Author Topic: Inhassoro,Mozambique......Amazing trip. (Read 7872 times)

kleinboet · « **on:** April 07, 2011, 02:59:22 PM »

We left Jhb on 25 March @1pm to tackle the 1265km trip to Inhassoro,65 km north of Vilanculos.We arrived the following morning at 7 am after a pretty uneventful journey.I hit a pothole 25 km before Inhassoro,damaging a rim on the boat trailer which caused some delay.The road from Maputo to the Vilanculos turnoff is great , only the last 60km is pretty bad to the Inhassoro turnoff.

Our hosts were Derek and Wendy from Cashewbay lodge , and a great place indeed.We had one of our most memorable Mozambique holidays there.We readied the boat and tackle during the saturday , had a couple of 2M's and braaied ahead of our first day out on sunday.Travelling to Bazaruto is approx 20 km and 25 mile reef is approx 32 km.I managed to get some waypoints from derek but decided to fish off Baz the first day.Later on we fished mainly off 25 mile south.

The fishing was nothing short of brilliant , we lost count of the couta's we caught.I caught a queen dorado of 10kg first day out and we caught a lot of species including bludger kingfish,prodical son,green jobfish and plenty bonito.We lost a lot of big fish and I was given a proper hiding from what we think was a very big shark.I hooked the fish on a bonny drift bait while dropshot fishing.We followed the fish for 5km(measured on gps) and after the daiwa sl250 started breaking up on max drag after 1.5 hrs I decided to call it quits. I couldnt reel line in anymore and even with max pressure and drag I still coulnt lift the fish in 18 m of water the boat.This on 25lb GA.I was really impressed with the line performance.Hadn't the reel given in I would have persevered.

I was mostly trolling pink and purple dusters on a couta trace with fresh red eye sardines,which was the most effective but after running out of bait by 11 am almost every morning we trolled Bennie's downsider minnows and the trolling kit lures from demon tackle.The couta loved the red/black and green/yellow color combos.However some of the skirts took a serious beating from the toothy critters but all worth seeing a couta at a serious rate of knots flying out of the water with the lure in its mouth.At times I couldnt set out more than one rod before been picked up , even before putting the rod in the rod holder it was smashed.My wife referred to it as "speed fishing".

Dropshot fishing is crazy and we were given plenty hidings.I managed to land a 6kg prodical som on 2oz jighead and 7" minnow on my tika jigger series rod with penn 6000 accord loaded with 20 lb suffix mono.My wife landed a couta on 1/4 oz jighead and 2" minnow , hooked on the outside of the mouth hence not been bitten off on 12lb hi abrasion , no leader ,shimano solara rod and penn accord 4500 reel.Straight afterwards she got picked up again , but the anti reverse on the reel was not engaged and she almost broke her little finger on the reel handle when the fish took off at a rate of knots.

You need plently of tackle as you get picked up almost every time you drop the lure , we lost mant big fish but boated a lot too.

The fishing was brilliant and we will be back in september with loads of tackle and some bigger guns.

Here are some pics of our trip.

kleinboet · « **Reply #1 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:02:44 PM »

kleinboet · « **Reply #2 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:04:52 PM »

more pics

kleinboet · « **Reply #3 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:07:58 PM »

we visited paradise island(santa carolina) for the day and did some snorkelling.costs 200 mets per person and is a 14km boat trip,kids loved it.

also landed a 4.5 kg bonito???? or is it a kawa kawa?on a 2oz pink bucktail jig.

REEFMAN · « **Reply #4 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:23:36 PM »

Great report and lovely fishing...!! Well done!

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #5 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:24:06 PM »

Awesome report and pics Kleinboet thanks for sharing

Prego · « **Reply #6 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:28:15 PM »

Fantastic report great fishing!

This makes me super excited for our trip up there in December.

Could you maybe share some waypoints.

kleinboet · « **Reply #7 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:38:23 PM »

No probs Prego , I will get my gps tonight and send them to you tomorrow.

Prego · « **Reply #8 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:49:00 PM »

Quote from: kleinboet on April 07, 2011, 03:38:23 PM

No probs Prego , I will get my gps tonight and send them to you tomorrow.

That would be great,much appreciated.

E.T. · « **Reply #9 on:** April 07, 2011, 05:05:47 PM »

Kleinboet, dis nou vir jou 'n lekker trip report

MIKE PIKE · « **Reply #10 on:** April 07, 2011, 08:50:29 PM »

Good report and some excellent fish , still on the to do list one day.. Mozambique.

Fishaholic · « **Reply #11 on:** April 07, 2011, 09:39:00 PM »

Thanks for the great report! Good to hear that you had such an excellent time up there.

We're booked at Zavora for June. How's the road like just after Xai-Xai, still busy with the roadworks?

SAfish · « **Reply #12 on:** April 07, 2011, 09:47:26 PM »

Awesome report, thanks for sharing! Some of us can only dream of fish like that!

kleinboet · « **Reply #13 on:** April 08, 2011, 06:45:14 AM »

Quote from: Fishaholic on April 07, 2011, 09:39:00 PM

We're booked at Zavora for June. How's the road like just after Xai-Xai, still busy with the roadworks?

@Fishaholic , the road from Xai Xai is finished and its a pleasure to travel on.The whole stretch of road up to the Vilanculos turnoff is great.They are also busy revamping(double lane) the road from Maputo past the airport on the EN1,caused some serious traffic jams on tuesday but will also be great once finished.

Fishaholic · « **Reply #14 on:** April 08, 2011, 07:42:37 AM »

Thanks Kleinboet. Hope we also have a great time like you had.

dugong · « **Reply #15 on:** April 08, 2011, 09:24:00 AM »

Nice report kleinboet, and nice fish!! just a few questions : do you leave your boat on the beach or trailor it everynight? How is the availibility of petrol? Is the place anywhere near Club15's spot, is it the same place that you drive the last 30kms on the beach to get there?

kleinboet · « **Reply #16 on:** April 08, 2011, 10:14:16 AM »

Quote from: dugongboy on April 08, 2011, 09:24:00 AM

Nice report kleinboet, and nice fish!! just a few questions : do you leave your boat on the beach or trailor it everynight? How is the availibility of petrol? Is the place anywhere near Club15's spot, is it the same place that you drive the last 30kms on the beach to get there?

I trailored my boat every night however there were some bigger boats moored on anchor along the beach.The locals also moor their dhows,so its basically personal preference as to weather you trailor or moor,just ensure all your gear is offloaded or hire a guard to sleep on your boat during the night.We had direct access to the beach and the lodge staff assisted every day and also helped washed the boat.

Petrol is available approx 4 km out of Inhassoro , very clean.I only used their fuel and had no hassles. price was 45.50 mets/litre which equates to R10/litre.The garage stocks all oils and lubricants both for cars and boats.Inhassoro has really developed over the last few years , you can get basically anything you need in town.there are 2 banks and the pharmacy is almost finished too.You can draw money from their atm's with your visa or mastercard at the correct exchange rate should you run short of cash or exchange rands in the bank as the rand/mets exchange rate is quite bad up there,4:1 in some places.I was getting 4.5 in the bank.

The place you are referring to is on BD point , a 30 km drive on the beach.We were 4km south of Inhassoro so didnt have to drive on the beach to get to our lodge.

REEFMAN · « **Reply #17 on:** April 08, 2011, 10:52:06 AM »

Nice reply Kleinboet. Thanks for helping others out! Cred to you.

bulldog · « **Reply #18 on:** April 08, 2011, 11:28:53 AM »

Great report. How far did yo have to travel to the fishing grounds.

kleinboet · « **Reply #19 on:** April 08, 2011, 02:39:42 PM »

Quote from: bulldog on April 08, 2011, 11:28:53 AM

Great report. How far did yo have to travel to the fishing grounds.

To Baz point 22km and to the 25 mile reef points between 32-35 km.Here you are about 12 km north of bazaruto.Took about 1 hr travelling there and 1 hr back if the sea was nice and calm.