MPT Bay offshore - What's up

[John F]

Yeap the zukes are great! Plenty of power and excellent economy... 

Obviously, some of the pics were taken by peterblace and rcoliveira84. So thanks for that guys!

[John F]

Hey Guys
Well done with the catches on Sunday Peterblaze.
Would you guys mind sharing some waypoints for Maputo bay and around Inhaca as im new to this fishing waters.
And let me know when you guys have a get together again would like to meet ya all.
 

Howzit Charles,

Most known places include:

Baixo Danae (S25 54.573 ; E33 03.489)
Baixo Jeremias (S25 56.756 ; E33 02.902)
Poco (S25 47.878 ; E33 06.108)
Boia Perdida (S25 49.818 ; E32 58.741)
B24 (S25 52.948 ; E33 04.045)
B1 (S25 41.237 ; E32 58.039)

Explore these areas and keep an eye on your sounder...

WRT to get together's ... we all have our boats at Clube Naval... most of us stop there at the end of the day for a chat and usually are there Saturday/Sunday mornings... I'd say stop by and come say hi...

[charles1985]

Thanks John I really do appreciate it,it will come handy.
Yes I will definitely come pop around and say hi.
 

[John F]

Winter is finally here so flat seas and very shy fishing....

Heard of some good YFT been caught last week (18-20 kg) as well as 5 black marlin released by Richard on 3 trips!!!! Big mamas too...

[John F]

Effective 1 July 2015, here are some of the new launching fees at Club Naval. These costs are applicable to non members.

Launching fees/day
    boats up to 27 ft = 1 350.00 Mts
    boats larger than 27 ft = 2 025.00 Mts
    Jetskis = 600.00 Mts
    Kayak = 450.00 Mts

Parking fees/day
    Trailer = 750.00 Mts
    Jet ski = 600.00 Mts

Members' fees have also gone up.

[iNdlovu]

Ouch...R1925 for launching and trailer parking for a 5 day trip

[peterblace]

with my winter trip coming soon(d-1) I've decided to launch Sunday for a quick fun session
initial plan was to go for some drifts close by but with a awesome forecast in view I've decided to go further out to the deep (keeping in mind the quick session)
so I've launched at 9:15 and by 10:30 I set lines in Boia Perdida area
with no activity showing (visualy and on the souder) I've decided to move further deep and getting to the 60mt mark I had my first strike at about 11:30
after clearing the lines João fought and we landed a nice wahoo
we set lines again for another 1h of quietness...and getting to B24 we had a very long 
we thought we had a big fish and again after clearing the lines João landed a small very nervous YFT
lines set again and we worked that area as we started to see some bait action...eventualy we got a tiny bonnie that didn't manage to make the reel scream...we just look back and saw the fish slapping at the surface...although perfect bait size it was released to fight another time
by 13:00 we saw a massive halfbeak shoal flying away from something and we went straight to the point...not long after we had a strike on the shotgun...fish didn't commit...and while looking back we had another strike on the short corner...again...fish didn't commit
we knew something was playing with our lures...again on the shotgun a saily striked and played with the lure without commiting
we worked that area for a few moments and because our intention was to go for a short session we start heading back home
getting to Bx Danae we had our last strike on the shotgun...and soon we landed a barracuda....stinky....
I have a moto...no barracuda allowed aboard my boat...and just grabbing the leader and having it over the transom was enough to get the boat stinky
we cleared the lines and headed back to Maputo where we arrived at 15:15
although I consider this a short sesson we stayed out for 6h and managed to run 71nm
beautiful blue skyes, flat sea...first whale showings...dolphins playing on the bow for quite a while...no bird activity except plenty albatross flying over us (never saw them that much)...no sounder showing nearly all day...water temp on the deep was 24º and in the bay 20º/21º

[peterblace]

catch and not release of the day

[John F]

Good one pb!

Pity about the saily... that's one of the reasons I have this obsession about small ilanders... never swim them naked! Either a half beak or strip bait... just to give that last touch

[whodat]

That nervous tuna is the perfect size bait. Would encourage you to troll it with a single hook upfront and head out of b24 closer to the Poco area. 

Good job on the wahoo

[L Hooker]

Nice Pedro,  congrats on the catches and thanks for sharing. Need to get back to Inhaca soon.

[Wynand]

Hi There!
Hope everyone is well.

I have been snooping around UA for a while now, reading and  researching everything I can find on the Inhaca/Hell's Gate/Santa Maria area.
This will be my first visit to this area. For the last  couple of years we fished from Vilanculos with Duarte, Morgan, and those Boys!  So I am in desperate need for some local knowledge in this area!

A group of us are heading up there from the 21st October and  leaving again on the 31st. We will be staying at Camp Carlos at "The beach  house" for a few days, and then at Nhoxani at another house further on.

Part of the team will be driving up from Durban with a 21ft  Vcat with 2x140 zukes, to Maputo and then coming across the bay. The rest of us  will be coming from Joburg, and do the drive through the Elephant reserve.

