toothies @ Easter weekend

[peterblace]

as mentioned by JohnF, I joined Prego for Easter weekend at Manico Camp at Inhaca
I left Maputo Friday at 15:20 and got to Manico Camp by 16:30...another wet t-shirt trip till middle of the bay...then it was a smooth ride all the way to the camp

Friday night we chated and relaxed...and had a nice brai...and planned our outing for Saturday
it was Anouck's (my missus) first propper trip aboard Maguro...and although Prego insisted on taking just Sea Quest I had to honour Anouck with a her first trip

Saturday
we got up at 5:00 after a nearly non sleeping night...those tipo tinto (rather call them tonto) hit hard!!!
set up the boats and head off...this was when Prego called me on the radio to state that his board engine wouldn't start (starter motor again causing trouble)
I met him just out of the camp and Prego joined me together with his nephew Matthew...Prego's brother took Sea Quest back to the camp to try and fix the problem

we had some bumps on the way out (from Portuguese Island all the way to the Inhaca lighthouse) and because of the slow speed we decided to put the lines out
4 rods out with a spread of rappies and halcos and a feather...
not long after we had a short strike...and we though it was a non taker...and kept going...until we noticed there was a fish slapping at the surface
a rat couta hooked on the gills...didn't gave as fight at all and was easily landed

lines out again...and not long after a double strike...Prego grabed a rod...Mathew and myself were cleaning the lines while Anouck was in command
I then joined Prego fighting both fishes...and we were surprised by a couple of 12kg wahoo's...that was a big highlight...onw of my goals for Maguro 2013 was to catch a wahoo...and we had 2!!!
all happy aboard...even Mathew gave a hand while Prego was gaffing my wahoo...he hold the rod with all the strenght he had and was struggling to stay aboard...and fell asleep just after that...he was tired and sick

lines out again...this time we had 2 x 5"konas (one with a halfbeak on Prego's jigging rod), 1 9" kona and 2 rappies that were the most profitable of the day

another double strike...Prego grabbed one rod...and when I was cleaning the lines we realized one of the rappies was gone...toothies fault!!!...first time in the water...3 strikes...I'm starting to enjoy that colour...next weekend in JNB I will restock
Prego fought the fish and landed another couta

we kept working the area...there's no point of searching for more fish elsewhere when the area your are in is proofing good results
and again...we were on...Anouck's turn on the jigging rod...and when she was having fun reeling in and following Prego and mine instruction again the toothies went into the leader...

close by we saw some birds and bait activity and headed to the area but no takers...we knew they were there and decided to leave the area and get back to our profitable fishing ground...and we had another double strike...
I grabed the jigging rod (again a 5"kona rigged with a halfbeack) and start fighting the fish to handed to Anouck after...but it was miss hook so I had a long line release
Prego gave Mathew the other rod and cleaned the lines...again poor Mathew holding on with all his strenght and nearly going overboard...Prego then grabbed the rod and tried to help him...but this was a big fish
we fought it for 24min....after nearly 20min Prego gave me the rod...by this time I already have mentioned Paulo we were fighting a shark...no more head shakes (Prego hava had plenty) and just a heavy body at the end of the line
we soon discovered that we were right...and landed a 5kg YFT head...that would have been the cherry on top for the day

after recovering the strenght we set up again...and a bit after we landed our 3rd couta...last (landed) fish for the day

after a while we were on again on the jigging rod...a small eastern tuna was landed, photografed and release by Anouck...it aws her first fish!!!

it was 11:00...young Mathew was too tired and sick and we decided to call it a day and join Prego's family by Portuguese island
we took out the rappies and Prego suggested to throll faster with the konas...Anouck trottle up and vassss...we had a strike immediately after...we all looked back and a marlin was turning away from our kona offer...and immediately after just before turning back to the area where the marlin strike a couta attacked the same lure...but it was a miss hook
so we worked the area for a bit more and this time headed back (without lines) to join the rest of the group

JohnF was out at sea and brought me a fuel can from Maputo...so while waiting for him at Portuguese island I decided to give it a try...and lost the 2nd most profitable rappie...argh...again...restock next weekend

at camp we were all happy with the catches...we offered a wahoo filet for all the guests...so wahoo sashimi for everyone...delicious
that was our starter...then we had wahoo fillets for dinner
Prego, Pedro and myself stayed till 23:00 sorting out Prego's engine...with success

Sunday
it was my last day...and because we have had a wonderful day out at sea Saturday, we didn't need to go crazy again at 5:00
so we all had a nice rest...and started to set up everyhting by 7:00...
this time I was on my own with Anouck while Prego took the family to Portuguese island for breakfast before joinig me at sea later
smooth seas...wrong!!!...just untill Portuguese island...then a big washing machine all the way out...we nearly decided to quit but we both knew that after the lighthouse on deeper waters it would be smooth again
we were on a tide going out with big swell on shallow waters
after this stressy moment we were ok and decided to work the same area as the day before
nada...no birds...no showings...no strikes...well another strike and soon turned to be a small rat couta again caught on the gills and slapping at the surface

then stress began...at fuel change starboard engine turned off...when trying to start it wouldn't start...when trying to pump fuel in pump wouldn't get hard...I didn't knew what was wrong and decided to head back to the island
I knew I had Prego close by...I knew I had Ginha (Inhaca's mechanic/handy man/etc) at Inhaca...but I was out at sea with Anouck...and felt the need to have mechanical knowledge at that moment
that was very stressy for me coming back home on 1 engine...but we then had some good fun playing with a manta next to portuguese island
got to Inhaca to meet Ginha and after explaining what happened in 5seconds engine was back normal
lesson learned...do not let the cans empty all the way out...otherwise you will need to drain the air from the fuel piping!!!
might be basic...but I didn't know it was like that

by 15:30 I was back to Clube Naval after a soft ride

I heard Prego got a 8kg couta and had 2 more missed strikes...like me he didn't saw birds and showings

I have spent a wonderful Easter weekend in good company...thanks Prego for coming all the way down to "my paradise waters"

pics and vids will follow

[John F]

Plenty of action throughout the weekend!   

Now get some wire to rig your rappies! 

[Big Van]

Hi Peter nice report and some nice catches. I feel a need to get to Inhaca. Had one of my best fishing experiences ever there. It is paradise. Have a safe trip home.

[peterblace]

Plenty of action throughout the weekend!   

Now get some wire to rig your rappies! 

I will have a think...I'm very stubborn bru!!!...I need to learn the hard way...

BV...ya...plan another trip for Liberty...I'm sure you will have fun again here...for your info I have 2 marks that I normaly work...Liberty 1 and Liberty 2

[peterblace]

1)sunset after arrival
2)catch of the day
3)wahoo sashimi

[L Hooker]

Nice catches there Pedro & Paulo thanks for the report you just made me 

[shagnrelease]

BV...ya...plan another trip for Liberty...I'm sure you will have fun again here...for your info I have 2 marks that I normaly work...Liberty 1 and Liberty 2

  we know them well!!
 
well done guys you had a great trip with some very nice fish!!

[deezynking]

  Great report

[dodger]

some nice fish, well done