Its always been a dream of mine to go and fish in a place where few people have fished......This usually requires huge logistics and more money, because these places are usually far off the beaten track, difficult to get to, and one has to make sacifices in terms of comfort and space. Believe it or not, these places still exist.
Usually it also means that there are no operators there, so one must find a vessel, and an experienced Captain that knows the waters….
The places I am talking about are St Lazarus Banks, Bassas da India, Ilha Fogo (on the David’s Shoal, off Quelimane). All these exist off Mozambique. The Mozambique coastline stretches to 2800 km. We, at silverfishlodge, are approximately 500 km from the southern border coast line, so as you can imagine, there’s a lot to explore north. The Norths infrastructure is generally a lot less developed than in the south where the Capital, Maputo, sits. Roads, although getting better, are also challenging…. It is for this reason that we recommend that you fly into these town, and we will collect you and coordinate clearing customs and getting you aboard.
Let’s look at each of these areas in focus, and I’ll deal with each of them separately:
- St Lazarus Banks
This is a shoal (doesn’t break the surface) some 90 kilometres from Pemba, to the north. It comes up to 8 m from 1000m. You got to go on a liveaboard, and this is usually min 6 days. The liveaboard takes 6 paying guests, so accommodation and food is included. The trip there takes overnight, and by morning, you are fishing. The flight is serviced from Johannesburg, or Maputo daily, and usually lands in the afternoon. We collect you in the afternoon, and once you aboard, we start our journey north.
Best time to go: September, November, and December, with November being the best. Big Dogtooth Tuna are the prize.
- Bassas da India
This is an atoll between Mozambique and Madagascar, about 400 kilometres from Vilanculos. It’s an atoll that breaks the surface at low tide, about 33 km in diameter, that comes up from the ocean floor in 3000m.
Vilanculos is serviced daily with flights from Johannesburg and Maputo. It usually takes about 2 days to get to Bassas, and two days back, so a min 7-day trip is necessary. This liveaboard takes a max of 6 paying guests, so accommodation and food is included. The trip is due east, and we need to keep an eye out for weather, so there is nowhere to hide if the wind comes up. There are a lot of wrecks on the atoll, testomy to this fact. A lot of fish, too many to talk about here. A truly incredible place- one for the bucket list.
Best time to go: May, June, and July (least wind)
Big fish, including Tuna, Marlin, GT’s etc.
- Ilha Fogo/ Pantaloon/ Davide and Acorn Shoal
There are a series of five shoals and five islands on the reef system just north of Quelimane. The main island, although also uninhabited, is Ilha Fogo. Offers deep drop-offs, and incredible fishing. Travel time is about a day, weather dependant, and a min 7-day trip is required.
Best time to go: Either May, June, July (least wind)
Big Fish, Including both Dogtooth and Yellowfin Tuna, Marlin, and GT
These places are bucket list stuff, and worth every cent. Nowadays, one must fish in places that others can’t/ don’t, to get the monsters. This is unfortunately a fact of the times we live in…..Close inshore fishing just has too much pressure.
Costs of these trips: Budget on $1250 per day. Prices valid as of time of writing. Flights in/out are for your account. Bring your own tackle. It’s not uncommon of people spending $2000 on lures and lines and coming back with precious little. This place is extremely heavy on lures, because you are usually outgunned. Spearos need a good gun- min 1.2 m and at least a 35l floatation buoy, with some bungee on the float line.
You need to get a group together and book soon. The time frames usually book out a year in advance by those that have just been. Deposit of 25% secures dates. Speak to me about a tour and, or expedition soon. This season is right around the corner, and there are still a few slots.