Heading off on a Tropical fishing adventure is any Lure fishermans dream , no matter where it really is ... especially if you have a chance at a GT !
Well organising and packing all my tackle for MOZAM was no different , except 10yrs ago all we used was SL50's Graffcast 4's and Chisel plugs !
Alot has changed since then and an open mind,researching the new trends and techniques was in order !
Quickly source a Stella 20k, sparespool , 100lb Power Pro , Saltiga Expedition Popping , Some Starwalker stickbaits and Darkstar 150 Cubera Popper amongst other tackle !
That unfortunately is not easy on ones pocket , but nevertheless a great investment in ones fishing future
Ok so we almost packed and ready and overloaded with spare rods , reels and lures as we originally planned to drive up to Vilanculos.
However 2 days before departure, it dawned on us ... ARE WE MAD ???? Internet on ... Plane tickets booked ... SORTED .... or were we actually sorted ???? EISH how the heck do you take tackle out your bags to meet Flight baggage weight regulations ? Let me tell you how.... With tears in your eyes !
1..2...3 we in Moz, passports stamped , climb in the Cruiser left at the airport and on our way to our House !
Day1 - Sort out all food, booze and boat fuel !
Day2 onwards - The start of what would turn out to be the Iron man challenge of fishing ! Popping is not for weak minded Sissies ! It will break you continuosly Day by day, Hour by Hour, Minute by Minute and eventually Second by Second !
I wanna see Lance Armstrong POP for 9days ! By day 3 I was already on Mybulen's and anti-inflammatories.
Anyways we're here too fish... Push through and Sleep when you are DEAD !
12hour fishing sessions !
Before I left , I had set myself a realistic Goal :
1) 20kg plus GT ( previous PB 12kg )
2) YFT (never fished for them )
3) Queenfish ( never caught one )
4) Couta ( also never caught one )
That been said ,I almost achieved 4\4 , However only managed to land a Queenfish, YFT and GT's under 20kg and lost my Couta!
You will always hear about the one that got away, well yes ... I have one of those too!
Besides the Stella etc my best buy was the Darkstar Cubera 150 popper, I was 3 GT's up on the rest ! Only one problem though , I skimped as I had over spent my budget, and only bought one ! The Purple one !
Well that skimping was exposed, as GT's tend to have that habit of doing ! I hooked into a 30kg plus BUS and block tackled him away from the Reef so hard that I eventually had slack line ! I thought I had pulled the hooks out !
After Swearing his mother, I quickly learnt that he had just swum in with me and that he was still hooked ! Well thats all a GT needed was a 2nd chance , and his next run broke me up ! Dream fish gone ... Dream lure gone ... Broken man in tears left to mourn and play the "What If " game over and over in one's mind!
Fishing overall I would say was good with a few firsts and some light tackle fun !
The experience and interaction with the locals etc was pleasant and found most to be very friendly, however I thought by flying we could evade my nightmare of MOZ ... the Cops .... My previous 2 trips were nightmares and I swore never to drive to Mozam again due to the Police. And my 3rd trip was no different even though we flew...
We were pulled over in a road block whilst trying to top up our boat fuel which is only a few km's from our complex, and my dad had left his drivers licence in SA , as he did not think he would be driving at all !
What an experience ... 4hrs of abuse and hatred towards us after been sent to the Commando Station , I was waiting for the bribe figure so we could move on ! This time they were addament they were locking my dad up for not having his licence on him ... Stress is running high now !
We eventually managed to organise a local lawyer to meet us at the Station and we were sent off back home without having to pay any fine ! Just for her time !
What would have transpired if we did not have a lawyer there... only the Lord knows
This all happened on our 2nd last day and left such a sour taste in our mouth after such an awesome trip...
Anyways we all back at home ... SA Rocks ... and you only eventually realise how fortunate we are , after returning back from Africa!
I still would only recommend MOZAM as a fishing destination and definately not a family holiday venue, unless you stay off mainland.
