Fishing report - Rock & Surf

[AndriesH]

We saw, we went, we had a great time and we came back with one fish.


This was our familie's first trip to Mozambique and we had an exceptional time.
Our good fortune started at Komatipoort when a police official pulled us out of line (30min after arriving), and asked us for a lift to the border gate (2km's up the road) and gave us what could best be described as a "Get out of jail free" card.
We were out of there 90 minutes after arriving.

'Travel tip' - change about R200 to R 500 before the border to get through and at the other side of the gate, the bulk of your required cash.

We travelled to Maputo and had a drive in and out of the city as we had about four hours (recently saved) that we spent observing in this different yet magical city.
Back to the EN1 main route up North to Xai Xai.

'Travel tip' - keep to the indicated speed limits as we are guests here and if you aren't sure - keep to the slower speed that you might be thinking of.

To those other idiots who had their vehicles registered here in GP land and reckon you own the road - I hope you got a Moe.se fine for driving like as.ho.les. - next time rather go to Zim. (Sorry When we's)

The road is in excellent condition - right down to the beach in Xai Xai - the odd couple of potholes in the town centres are easily negotiated as you are crawling through in any case.

 

[AndriesH]

Next up - The campsite in Xai Xai.

This tent / caravan park is situated next to Haley's hotel and has no demarcated stands.
Electricity seems to be on 24hrs, but at an additional charge. There were stacks of campers, but still I can't say we were cramped and there was plenty of room to spare around our tent as well.

One problem was that the ablutions weren't great - I was reminded of this repeatedly and will definately take this more seriously next time.:headb Other campers who have been there several times before have all said that this was a first for them as there has never been a problem like this. Maybe it will get sorted and things will improve.:cry1

There are a lot of helping hands around prepared to do anything and everything for you. Now coming from a GP envronment, it isn't really easy to trust a stranger, but we contracted a youngster to do the dishes for us every day and paid him R20 a day for this chore - I think it was too much, but then he chucked in free security at our tent for the week. Not taking someone on might just open you up for some nasty reaction ?

 

[AndriesH]

The helping hands

 

[AndriesH]

To the fishing:

There is a reef running in front of - just about the whole of Xai Xai - and this makes rock and surf very difficult.
The tide also rises and falls by my estimate three to four meters between high and low.
The pictures here were taken at low tide from the Nothern edge of Xai Xai and you can clearly see the nature of the rocks and the severe wave action coming in on you.
Not nice.

In total, I donated here two kg's of jap mackerel, one kg of Sard's, three whole and cut up chokka, two packets of prawn, a tin of really nice Bobs (Huge Sealice) and the only bait with some reaction - a whole Bonny of about 1.5kgs.
Lures were thrown untill the cows came home.

 

[AndriesH]

This was low tide.
At high tide, the water covers the rocks and reef completely.
The waves crash up against the sandbank behind my daughter on the pick and often spills over the sand crest.
A Japanese tourist one evening asked if I was convinced that fish would bite in such Tsunami conditions. Obviously not.

 

[AndriesH]

Forget the fishing -surf is UUUUUPPPPPP in Xai Xai - if you've got steel cahoenas, medevac and a great medical aid standing by.
These waves pound the back of the reef and rocks.

 

[AndriesH]

So in total the fishing result for Xai Xai:
Fish - one
Fisherman - zero.

If you want to fish out of Xai Xai - get a boat - those guys had a blast and I wish them every ounce of satisfaction.

They travelled far, towed hard, fished hard and got the rewards.
I am hoping to see a report here from one of the skippers soon.

P.S. - We had a ball of a time as normal holiday makers.
The weather was fantastic, the snorkelling out of this world, the beaches were semi deserted, the long walks on the beaches (without the 15kg of fishing tackle) was great and the Rum and Rooi Koeldrank was very refesssshing.


O ya - they got wise on their pricing of seafood - it ain't that cheap anymore.

 

[AndriesH]

About two km's up the sand road is a place called Xai Xai beach resort.
The beach actually looks great for surf fishing as there was no indication of the reef in front of us. (foto)
Getting stuck in the sand when I went back to fetch the tackle, cancelled the thoughts of going back there in a front wheel drive city slicker.
I was told that another few km's up this road was an old hotel - dating from the time of glorious and prosperous days before the war. That apparantly is were the Rock and Surf action really hots up.

NEXT TIME

 

[AndriesH]

Turing North from the city of Xai Xai - the road disintegrates - completely.

We travelled some 40km's on the semi tarr and turned off to a sand road for another 10km's.
Destination - Nascer Do Sol on Christmas day.
No fishing today - personal convictions.

The idea was to meet Deciever and his Fiance for lunch and discuss the possibilities for fishing over the next day or two before we returned to GP.
Unfortunately, they arrived late and time only allowed an introduction before we hit the road out of there. We had to get through the sand before sundown.

Magic place and I'd love to go back.

 

[AndriesH]

Again the infamous reef - but accessable here at NdS.
(Hey D - how's this for advertising for you? It's a great place)

 

[AndriesH]

En route back, we stopped in Bilene.
Vey holiday type of place.
All the amenaties and all the extras.
This is were you can spend the bucks if you have any extras lying around.
The picture is of the freshwater lake that seperates the town from the sea.
The slight opening in the middle between the trees is the actual beach.
For those wo don't want to tow their pleasure boats or jet ski's. ther are local ferryman available that quoted us around R80 per person one way.

 

[AndriesH]

Thanks to Google for the layout of Praia do Xai Xai.

 

[AndriesH]

And finally, with pride I show you my Trophy.
With this I say - Mozambique is a great destination.
I'll be back, but with better transport (ground clearance and sand capabilities) and we will visit those infamous places that seem to be only a kilometer or two further than we could get to with our city car.

 

[Hooked]

Great report.
Seems everone who goes to moz blanks.

 

[Becks]

Excellent report, pitty about the fishing but at least you know what to expect next time.

 

[Khani]

Great report Andries,

Pity about the fishing but the important thing is u had a great time.

 

[Polychaete]

Thanks for a great story!
Pleased to hear you had fun despite the poor fishing.

 

[AndriesH]

I wish I could tell it like Hammertime, but then so do we all.

This one caught off the reef at Nascer do Sol

Thanks for the good wishes, it was indeed a great adventure.
I have requested Admin to o.k. a link to a site I set up were I posted a 40sec video clip (8 meg) of a local fisherman catching what looked like a 4kg Blacktail - but then it was 400m away -, so until then, here's a photo.

Regards


Here is the link: