Author: Sean Lange

Anarchist random.
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo

Tofinho

Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo

With the flurry of investment that has been going on here in Tofo the past decade, surfing accommodation in Tofo presents many options nowadays. Surfing accommodation defined as being in close proximity to all the breaks in the area – there are 14 with names here in Tofo so far, many more without.

Tofinho is the main draw card but with surf tours, jet skis and SUPs littering the once lonely line-up, it is nothing more than a decoy to hide what really happens around here.

Barra surf fishingSurf at TofinhoTofinho

Accessibility is one issue. Local knowledge the other.

We go by boat. And I live on these waters.

Our 4WDs will get us to at least some of the places we like to surf. The others are way out to sea. Sandbanks that run for miles. Superbanks without names. An ever changing stretching swathe of sandy coastline that goes for miles and gets moulded and brushed continually by weird currents, backwashes and rips. Interrupted occasionally by a cranking right hand reef break or slab or superbank.

If you are planning a trip over here and aim to score some really-hard to describe freaks of nature type waves, then time it with us.

February it hots up as the cyclonic systems hanging around Madagascar start to line up and spit the swells to us in the exact right direction. It’s a short period hard ground swell that hardly lets up. Paddle outs and takeoffs are brutal. You better be fit. Very hard barreling waves that are super fast over shallow sand. Hectic sections, but makeable. Thick lips. Sweet beatings. Roasties.

Casa Algodoal puts you right in the sweet spot
Casa Algodoal puts you right in the sweet spot – Krusty performing.

You gonna need 3 weeks or more, we don’t like coming back at this time, through to June, when the south swells and systems take over again. Boring. Back to Jbay. And Tofinho. Etc…But you can join us wherever we are easily enough. We arrange all of that for you. Just fly into Inhambane airport.

Bad Brad's kingfish at PomeneSurvey in Pomene: departing at the beautiful Barra Reef Divers launchThe Ring of Fire burned right around the Pomene EstuaryThe morning after. An incredible place is Pomene. (c) Boa GenteChad Leavitt's first sailfish, released off Morrungulo, on the way to Pomene (c) BoaGente

You got to come prepared for survival. Waterproof everything. Your own medical kit. All manners of communication, charging and entertainment equipment. Very strong boards and leashes. Tent and hammock. We gonna be camping, sleeping on the boat, the beach, and then a well-deserved lodge a few nights every now and then.

We gonna catch our meals and eat meat at restaurants we encounter. There are many local stores that carry beer, milk, fresh veggies, fruit etc…wherever we go. It’s an amazing lifestyle that for a few months of the year also produces waves like you will dream about forever after.

To get in touch, email me on umzimkulu@gmail.com

Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo - in da barrel
Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo – in da barrel

 

Share
Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Great Barrier Reef by Captain Duarte Rato

Captain Duarte Rato and friends Fishing The Great Barrier Reef with Team Tradition Charters

The Great Barrier Reef by Captain Duarte Rato

It’s a dream for many of us to visit The Great Barrier Reef and chase the legendary huge marlin the place is famous for. Well, Captain Duarte Rato was over in Oz lately and managed some amazing figures for fish.

Enjoy the gallery and the good read – by Duarte on location near Cooktown.

IGFA RulesCaptain Duarte Rato and friends Fishing The Great Barrier Reef with Team Tradition Charters

Duarte travels the oceans with his lucky clients, to all the marlin corners of the globe. Including but not limited to The Azores, Madeira, The Ascension Islands…and now The Great Barrier Reef.

In this two part series, Duarte relates in detail, each days fishing. The tactics and techniques, the encounters, the tackle – and the areas they fished in.

Part 1 is here…

And part two below…enjoy!

From BAZARUTO to the GBR / Nov 2016 – Part II

Based in Vilanculos, the closest town to the fabled island of Bazaruto, Duarte has been taking charters for decades. He grew up in these waters and knows the Bazaruto Archipelago backwards.

Duarte focuses on grander marlin, but along the way many fish are caught and most released. Check out his website on http://fishbazaruto.com to get in touch.

The website is also features The Captain’s Blog – a full record of every trip Duarte has been on, with incredible photos to compliment the entertaining fishing reports.

Going back years it becomes clear why Duarte delivers such good results.

 

Share
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Surfing Tofo shorebreak

Nathan Plomaritis flying

Surfing Tofo shorebreak

Surfing Tofo shorebreak through the high tide is a great option when the waves aren’t that good at the points.

The rapidly shifting sand and currents in the bay have made for so many configurations over the years. Right now it’s pretty much an a-frame right in front of Nordin’s Lodge, between Wayani Pariango and Fatima’s.