K enough talking time for a few pics
Well organising and packing all my tackle for MOZAM was no different , except 10yrs ago all we used was SL50's Graffcast 4's and Chisel plugs !
Alot has changed since then and an open mind,researching the new trends and techniques was in order !
Quickly source a Stella 20k, sparespool , 100lb Power Pro , Saltiga Expedition Popping , Some Starwalker stickbaits and Darkstar 150 Cubera Popper amongst other tackle !
That unfortunately is not easy on ones pocket , but nevertheless a great investment in ones fishing future
Ok so we almost packed and ready and overloaded with spare rods , reels and lures as we originally planned to drive up to Vilanculos.
However 2 days before departure, it dawned on us ... ARE WE MAD ???? Internet on ... Plane tickets booked ... SORTED .... or were we actually sorted ???? EISH how the heck do you take tackle out your bags to meet Flight baggage weight regulations ? Let me tell you how.... With tears in your eyes !
1..2...3 we in Moz, passports stamped , climb in the Cruiser left at the airport and on our way to our House !
Day1 - Sort out all food, booze and boat fuel !
Day2 onwards - The start of what would turn out to be the Iron man challenge of fishing ! Popping is not for weak minded Sissies ! It will break you continuosly Day by day, Hour by Hour, Minute by Minute and eventually Second by Second !
I wanna see Lance Armstrong POP for 9days ! By day 3 I was already on Mybulen's and anti-inflammatories.
Anyways we're here too fish... Push through and Sleep when you are DEAD !
12hour fishing sessions !
Before I left , I had set myself a realistic Goal :
1) 20kg plus GT ( previous PB 12kg )
2) YFT (never fished for them )
3) Queenfish ( never caught one )
4) Couta ( also never caught one )
That been said ,I almost achieved 4\4 , However only managed to land a Queenfish, YFT and GT's under 20kg and lost my Couta!
You will always hear about the one that got away, well yes ... I have one of those too!
Besides the Stella etc my best buy was the Darkstar Cubera 150 popper, I was 3 GT's up on the rest ! Only one problem though , I skimped as I had over spent my budget, and only bought one ! The Purple one !
Well that skimping was exposed, as GT's tend to have that habit of doing ! I hooked into a 30kg plus BUS and block tackled him away from the Reef so hard that I eventually had slack line ! I thought I had pulled the hooks out !
After Swearing his mother, I quickly learnt that he had just swum in with me and that he was still hooked ! Well thats all a GT needed was a 2nd chance , and his next run broke me up ! Dream fish gone ... Dream lure gone ... Broken man in tears left to mourn and play the "What If " game over and over in one's mind!
Fishing overall I would say was good with a few firsts and some light tackle fun !
The experience and interaction with the locals etc was pleasant and found most to be very friendly, however I thought by flying we could evade my nightmare of MOZ ... the Cops .... My previous 2 trips were nightmares and I swore never to drive to Mozam again due to the Police. And my 3rd trip was no different even though we flew...
We were pulled over in a road block whilst trying to top up our boat fuel which is only a few km's from our complex, and my dad had left his drivers licence in SA , as he did not think he would be driving at all !
What an experience ... 4hrs of abuse and hatred towards us after been sent to the Commando Station , I was waiting for the bribe figure so we could move on ! This time they were addament they were locking my dad up for not having his licence on him ... Stress is running high now !
We eventually managed to organise a local lawyer to meet us at the Station and we were sent off back home without having to pay any fine ! Just for her time !
What would have transpired if we did not have a lawyer there... only the Lord knows
This all happened on our 2nd last day and left such a sour taste in our mouth after such an awesome trip...
Anyways we all back at home ... SA Rocks ... and you only eventually realise how fortunate we are , after returning back from Africa!
I still would only recommend MOZAM as a fishing destination and definately not a family holiday venue, unless you stay off mainland.
K enough talking time for a few pics