Author Topic: MOZ TOUR REPORT (Read 17419 times)

Redroman · « **on:** January 17, 2013, 05:42:15 PM »

So here’s a short report on our Mozam 2012 tour. The team consisted of myself, Ianzo and three of our friends Martin, Barend and Steph and after a whole year of planning and purchasing a mountain of tackle we hit the road on 22 October. In 28 days we covered well over 3000km’s exploring the fishing eden that is Mozambique.

the team
Our first stop was Chidenguelle where we stayed at Sera lodge. The weather was not playing the game at all and in 5 days we didn’t manage to land one decent fish, despite giving it our all! With the wind pumping outside we made good use of the time by servicing reels(damaged by an overnight sandstorm!) and building traces, not to mention punishing a few bottles Tipo tinto! Chidenguelle definitely has potential, we were just unlucky this time! Just for interest, martin and I are R&S guys while Ianzo and Barend are offshore pro’s, but our goal was to really succeed in both facets while we were there(and I believe we did).

Spining at chidenguelle in rough sea conditions

Our view from Sera Lodge

Redroman · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2013, 05:49:15 PM »

With the weather still not looking good for the next week we made our way to Inhambane. Cumbini lodge would be our base-camp for the next few days. With Guinjata bay not being ideally suited to surf angling we launched our attack from Ianzo’s 17’ Kozi cat. Initially the fishing was slow and we only managed a few small bluefin kingies on the spoon off Paindane. With reports of good amberjack being landed we also gave the deep spots a bash, but without any luck. On day 3 out we were trolling in 50m of water when Ianzo’s red and white halco got smoked and his brand new Tor30 protested loudly! After a solid fight Ian boated his PB yellowfin of 18kg, the only one for the trip. We had a few other strikes during the day but the fish were unstoppable on the medium tackle. I slid a whole chokka the one night and Ianzo a karapau, but without any inquiries we packed up after about 2hours. In between the fishing we also went snorkelling at Paindane, enjoying the beautiful corral reefs. It was however sad to see how the locals were hammering this coastline, spearing and netting everything with fins. For the next few days the weather kept us off the water. At night we stuffed ourselves with Mozambican prawns and fresh tuna steaks, you can’t fish on an empty stomach! So after a week of moderate success we left Guinjata and travelled north to Pomene.

Ian's YFT of 18kg that caused a overwind on his Tor30 after the first run

Sunset at cumbini lodge

Redroman · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2013, 05:55:34 PM »

After a hectic bush road that took us close to 3 hours, the breathtaking Pomene estuary lay before us. We booked in at Paradise beach lodge and the friendly staff quickly unpacked all our gear. That night we sipped on our R&R’s under the stars, we had a good feeling about this place! Six o clock the next morning Ianzo and I headed out the mouth on the Waverunner. Not having any waypoints we fished blindly but still managed a few good fish, Ian landing a bus of a blue emperor on dropshot and myself getting my first cuta of about 7kg on a black halco, trolled parallel to the beach, just behind the backline. With the weather being more stable France, owner of the lodge, recommended we try the deep channel(10m at some places) in the mouth, so at 5pm we headed of with high hopes. Armed with or big sticks and 10/o Gamagatsus we slid our baits out and waited. At 8pm as the tide turned Martin’s karapau got picked up by something BIG. The fish took him back into the estuary and after a hard fight he landed a 11kg pickhandle barracuda. Later that night I got a pickup on a cuta head, but failed to set the hooks. Over the next 3 nights Martin pulled another pickhandle, I managed two small blacktips, Steph a nice lesser sandy and Ian got a natal stumpy on a slide bait! The offshore fishing also went well and we landed bonnies, kingies and rock cod. Ianzo’s wolf herring got picked up by a marlin but he unfortunately got jumped off. Our last night got really festive at the Footprints bar with France and his friends! Thanks to Wesley Peenz for recommending Paradise, a truly awesome spot!

