Moving to the Quirimbas

[andrewpalang]

Hi guys. So, after 9 years in the bush as a guide and running several top end lodges, I finally have the opportunity to live out my dream and run a private island! (Not that living in the bush was bad! Hehe!)

So Ill be moving up to the Quirimbas mid October, so wanting to upgrade some of my tackle as i will be doing a lot of fishing. I want to get a Stella as my primary popping reel (Wont be doing too much jigging as most of the area is a national park). Now here is where the questions come in, should I get the new stella 14000swbxg or the older stella 18000sw. As i said I'm mainly going to be doing popping and throwing stick baits for big GT's so want the best reel for it. Thanks guys

 

[Nepptune]

ANdrew - I'm guessing you are going to Quilalea right? I was just there a couple weeks ago, and it is truly a magical place...

Tackle wise I'd look at the 14000 ( or a 1000SW if you can find one ) as your primary reel... for casting all day and for 95% of your fish, using 100lb braid they are more than capable...

Most of the spots there you'll be fishing drop offs, from the deep side to shallow, so its relatively forgiving terrain rather than all shallow water... that being said, the potential for the entire area, and number of incredible spots means you will certainly find some epic super shallow spots where you'll need to hit and hold!

Hielke the Activities manager on Quilalea is a pretty keen fisho, and clients of ours ( JigStar Africa ) spend a lot of time fishing up there, and for the deep water spots they seem to have more success on poppers, as they generally popping quite deep water, so need to call the fish up... But there are days when the stickbaits are going to win...
We had a pack of 3 25 to 45 kilo Geets come mauling baitfish ( huge mullet ) right up the beach in front of the villas when we were there... a big stickbait would have got smashed ( I had a tiny casting spoon on a 8lb outfit in my hand at the time!! )...

I'd suggest a 10000 or 14000 spooled with 80 or 100lb, and a good quality rod... and you'll be set..

 

[andrewpalang]

Hi Neptune, thanks for the feedback. Yup you are right off to Qulialea. My fiance and myself are taking over as the management couple. VERY excited! Haha. What an amazing place, was there on the Spring a few weeks back and woke up in the morning, and managed to catch several queens while sipping coffee from my room! Not many places you can do that. Yup met Heilke, he seems like quite a keen fisherman, was meant to get out on the boat for a fish but didn't get a chance to with all the formalities, but will make up for it when i get up there!

Thanks for the advise, ok so the 10000 or 14000 size should be fine, I see on the new 14000 it also has a faster retrieve rate. Can upgrade to a JM 16000 spool at a later stage if I need to. What rod would you recommend?, look after spending the amount of money I am on a reel 5 months before our wedding I can't go overboard but looking at something round the 3-4grand mark. And then JB braid for the Stella

 

[Cam Mundy]

Go for the new 14k if you can find it demand for it is really high and stocks are a bit low ours were all sold before the reached us!

 

[andrewpalang]

Thanks Cam, yup I have made up my mind and will be getting the new 14000. Now which rod would be best in the R3000 to R4000 range?

 

[Nepptune]

Andrew,

Ja the Queenies and Bluefin Kingies are thick in front of the villas... myself and the missus smashed a bunch of them on light gear..

Rods wise, there isn't a huge variety to pick from in that price range, but check out the Jigging Master Ocean Devil range we carry, this would be a great bet: http://www.jigstarafrica.co.za/jigstar/shop.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=225&category_id=36

Superb blanks, without all the blinged up trim, which keeps some of the costs down...

Check out our range of Stickbaits and poppers too while you there... you'll need some of those for sure!