Earlier this year, it formed up as a looooong right hander with barreling sections rivaling those normally found at Tofinho and Barra. It held the crowd well, everybody and his dog enjoyed the two weeks of cranking superbank type waves. This wave started way up top and peeled right past in front of the hotel – which was filled with spectators at the afternoon after-work session.

This month we have been visited by the spirited Plomaritis family, who took the prevailing seasonal raging onshores with grace and dvd’s, and were rewarded neatly enough, with some great sessions at The Dragon and here out front at Praia do Tofo.

Nathan Plomaritis flyingNathan Plomaritis flying down the line in front of Nordins Lodge in TofoSurfing Tofo shorebreak: Team Mom and Dad Plomaritis leave a few for the kids

The Sardine can set you up with a unique surfing adventure anywhere along the Southern African seaboard. Get in touch to chat about your requirements. (Let’s go by boat!)

 

Share
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Summer Shark Trace by Kiran Ramjiawan

This is another secret Durban style - through the mouth, out the gills and fastened vas with a cable tie

Summer Shark Trace by Kiran Ramjiawan

“Since I am basically a complete novice at rock and surf fishing, but have recently found the passion, I have been trying to learn the new techniques. So, I have been pestering Kiran Ramjiawan of Durban fame, and this is what I got out of him, for the summer shark season…” – Xona

It’s basically two 12/0 hooks. I only use and trust Mustad. 200lb carbon coated steel cable. Whole trace is about a meter from slide to bottom hook. The bottom hook is tied using figure of 8 knot, then the tag is wrapped around the steel just for added security. Top hook is snelled. Powerful knot for thick nylon too. Only knot I use for circles. BTW, the tag end must come from the back to the front of the eye in circles for the correct hook action. A plastic squid skirt is added for extra bling and movement in the water. The slide is the heavy duty kingfisher. Much larger and strong than normal slides. Tied just at the bottom hook.

wp-1479378005522.jpg

Heavy duty vs normal slide
Heavy duty vs normal slide

The sinker is a grapnel with thick wires. This one is 8oz so it loads my rod nicely. I use a low breaking strain nylon and I’ve tied it to about 30 -35cm 90ln steel. This knot is untidy I admit. Reason for this is black fin sharks like to roll itself, thereby wrapping your trace around itself. Many times the trace will cut and you’ll be left in the dust. So the steel is to try preventing it from happening. Fishing is a blood sport I know, but it’s better if you get him out of the water and get your trace back, safely releasing him, than your trace getting cut off and staying wrapped around him.

So anyway, I haven’t decided what bait I will use to rig this trace up. I’m thinking a freshly monster mullet from umzimkulu river. I would cut its head in an angle, shape it a little, and probably wrap mullet cutlets around it. Another option would be to wrap Yellowtail cutlets. Sardines would work too. The idea is to make a big and bloody bait. Raggies, black fin, greys, Zambezi, diamond ray. You name it, it will chow this bait…

This is another secret Durban style - through the mouth, out the gills and fastened vas with a cable tie
This is another secret Durban style – through the mouth, out the gills and fastened vas with a cable tie There’s always a chance of a nice GT taking the bait too
Example of the incorrect way to snell a circle. The line comes off the wrong way. It needs to go through the eye towards the barb, if that makes sense
Example of the incorrect way to snell a circle. The line comes off the wrong way. It needs to go through the eye towards the barb, if that makes sense
 The sinker is a grapnel with thick wires. This one is 8oz so it loads my rod nicely. I use a low breaking strain nylon and I've tied it to about 30 -35cm 90ln steel
The sinker is a grapnel with thick wires. This one is 8oz so it loads my rod nicely. I use a low breaking strain nylon and I’ve tied it to about 30 -35cm 90ln steel.

“And on rods and reels for summertime fun…”

I have the Shimano Technium medium surf rod. It will work but will take much longer to get the fish out of the water. Benefit is that it isn’t as taxing on your back as a heavy rod. I love the rod though I can fish anything from shad to shark. It’s got a lot of power.

My reel is a bit small. Shimano torium 30 with 0.50 dia kingfisher line. On that tied up 1mm maxima leader with Bimini twist and figure of 8.

But Toriums are nice hey. I have seen plenty big fish landed on them. The 50 size is a serious big fish reel. With 55lb braid backing you can get like 1km of line on it. If a fish runs more than that, you won’t stop him on any tackle.

“Thank you Kiran, looking forward to your next instalment!”

Share