Four of us are pretty keen fisherman, and although the main  purpose of the trip is social and spending time with our Females, I’m convinced  we will have plenty of time to fish between 5am – 10am and 3pm-6pm…every day! Needless  to say there might even be some windy days that we can focus on alternative  activities!


We arrive at Santa on a neap tide, and it builds over spring  tide towards the end of the trip. This should make for some pretty interesting  conditions in that area!

We will definitely look to do quite a bit of snorkeling with the girls on some shallow reefs, any suggestions here…? I can imagine that  the neap tides would be more suitable for the diving in this area specifically.  I’ve heard of a very nice reef across the channel at the southern tip of  Inhaca? Any other shallow reefs in the area? Diving around Lighthouse reef at  the NE tip of Inhaca?

On the Fishy side:

I have heard that Rock&Surf fishing in that area can be  pretty good. Maybe slide some live bait in some good spots for GT?

Light spinning around Hells Gate, and the general area? Both  from the boat and from shore, I am sure there should be a variety of species  one can target on dropshot, small spoons,Ondas, rapala MaxRap, small poppers  etc….?

Heavy Popping for GT? Suggestions? Good spots? Both from the  boat and from the shore. Successful colours for the area?

Into the Blue:

Hell’s Gate – any specific suggestions here? I understand  that it can get pretty dangerous. So sea conditions permitting, I understand  that it is better to go out to sea through the gates with the tide pushing into  the bay, and coming back with the tide going out again..???

Fishing spots mentioned before:
Baixo Danae (S25  54.573 ; E33 03.489)
  Baixo Jeremias (S25 56.756 ; E33 02.902)
  Poco (S25 47.878 ; E33 06.108)
  Boia Perdida (S25 49.818 ; E32 58.741)
  B24 (S25 52.948 ; E33 04.045)
  B1 (S25 41.237 ; E32 58.039)
And of course Santa Maria reef.

From reading all the fishing reports and posts on here, it  seems like the standard modus operande when fishing in this area would be to  get out there, look for some birds/bait or any surface activity around some  good marks, get your hands on a small bonnie…put it down there as live bait on  some good marks…then hold on for dear life…??

Any suggestions on the trace used? One single through the  nose, two trebles, one in the middle and one further back? Size wire used?

If we can’t get our hands on a suitable bonnie; troll a  spread of lures, halfbeaks and maybe a daisy chain to get a good chance of  catching a bonnie?

What about drifting with baits on some good marks?

Jigging on some deeper marks; are any of the local guys  focussing on this discipline out there? There should be some serious Ambers  around the deep pinnacles? I’ve even heard some spearos have seen some doggies  out there!

Heavy  Popping for GT  on some deeper 20-30m reefs??

Sorry Guys…I realize it is a million questions…any advice  would be greatly appreciated!

Chirs,

[John F]

Hi Wynand,

 

Yes, quite a few questions and from all the info you've alread gathered I'd say you are sorted.

Anyway, will try to give you a few more...

We will definitely look to do quite a bit of snorkeling with the girls on some shallow reefs, any suggestions here…? I can imagine that  the neap tides would be more suitable for the diving in this area specifically.  I’ve heard of a very nice reef across the channel at the southern tip of  Inhaca? Any other shallow reefs in the area? Diving around Lighthouse reef at  the NE tip of Inhaca?

There are not many snorkelling options. Ponta Torres (the reef accross the channel is a marine santuary. You can snorkel there but will be required to pay a fee. If is very shallow there, so please don't tramp the coral and keep the boat at least 40 m from the reef. Plenty of stonefish there (JLB Smith himself had an accident with one of those!), so please keep hand off the bottom! Currents can be hectic at the wall around the corner. It's deeped so, I'd say only strong swimmers should go there. Can be interesting...

Barreira Vermelha is another option. It's located between the Hotel and the Marine Biological Station. Also a santuary, the reef is shallow and mainly composed of delicate staghorn coral - so PLEASE no anchors and/or standing on them! Currents can be dangerous - I almost lost a student there a few years back!

The lighthouse spot is no good for beginners. Plenty of surf/water movement and sometimes a shark can be spotted there.     

I have heard that Rock&Surf fishing in that area can be  pretty good. Maybe slide some live bait in some good spots for GT?

Light spinning around Hells Gate, and the general area? Both  from the boat and from shore, I am sure there should be a variety of species  one can target on dropshot, small spoons,Ondas, rapala MaxRap, small poppers  etc….?

Heavy Popping for GT? Suggestions? Good spots? Both from the  boat and from the shore. Successful colours for the area?

All of the above, except maybe heavy popping for GTs. Hell's Gate can produce an assortment of kingies and offshore if you fing some bird action do cast some spoons, plugs, poppers, bucktails, etc... the YFT and bonnies (and others species) will keep you intertained.

I'd say action is more important that colours but you can't go wrong with the proven colours: white, silber, red/white, purple black, etc...

