Catch of the day: Fisherman rescues huge python from ocean during competition

One team competing at this year's Durban Ski Boat Club Festival produced an unusual catch - a Southern African Python!

The 2.5-metre specimen was spotted swimming in the open water by Dwayne Boshoff, over 2 kilometres out at sea.

His dad manoeuvred their boat close enough that Boshoff, who is not a seasoned snake handler, could secure the python and lift it onto the vessel.

"They were not going to let the python die out there", writes well-known snake rescuer Nick Evans in his description on Facebook.

"The father-and-son team... brilliantly scooped the snake out of the water, securing the sharp end and supporting the body. A very impressive capture in a difficult situation!" 

"They hadn't exactly planned to catch a python, so without a snake bucket, they put it in one of the hatches of the boat, which I believe is normally used for captured fish."

A video of the rescue posted on YouTube has racked up thousands of views:

The Boshoffs contacted Evans, who agreed to meet the boat when they returned to shore.

Evans and his partner had to wade through rough surf to reach them and be pulled onto the boat so that they could move to calmer waters.

"Dwayne opened the hatch for us, and Carla reached in and grabbed the head, while I helped control the tail-end, making sure it wasn't aimed at anyone."

After placing this unusual catch into their python box, Evans and co had to swim back to shore, pulling the floating box along with them until the water became shallow enough for them to be able to walk.

"A crowd was waiting for us on the beach... We let people see the snake, put it in its box, and off we went."

The huge reptile was washed down with freshwater, before being put safely in a large enclosure, Evans reported.

It didn't seem like it had drunk much, if any saltwater while at sea, probably keeping its head afloat, he said.

Evans gave the assurance that the python would be monitored carefully and released soon.