A quick trip to Moz – Calanga Beach ( Macaneta Island)
It was already August and I was missing the smell of the ocean. A long lost cousin I met recently offered to take me to his cabin on Maceneta Island. The cabin is roughly 80kms north of Maputo.
All preparations were made and 5 friends left Jozi at 6 AM on Friday the 14th October. The weather forecast showed clear skies for the next 4 days.
After a quick coffee and something to eat at the Ultra Shell in Middelburg, we headed to Nelspruit where we met my cousin. He organised all the necessary items we needed to make the trip comfortable. Fresh drinking water, bait and all the other bells and whistles were packed in his trailer.
Crossing the border into Mozambique was a breeze and the drive to Maputo was pretty easy. By the time we reached the turnoff on the EN1 to Xai-Xai it was peak Friday afternoon traffic. I must say there‘s very little respect for the rules of the road but very entertaining nonetheless. The next 10 kms took a good 45 minutes to cover. From there onwards it was easy driving to Manica to top up on diesel. Roughly 3 kms before Manica is the turnoff to the Ilovo sugar plantation.
To get to Calanga beach one has to travel through the plantation and the sugar mill. Here you cross on to Macaneta Island. The last 7 kms to the beach is thick sea sand and a 4x4 is needed.
My cousin’s cabin is situated next to the Calanga Beach Resort and from seeing all the pictures we couldn’t wait to wet a line.
By the time we unpacked and settled in it was almost evening so after a delicious meal we had an early night. The accommodation is pretty rustic with electricity being supplied via a generator from the Calanga Beach resort.
Day 2
Up at 4 AM a quick cup of coffee, pack the 4x4’s and off to the beach. Beach driving is allowed on a 2km stretch of beach. One has to cross a huge dune to get to the beach. The surf looked very inviting with the colour looking perfect.
With a few edibles coming out and no takers on the slide we called it quits at around 9 AM for breakfast. The temperature was already at 28 degrees and by mid day it had climbed to 37 deg C.
At around 4 PM we went down to the beach again for another session. The wind had picked up but this didn’t stop us from throwing a line. Once again some stumpies , pompano , shad and a few small sharks came out. The sharks were all black tips.
Day3
Heavy rain and gale force winds were the order of the day. Really unpleasant weather but we had to make the best of the situation. The entire day was spent eating, relaxing and chatting. Who can say no to homemade chicken curry..... yummy!
By late afternoon the wind had subsided a bit and the guys were itching to wet line again.
Some good size pompano and stumpies came out.
We were still looking for the game fish that was said to be roaming these waters.
Day 4
An overnight storm made driving to the beach a lot easier. The weather was overcast and the wind was still a stiff south westerly one. Being the last day we had to make the most of what we had.
Once again some nice shad, pompano and stumpies came out. Nothing on the slide apart from a small black tip again. The evening session again brought in more small sharks and a nice kob.
Day 5
Up early to pack and hit the road home. And as it usually happens the day you leave it the best day to fish. But I will be back.
Just like any trip away with friends I believe the company you take along either makes it memorable or turns it into a disaster. I’m fortunate to have been in the company of some great guys.
Being a malaria area I suggest taking the precautions.
Crossing the border coming back into SA took less than 5 minutes.
It was already August and I was missing the smell of the ocean. A long lost cousin I met recently offered to take me to his cabin on Maceneta Island. The cabin is roughly 80kms north of Maputo.
All preparations were made and 5 friends left Jozi at 6 AM on Friday the 14th October. The weather forecast showed clear skies for the next 4 days.
After a quick coffee and something to eat at the Ultra Shell in Middelburg, we headed to Nelspruit where we met my cousin. He organised all the necessary items we needed to make the trip comfortable. Fresh drinking water, bait and all the other bells and whistles were packed in his trailer.
Crossing the border into Mozambique was a breeze and the drive to Maputo was pretty easy. By the time we reached the turnoff on the EN1 to Xai-Xai it was peak Friday afternoon traffic. I must say there‘s very little respect for the rules of the road but very entertaining nonetheless. The next 10 kms took a good 45 minutes to cover. From there onwards it was easy driving to Manica to top up on diesel. Roughly 3 kms before Manica is the turnoff to the Ilovo sugar plantation.
To get to Calanga beach one has to travel through the plantation and the sugar mill. Here you cross on to Macaneta Island. The last 7 kms to the beach is thick sea sand and a 4x4 is needed.
My cousin’s cabin is situated next to the Calanga Beach Resort and from seeing all the pictures we couldn’t wait to wet a line.
By the time we unpacked and settled in it was almost evening so after a delicious meal we had an early night. The accommodation is pretty rustic with electricity being supplied via a generator from the Calanga Beach resort.
Day 2
Up at 4 AM a quick cup of coffee, pack the 4x4’s and off to the beach. Beach driving is allowed on a 2km stretch of beach. One has to cross a huge dune to get to the beach. The surf looked very inviting with the colour looking perfect.
With a few edibles coming out and no takers on the slide we called it quits at around 9 AM for breakfast. The temperature was already at 28 degrees and by mid day it had climbed to 37 deg C.
At around 4 PM we went down to the beach again for another session. The wind had picked up but this didn’t stop us from throwing a line. Once again some stumpies , pompano , shad and a few small sharks came out. The sharks were all black tips.
Day3
Heavy rain and gale force winds were the order of the day. Really unpleasant weather but we had to make the best of the situation. The entire day was spent eating, relaxing and chatting. Who can say no to homemade chicken curry..... yummy!
By late afternoon the wind had subsided a bit and the guys were itching to wet line again.
Some good size pompano and stumpies came out.
We were still looking for the game fish that was said to be roaming these waters.
Day 4
An overnight storm made driving to the beach a lot easier. The weather was overcast and the wind was still a stiff south westerly one. Being the last day we had to make the most of what we had.
Once again some nice shad, pompano and stumpies came out. Nothing on the slide apart from a small black tip again. The evening session again brought in more small sharks and a nice kob.
Day 5
Up early to pack and hit the road home. And as it usually happens the day you leave it the best day to fish. But I will be back.
Just like any trip away with friends I believe the company you take along either makes it memorable or turns it into a disaster. I’m fortunate to have been in the company of some great guys.
Being a malaria area I suggest taking the precautions.
Crossing the border coming back into SA took less than 5 minutes.