Hell’s Gate – any specific suggestions here? I understand  that it can get pretty dangerous. So sea conditions permitting, I understand  that it is better to go out to sea through the gates with the tide pushing into  the bay, and coming back with the tide going out again..???

Been discussed before. There's a thread on launching sites of southern Moz. Please check it out. Launching on an outgoing tide with the wind pumping from the opposite direction is a bad idea! I'd say try to cross Hell's Gate as close to dead tide period as possible as the amount of water coming in or out is minimal.

The skipper should be really conscious and if there is a place to say NO, this is it. Watch out for the bricks on the right-hand side (South) of the mouth as you launch. 

Fishing spots mentioned before:
Baixo Danae (S25  54.573 ; E33 03.489)
  Baixo Jeremias (S25 56.756 ; E33 02.902)
  Poco (S25 47.878 ; E33 06.108)
  Boia Perdida (S25 49.818 ; E32 58.741)
  B24 (S25 52.948 ; E33 04.045)
  B1 (S25 41.237 ; E32 58.039)
And of course Santa Maria reef.

Coords for Santa Maria reef S26 05.710 ; E33 00.519

From reading all the fishing reports and posts on here, it  seems like the standard modus operande when fishing in this area would be to  get out there, look for some birds/bait or any surface activity around some  good marks, get your hands on a small bonnie…put it down there as live bait on  some good marks…then hold on for dear life…??

Any suggestions on the trace used? One single through the  nose, two trebles, one in the middle and one further back? Size wire used?
If we can’t get our hands on a suitable bonnie; troll a  spread of lures, halfbeaks and maybe a daisy chain to get a good chance of  catching a bonnie?

What about drifting with baits on some good marks?

All of the above. Be prepared to change tactics/plans during the day. X-raps are very effective... I also like to run a small kona with a strip bait on the shotgun... good surprises there!
 

Jigging on some deeper marks; are any of the local guys  focussing on this discipline out there? There should be some serious Ambers  around the deep pinnacles? I’ve even heard some spearos have seen some doggies  out there!

Heavy  Popping for GT  on some deeper 20-30m reefs??

Please be advised that the area is part of the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve. No vertical jigging or bottom fishing is allowed.

There are some big GT out there but not sure that the area can be classified as a "heavy popping for GTs" spot.

Good luck and hope you have a great time. Watch out for the ellies at the MSR and please post a report will all the big fish you catch!

 

[peterblace]

after launching a couple of times to the island on otoro I decided to launch today for a fishing outing

we heard there were a few good catches on both wahoo and YFT both on the 30kg marks around Jeremias area...so I've decided to give it a go and launched today with the missus
we arrived at the club at 7:00 and after setting up by 7:30 we were on the way
according to the weatherman we were supposed to have a easy ride with nearly no wind...after xefina got a bit bumpy but nothing uncomfortable...it only got uncomfortable getting to Inhaca on the lows with the spring tide going out for 4h by the time we get there
at 9:00 lines were out and not long after we had our first strike...a very shy strike...but the thooties made the first appearance cutting through the line
then a long quiet moment until 11:00 when I had another strike on the shotgun...but fish didn't commit to the hook
ended up spotting the leader all dented and broken and sort of curly

we kept working the area and again on the shotgun I saw a big cuta doing a huge aerial with the lure on the mouth...I was surprised how could that happen without a strike and a screaming reel....again...fish just played with my stuff without committing to the hook

went over again on the same area and not long after I had another shy strike...fish didn't commit again...and when I look on the leader I had  a big bite...and the fish even was able to open the clip...that was a first timer for me...I'm pretty sure I had the clip closed
well...another toothies coming by and not properly committing
it seems that I had a curse on this maiden trip...but at the end of the trip a 3x strike...so ended up landing 2 1/3 YFT
the last one lasted too long on the water while I was fighting the others and was taxed
so at least I had some blood on the deck...although a very frustrating day with plenty non committing fish I was happy with the outing

by 15:30 I was back to Naval after a relaxing trip with flat seats...only the usual bumpy sea getting to the club

water temp was around 21.6º with a max of 22º...and sea was packed with whales all over

[L Hooker]

Pedro always lekker to be on the water thanks for the report and pity about the fish not committing.

[John F]

Some good YFT (~30 kg) and wahoo (18-20 kg) coming out lately...

Good stuff pb... you need to start using wire on your rigs

[Prego]

Some good YFT (~30 kg) and wahoo (18-20 kg) coming out lately...

Good stuff pb... you need to start using wire on your rigs

Old habits die hard 

  of just being out there

[peterblace]

I will definitely work on the spread...and get back to the old habit of having meat on it
the last 2y with the absence of strikes on the HB I have took it out but will start having some juice HB back on the spread
...I will remind those fish that they are not vegan and they like meat...

[shagnrelease]

Unlucky Out there, but wish it was me!
 
Any reason your not using steel??

[peterblace]

Unlucky Out there, but wish it was me!
 
Any reason your not using steel??

only rappies don't have steel...all the konas have