I have never fished Mozambique before, so when Marlon from Anglers Talk presented an opportunity to go and represent the magazine for a few days I jumped at the chance. I was going to meet up with Ferdinand Rabie (First Big Brother SA winner), who has a tour company, Ferdinand’s Tours & Adventures, as well as Dean Pretorius, and camera man Duncan Grant (He filmed ESA, and currently films Freespool, ASFN and some parts of other current fishing programs). Along with them we were 2 professional photographers, Lisl and JP. We all met at the airport and traveled to Vilanculos International Airport, via Inhambane on LAM.
We were going to Lula’s Paradise Lodge, 30 kilometers north of Inhassoro. For most of those 30 kilometers you drive on the beach parallel to the ocean, that in itself is awesome!
Wont give too much away in terms of a report on the fishing, check out the upcoming Anglers Talk Magazine for the full report. But all I can say is WOW! The lodge is amazing, the owners (Including the skipper of a 32 ft Magnum and a 21 ft Budcat) are amazing, the hospitality, food, accommodation was all amazing. Seriously this place is awesome guys, and so cheap compared to other places and what you get! Its worthy of 5 star in my opinion and you are only paying R350 per person per night! Im already saving to go back (And I am a strandloper with baaaaaaaad sea legs).
There is a lot of potential with light tackle, fly and dropshot from the lodge itself (10 meters to the ocean from the pool area), lots of Garfish, small Kingies and other resident species.
There are also mangroves which produce big Cock Grunter and River Snapper.
There is also Bartholomew Diaz point, about a 1km walk from the lodge. The guys get big GT’s here, Blackfins, Bowmouth Guitarfish and Giant Sandys. A few Couta have been caught here too.
The most exhilarating experience of my life happened on BD Island, an island in the middle of the ocean, 20 minutes boat ride from the lodge. We went there twice and both times there were just bait balls and smashes surrounding us for the first 90 minutes after sun rise. You can see and hear the fish get smashed, and they were all in casting distance. The one smash was literally 10 meters in front of us.
We threw 5 inch mccarthy minnows, onde onde’s and spoons and Dean and myself managed Garfish, Bludger Kingfish, Couta, Yellowspot Kingfish and Bonito. We saw Yellowfin Tuna come past at one stage, but they must have been feeding so specifically because they wouldn’t take a lure.
In summary off the island, this is what happened (in order): I got a Couta from the side, Dean got a Bludger that got taxed (+- 8 kilos). We doubled up with +/ 7 kilogram Yellowspot Kingfish, Dean got his out, I got taxed (Huge shark, it taxed the fish at my feet basically at the drop off), Dean then got the right spoon and caught 3 Bonito’s, 6,7,8 kg’s respectively. In between we caught Garfish, Blackspot Reef Shark and one Lizardfish. Then we went on (Double again) with 2 big Bludgers, Dean got his out, +/- 8 kilograms and mine ran for the hills and cut me off on something, Dean reckoned it was a bigger fish.
Then our offshore summary… No sea sickness for me, and we mostly did bottom fishing. I stuck to dropshot most of the time. Mr. Boshoff (Owner and skipper) put us onto an amazing reef, every drift there would be 2 Blood Snapper that came out, the smallest was 4 kilograms and the biggest about 6.5 kgs. I actually lost count of how many we caught. In between a Matahari and Tomato Rockcod were landed, and I suspect a big Rockcod or certain protected species was hooked on bait, Ferdinand lost him after 15 minutes or so.
Then while moving around we saw lots of surface action and caught lots of Queen Mackerel, King Mackerel, a bus of a Bludger Kingfish (I suspect it will be in next months RSD mag, about 10/11 kgs) and a solitary Yellowfin hit the popper in between.
That was all in about 22 hours of fishing time.
I just want to publicly thank Marlon from Anglers Talk for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip, as he had prior obligations.
Watch out for the mag guys, its going to be insane!
