Author Topic: Zavora Report (Read 13048 times)

Fishaholic · « **on:** July 26, 2013, 12:25:58 PM »

After quickly organizing a manne moz trip in a week and a half, everything was packed and we left Middelburg early Sat morning. Travelled ok, except for one cop just after the border not happy that we didn’t have a stamp on the border letter from bank and copy of reg document. We told him it’s a printout from an email, but he just got angry. When we asked for a written fine, he wanted to fine us, send us to Maputu and then have to come back because he will keep our passports, or he said we can pay less without papers. Eventually cost us R200. All the other stops went good. We only arrived at about 20H00 in Zavora. At the bar with first r&r in hand, got some reports of tuna and cuta, no snoek which are normally around this time of year.
Next morning got everything ready, and was ready for launch only at about 11. Weather was perfect, went straight deep south. Set out some lures and baits and got the first cuta.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1516_zps6f461da4.jpg.html

We then got a proper on, and at first we hoped for a big tuna. We heard some guys on the radio got tuna over 20kg. But as the fight went on it seems more likely to be the taxman. Eventually after a long fight it showed itself.

My brother Ernst, first time with us, new to offshore fishing, got a good introduction to a 5kg drag and a blister for his effort. “Nie papgooi die nie.” Broke the line (glad my new windons kept up to the pressure) and went back to the reef. Next strike, cuta, but immediately launched itself out the water, big splash and off.

Taxed again. Changed position a bit and eventually Dolf got his first cuta.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1529_zpsdca36f07.jpg.html

Not long and we got a tuna, sorted for the tuna sosaties braai.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1531_zps6995582f.jpg.html

Day 2:
The next morning we headed out deep south again, but there was not much action. After trolling for a while I got a small cuta.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1537_zps3379bf0c.jpg.html

Then later we had a good pull and Dolf landed a nice cuta of 16kg. That was all for the day, we tried, but nothing.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1547_zps964dd09d.jpg.html

Day 3:
Decided to run north the next morning. Immediately saw some life and bonnies jumping. Set out some tuna lures and Ernst got a nice bonnie.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1563_zpsf5e1188d.jpg.html

Soon thereafter Dolf got an yf tuna. Had a few miss strikes and the tuna was gone.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1565_zps24da74bd.jpg.html

We set out some baits, and after some time we had a nice

and Ernst was on the rod. After a good fight he landed a very good wahoo, 23.6kg.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1569_zps52cd964f.jpg.html

We then had another good run, but the clip on the trace pulled open.

But soon after that I landed another good size wahoo, 23.8kg.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1573_zps658152aa.jpg.html

Then things went quite and we decided to put some jigs down. Ernst got a good on and landed this fish, not sure about the name. See the duck tape on the toe, we had a small incident with a treble, luckily went straight through.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1579_zps609e6e0c.jpg.html

He then again got a good on, but he lost that fight, something proper reefed him. I got a strike on the jig, saw some tooth marks, but kept on jigging, not clever I know.

Next strike a cuta took the hook off, bit straight through the Kevlar cord. So we put on some wire assists, and wire trace. For the day we got another 4 average size cutas. Had a busy day.
Day 4:
The next morning started very quite again, with not much action, we saw some small tuna jumping here and there but got only one cuta for the morning.
We again started jigging, and soon I got a blacktip kingie. Some action at least.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1596_zpsc38da30e.jpg.html

Later got a cuta on jig, was a first for me, and fun. For the week, we got a few cuta on jig when nothing happened on the trolling. Dolf also got one on jig.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1599_zps2be1a850.jpg.html

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1601_zps2be50b2f.jpg.html

We started tolling again, and we got a strike, Dolf was on and also got his wahoo, 13kg. We left one bait hanging in the water while busy with the hoo, then something took it, Ernst took the rod. Me and Dolf busy with the first wahoo, we just heard the other line went screaming away big time, must be another hoo. Ernst, not used to this type of runs, in a worried tone told us “julle moet klaaarmaaak”. Checked and the drag was on 5kg, told him to just hold on. For some reason this one gave him a good fight.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1603_zps932cf861.jpg.html

Landed his as well, was 19.8kg.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1611_zps05f84224.jpg.html

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1614_zpsac2229b4.jpg.html

We then got another 2 cuta for the day, 5 in total. But the wahoos also won a good few battles. Some just came off, one good fish we lost when we were too lazy pulling up the downrigger line, thought it was a small cuta at first. One wahoo went into the props. But we had a good day again.
The whales were all over, giving us good displays, but too close a lot of the times.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1626_zps64d156de.jpg.html

During the night the wind picked up and the next day was a

day.
Day 6:
We were worried that our last day will be a blowout also, but the sea was not too bad, choppy but the swell was not too high. We decided to take on the the 18km to the north reef, took a while but got there. The fish was quite again, we got our first cuta only after 10, but a double up for Dolf and Ernst.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1668_zpsab3353a8.jpg.html

Then no action again, decided to try jigging even with the chop, current was screaming but luckily drift direction just right along the reef. Ernst got another cuta on jig.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1672_zpsb9694f59.jpg.html

Then Ernst got a strike just under the boat, he was on the up current side of the boat and his line was under the boat, thought it was cuta again, but up came something dark, then came the bill out the water,

! On jig! He was right next to the boat, he then took some line tail dancing, but Ernst got him back again soon, he was a bit green when we took the bill, he then shook out the jig, just got him on the boat for the pic. Ernst got his first saily, congrats.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1678_zps09b54a88.jpg.html

We trolled some bigger conas and tested my new outriggers, got one strike on the rigger, but no hookup. Later got another run, on for a while but the line just went slack, not sure what happened there. Then the rigger popped again, but this time it was the bird checking out the lures, catching the line. We also had one line really screaming away big time, then snap, line broke at reel, not sure what happened here, must have been a loop on reel, sounded like a over wind, but there was drag on of at least 3kg?
That was it, was a great trip, and we were busy on the boat most of the time. Zavora is a great place. Travelled well back home with no problems.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/smithp10/media/DSCN1680_zps4c7df224.jpg.html

Ziggy · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2013, 12:37:31 PM »

What a trip - and stunning fish!

Fishaholic · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2013, 12:48:12 PM »

Sorry something wrong with the pics, will sort out later.

Chigger · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2013, 12:50:32 PM »

Lekker report, and great fishing well done

Ziggy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2013, 12:50:52 PM »

Quote from: Fishaholic on July 26, 2013, 12:48:12 PM

Sorry something wrong with the pics, will sort out later.

Ja, I had to click through on each one - definitely was worth the effort to do so!

Toppie · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2013, 12:51:20 PM »

Saw the fish on the photobucket link and boy oh boy you must have had fun. Very nice fish!

Werries · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2013, 01:01:36 PM »

Very nice Phillip!!

Some proper fish there!! What did you get the Hoo's on?
Is jy gelukkig met jou downrigger?

shagnrelease · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2013, 02:30:00 PM »

Well done Guys!! Some great fishing you had there!! I just Love Zavora, I still believe its the best area in moz!! There is just so much to fish for!!

rangerraschke · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2013, 03:34:10 PM »

Hi Cappie

Just read the report on the

trip that i could not attend

. I loved the

and made me even more

but sure the next one i will not miss. Tell your brother nice

and hope that he enjoyed it. With the bad is always good that's why he caught it. Saw the

pants looks good and would have been nice if you caught one to.
Next is Tigers and hope that we have a good time there aswell. Speak to you soon and we need to have a few cold

Dolf sorry i was not there for the nice music

.
regards

REEFMAN · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2013, 03:51:56 PM »

Great report and awesome photo's! Well done!
Dig the Pelagic boardshorts... klapping the fish in style!

Debbie · « **Reply #10 on:** July 26, 2013, 03:57:29 PM »

great trip and stunning report back and

. Thanks for sharing.

rangerraschke · « **Reply #11 on:** July 26, 2013, 04:20:21 PM »

Looked at the photos again and saw that the Pelagic gloves came in handy that you bought.
I think that this sailly was planned preemptively

.[size=78%] [/size]

Fishaholic · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2013, 08:08:16 AM »

Quote from: Werries on July 26, 2013, 01:01:36 PM

Very nice Phillip!! Some proper fish there!! What did you get the Hoo's on?
Is jy gelukkig met jou downrigger?

Hi Werner, got most strikes on mackerel, but one sommer took a rappy as well. Caught some fish on downrigger, but most slow trolling with 10 oz weight on rubberband.
The down rigger works great, no problem, but with the weight I now have and the clip, cannot go too fast. Will have to try and get better line and a heavier weight.

Shaun17 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2013, 08:16:23 AM »

Fantastic report, some awesome catches there. Thanks for the

Fishaholic · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2013, 08:17:30 AM »

Quote from: rangerraschke on July 26, 2013, 03:34:10 PM

Hi Cappie

Just read the report on the trip that i could not attend . I loved the and made me even more but sure the next one i will not miss. Tell your brother nice and hope that he enjoyed it. With the bad is always good that's why he caught it. Saw the pants looks good and would have been nice if you caught one to.
Next is Tigers and hope that we have a good time there aswell. Speak to you soon and we need to have a few cold
Dolf sorry i was not there for the nice music .
regards

Yes meneer raschke, you must sort out that leave. Cheers.

Bwana · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2013, 08:33:23 AM »

@ Fishaholic - congrats on a great trip and a brilliant report! A couple of questions:

What baits were you getting your wahoo on - livies / deadbaits / mackerel / bonnies?

What line class were you using on your TLD's?

I see you were using Squiddie jigs a lot, what jigs were the couta caught on and what jig did the sailie fall for?

Once again well done

Happy Dog · « **Reply #16 on:** July 27, 2013, 08:53:23 AM »

Awesome report

Glider · « **Reply #17 on:** July 27, 2013, 01:15:36 PM »

Great report thanks, congrats on the

Shaun17 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 27, 2013, 01:33:18 PM »

Where did you guys stay? How's the road through to Zavora?

Fishaholic · « **Reply #19 on:** July 27, 2013, 03:59:54 PM »

Quote from: Bwana on July 27, 2013, 08:33:23 AM

@ Fishaholic - congrats on a great trip and a brilliant report! A couple of questions:

What baits were you getting your wahoo on - livies / deadbaits / mackerel / bonnies?

What line class were you using on your TLD's?

I see you were using Squiddie jigs a lot, what jigs were the couta caught on and what jig did the sailie fall for?
Once again well done

Thanks.
Trolled big dead mackerel slowish, but when they were finished we also got them on small mackerel. But we also had one rod with rappy, and two of them also took a rappy.
30lb on tld25's, upgraded the handles, which makes a huge difference. Also put carbontex washers, had a problem with std washers getting wet on jetski. Now they are really nice, light with good drag and handle.
Got all the cuta on glow yellow squid jig, also the sail. Got the loepard grouper (i think it is) on a purple/pink squidy. But thats all we tried, others may also have worked. Also tried a green/yellow squid jig but no hits.