Been waiting to have my boat fixed, ordered a couple of new propellers to improve the boat performance and fix a cavitation problem I was experiencing.
Friday afternoon the mechanic told me he got the boat ready, started phoning the usual guys to invite them to go out test the boat and do some fishing and everybody had plans already or went out south of Luanda to spend the weekend and do some shore casting, finally around 9 o'clock in the evening my German friend Steffen came to the rescue saying he was in town and available.
The weather forecast showed a good opening on Saturday morning with little wind and low swell
Looked at the water temp forecast and it seemed to me North of Luanda might be the better option with less cold water at 21º/22º C.
Looking at this forecast seemed to me that a 80 miles round trip to those 40 miles near shore areas north of Luanda might do the trick, fishing on the rocky areas that on the usual days are surf break but that this Saturday due to the swell forecast we could have a chance on trolling there.
Usually this a minimum 3 guys crew to have someone permanently at the wheel (me) and two other guys rotation fishing, one fighting the fish and the other cleaning the rods.
We were only two what meant every time a fish would strike I would have to first drive the boat out of the breaking area and then finally help Steffen with the fish, but I've done this before.
We left Luanda harbor around 6:45AM.
The boat performed flawlessly with the new props the motors go up to 5900 RPM at 52 MPH speed what allowed us to cruise at around 38/40 mph, noticed that even having asked to install the outboards at the transom top hole the mechanic did not do it and I think that is limiting its speed, Monday he will have to change that and probably after that the cruising and top speed will get some increase, let's see if top speed gets nearer the 60MPH mark.
Before 7:00AM we were at our first fishing ground, trolled around and not that many fish, I think we might have lost a cubera there and we got a nice Barracuda.
9:00 AM moved to another area a bit north and we lost a cubera that broke our line on the rocks, and a beautiful Corvina
See the smile of Steffen with his first ever corvina.
11:00AM the swell started increasing a bit and I did not feel safe fishing there in this conditions and with such a limited number crew, decided to call it a day and go back to the club have some beers.
Made a detour to a potential jigging spot but the water was to cold there did not see any relevant activity on the sounder after two drops headed back to Luanda.
On the way back and at almost 50MPH a bird decided to suddenly cross in front of the boat and an accident occurred, crash agains the central console eisenglass windshield!!
Crazy bird, we checked him out and although a bit shaken we think he miraculously survived the crash, we released him hopefully safe to live another day.
Arriving at Luanda port I told Steffen we might troll a bit around one of the oil platforms that is having some maintenance and has been there for a month now.
We got a Barracuda strike, finally I had my chance to pick up the rod and I was rewarded with about 5 aerial jumps from this very nice fish, even by the boat the Barracuda was still trying to get aerial.
One of the other oil platforms near Luanda port
Finally we arrived at the club around 2'oclock in the afternoon for some pre world cup Germany game celebratory drinking.
P.S. - Germany won it's game finishing 3rd at the Soccer World Cup in a great game that ended 3-2.
Friday afternoon the mechanic told me he got the boat ready, started phoning the usual guys to invite them to go out test the boat and do some fishing and everybody had plans already or went out south of Luanda to spend the weekend and do some shore casting, finally around 9 o'clock in the evening my German friend Steffen came to the rescue saying he was in town and available.
The weather forecast showed a good opening on Saturday morning with little wind and low swell
Looked at the water temp forecast and it seemed to me North of Luanda might be the better option with less cold water at 21º/22º C.
Looking at this forecast seemed to me that a 80 miles round trip to those 40 miles near shore areas north of Luanda might do the trick, fishing on the rocky areas that on the usual days are surf break but that this Saturday due to the swell forecast we could have a chance on trolling there.
Usually this a minimum 3 guys crew to have someone permanently at the wheel (me) and two other guys rotation fishing, one fighting the fish and the other cleaning the rods.
We were only two what meant every time a fish would strike I would have to first drive the boat out of the breaking area and then finally help Steffen with the fish, but I've done this before.
We left Luanda harbor around 6:45AM.
The boat performed flawlessly with the new props the motors go up to 5900 RPM at 52 MPH speed what allowed us to cruise at around 38/40 mph, noticed that even having asked to install the outboards at the transom top hole the mechanic did not do it and I think that is limiting its speed, Monday he will have to change that and probably after that the cruising and top speed will get some increase, let's see if top speed gets nearer the 60MPH mark.
Before 7:00AM we were at our first fishing ground, trolled around and not that many fish, I think we might have lost a cubera there and we got a nice Barracuda.
9:00 AM moved to another area a bit north and we lost a cubera that broke our line on the rocks, and a beautiful Corvina
See the smile of Steffen with his first ever corvina.
11:00AM the swell started increasing a bit and I did not feel safe fishing there in this conditions and with such a limited number crew, decided to call it a day and go back to the club have some beers.
Made a detour to a potential jigging spot but the water was to cold there did not see any relevant activity on the sounder after two drops headed back to Luanda.
On the way back and at almost 50MPH a bird decided to suddenly cross in front of the boat and an accident occurred, crash agains the central console eisenglass windshield!!
Crazy bird, we checked him out and although a bit shaken we think he miraculously survived the crash, we released him hopefully safe to live another day.
Arriving at Luanda port I told Steffen we might troll a bit around one of the oil platforms that is having some maintenance and has been there for a month now.
We got a Barracuda strike, finally I had my chance to pick up the rod and I was rewarded with about 5 aerial jumps from this very nice fish, even by the boat the Barracuda was still trying to get aerial.
One of the other oil platforms near Luanda port
Finally we arrived at the club around 2'oclock in the afternoon for some pre world cup Germany game celebratory drinking.
P.S. - Germany won it's game finishing 3rd at the Soccer World Cup in a great game that ended 3-2.
