Quissico- Southern Moz

[John F]

A bit of background to this post...
At Prego's request, I thought I would start a new thread on what I know (or more appropriately what I don't know!) about Quissico, Inhambane, Southern Mozambique. For me this has been, for a number of years, a paradise destination!!! Not really with regards to fishing (as I knew nothing and still haven't learned much after about 2 years of work there!), but more in the lines of doing research on the ecological systems there.There's a lot of incredible things about this place including the hydrology, geography, biodiversity (and now) the fishing potential... but let's get down to a bit of info on what's known...

Location
Quissico is a small village located along the EN1 in the Zavala district, Inhambane (about 360 km from Maputo). Everybody traveling to Inhambane (Tofo, Jangamo, Guinjata, Zavora) must certainly have stopped over a little village overlooking two inter-connected coastal lagoons, surrounded by coconut trees with the Indian ocean in the background?! Well, that's Quissico for you (Pic 1)!

Features
What really, really strikes you in this place is the intricate system of coastal lagoons (= barrier lakes; a geo-morphological feature that actually runs all the way from Vilankulos to Sta Lucia, in KZN). The interesting thing about the Quissico lakes is that these 6 or 7 lakes are all inter-connected by small channels which eventually connects to the sea; but at the same time each one maintains its physico-chemical characteristics almost unchanged (pH, salinity, etc.) (Pic 2).

It all starts at Inharrime river (aka Lake Manjakaze), that runs parallel to the coast and joins the Poelela lake (Pic 3) at the Inharrime weight bridge and ends past the Quissico lake, which is brackish.The scenery is idyllic and the bird diversity is really something (preliminary studies have come up with about 300 species). Diverse habitats such as coastal forests and thickets, coastal dunes and extensive reed patches and other freshwater vegetation as well as large coconut tree plantations make up the landscape of the area. Some of the lakes are hypersaline, which on it's own is a unique system!

The beach
As one can see from the pics below, the beaches are narrow, steep and very dynamic. As far as I know no one does beach launches from here, so no SCUBA or offshore fishing can be done. Apart from he fact that the steep dunes will make towing a boat very difficult. I've never seen tourists fishing on these beaches but the locals tell they come in large groups (by x-mas time - mostly South Africans) and camp on the beach sometimes for up to a week.

The locals say the fishing is excellent and large specimens have been caught. From large stumpies, to couta, rockcod, kingies, sandies, other sharks, rays, etc. They use mainly ghost crabs (the largest I've ever seen! and sea lice - which are plenty!).

Accommodation in the area is really rudimentary and apart from a few boarding houses in Quissico (which is about 10 km from the beach), there are only 2 very small lodges with very limited capacity (one is still under construction). These will be basic camping facilities with no electricity.I'll be spending a lot of time in the area and will hopefully come up with much better intel in the near future.
 

[John F]

More pics

[skipsch]

Thnx John.

It is truely a beautifull place, that always fasinated me.
Nice to have some ecological info...

[dugong]

Very nice John, we always stop for a beer and admire the view - awesome place!!

[Toppie]

Hi John, have also always stopped to drink a beer and admire the view from the highest point there on the national road. The emerald blue colour and palm fringed linings of the lagoon/s is really a sight to behold.
 
I have also wondered how one would access the sea-side there as it did/does not appear very accessable and developed. Maybe must one day try as I can imagine the fishing must be awesome.
 
See in your pic the locals fishing off the beach with handlines! Saw with my own eyes how the young local boys at Pomene Point on the ledges just below the old hotel ruins use handlines and throw old bleached white mango pips as "spoons" with a hook tied on and catch small Kingies.
 
Mozambique is an amazing and awesome place with the friendliest people (just not the corrupt cops). You locals should make a big issue and launch a campaign against these corrupt cops then I am sure holiday makers will flood Mozambique in no time. North of the Limpopo it just becomes more beautiful as you travel north.
 
Thanks for this thread - please keep it up. For the benefit of the/us Vaalies - perhaps do Pomene and show them exactly how beautiful it is. With the discussion now on sea state and launching conditions for ducks and smaller boats on another thread - show them that you can actually launch and reverse your boat out to sea!

[CASTSA]

Hi John

Thanks for the info, just a quick one.......

Those lakes, do they run into the sea?

What research are you doing there and how is the sea life in those lakes??

I have never explored that part of the coast, always wanted to but never have. The formation on those beaches looks amazing, Im more than confident that you will get fish there.

Could you see reef formations close to the beach at all?? rocky bay?? some sort of srtucture or is it just sandy beaches?

Thanks,

[Prego]

As every one has said it is definitely one of those places you just have to stop and take in that breath taking view on your way up north. I to have always wondered why such a beautiful place has yet to be explored. I have heard from a number of people that one of the reason for this is that the area holds mosquitos that cause Cerebal Malaria. How true this is I do not know. Maybe John F could clarify this.

Great Pics and info  John F, I will had to the pics on my return in Jan.

[Toppie]

the area holds mosquitos that cause Cerebal Malaria. How true this is I do not know. Maybe John F could clarify this.

I got cerebral malaria (falciparum) probably at Morrongulu and nearly died. Dont wish it on my worst enemy. Think the whole of the northern area from Xai-Xai north is infested with it. Take prophylactics, spray, cover up and avoid densely populated areas. I learned the lesson and never had a problem again. Maybe now I'm immune?

[Rory mundy]

is cerebral malaria any diferent to normal malaria i thought it was cerebral if your malaria is untreated and gets into yor brain because the count is so high in yot blood it starts to block your blood flow in your head?

[REEFMAN]

There are several types of Mozzie that cause Malaria: 1st parasite is Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the most severe form of Malaria. Others are P.vivax, P.ovale and P.malarium, which cause a less severe form of the disease. Falciparum malaria causes the worst symptoms, and Cerebral Malaria causes 80% of all deaths from Malaria. It is not known why some people (20%) develop Cerebral malaria, but some of the theories are that the longer it's left untreated, the more chance you have of the Parasites reaching the brain through the blood - but they haven't been able to statistically prove this.