that time the Ski-Boat Association had 6 provincial bodies and in SAGFA there were at least 2 clubs (South African Marlin & Tuna and Natal Rod and Reel) who enjoyed provincial status because they were recognized as founder members.
SALTBAA was established in 1960 as the Harbors, Lagoon, Estuary and Tidal Section of the South African Anglers Union. In 1966 the angling rules were changed to fishing only from boats with having a line class limit of 0.30mm. These changes were adopted in 1967 by the South African Anglers Union with the first National Championship hosted in the same year.
During 1967 the first freshwater angling trails was held for the selection of a Springbok team. The first participation on junior level took place during 1972 between Noord Transvaal Unie and the Transvaalse Hengel Unie. The first junior National Championship followed during 1975 after the Vrystaat and Natal Unions joined the division. The first Junior Springbok team was selected during 1977.
During 1971 the Department of Sport decided that all the disciplines of angling must be acting separately with the SA Hengel Unie as the overall coordination body. It was then when the Suid Afrikaanse Varswater Hengel Vereniging was established.
The participation of ladies as a division was presented to the annual meetings of the SA Hengel Unie during 1971 and 1973. It was however not approved. The SA Varswater Hengel Vereniging approved the participation of ladies during 1975.
At first during 1967 the championship was organized in two zones. It was only since 1971 that the angling was done on specific pegs and during 1972 the team size was established as 12 anglers. The angling rules was developed since 1967 as the establishment of the competitive angling and developed thereafter.
In 1974 there were mayor changes in all forms of angling in South Africa. The South African Anglers Union at their AGM in January granted all angling divisions autonomy and thus the associations were formed.
Later a name SASBAA changed to South African Ski Boat Light Tackle Game fish
Association which they kept only for a few years.
SALTBAA started in 1976 for the first year with having alternated National Championship in freshwater and saltwater. In about the 1978’s, the line class limit was changed to 0.28mm and there was also decided to increase the participation area in the sea to the whole area which falls under the control of the Port Captain of the harbor areas.
The first official Bass fishing body was established at an inaugural meeting held at Iscor Club, Pretoria in January 1983, and was known as the South Africa Bass Chapter Federation.
In the meantime, SAGFA and SASBAA amalgamated in 1988 and the South
African Deep Sea Angling Association (SADSAA) was established.
The association called SAAU (South African Anglers Union) coordinated all disciplines of angling and ultimately in the early 1990’s was disbanded.
In 1991 the ladies and junior sections were established within SALTBAA. Also, in the early 1990’s a decision was taken by SALTBAA on the line class to be limited to the 4Kg IGFA rated line as the only line to be used.
Around the late 1990’s all the individual angling federation/association structures were affiliated to the Sports Commission and each federation/association used to apply to the Sports Commission for Protea Colors.
During 2000 all the federations/associations received notice of a meeting on a Saturday morning with the SA Sports Commission.
During this meeting the federations/associations were informed that no longer can the SA Sports Commission deal with the 9 different federations/associations and that they had until the end of that day to form one angling organization, with whom they would deal in future, and they would be the controlling body of all angling in South Africa. An ultimatum was given that day to the sport of angling.
During the aforementioned meeting it was decided to form the organization named South African Sport Anglers and Casting Confederation (SASACC).
During November 2001 a name of the South Africa Bass Chapter Federation changed on request of South African Sport Fishing and Casting Confederation to the South African Bass Angling Association (SABAA).
During 2019 SASACC hosted the 4th World Angling Games in South Africa where 16 World Championships, two International Tournaments and one guest event were hosted simultaneously which was a historical event in the history of the South African and African sport of angling.