Just had a group from South Africa, Chris, Dave, Owen and Dane join me here at the lodge. Owen had been with me on a previous live aboard yacht trip off Quelimane the previous year. These are expierenced guys aged from forty to fifty five, well seasoned, competent and prepared.
What an incredible four full days we had.
Getting here is a challenge, with an internal flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, a flight to Maputo, then a connecting flight to Inhambane. A 10 min ride in a taxi, a 15 min boat ride across the bay to Maxixe, where I collect you. Finally Maxixe to Silver Fish Lodge takes 30 min that completes the trip.
At the lodge the chef prepared a sumptuous seafood platter with prawns, calamari and of course fresh cuta (sera), washed down with a cold beverage. That took the edge off the trip up and they got a good night sleep in.
We were blessed with four days of weather. Not a duck pond, but goable. The reef is 10 kilometers long and has a high point of 18m, and an average depth of 25m. Fish were around 15 to 18m.
Visibility was OK down to 12 meters, then it got dirty to the bottom. Not ideal, but I believe that these conditions are the right ones to find fish. When it's too clear, the fish see you long before you see them. This makes it more close and personable...... You just need to get your head right.
Day one and two kicked off with finding the fish.
The predators were around the bait fish. Bait fish being rainbow runners, fulvies (trevally) and sturgeons. We ended off with four cuta, around the 10 kg mark on day one, and four on day two.
Fried fish in a batter, fish nuggets, grilled fish, baked fish then became the staple. There is just something about fresh fish that you cannot beat with taste, especially when you shoot it yourself.
On the 2nd day, on the shallowest spot, a 120 kg black marlin came right at Chris, and turned a meter and a half from him broadside. For a guy who has shot well over 500 fish in his lifetime, but never a marlin, it was that moment we all dream about. To pull the trigger, or not. He decided not to in the split second he had to make that decision. Just as well as he had a reel gun, with a belt reel, and 90 % chance of loosing everything.
It's one of those moments that we all dream about, and will definately be stored in his memory banks for ever. Privileged to be a part of it.
Day 3 was Owens turn, when a 80 kg black marlin came to look at him. Guys, this doesn't happen often. It's basically a once in a lifetime expierence, and we had two in two days. The thing is, it's so unexpected, and such a moment, that before you know it, it's over. Owen did take a shot, and missed, thinking that it was worth the 8000 rand potential loss for the trophy. His first chance at a marlin in 40 years of spearfishing. A proverbial gift horse. Once again a memory, not only for him, but for Dane and Chris, who saw the whole thing unfold in front of them.
With day 4 ahead of us, and the last day, we got an early night, and left at 6am. We were prepared for another marlin encounter, as we had seen two in two days.
Day four turned out to be the best of the lot. Visibility improved a bit, and everyone was more relaxed and focused like a well oiled machine. Final count was 2 wahoo sightings, no more marlin. One 30 kg GT, which Dave didn't nail, reason being meat isn't good, and it was just a pleasure to watch this bruiser come in and come and eye you out. He could have taken the trophy, but chose not to. We ended on fifteen cuta, between 8 and 18 kg, 3 fulvies, 1 golden trevally, 1 barracuda, 3 rainbow runners and two green jobfish. What a day. All pelagics, no bottom reef fish.
For the uninformed, a days diving will be between 50 and 70 individual dives, on about 30 to 40 drifts. Each breathold dive would be between 1.30 and 2. 20 minutes at a time. After each drift you need to get back in the boat, and reset up current.
Owen told me it was his best days diving. That in 40 years of spearfishing. It's moments like that that fills me with pride, and makes me appreciate how fortunate I am to live this life, at the beach, out at sea, living the dream.
Thanks, hope to see you all again soon!
Reservations for live aboard trips for 2025, for spearfishing and Rod and reel offshore fishing now open. Let me help you make a tailor made bucket list trip for your trophy fish. Don't delay, limited slots/ weeks available. Only a small deposit required to secure the best weeks.
One short life, live it!