Mozambique versus Natal Boat fishing and Holiday

[Rollercoaster639]

For the last couple of years I have been towing my boat to various place in Mozambique. Most of my trips are two weeks. I prefer the camping scene and have become especially fond of Goody Villas in Inhassorro Mozambique. I can camp there as it is a nice camping place but one can also stay in chalets or in anyone of the lodges there. It is extremely easy to launch and  retrieve. Some of the negative thing is the distance one has to travel to get to Mozambique and then also the bribery and corruption that takes place. I dont pay bribes. I put on my friendly face and smile and be very friendly while still not giving in. I eventually get let go but this all takes time and upsets one unnecessary. The other problem is after one has "run the gauntlet" paid for all the fuel and arrived at Goody Villas after traveling for two days the wind comes up and out of the 14 days you only get to launch two days.


So now I am thinking of going somewhere closer to home. Natal is the closest to me. I can drive down via Piet Retief - Pongola and then R/bay is not to far. I really don't know the area at all. I worked in R/Bay once before for a contract. Our house was broken into while we were sleeping upstair so my experiences of R/Bay are bad. Besides that I have never fished in Natal nor launched a boat from there except when I did my surf launch endorsement which I did at Sodwana.


Has anyone got some alternative suggestions as to where I can go and stay / camp and where I can launch my boat from and go fish. If I want to launch from R/By Harbour what are the requirements and How do I go about getting permission to launch from the harbour.


It is less than a full days drive to R/Bay for me and comparing the fuel cost alone it will save me a fair amount of coin.



 

[Spickerish]

I've been looking at Vidal myself and if I had the time I would go there in a second from the reports I've read on here. I've never camped there and thus never launched their but it sounds like a great place. The only thing that bothers me is the waiting list for Decembers. The waiting list is apparently longer than what Oscar will spend time in jail.

[Spickerish]

Other options are Mtinzini, got a nice campsite and the launch site is not to far from there. Jean Swart is an expert if it comes to Mtinzini and he will be able to help with regards to launches ect but I know they launch through the river if the tide is right or of the beach if there is no water in the river. You could even drive a couple of km's and launch through R/bay harbour if you wish to.

[Rollercoaster639]

I try not to take my holidays over the school holidays or December. I will start looking at both the places you have mentioned so far. Do you know the requirements to launch from R/Bay harbour or is it just money one has to pay.


How is the fishing at these places. Most important question this

[Spickerish]

Only got my skipper recently so I can't help you with the requirements ect. Launched a couple of times out of R/bay but the skip focused on Bottoms which we caught plenty of and decent size as well. Slingers, Rock Cods, cave bass, cob ect but can't comment about the game fishing. Do a search for Jean Swart's reports of the area, they target monster croc cuta at Mtinzini and from what I've read he gets his fair share of them there. Werries,shag and a couple I can't remember now have put up a couple of reports on Vidal. There is no borrel blasers so no dive boats going in and out the whole time only fishing and spear fishing allow there. I'll look for the thread Shag wrote about the launches at vidal and sordies and put it here when I've found it.

http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=442.0

[Prego]

Richards Bay is simple, you  launch from one of the clubs and just your regular paper work needed COF and skippers.

You can stay at Mzingazi and your boat can sit on a mooring for the duration of your stay.
We stayed here in September the kids loved it, very safe and quiet. We only made it out to the deep one morning for a short period before the wind came up AGAIN, but at least the kids had a blast in the harbour and jetty piers.

Fishing can be pretty good depending what time of year you go. If you go during winter it pretty much a bottom fishing destination with the odd game fish I would say. AT this time of year you can get some really good Dorado, YFT, Wahoo and Marlin.

The Couta start moving in soon to and Patingo ( south ) and Rubino (north ) are always good bets.


Other wise you could just join us at Inhaca its also 600kms with good fishing pretty much year round. Come join us in March next year at the  off shore bash 2015

[Rollercoaster639]

Thanks for the info Prego. Vidal and R/Bay is looking like places I will go try. I was up at Bazaruto and very disappointed with the wind.(Not that anyone can do anything about it) Of the 12 days I was in Moz only managed to launch and fish for two days. As soon as one got out of the protection of the Islands it was to rough for me. First day we did really well catching 11 cuta. Not big crocs but still decent size. Glad I kept them as it was the only fish I caught for the whole duration.


Moz will still stay my destination of choice but I want to try closer to home. One very big learning curve coming up again.


Even considering doing a charter and requesting them to show me the area / ropes. It costs a fortune to do these trips and to go to a new place and try to discover it without some pointers will take a lifetime and a lot of coin.

[shagnrelease]

I would not advise Zini. ...The launch is not great.

Richards bay is nice, lots to do and launch like gentleman.  Massive distances to travel to get the game fishing grounds.

Vidal awesome, difficult in December and January to get bookings, camp sites are nice chalets disappointing for the price. Great fishing.

Sodwana also good, December and public holidays a nightmare with people! Staying outside the park is better as camp grounds inside sodwana gets a lot of theft.

St lucia is a fantastic option and I advise it, lots of accommodation,  things for the family to do while your fishing, safe enough launch (it can be nasty but there is lots of help there and advise). Also you have the option of a 30km drive into Vidal and spend a day there fishing and chilling on the beach or cruising in the reserve. St lucia would get my vote.

[Rollercoaster639]

shagnrelease


Do you know of camping place at St Lucia and how safe is it. I really do not know the area at all so any advise will help

[shagnrelease]

I know there are a couple of camps, i think sugarloaf camp is one of them. To be honest im not sure on what they are like, I have not camped that way for many years.

[hardfisher]

EKZNW have the only two campsites in the town. Very cheap, R90pppd. Not a bad launch and as mentioned above, Vidal is just 30km away. The ski boat club is a mere 150m from Sugarloaf campsites. Fishing on the estuary is a good option if the wind is up. You can also tow to Charters creek for the day and target grunter.

[Rollercoaster639]

I really appreciate the replies guys. I want to try and head down that way in the second half of Jan15. Really a lot of money wasted going to Moz and having the weather spoil it. Sure the weather can spoil it at St Lucia  / R/Bay and Vidal as well but its not half the amount of what it costs to get to Moz.