Lighthouse Reef Resort Family Holiday

[kleinboet]

This year we decided to change from our annual Inhassoro trip and so we booked into Lighthouse Reef , next to Paindane. It was to be the first outing on our new Sodwana cat 16 , which I had taken delivery of in February.My good friend Jan and his wife joined us on this trip.
We left Boksburg at 4pm on 20 March and the idea was to drive straight through to Inhambane. After a very quick border crossing we were past Maputo heading north. In total I was pulled over 5 times before reaching our destination , only paying 1 fine for the kids not wearing seatbelts (It was 1am in the morning and they were sleeping)! The one cop pulled me over to tell me he was hungry.......He quickly noticed that I was not in the mood to feed him and after some harsh words to him I was on my way again.
We finally arrived at the resort around 9am the following morning after a very long drive and very tired.Nothing could have prepared us for the beautiful house and surroundings that was to be our home for the next 14 days.We were met by Tommy and Belinda , the resort managers , who are absolutely great people. We got settled in and started getting the boat and tackle ready for the next day's outing.
The first 3 days out were really nice days , despite very windy conditions.It didnt last long before the swell really picked up and made fishing almost impossible for another 3 days thereafter.The first day out after trolling all the way to island rock and then out to the 60m mark unsuccessfully , we managed a double hookup in the Paindane reef.I was trolling 2 halco's and a halfbeak. Jan landed a small YFT with mine coming off next to the boat before I could gaff it. On the sunday I invited Tommy to join me and the wife along with my son. It was a sunny day with slight swell.We immediately headed out to the 100m mark trolling halco's (R15 Paulo!)   and halbeaks. We then turned to head for shallower water and in 86m the 1 rod took off at a rate of knots.I quickly handed the rod to my wife with a very nice bull dorado on the other end.Unfortunately afetr a tiresome fight the hooks pulled right next to the boat.I estimated the fish at about 10kg.
We quickly set the rods again and when we got to the 60m both Halco's were hit!Tommy and I quickly grabbed a rod and we settled in for a nice tussle.Our lines only managed to cross twice then the fish were kept on either side of the boat. My wife doing a sterling job at the controls. We had 2 very nice YFT hooked , mine was up first so I quickly gaffed it and got it into the hatch before going over to help Tommy.His YFT clearly wasn't interested in coming up and Tommy had a good tussle to eventually get his fish next to the boat.We had boated 2 YFT weighing 14kg each. The R15 was looking worse for wear after this. We headed out to the shallower reef to do some dropshotting.My wife was given 2 proper hidings on the 50lb jigging rig , I presume by a big grouper , before I managed to get a small greenspot kingie.
After this the weather turned nasty with lots of wind and rain so we missed out on 3 days fishing.It still took another 4 days after this for the swell to subside.Conditions were not very favourable for fishing but we spent every day on the beach with the kids and enjoying many  . The fishing over the last few days was very disappointing with all the boats struggling to get any proper fish. We trolled to Guinjata in shallower water , then south over deeper water without much success. The boats launch in front of paindane behind lighthouse reef , only problem is at low tide with all the sand banks you end up pushing your boat to the beach.
This was one of our best holidays yet and we met some wonderful people and made great friends!The resort was fantastic and we will definitely visit there again.
Here are some pic's of our holiday!
Shaun.
 

[kleinboet]

Jan's YFT & coming in to beach.

[kleinboet]

view from the house

[kleinboet]

The Boat was named after my wife and son - Madelyn and Sheldon!
The boys trolling

[kleinboet]

tussle with a dorado and double hookup

[kleinboet]

2  onboard!

[kleinboet]

high fives , Sheldon a bit scared of a fish almost as big as himself on the deck....

[kleinboet]

beached

[lebaka]

very lekka

love the place

[FishStyx]

Nice one Kleinboet. Thanks for sharing.


My sweetheart and I are headed up there first week in May. If you have a few way points, they would come much appreciated. I fished there in 2011 but was fishing blind. I really love the spot.

[Lichia amia]

Quality report and great pics !!

[Happy Dog]

great report. Nice fish as well.

[Prego]

Nice one Shaun, that's how it goes with the weather, not always favourable. Funny how the kids seems to love the gap between the bulkheads. At least you got some blood on the deck of the new ride.

Location is beautiful BTW.

Nice one.

[dugong]

Nice one kleinboet, I also heard from a mate that the launch between the reef an beach is badly silted up, did you have any real hassels??

[kleinboet]

Thanks for all the comment gents , much appreciated.
@dugongboy - yes , we had hassles.In fact on the one day there was a nasty shore dump from the side and we dropped the boat in against my better judgement.during this time we tried to turn the boat into the waves unsuccessfully.I jumped on the boat to try and get it out past the shoredump.Tommy ended up underneath the boat as it was turned sideways , the next wave almost capsized the boat.The props were in the sand and then the boat turned facing the beach.the next wave luckily pushed the boat onto the sand with the deck full of water.we trailered the boat and went back to drain water , clean etc.This could have turned out very nasty , luckily there were no injuries and damage to the boat.I spoke to a well known local skipper and he gave me very good advice....DONT TRY AND LAUNCH 2 HOURS BEFORE AND 2 HOURS AFTER HIGH TIDE. Over the remaining time I saw a good few boats make the same mistake as me even after i gave them the same advice given to me.

[FishStyx]

Thanks for all the comment gents , much appreciated.
@dugongboy - yes , we had hassles.In fact on the one day there was a nasty shore dump from the side and we dropped the boat in against my better judgement.during this time we tried to turn the boat into the waves unsuccessfully.I jumped on the boat to try and get it out past the shoredump.Tommy ended up underneath the boat as it was turned sideways , the next wave almost capsized the boat.The props were in the sand and then the boat turned facing the beach.the next wave luckily pushed the boat onto the sand with the deck full of water.we trailered the boat and went back to drain water , clean etc.This could have turned out very nasty , luckily there were no injuries and damage to the boat.I spoke to a well known local skipper and he gave me very good advice....DONT TRY AND LAUNCH 2 HOURS BEFORE AND 2 HOURS AFTER HIGH TIDE. Over the remaining time I saw a good few boats make the same mistake as me even after i gave them the same advice given to me.

So basically an hour before up to an hour after is still ok?

[REEFMAN]

Lovely stuff Kleinboet... great report!

[Rory mundy]

the only way to beat a shore dump is a push pole your cruser should be able to push your boat

[kleinboet]

So basically an hour before up to an hour after is still ok?

It all depends on the prevailing conditions , take a drive to the launch site and have a look.If there is a nasty shore dump and side wash then give it another hour.At full high you can launch in front of Esperanza restaurant , providing you have a pole and are very familiar with the launch , then drive out along the reef from there.