It was a very solid start to the 2025 world black bass tournament for Canadians Dave Chong and Ben Stokdijk.

Chong, of Aurora, Ont., and Stokdijk, of Lower Truro, N.S., topped the team competition with a five-fish bag of 10.41 kilograms (22.9 pounds) on Thursday, the first day of competition on South Africa’s Arabie Dam. The Canadians will enter Friday’s action with an advantage of .42 kilograms (almost one pound) over an Italian twosome.

Phil Curtis, of St. Catharines, Ont., and Adam Foster of Charters Settlement, N.B., are 34th with 4.77 kilograms (10.49 pounds) while Jason Hynes of Gananoque, Ont., and Rick Kewell of Kingston, Ont., stood 40th at 4.11 kilograms (9.04 pounds).

Canada was eighth in the overall standings with 19.29 kilograms (42.44 pounds). Italy leads the 15-country event with 25.64 kilograms (56.41 pounds), with the United States second with 20.47 kilograms (45.03 pounds).

Each country is made up of three two-man teams with communication between boats allowed. That’s something that’s strictly prohibited in most — if not all — tournaments in North America.

And the situation facing a number of countries _ including Canada _ is it’s currently winter in South Africa, which presents more challenging conditions for the competitors.

Canada was seventh at last year’s event on Italy’s Lake Bolsena. This year’s competition concludes Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2025.