MPT Bay offshore - What's up

[peterblace]

launched yesterday for a very slow day in Maputo
we were in the water at 7:20 and headed to our fishing grounds
plan was to work bóia perdida -> poço -> B45 -> B24  -> bx danae
on the way to poço we had a triple strike of tiny dories
kept the two that had the eyes popped by the hooks and released the third one
at poço we got a wahoo...and at B45 another dorie
by 15:30 we were back at the club with a total 82nm traveled
water temps dropped about 1° during the week and only at 70mt I was able to reach the 23°
no activity at the surface all over...so dead seas
saw some trawling boats at the distance...so maybe that's the reason of dead seas lately
maximvs was also out and will probably report shortly

[John F]

Launched at 07h15 yesterday. Sea was flat and temp 22-23 all day. Went north to my couta grounds then offshore to Poco. Caught 3 couta (5-8 kg) and a rat. Tried for other gamefish in deeper water, not a single bite. Drifted live baits and sards on baloons, trolled konas with halbeaks and stripbaits....

The t top didn't squeak or break (actually it's pretty strong), and had a very good overall consumption on the zukes (1.1 L/nm). Total distance: 87 nm.

Great day out and good to be back after about 2 months. Happy days!

EDIT: tried for bottoms. Not a single fish, not even triggers. Very odd.
 

[Prego]

You guys suck, say I locked in the concrete jungle 

Thanks for the updates boys 

[peterblace]

with a bad forecast for the weekend (ski boat speaking) I was invited to spend the day at Ilha dos Portugueses on a sailing boat

a friend owns a 40' Robertson & Caine Leopard catamaran and after checking the forecast (not 100% pleasant for us) I triggered the invitation for a day at sea sailing

we launched Saturday at 8:00 and planned to get back around 18:00...but with good company, nice braii and good weather we ended up arriving nearly at 20:00
it was good fun sailing on a big boat with all kind of conforts

here is the link for the video I've edited and Mike took the time to upload under his account
https://youtu.be/ro2plG4SEok

if you have the time also check the video of his trip from the Seycheles where he collected the boat last year

[FishStyx]

Lovely vid... thanks Pedro. Man that Leopard is a beaut. When I'm big... 

[peterblace]

during the week Prego contacted me to check what were my plans for the weekend as it was a long weekend in ZA (for those taking a leave on Monday)
his plans were to head to Moz...so after a few calls I sorted out accomodation for us (borrowed RColiveira house in Santa Maria) and started preparing otoro

after a long trip from JNB on Friday they all arrive safe...we had supper together and went for a short night sleep as we planned to launch around 7:00 to take advantage of the high tide crossing straight to Santa Maria...
tide was going out...and I had the route planned (did it quite a few times)...we launch at 7:20 with some North breeze...nothing unconfortable but nothing like the flat seas we have been promissing Prego's missus...
at 8:20 we saw a rip (on a known sand bank in route to Santa Maria)...Prego tried to tell me to make a hard left to avoid the rip...but it was too late...we hit the sand bank and the moment we both jumped out of the boat to try and push the boat water level was tooooooooooo low
we knew we were gona spend quite a few hours on our private island...just a few ~5nm from SM

we spend the day walking around the island...spinning...playing football...sleeping...and relaxing...we couldn't anything...but overall we planned to spend the day at the beach...maybe not that beach but no one got fussy and we had a nice time chating and relaxing
at 17:00 the boat started to float and by 17:20 we arrived in Santa Maria...
...with no power since 8:00...so we got to the house...unpacked our stuff...had a nice braii...and by 20:00 power came and we were ready for a nice sleep

yesterday we decided to launch for a quick fishing session...
at 6:30 when we got to the beach we couldn't belive...the bay was a bit agitaded...a lot more then what was predicted from the weatherman
we decided to go have a look at hells gate...and it was not that bad crossing...some waves but not breaking...just the swell coming
so we crossed...and went for a try at Bx Santa Maria...lines out and nothing...
as we planned to go for a try in Jeremias area we took the lines out and headed there...just 9nm from Santa Maria but with the North pumping we were going against the swell and the wind
we did get really wet...it's not summer time...water was about 21º and we were suffering...fishing is not like that
so we both called it a day and decided to head back home around Inhaca (it was too dangerous to cross Hells Gate)
by the lighthouse area Prego spotted some birds working...and we set 2 lines out...
plenty live in the area...birds...tuna smashing at the surface...dolphins all over...whales breeching...beautiful secenery that helped us forgeting the big hidding the swell was giving us
not 5 min after we set the lines and we had our first strike...but fish didn't commit
as we turned back we had a double up with only one fish coomiting...a stubborn one that arrive to the boat about 3 times and runned for his life...but after the last we managed to bring it aboard
we set lines again and on the next drift we were double up...and after a short fight we had 2 nice size bonitos...kept one and released the second one and that was it for the day...
we headed back home for another wet ride (Prego will blame me for not mounting the clears)...but I like the salty water in my face...although not in all over my body
from Ilha dos Portugueses all the way yo Santa Maria we got dry
in the afternoon I took a ride with some friends and Prego and the family stayed there enjoying some R&R till Tuesday

[peterblace]

Santa Maria at the horizon
crystal clear waters

[John F]

Saw Prego & family on the beach at Ponta Torres this morning... recognized the boat

Stopped to say a very quick howzit and then went to pick the course participant plus a couple of hitchthikers. In total came back to the marine biological station with 8 people and their luggage.... eish...

Oh and BTW... I went AROUND the sand bank 

[peterblace]

ya...he was also stuck at the beach waiting for the tide to come and head back to Santa Maria

you were never close to "my sand bank"...I will put a tag there with otoro's sticker

I will redo the route to avoid going over my spot

[John F]

Ok you're right it's a different one (I thought it was the one in the middle of the southern bay... "Your" sand bank is way out of my Naval-Marine Biological station route. But I made sure I went around any sand bank in front of me.

[Prego]

Thanks again for arranging a great weekend for us Pedro and allowing us the use of your boat.
Even though we only had lines in the water for an hour tops I kept my Inhaca record clean ...... yet to blank at Inhaca 
We also made a new record for the longest crossing to Santa Maria of 10hrs  good times bro.

Hope we can do it one more time before our December visit.

[John F]

Sunday promises to be another flat day. Reports of dismal fishing around Jeremias all the way to Poco during this week force me to go to my couta grounds up north.

  + 

[WalkersKiller]

 

[FishStyx]

So jealous right now 


Tight lines bud

[Hammer]

Pull some Speedpro's fast for the Whoo's that are lurking.

[John F]

Will do. Think I know where they might be... a nice wall with a drop from 16  to 35 m within 25 m or so....

[Prego]

  Marcos 

[peterblace]

tangara went for a quick spin (from Inhaca) to poço and managed to land 8/9 yft...so it seems they are already in the area
seems like the ZA yeld doesn't know the area

[John F]

Good to know...

[John F]

Pull some Speedpro's fast for the Whoo's that are lurking.

GOTCHA!!!!!

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