Nuclear chicken produces a bus blue emperor

My blacktip on a bonnie slide bait

Our very own carolien van rooijen(Steph) with a lesser sandy, on a chokka/sard combo and 8' dropshot outfit

Big eye on a "on dad onda" off Pomene point

Stumpie on karapau slide and beastmaster 14' heavy, epic fight

Martin's fish of the trip, pickhandle on his 12' exage

Farewell at footprints bar

Redroman · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2013, 06:00:22 PM »

With the fishing picking up the team’s morale was high as we set off to BD point, our final destination. Here it was utter fishing madness from day one, for 5 days in a row the see was like a mirror and we hammered the fish. We used everything from drift baits to dropshot and landed about 30-40 fish every day! Some good catches were made, like Ianzo’s 12kg yellowspot on dropshot, Martin’s croc cuta and Steph’s first offshore fish, a snoekie on a Bight me! Other species that were landed included prodigal son, snoek, groupers, barracudas, queenies, remoras, GT, golden kingie and bonnies to name but a few! In the evenings we caught plenty bartail flatheads and garfish on light tackle in the estuary. This was fishing utopia! Unfortunately we didn’t get around to fishing from BD island, but the water right off the side is very deep and I’m sure there are some monsters lurking there.
Sadly all good things come to an end and so on 19Nov we headed back to SA.
During the trip I managed 18 species, truly an awesome trip with great friends!

Ianzo's grouper

Golden king on dropshot

Lula's paradise, BD

One of my prodigals, on drift bait

Beautiful queenie

Cuta on dropshot, exceller combo

Martins croc of 20kg

Reel Magic Charters · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2013, 06:06:11 PM »

Very nice Guys! and Girl!

Redroman · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2013, 06:07:15 PM »

Nice bludger at BD

15kg GT on a dead bait!

Steph's cuta on a halco sorscerer

Yellowspot caught on our way to 25mile reef on a kona!

Garfish, safely released, despite steph's concern that it might not make it

Ian's brute of a yellowspot on dropshot

Bartail flathead in the estuary

Fowl hooked prodigal landed after 1 and a half hours!

Redroman · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2013, 06:11:01 PM »

Grouper

10kg prodigal son on dropshot

Tripple up!

Barend's 12kg cuta

Steph with a snoek on the bite me

Redroman · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2013, 06:15:04 PM »

My first cuta, just behind the backline, Pomene, "pielle!" as oom France would say

Launching in the Pomene estuary

Hanging with the locals

Proper sunset to end an amazing trip

isivuba · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2013, 06:39:51 PM »

Awesome awesome report!
18 species fantastic.....read your report twice and going to read it again
Man looks like you guys had some fun and all the memories that where made will hold you for years to come.
still can'nt believe the fish and thanks once again for the report

Zetti · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2013, 06:51:38 PM »

Awesome trip and great report!

FishStyx · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2013, 07:02:34 PM »

Wonderful report... and some prolific fishing there. Well done and thx for sharing!

Happy Dog · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2013, 07:28:12 PM »

Awesome report and great photos. Lovely to see those fish..

REEFMAN · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2013, 08:37:50 PM »

great report and sounds like an epic adventure... fantastic fish! Well done!

Eddie Moz · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2013, 08:53:00 PM »

That's what Moz is alllllllllllll about........... good times, good fishing and good friends. Congratulations! (Some money also helps)

lebaka · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2013, 07:37:10 AM »

very nice report

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2013, 08:02:59 AM »

SUperb report!!!!

Lichia amia · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2013, 08:14:17 AM »

Magic report and some amazing catches . Well done

Homie · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2013, 09:13:00 AM »

My jaws on the floor !

EPIC TRIP !

some awesome fish !

Rory · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2013, 09:18:51 AM »

Looks like you guys had a super time with some awesome fish! Thanks for the report!

Prego · « **Reply #19 on:** January 18, 2013, 09:31:17 AM »

Thanks for the report and cool photos.

BD really is heaven on earth, love that place.

Is Lulu's Paradise on the estuary side?

Did you guys fish only off 25mile, long ride that every day?

Did you guys use that road from the border to bypass Maputo?