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100kg marlin on a Mydo off Port Shepstone today

100kg marlin on a Mydo off Port Shepstone today

At 4 am this early morning, whilst I was tossing and turning (dreaming of marlin perhaps) with another bout of the Big M. (Malaria) – I sensed some activity outside.

My brother Marc was back from Angola. And he had his son Brandon and his mate Tristan Roodt.

They were prepping the good boat Niteshift, and soon headed out through the Umzimkulu River mouth, into a rough and ready ocean. All confused from the day before as the south and north wind argued like they have been. From my angle, the wind just blew and blew, but with high tide all day, I knew they could return anytime they liked really.

But they didn’t.

The first Instagram video came through – wasting time with a shark.

But then silence. For ages.

The wind got right up again. 20 Knots or more. Ideal dorado weather. And marlin!

And so it was, the early birds, after spending a good few hours getting into the swing of the day, found the worm.

The dorado came screaming in and a total of five eventually made it into the hatch for a free boat ride. Many got away and lost out.

Delicious dorado for dinner! Reward for releasing the marlin!
Delicious dorado for dinner! Reward for releasing the marlin!

At one point, Marc took a look at his plugging outfit looking all lonely. So in sympathy, he picked it up and gave it a lob. As it hit the water, without any sign or warning, a tasty little yellowfin tuna smashed it! Luck? I dunno?

Marlin!

Then all of a sudden, there it was. An angry 100kg plus marlin picked on the blue number 2 Mydo Livebaitswimmer, armed with those reliable 5x little black trebles from Mustad.

Not wanting to cause the fish too much distress before he let it go, Marc pushed the drag right up and gave the jumping, dancing fish the gears. In 25 minutes he had the fish beat and behaving in front of the boat?! Marc pulled the tiny trebles out easily enough, and sent it on its way a lot more wily and suspicious of those Mydos and how good they are rigged!

The Mydo LiveBaitSwimmer is just like a Baitswimmer, but it has a strong little single hook to pin the lively live bait with. There are two weights, 1 Oz and 2Oz, so you can keep your livies away from eachother, on the drift, or on the troll.

More about the lure Marc used to catch this marlin today…and details of which shops carry The Mydo range can be found at https://thesardine.co.za/mydo/

https://thesardine.co.za/product/mydo-live-baitswimmer-2/

If your local tackle store does not stock our homegrown and proven brand, then by all means, please buy online!

Catch The Mydo on Facebook at http://facebook.com/mydofishinglures/

 

 

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Bamboo Beach Backpackers in Xai Xai

Bamboo Beach Backpackers in Xai Xai

Bamboo Beach Backpackers in Xai Xai

If you’re looking for a backpackers in Xai Xai – you’ve found it!

Watch the video…

Bamboo Beach Backpackers is right on the beach at Xai Xai! It features a value restaurant and fun pub. Dorms, singles and doubles at the usual rates. Free tea and coffee.

But the main attraction is certainly the location. Right on Xai Xai Beach itself. The idyllic lagoon style bathing out front is safe and tranquil. The beaches stretch for miles each way and are adorned with features and attractions like rock pools and sandbanks. There is a protective barrier reef which at low tide is completely exposed. This reef runs for miles along the entire stretch.

There is all sorts to do and many activities available at Xai Xai. Deep sea or shore fishing. Scuba diving. Snorkeling. There are many places close by that you can visit by foot.

The infamous Limpopo River joins the Indian Ocean at Zongoene, down the beach to the south. Trips can be arranged. If you’re an avid sport fisherman or fly-fisher, then this is certainly a bucket list type destination. It is wild down there!

Getting to Bamboo Beach Backpackers is as easy as catching a bus. Bus travel in Mozambique has been upgraded phenomenally as of late. Safe and steady, the prices are also completely reasonable. You could get from Maputo to Xai Xai for about R200 or less, on these big new and comfortable busses. Maputo to Inhassoro costs about R300 one way, as a side note.

Getting in touch with Bamboo Beach from the outset of your travels is a good idea. They will arrange your pickup in Xai Xai and transfer to your new beach location.

Catch that sunrise!

“No eternal reward will forgive us now, for wasting the dawn.” – Jim Morrison

Click the following link to visit their website…

http://bamboobeachbackpackers.com

Catch up with The Sardine News on Facebook at http://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/

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KZN spearfishing weekly

Well the diving conditions improved a lot this week. Some good ambers are coming out and the odd bigger couta but no Croc couta yet. Saturday starts with a moderate southwest wind and two meter swell which both drop off later in the day. Sunday starts with a light northeast wind and 1.7m swell and both wind and swell pick up during the day. Please note big storm Friday evening which may adversely affect the sea conditions. Club merit fish of the week goes to Marco with a decent Dorado and fish of the week goes to Gavin with a 20kg amber! As always dive safe and straight spears.

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KZN spearing news by Jason Heyne

The diving coditions this week have been below average due to side effects off the tropical storm which was off the eastern seaboard of Madagascar. Big east swell and strong daily north east wind made diving impossible. On the brightside the swell dropped off today and the sea is settling. Saturday there’s a moderate north east wind switching to a moderate south west wind in the afternoon with the swell running at 1.7m. Sunday the swell picks up to 2m plus and the day starts off with a fresh south west wind which will only drop off late afternoon. Saturday is a maybe for a dive and viz was reported south today. Due to conditions I don’t have a fish of the week! As always dive safe and straight spears.

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“Eating an oyster is like french kissing a mermaid” – Tom Robbins

Oysters on the menu at ZanziBeach in Tofo

“Eating an oyster is like french kissing a mermaid” – Tom Robbins

Or. “Oysters on the menu at ZanziBeach Restaurant in Tofo”.

Mermaids in Praia do Tofo are really ocean breeze beautiful. And then I found out that there were oysters right on the menu at ZanziBeach!

Taking the latter approach, with my lovely mermaid close at hand, a grand serving of oyster was requested. Fresh from the sea. Just the way I love my mermaid too. At this great new little seafood spot right on Tofo Beach.

The dish of regal looking oysters soon glided onto our table. Along with twin pinacoladas. A couple of lemons. Hot chilli and pepper sauce.

The floodgates of flavour opened right up. Like an involuntary spasm, the oysters rained their magic on over and into us. Each one its own fantastical adventure. None two remotely the same. Lime and chilli lubricating and spicing the dreamy and intoxicating sensation.

When they were all lovingly spent, the empty table provided that pure moment of bliss that comes flooding in.

After you have french kissed a mermaid…

 

Catch up with ZanziBeach on Facebook right here…

https://web.facebook.com/zanzibeachtofo/

Stay posted with The Sardine News on Facey here…

http://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/

For more information on ZanziBeach Seafood Restaurant in Tofo (video included)…click here to get their official web page – on The Sardine News site.


To get on up to Tofo and to enjoy the life here a while…

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/accomodation/

And other holiday packaged experiences…

Fishing

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/fishing-experiences/

Diving

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/diving-experience/

Surfing

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/surfing-experiences/.

Or get in touch on umzimkulu@gmail.com or http://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/ or WhatsApp +27 79 326 9671.

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