My wife and I just spent three days at Linene Island Lodge in Mozambique last week. We had mixed weather, with a great first day, then an absolute howler of a SE wind came through (40 knots). Fortunately we were expecting the wind, having checked the weather out on Bouyweather before we left and knew that the first day was our only chance to do some offshore fishing. I was hoping that the fish would be going wild, with the barometer about to fall through the floor, as often happens, but sadly not. We had a good day out on the water anyhow, with a GT of around 16kg's, a longfin amberjack of about 12kg's and a wahoo of around 18kgs. The Wahoo was caught by my mate Brad, and I would have to say that it was the fish of the day, as it was caught on light spinning tackle and a dropshot. We had just got back from a tiger fishing trip on the Zambezi and still had the tiger tackle with us, which is what Brad got the Hoo on. A Shimano Beastmaster Special Tiger Rod, with a Stella 5000 reel and 30lb braid. Man it was good to see that fish burning line off his drag, run after run, they are unbelievably fast when caught on the light gear.
The GT and amberjack were both caught on strong vertical jigging gear, so although my arms were wary afterwards, they couldn't put up as spectacular a struggle. Things were quiet on the surface. I threw a 150 Wahoo stickbait that I got from the boys at Jigstar, that lure looks so good in the water that it makes me want to dive in and attack it! I had a Wahoo have a go, jumping a good 3m out of the water on its way past and nicking the leader, but no hookup. Then a huge smash from a GT, which struck short and left a massive hole in the ocean and a froth of white water. It obviously wasn't really hungry, but just had to have a go at that stickbait....
Once the wind started we were confined to casting lures off the beach at the point, where we made hay with the wolf herrings and needle scale queenfish. I also had a GT do another short strike on a popper at sunset. A spectacular smash, with half the body coming out of the water, but no hookup.
Anyway, it was great to go back to Linene, it has been seven years or so since I was last there. They have spent quite a bit of money on doing the lodge and the boats up, and it is better than I remember it. Adrian, the lodge manager is a great fisherman, and knows the area intimately, which is a big bonus. I will definitely be spending more time there, as it is in one of the best fishing areas in Mozambique. My wife, Pam has also been offered the opportunity to handle reservations and bookings for the lodge, so it may just mean I have to go there more often .....
Anyway back to that stickbait. I am off to Kilwa in Tanzania next week, where I am going to put that tasty thing in front of some big predators and enjoy watching them fighting over it!
